Madagascar – When to go
Madagascar
has two seasons, a warm, wet season from November to April, and a cooler dry
season between May and October. However, different parts of the country have
very different weather.
The east
coast is hotter and wetter, with up to 4000mm of rainfall per year. In the
rainy season, there are strong winds, and these can cause a lot of
damage. Avoid visiting eastern Madagascar between January and March
because the weather can make road travel very difficult. The dry season
is cooler and more pleasant.
The high,
central part of the country is much drier and cooler. About 1,400 mm of rain
falls in the rainy season, with some thunderstorms, but the summer is usually
sunny and dry, but it can be cold, especially in the mornings, with freezing
showers, and it may snow in mountain areas above 2,400m, and even stay there
for several days.
The west
coast is the driest part of the island. Here, the winter months are pleasant
with little rain, cooler temperatures and blue skies. The summers can be
extremely hot, especially in the southwest. This part of the country is
semi-desert, and only gets around 300mm of rain per year.1 Madagascar
has four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.