Madagascar in January
The heart of the rainy season: green landscapes, frogs and chameleons at their most active, and very few travellers.
Plan a January journeyJanuary is summer and the rainy season in Madagascar. Heavy downpours, humidity and the risk of cyclones, mostly on the east coast, make many parks and tracks hard to reach. In exchange, the island is at its greenest, frogs and reptiles are easy to find and you share the trails with very few people. A January journey works best when it is short, flexible and built around places that stay accessible.
January at a glance
Highlands
Warm days with frequent afternoon storms. The rice fields are bright green.
West & South
Hot, with heavy rain in the west. Many western tracks, including the road to the Tsingy de Bemaraha, are closed until April or May. The south-west is the driest corner of the island.
East coast
The wettest region of the island and the most exposed to cyclones from January to March.
Season
Low season. Some hotels close for maintenance, so we choose lodges that stay open.
What January brings
Frogs and reptiles
The rains bring out frogs and many reptiles that are far harder to find in the dry season.
The greenest landscapes
Rice fields, forests and hills are at their most vivid after weeks of rain.
Night life in the rainforest
Tenrecs breed in the rainy season, with a peak of births in January in the east: night walks are full of surprises.
Quiet trails
Very few travellers: the parks that remain accessible feel almost private.
Where to go in January
Best in January
Possible, with flexibility
- Andasibe: wet, but full of frogs and night life
- The coasts, hot and humid, with the cyclone forecast to watch
Plan around
- The Tsingy de Bemaraha and the western tracks are closed during the rains
- Cyclone risk: a flexible route and travel insurance are essential
Journeys for January
Routes that are at their best this month. Each one is a starting point, shaped around your dates.
1 dayAntananarivo: In the Footsteps of Merina Royalty
A one-day immersion into the royal history of the Merina Kingdom, from…
14 daysElegance and Tradition in the Malagasy Highlands
A journey into the cultural heart of Madagascar, exploring the ancestral traditions…
3 daysThe Andasibe Encounter
A concise three-day journey into the primary rainforests east of the capital,…
11 daysA Southern Transect: From the Highlands to the Coast
A journey through southern Madagascar's contrasting landscapes, from the lush rainforests of…
Travelling in January
Is January a good time to visit Madagascar?
It is the rainy and cyclone season, and most travel guides advise against it for a first visit. For travellers who love frogs, reptiles and green landscapes and who accept a flexible plan, it can be rewarding.
What about cyclones?
Cyclones can reach Madagascar between October and May, with the highest risk from January to March, mostly on the east coast. We follow the forecasts closely, keep the route flexible and recommend good travel insurance.
Are the national parks open in January?
Many parks stay open, but access can be difficult after heavy rain, and the Tsingy de Bemaraha are closed. We only build January routes around places that stay accessible.
What should we pack?
Light, quick-drying clothes, a good rain jacket and walking shoes that can get wet. Days on the coast are hot.
Madagascar in January,
designed around you
Tell us your dates and what you dream of seeing. We will build the route around the season.