Southern Madagascar Holidays

While many visitors begin their trips in the central cities before heading north to parks and islands, Southern Madagascar is home to some of the country’s most compelling attractions. Hike between natural lakes and waterfalls in Isalo National Park. Spot rare bamboo lemurs and night-hunting civets in Ranomafana National Park before relaxing in the hot springs of its adjacent town.

Take a drive along the Avenue of Baobabs, one of Madagascar’s most Insta-worthy locations, and stop to see its ancient and magnificent trees up close. Enjoy an educational window into Madagascar’s spiny forest at the Arboretum d'Antsokay near Tuléar, opened by the Swiss botanist and conservationist Herman Petignat in 1980. If all that isn’t enough, get off the beaten track and take a primate safari, or grab your binoculars and go bird spotting, in Kirindy Mitea National Park.

Whether you visit for a few hours or a few days, Isalo National Park is one of the most popular hiking spots on the island. In the company of a local guide, which is compulsory for most Madagascar national parks, you can explore canyons and gorges surrounded by open plateaus and thick forests. Discover secluded waterfalls, sandstone rock formations, and palm groves.

Step into fields of wildflowers and plants inhabited by dozens of colourful birds and insects. Follow winding streams to find clear pools appearing like oases in the heart of the jungle. Walk through the Canyon des Singes to see climbing and leaping sifakas before taking a dip with a view in the Piscine Naturelle. Pass through the ruins of an ancient royal village on your way to the enchanting Cascade des Nymphes. Whichever trail you take, Isalo is a magical world to explore.

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ranofama was designated a national park in 1991 after rare golden bamboo and greater bamboo lemurs were discovered in the area. Visitors can follow guides on hikes lasting from four hours to three days and track these rare creatures alongside 10 other lemur species from aye-aye to sifakas.

A mountainous region filled with streams and waterfalls decorated by huge ferns and beautiful orchids, the park sits beside a namesake town which hosts a series of thermal springs perfect for relaxing and rejuvenating after a day of walking. Also close is Fianarantsoa, where vineyards, rice fields, and craft workshops offer insights into another side of Madagascar. Choose to stay in these towns or pick a deluxe eco-lodge to enjoy nocturnal tours, perhaps spotting a striped civet or mouse lemur, and dawn walks to appreciate the morning bird chorus.

Sitting at the mouth of its namesake river, Morondava is a laidback seaside town on the western coast of Madagascar. It’s best known as the access point to one of the island's most photographed locations, the Avenue of the Baobabs. For around 260 metres, this unpaved road between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina is lined by two dozen 30-metre tall baobab trees, some up to 2,800 years old.

Local traders sell fresh fruit and handicrafts as these unique and magnificent trees cast shadows across the land. Visitors to Morondava can also enjoy easy access to Kirindy Forest Reserve, home to the greatest density and diversity of primates in the world, and the surrounding Kirindy Mitea National Park, a less-visited location where lemurs and Madgascan birds can be spotted among baobab forests, coastal mangroves, inland lakes, and beaches.

Southern Madagascar is warmer and dryer than the central and northern regions, so the ideal window in which to visit is longer. Temperatures exceeding 30°C are common in coastal areas with even the high-altitude inland regions regularly experiencing 20°C or higher throughout the year.

September, October, and November are the months most likely to see rain but downfalls are rarely severe enough to make any areas inaccessible. Visitor numbers are at their highest during the holiday periods in July, August, and December so flexible travellers may wish to plan their arrivals outside of these months. An ideal balance between conditions and fewer crowds can usually be found from January to April, often extending to June.