Madagascar Tours: Lemurs, Baobabs and Untouched Beaches
Madagascar is unlike anywhere else covered on this site — an island the size of France that split from mainland Africa around 90 million years ago, leaving over 90% of its wildlife found nowhere else on earth. It's a destination for travellers after something genuinely different from the standard safari circuit: lemurs instead of lions, avenue of baobabs instead of open savannah, and beaches that remain some of the least developed in the Indian Ocean.
Lemurs and Unique Wildlife
Madagascar holds over 100 lemur species, from the tiny mouse lemur to the striking black-and-white ruffed lemur and the dancing, upright-leaping sifaka, found across a network of national parks including Andasibe-Mantadia, Ranomafana and Isalo. Beyond lemurs, the island's isolation has produced an equally strange reptile and plant life — chameleons in colours found nowhere else, the spiny, cactus-like flora of the southern spiny forest, and the famous Avenue of the Baobabs, where a row of centuries-old baobab trees lines a dirt road in one of Africa's most photographed landscapes.
Nosy Be and the Beach Islands
Nosy Be, off Madagascar's northwest coast, is the country's main beach destination — a genuinely underrated island with white sand beaches, healthy coral reefs and a noticeably quieter, less commercial feel than comparable Indian Ocean destinations. Whale shark encounters are possible in season, and the surrounding smaller islands offer good day-trip snorkelling and diving. See our Nosy Be Madagascar guide for the full breakdown.
Planning a Madagascar Trip
Madagascar's road network is slow and its wildlife widely dispersed across the island, so most itineraries combine one or two national parks with internal flights rather than attempting extensive overland travel. A realistic first visit runs 10-12 days: a few days in the eastern rainforest parks for lemurs, then a flight to Nosy Be or another beach island to finish. Because Madagascar isn't naturally combined with the mainland African safari circuit, it typically works best as a standalone trip rather than an extension.
Best Time to Visit
April to November is Madagascar's dry season and the most reliable period for both wildlife viewing and beach conditions, with July to September also being whale-watching season off the eastern coast, when humpback whales migrate through the Mozambique Channel. December to March brings the cyclone season and is generally avoided.
Ready to plan a Madagascar holiday? Contact our team for a tailor-made itinerary covering the island's wildlife and beaches.