You've probably seen the photos. Those towering baobabs against a neon-orange sunset or a bug-eyed lemur clinging to a lime-green branch. It looks like an eternal summer, doesn't it? But honestly, if you land in Antananarivo in July thinking you're getting a "tropical" tan, you’re in for a cold, windy shock.
Madagascar is huge. It's the fourth-largest island on the planet, and that means the weather in Madagascar Africa isn't just one thing. It's five or six different climates fighting for dominance. You can be shivering in the highlands while someone a few hundred miles south is sweating in a semi-desert. Basically, the island is a climatic schizophrenic.
Most travel blogs tell you the "best time" is April to October. They aren't wrong, but they're oversimplifying. If you want to see baby lemurs, you go in October. If you want to see humpback whales, you're looking at July. If you want to avoid being stuck in a mud pit because the "roads" (if you can call them that) have turned into chocolate milk, you avoid February like the plague.
The Two-Season Myth and Regional Reality
Officially, there are two seasons. You have the hot, rainy summer from November to April and the cooler, dry winter from May to October. That’s the textbook version.
Reality is messier.
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The east coast is a literal rainforest. It doesn't really have a "dry" season; it just has "less wet" months. Trade winds from the Indian Ocean slam into the eastern cliffs and dump rain year-round. Places like Maroantsetra can see nearly 150 inches of rain annually. That's a lot of water.
Then there’s the Central Highlands.
Think Antananarivo and Antsirabe.
Because of the altitude—we're talking 4,000+ feet—it gets chilly. In June and July, night temperatures can drop to $10^\circ\text{C}$ ($50^\circ\text{F}$) or even lower. I’ve seen tourists huddled in local markets buying wool blankets because they only packed shorts. Don't be that person.
The West and South are different beasts entirely.
The west coast is shielded by the mountains, creating a rain shadow. It’s drier, sunnier, and feels more like the "Africa" of your imagination. Move down to the far south, and it’s almost desert. The "spiny forest" survives on barely 14 inches of rain a year. It’s harsh. It’s beautiful. And it’s usually roasting.
Madagascar Weather: A Month-by-Month Cheat Sheet
- January to March: The "No-Go" Zone. This is peak cyclone season. Powerful storms like the recent Cyclone Dudzai (early 2026) can rip through with winds over 200 km/h. Roads wash out. Flights get canceled. It’s humid as hell. Unless you’re a scientist or a very flexible masochist, just stay home.
- April and May: The "Lush" Window. The rains stop, the dust hasn't settled yet, and everything is emerald green. It’s arguably the most beautiful time for photography, though some remote roads might still be drying out.
- June to August: Peak Winter. It’s dry. It’s "cool" (which means $20^\circ\text{C}$ to $25^\circ\text{C}$ on the coast). This is when the humpback whales arrive at Île Sainte-Marie. It’s also when the crowds arrive.
- September to October: The Sweet Spot. This is my personal favorite. The weather is warming up but it’s still dry. More importantly, it’s "baby lemur season." If you want to see ring-tails with tiny clones clinging to their backs, this is your window.
- November and December: The Heat Builds. Humidity starts to climb. Thunderstorms become common in the afternoons. It’s still okay for travel, but you’ll be sweating.
Cyclones and the 2026 Forecast
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: cyclones.
Because of its position in the Southwest Indian Ocean, Madagascar is basically a target for tropical storms.
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The 2025-2026 season has been particularly active. We’ve already seen systems like Chenge and Grant causing headaches. When a cyclone hits, it’s not just a "bad storm." It’s a logistical nightmare. The RN7—the main highway—can get cut off by landslides. Bridge washouts in the north can leave entire towns isolated for weeks.
Climate change is making this weirder. The experts at Météo-France Réunion note that while we might get fewer cyclones overall, the ones we do get are becoming more intense. The "lean season" (the time between harvests) is also getting more unpredictable because of erratic rainfall in the south.
What Most People Forget to Pack
Since you’re dealing with everything from $5^\circ\text{C}$ nights to $35^\circ\text{C}$ days, your packing list needs to be a bit of a jigsaw puzzle.
- Layers are non-negotiable. A lightweight down jacket for the Highlands and breathable linen for the coast.
- A real raincoat. Not a cheap plastic poncho. If you're in Ranomafana or Andasibe, it will rain on you, even in the "dry" season.
- Solid hiking boots. The red clay (latérite) becomes incredibly slick when wet. It’s like walking on greased glass.
- Sunscreen. The sun at this latitude is brutal. Even on a cloudy day in the Highlands, you’ll burn in twenty minutes.
Practical Strategy for Your Trip
If you’re planning a trip right now, here is how you should play the weather in Madagascar Africa.
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First, pick your region based on the month. If you only have time in March, stick to the south and west. Avoid the northeast; it's a soggy mess then. If you're coming in July, prioritize the whale watching in the east or the Tsingy de Bemaraha in the west (which is often closed until June due to flooded access roads).
Second, watch the forecasts from the Direction Générale de la Météorologie de Madagascar. They are much more accurate for local micro-climates than your standard iPhone weather app.
Third, build "buffer days" into your itinerary. If you have a flight out of Tana on a Tuesday, try to be back in the city by Sunday. A single heavy afternoon downpour can turn a six-hour drive into a fourteen-hour crawl.
Madagascar doesn't care about your schedule. The weather here is the boss. But if you respect the seasons—and pack a sweater—it’s the most rewarding place on earth.
Next Steps for Your Trip:
- Check the Cyclone Tracker: If traveling between December and April, monitor the RSMC La Réunion bulletins daily for any developing depressions in the Indian Ocean.
- Verify Road Access: Contact local tour operators in Morondava or Maroantsetra before heading out, as "dry season" doesn't always mean "passable roads" in the early months like April.
- Book Highland Accommodation with Heating: Most budget hotels in Antsirabe or Tana do not have central heating; look for places that offer space heaters or "chemise" (fireplaces) if visiting in June or July.