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When to go · Madagascar

Madagascar in October

Great month. Hot in the west; jacarandas in Tana; lemur babies in many parks.

Key facts

Verdict
Great
Crowds
Medium
Madagascar
Prices
Medium
Madagascar

Verdict

GreatVoykit month rating for Madagascar

Hot in the west; jacarandas in Tana; lemur babies in many parks.

Is another month better than October?

No other month rates higher than October for Madagascar in this guide.

Weather in October

  • Central highlands · Antananarivo, Antsirabe, Ranomafana, Fianarantsoabest weather

    Cool, even chilly nights June–August (5–10 °C (41–50 °F)); the rains fall November–March as afternoon storms.

  • East coast and rainforest · Andasibe, Toamasina, Île Sainte-Marie, Masoalabest weather

    Rain in every month; cyclones land here January–March. Sainte-Marie's whale season is July–September.

  • West and south-west dry belt · Morondava, Tsingy de Bemaraha, Isalo, Tuléar, Ifatybest weather

    The driest part of the island; the Tsingy de Bemaraha is closed roughly December–April because tracks flood.

  • North and Nosy Be · Nosy Be, Diego Suarez, Ankarana, Amber Mountainbest weather

    Warm year round; the north-east trade wind blows hard at Diego June–September.

  • Antananarivo Province: Antananarivo and the highlands · Central plateau, roughly 1,200–1,500 mfine

    Cool and damp for a tropical country: 10–25 °C (50–77 °F) most of the year, colder at night June–August. Rain concentrates December–March, often as afternoon storms.

  • Antsiranana Province: Antsiranana and the north-west coast · Diana region, bays and Ramenabest weather

    Dry season roughly May to November; the wet months are hot and humid with cyclone risk.

  • Antsiranana Province: Sava (north-east) · Sambava, Marojejy and Masoala sidefine

    One of the wettest parts of the island; rain is possible most of the year.

  • Cooler than the coast; rain roughly December–March. Nights can drop below 10 °C (50 °F) in June–August.

  • Rainforest: rain in most months, heaviest December–March; leeches after rain.

  • Mahajanga Province: Mahajanga coast · City and baybest weather

    Hot all year; the dry season roughly May–November is the comfortable window. December–March is humid with heavy rain.

  • Mahajanga Province: Tsingy de Bemaraha and the interior · Bekopaka and the westbest weather

    Park access is effectively dry-season only; check opening and road conditions before you commit.

  • Hot and humid; rain in most months. Cyclone risk roughly December to March.

  • Toamasina Province: Escarpment and Andasibe · About 900–1,200 m on the RN2fine

    Cooler and misty; rain can close trails. Indri are loudest and most active early morning.

  • Semi-arid; rain is scarce all year. Local month-by-month timing is check — the practical window is the dry season, roughly April–November.

  • Wetter than the west coast; local month-by-month timing is check — the driest stretch is roughly May–October.

  • Antananarivo26 °C (79 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 6 rain days
  • Ambalavao25 °C (77 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 10 rain days
  • Ambanja28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days
  • Ambositra25 °C (77 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 10 rain days
  • Anakao29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 3 rain days
  • Antsiranana31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 6 rain days
  • Fianarantsoa25 °C (77 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 9 rain days
  • Foulpointe27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 10 rain days
  • Hell-Ville30 °C (86 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 8 rain days
  • Ifaty30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 3 rain days
  • Ihosy29 °C (84 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 6 rain days
  • Île aux Nattes27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 9 rain days
  • Mahajanga29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 5 rain days
  • Morondava31 °C (88 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days
  • Taolagnaro27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 9 rain days
  • Toamasina27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 10 rain days
  • Toliara30 °C (86 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 2 rain days
  • Vatomandry28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 11 rain days

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Madagascar
Medium
Prices · Madagascar
Medium

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Madagascar, side by side.

  • Verdict

    Oct: Great

    May: Great

  • Crowds

    Oct: Medium

    May: Medium

  • Prices

    Oct: Medium

    May: Medium

  • Festivals listed

    Oct: 0

    May: 2

October: Hot in the west; jacarandas in Tana; lemur babies in many parks.

May: Dry season begins; good light, fewer visitors, Tsingy usually reopening (check).

Madagascar: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

What to pack

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in October

Rated best or good this month

  • Central highlands

    Best weather of the year (Antananarivo, Antsirabe, Ranomafana, Fianarantsoa)

  • East coast and rainforest

    Best weather of the year (Andasibe, Toamasina, Île Sainte-Marie, Masoala)

  • West and south-west dry belt

    Best weather of the year (Morondava, Tsingy de Bemaraha, Isalo, Tuléar, Ifaty)

  • North and Nosy Be

    Best weather of the year (Nosy Be, Diego Suarez, Ankarana, Amber Mountain)

  • Antananarivo

    Warm and dry; jacaranda in bloom.

  • Ambalavao

    Best months: Apr–Nov (dry season)

  • Ambanja

    Best months: Apr–Nov

  • Ambositra

    Best months: Apr–Nov

  • Anakao

    Best months: Apr–Nov (dry season, calmer seas)

  • Antsirabe

    Best months: Apr–Nov (dry season)

  • Antsiranana

    Best months: Apr–Nov

  • Fianarantsoa

    Best months: Apr–Nov (dry season)