Africa

Madagascar in May

The dry season settles in and most routes open. A superb quiet-season month across the island.

BestDry and pleasant, highs near 75F (24C) in the highlands

Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar — MadagascarPhoto: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0

The straight answer

May is one of the best months of the year to visit Madagascar. The dry season settles in and most routes open. A superb quiet-season month across the island.

Weather: Dry and pleasant, highs near 75F (24C) in the highlands
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 3 of 5

What May is like in Madagascar

May is when the dry season settles in and most routes across the island open. Highland days are pleasant, with highs near 75F (24C), and nights start to cool. The landscape is still green from the rains, the skies are clear, and tourist numbers stay low. Tsingy de Bemaraha usually reopens around now as its access roads dry out.

May is one of the best months to visit. It suits first-timers, couples and families with older kids who want good weather, open parks and quiet lodges. You will not see baby lemurs or humpback whales yet, so if those are the goal, plan for September. Otherwise, May is hard to beat for value and space.

Make the most of May

What is especially good about Madagascar this month.

The whole island opens up

Dry roads mean you can reach the west, including the Avenue of the Baobabs and, in most years, the Tsingy.

Avenue of the Baobabs at sunset

Clear dry-season skies give the giant baobabs near Morondava their classic golden light.

Quiet-season lodges

The best small lodges near popular parks are much easier to book than in July and August.

What to pack for May

A fleece or warm jacket for highland nights
Hiking shoes for the Tsingy and Isalo trails
Sunscreen and a hat
A headlamp for night walks

Our timing tip

Confirm with Madagascar National Parks or your guide that Tsingy de Bemaraha has reopened before locking in a western route in May.

Book Madagascar for May.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Madagascar
Opens a hotel search for Madagascar in May, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for May
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Madagascar
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Madagascar
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Madagascar for May. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

Things to do in Madagascar

Full guide

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park

The easiest rainforest park from the capital, home to the indri. Go on a guided morning walk for the calls and a night walk for mouse lemurs and chameleons.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Avenue of the Baobabs

Giant Grandidier's baobabs lining a dirt road near Morondava on the west coast. Go at sunset or sunrise for the classic light.

Tickets and tours →

Tsingy de Bemaraha

A UNESCO-listed labyrinth of limestone pinnacles crossed by suspension bridges. Accessible only in the dry season, roughly May to November, via a long rough drive.

Tickets and tours →

Ranomafana National Park

Misty highland rainforest where the golden bamboo lemur was discovered, plus hot springs in the nearby village.

Tickets and tours →

Isalo National Park

Sandstone canyons, natural swimming pools, and ring-tailed lemurs along the famous RN7 road south.

Tickets and tours →

Ile Sainte-Marie whale watching

Humpbacks migrate to the channel off the island to breed and calve, roughly July through September.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Choose April, May, October, or November over the July and August peak; the best lodges near popular parks are small and fill quickly in summer.
Book a reliable driver-guide and domestic flights early. In a country with limited infrastructure, availability, not crowds, is the real constraint.
Enter parks at opening time. Wildlife is most active early, and the guided trails are quietest before groups arrive.
Consider a single region in depth, such as RN7 in the south or the north around Nosy Be and Ankarana, rather than trying to cover the whole island.

Know before you go

Tsingy de Bemaraha typically closes for the rainy season, roughly December to April or May, when access roads become impassable.
Many unpaved roads, particularly in the west and north, are impassable in the rainy season; even the main RN7 can see delays after storms.
Domestic flights are frequently rescheduled or cancelled. Build buffer days into any itinerary, especially before an international departure.
Some small lodges near remote parks close for part of the rainy season. Check before booking between December and March.

Madagascar in May, quick answers

Is May a good time to visit Madagascar?

May is one of the best months of the year to visit Madagascar. The dry season settles in and most routes open. A superb quiet-season month across the island.

What is the weather like in Madagascar in May?

Dry and pleasant, highs near 75F (24C) in the highlands.

Is Madagascar crowded in May?

May is one of the quieter months in Madagascar; most sights can be done without long waits.