The Right Season Makes all the Difference in Madagascar (Part two)

Our last post here started the journey through the weather cycle of Madagascar. January to March are more suited to adventure seekers.The wildlife hides. Roads are muddy and difficult to traverse. Parks, resorts and adjoining accommodation are often closed in difficult access areas.

That being said, April brings a huge improvement and reprieve in terms of weather conditions. It is not perfect but certainly gives more breathing space. Wildlife begin to poke their heads out in April. The landscape of Madagascar becomes lush green as a result of the consistent rain from previous months.

The further seasons from here take us to a different set of weather conditions that make Madagascar an excellent travel destination. Do catch up on the previous post as we zoom in on May, June, July and August.

May – I can see clearly now the rain is gone

…or almost! The general Madagascar climatic pulse has rainfall down to figures below 50mm. Sunshine hours span up to the quarter of a day. And the temperature range between 13ᵒC (55.4ᵒF) – 24ᵒC (75.2ᵒF). All of these make May one of the best months to book a holiday to the Big Island and to travel around malagasy famous destinations.

Lush green landscapes are bathed in sunlight and interspersed rainfall every now and then as a reminder that the dry season is not fully arrived.

Lemurs, reptiles and a host of wildlife come out from their hiding places and enjoy the atmosphere created by the weather in May. The water temperature in Madagascar at this time is also at a conducive temperature for aqua life at about 30ᵒC (86ᵒF).

Accommodations and transportation become more accessible during this period.

June – the calm before the real tourist storm

More sunshine, less rain which manifests sporadically, and a more conducive environment for visiting Madagascar are characteristics of the month of June. Wildlife and flora are on full colored display during the month of June. It is one of the popular and best tourism months.

Aquatic life throughout the Big Island have a fill of the water which is at an average temperature of 25ᵒC (77ᵒF). The sunshine period extends to about one-third of a day.

The crowds in Madagascar around this time are not much. The prices are still low around as there is no tourist rush yet. So for the quiet-type people, this is a good time for you to visit or travel around in Madagascar.

Lemurs of Anjajavy dancing through gardens or hanging around the beach are sights that would be possible and quite frequent. The humpback whales are migrating to the surrounding seas as they provide some of the most spectacular events. The humpbacks migrate into the warm and comfortable waters of Madagascar (average temperature of 25ᵒC (77ᵒF)) from the cold Antarctica region. Their yearly rituals which include courtship, giving birth and feeding their young calves are on display and attract many.

For a tourist, the air temperature range around9ᵒC (48.2ᵒF) – 22ᵒC (71.6ᵒF) creates and activates a fun-filled time. The advice is simple – you should come over.

July – tourism peak season

July is tourist peak season. Students and  their parents from everywhere take time to travel for family, for fun, for work, or all of the above. Madagascar comes alive with both humans coming to visit and wildlife coming out for their various yearly activities and routines.

The temperature of the weather is at its lowest point as it is Madagascar’s winter season with temperatures as low as 9ᵒC (48.2ᵒF) and high as 20ᵒC (68ᵒF). Although some wildlife especially reptiles and smaller mammals hibernate during this period. The whale-watching season is booming in this period with water temperature of 24.5ᵒC (76.1ᵒF) which also makes it a great period for marine life tracking for tourists that come around this time. With almost 8 hours of the day being sunny and the just 10 mm of rainfall, July is a dry month all over Madagascar. Sparse showers are common in and around the coastal cities especially in the East Coast.

Parks, Lodges and Beaches are fully open and welcome tourists and visitors during this period and further into the year.

August – tourism continues

August is a mild and dry and a great period for tourism, wildlife and plants. The alarms still cannot rouse the animals that are hibernating during this period as the weather conditions of a minimum of 9ᵒC (48.2ᵒF) – 22ᵒC (71.6ᵒF) make for a cool and mild weather. Rainfall is still expected to be sparse all through Madagascar during this period. Both marine life and humans enjoy the use of the waters around. The whales continue their festivities and humans come to watch them and also get involved in snorkeling.

Visiting during May to August will provide more options as a tourist. July and August are especially great months for visiting the Island if you are not into adventures and everything that comes along with the wet season.

 

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