Madagascar holidays

Madagascar Holidays and Madagascar Tours

There is no other holiday like a Madagascar holiday. Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world and is situated off the southeast coast of Africa. The two land masses are separated by millions of years of evolution – long enough for Madagascar’s plants and animals to evolve into weird and wonderful forms. Those planning their holidays in Madagascar will find any time of year is fine to visit, apart from January to March when there is heavy rainfall and a risk of cyclones.

If you are planning a Madagascar holiday you can travel by boat but will need time and patience. You can usually get a cargo boat from Mombasa or Zanzibar or find passage on a yacht as a crew member. Or there are many connecting flights for holidays to Madagascar which leave from Africa and Indian Ocean islands, Asia, Australasia and Europe. Holidays to Madagascar will reveal what a fascinating place it is; archaeological evidence suggests it was uninhabited until about 1500 years ago when the first Indo-Malayan settlers arrived. Malagasy, is the language spoken by the vast majority of the population, the other official languages are French and English.

There are many Madagascar tours to choose from. Wildlife lovers will discover that it is home to as many as 12,000 of the worlds plant species and approximately 80% of the animal and plant species are endemic to the island. Almost everything you see is unique and captivating. A Madagascar tour can introduce you to the island’s unique culture, you can visit the capital city, Tana, and take in the colonial architecture and gorgeous palaces or a Madagascar tour may take you to the famous market (Zoma) in Antananarivo which sells local handicrafts including wooden carvings, jewellery and leather goods. If you are an active person you may prefer adventure tours in Madagascar, these take advantage of the remote rainforests and undocumented rivers. Active Madagascar tours can take you on a rafting descent down the Benahy river and trekking through the Perinet Nature Reserve.

Wildlife holidays in Madagascar

It is not surprising there are so many wildlife tours to Madagascar, the island has fascinated several generations of naturalists to the extent that some of them devote their entire lives to studying its wildlife. Wildlife holidays in Madagascar can take you from the arid bush of the south to the luxuriant vegetation of the East, there is a wide variety of altitudes, temperatures and rainfalls.

A Madagascar wildlife tour could see you standing beneath the Indri (one of the island’s largest lemurs), listening to its haunting call, finding camouflaged chameleons or enjoying magical night walks which reveal nocturnal geckos and frogs. You will find many wildlife tours to Madagascar allow you to observe lemurs in their natural habitat, including the popular ring-tailed, sifaka, and Indri lemur species.

There are several National Parks and reserves on this island and eco tours to Madagascar will support efforts to their continued conservation. Eco tours in Madagascar try to demonstrate to the local population the economic advantages of preserving their natural heritage rather than destroying it for short-term gain. A Madagascar wildlife tour will ensure you have many enchanting encounters with lemur species, chameleons, geckos, and endemic birds on day and night walks, as well as enjoy the beautiful reefs and marine life of this idyllic tropical island.

Adventure holidays in Madagascar

Those looking for a Madagascar adventure can choose to search the rainforest for lemurs, particularly the Golden Bamboo lemurs, only discovered in 1987. You can also walk deep into Isalo National Park - Madagascar's 'Grand Canyon' - to explore the sandstone massif and weirdly eroded rocks. An adventure holiday in Madagascar may take you to see the dark-skinned tribes that live around Toliara on the southwest coast and you'll see their carved and painted tombs, many with aloalo scenes from the life of the deceased.

If you enjoy trekking, an adventure holiday in Madagascar can be taken on foot, where you can explore the incredible diversity of this island. You can trek through on of the most biodiverse parks, Andringitra National Park, and there climb Peak boby, the second highest peak in Madagascar. Madagascar adventure holidays can also be enjoyed on the coast, where you can snorkel swim and surf, as well as enjoy some well earned rest.

Madagascar white water rafting, however, is perhaps the ultimate of all adventures. You can traverse the unmapped river of Benahy, which cuts its way through breathtaking canyons. The white water starts after the junction with Imaloto river and all the way down to the coastal plain just after junction with Onilahy river. You can also enjoy white water rafting in Madagascar on the rafting descent of the Sahatandra river. This little rafted river has a fantastic range of rapids and snakes its way through either dense rainforest or bamboo groves. Whichever Madagascar adventure you opt for you will not fail to be amazed, there is no other place like it.

Madagascar Honeymoons and Family Holidays in Madagascar

Madagascar is brimming with endemic fauna and flora and with a culture, geography and climate so diverse that it suits any sort of holiday. Family holidays in Madagascar are ideal as there is so much to see and such a variety of action packed adventure that everyone in the family is guaranteed satisfaction.

Madagascar honeymoons are very popular because the island provides the perfect location for romance and relaxation. You can honeymoon in Madagascar on private island resorts which offer white beaches and excellent snorkelling and diving on glorious Indian Ocean reefs. Honeymoons in Madagascar can be spent exploring the coral reefs, mangroves, palm-fringed coves and, between June and September, you can even see the annual migration of humpback whales. If you are looking for some serious pampering you can choose a Madagascar honeymoon which promises ultimate comfort and style.

A luxury holiday in Madagascar could see you staying on an exclusive camp with electric lighting and en suite facilities, in a tranquil setting of azure seas, verdant forests and distant mountains. This type of luxury holiday in Madagascar also offers night guided rainforest walks, boat safaris and deserted beaches for snorkelling and swimming.

Want to know more about Madagascar before going on holiday?

Find out more about going on Madagascar holidays & tours by reading these Madagascar articles.

"Lying in the Indian Ocean off Mozambique, Madagascar is the world's fourth largest island." With useful information to help you prepare for your Madagascar holiday take a look at this Madagascar travel guide and info.