Best time for
The Living Traditions of Madagascar
The September to November window provides the most reliable access across the dry, sandy pistes to the remote spiny forests where Mahafaly and Antandroy communities erect their iconic aloalo-adorned tombs. This period precedes the intense heat of the deep summer, allowing for sustained exploration of markets like the one in Ampanihy where zebu trading and local life converge.
When to go
Seasonal highlight
In the gallery forests of Berenty and the canyons of Isalo National Park, September and October mark the birth of ring-tailed lemur infants. Mothers can be seen carrying their young, a behavior that is only observable during this specific window.
Planning your trip
The primary wet season from January to March can bring cyclones and render the sandy tracks to remote villages and funerary art sites completely impassable.
Secure specialist guides with deep knowledge of Mahafaly and Antandroy funerary customs at least six months in advance, as their expertise is essential for navigating local fady and gaining access.
