An utterly unique island with brilliant wildlife

An off-the-beaten-track destination for even the most seasoned of safari goers, the remote island of Madagascar has started to emerge as a fascinating wildlife destination with a handful of sustainably minded luxury lodges and camps opening in recent years.

With 90 percent of all flora and fauna found in Madagascar endemic, and a blend of Austronesian, African, Arab and European culture, it is no stretch to call the island truly unique. As well as it’s iconic lemurs – which are reason enough for many to venture here – Madagascar has stretches of beautiful Indian Ocean coastline, exclusive island retreats, a rugged interior to be explored and a warm people to get to know.

The capital, Antananarivo (or simply ‘Tana’), sits at the heart of the country, that, without much in the way of a road network outside the city, will act as a hub for visitors. From here fly north to luxury beach resorts such as Anjajavy or Miavana, or south to the spiny forest of Androy and rugged coast near Fort Dauphin in Anosy. Hearing the indri’s haunting calls in the forests of Andasibe-Mantadia National Park are a must for wildlife lovers.

From our experts

Experiences picked by our destination specialists

Spot lemurs in their natural habitat

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Keep an eye out for one of the 100 different species of iconic lemur that call Madagascar home

Swim with whale sharks

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Swim with the epic whale sharks

See the famous Baobab trees

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Marvel at the Baobab trees that decorate Madagascar, often called the “tree of life”

Eat well in the capital Antananarivo

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Explore the vibrant capital, Antananarivo, and taste some of the brilliant food that can be found here

Scuba dive the world's third largest coral reef

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Scuba Dive over the world’s third largest coral reef, amongst dolphins, whales, sharks and more

Walk the Stone Forest at Tsingy de Bemaraha

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Visit the striking Stone Forest in Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park

A word from one of our experts

Madagascar is a brilliant destination to explore, even for the most well-seasoned traveller. Seeing lemurs up close is definitely a highlight of any trip here.

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James Harris

Travel Designer

Luxury accommodation in Madagascar

There are many incredible places to stay in Madagascar. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our travel designers:

Anjajavy Reserve

Anjajavy le Lodge
On a peninsula in north-west Madagascar that can only be reached by light aircraft, seemingly at the edge of the whole world, Anjajavy sits within a private portion of its own pioneering protected reserve, offering an incredibly authentic, up-close experience of nature. Taking inspiration from traditional Sakalava villages, its 24 villas are elegantly constructed from rosewood and palm thatch, set facing the sea and surrounded by gardens. On the ground floor, each has a large veranda in front of a living area, bed and bathroom. A Japanese staircase leads up to a floor which can be used as a children’s bedroom. Silent air conditioning keeps the bedroom at an ideal temperature. The cool tropical gardens, known as the Oasis, are rich with native flora and attract both relaxing guests and lemurs. Follow paths to secret beaches flanked by coral tsingy towers, or back into the jungle, perhaps on a guided night walk in search of pocket-sized mouse lemurs and slender-fingered aye-aye after a delightful gourmet dinner of fresh seafood and organic produce from local farmers. You can also explore mangrove channels by kayak, go fishing, hiking, visit caves, go on guided nature and birdwatching walks, mountain bike, wind surf water ski and more. Excursions to local villages provide a unique insight into life in this remote corner of Madagascar and show how Anajajavy is benefitting the local community through a number of collaborative projects.
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Ready to plan your adventure?

Whatever you want from your Madagascar tour, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Where to go

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Andasibe-Mantadia National Park

In the mountains of eastern Madagascar, Andasibe-Mantadia National Park encompasses a stretch of primary rainforest that hosts an incredible array of biodiversity, most famously the indri, the largest of the lemurs.

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Androy

The southernmost region of Madagascar, Androy, meaning ‘land of the thorny bush’, is an arid landscape characterised by desert and spiny forests.

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Anjajavy Reserve

The 7,200 hectare Anjajavy Reserve can be found in the remote north-west of Madagascar, a protected area encompassing sea, coral reef, beaches, forest, mangrove, savannah, tumescent baobabs and jagged ‘Tsingy’ rock formations.

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Anosy

Long the cultural meeting point of Madagascar and the rest of the world, Anosy’s tropical coastline and green mountains were the first corner of the island glimpsed by Europeans in 1500 en route between the Cape of Good Hope and India.

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Antananarivo

Madagascar’s capital and largest city, Antananarivo lies in the centre of the island. ‘Tana’, as it is affectionately known, is a unique place and where the country’s history and blend of Austronesian, Africa and European cultures are most apparent.

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Diana Region

The northernmost region of Madagascar, the Diana Region is centred around the capital of Antsiranana (also known as Diego-Suarez), and the sweeping Antisiranana Bay.

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When to visit

The best time to go to Madagascar is between the months of April and December. Within these months, there is no bad time to go, but the right month for your trip depends on what you want to see and do.

Lemur Spotting

September - November

Humpback Whale Watching

June - September

Green Season

April

When Is the Best Time to Go to Madagascar?

When Is the Best Time to Go to Madagascar?

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Plan your trip to Madagascar

Whatever you want from your adventure in Madagascar, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

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Why book with Jacada?

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Personalised design

We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.

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Authentic experiences

Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.

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Responsible travel

Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.

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Your trip, your story

We craft trips deeply personal, delightfully surprising and entirely one of a kind. Every Jacada journey begins in conversation with a travel designer, a specialist in their destination of expertise. Behind each journey is a wealth of insight, gathered over years of on-the-ground exploration.

Once you’re booked, you’ll meet your concierge. Based in the region you’re visiting, they’ll take care of all the details so your mind is at rest. They make the trip truly special – and truly yours.