Avenue of Baobabs, Morondava, Madagascar

Madagascar Holidays

A paradise with a mysterious past. Beyond its glorious collection of wildlife – think chameleons, lemurs and whales – we can open up a treasure trove of culture, music, superstitions and pirate folklore for you.

Home to a natural world as magical and diverse as the people, Madagascar is a confusing, fascinating and exciting country.

Here, chameleons change colour in front of your eyes, lemurs dance through treetops, baobabs loom over paddy fields and whales calve off white beaches. And amongst this wealth of natural beauty hide pirates’ tombs, celebrations of the dead and whispered superstitions.

Highlights of Madagascar

Ringtailed lemur, Berenty reserve, Madagascar
Ring-tailed lemurs, Madagascar

The wildlife of Madagascar

  • Watch ring-tailed lemurs dancing in the trees of the Ifotaka forest
  • See chameleons change colour by torchlight on a night walk in Ranomafana
  • Search for the elusive and cat-like fossa in Kirindy National Park
Beach View, Nosy Be, Madagascar
Nosy Be, Madagascar

Beaches & islands

  • Snorkel over historical shipwrecks off the coast of Ile St Marie
  • Spend time with rays, sharks and dolphins whilst diving off Nosy Be
  • Watch whales breach offshore between June and September
Young boy in hat, Madagascar
Madagascar

Cultural highlights

  • Discover ancient haunted tombs in remote southern forests
  • Experience the buzz of a traditional weekly zebu cattle market
  • Take an urban Malagasy music tour around Antananarivo
Crowned lemur, Amber Mountains, Madagascar
Amber Mountain National Park, Madagascar
Malagasy or Madagascar tree boa, Andasibe Mantadia, Madagascar
Andasibe-Mantadia, Madagascar
Leaf tailed Gecko, Andasibe Mantadia, Madagascar
Andasibe-Mantadia, Madagascar
Kids playing, Anjajavy, Madagascar
Anjajavy, Madagascar

Family holidays on the island

Explore this diverse, exciting and adventure-packed island as a family, combining quirky endemic wildlife with unspoilt tropical beaches. In the forests of Andasibe, spot lemurs and chameleons as you explore on foot, before searching for haunted tombs in the mangroves of remote southern Madagascar. Finish on the beach, where you can snorkel, swim, kayak and sail, surrounded by an array of colourful marine life.

Explore Madagascar

  • Amber Mountain National Park
  • Masoala Peninsula
  • Ankarana
  • Ranomafana
  • Tsingy de Bemaraha
  • Kirindy
  • Isalo
  • Berenty
  • Antananarivo
  • Diego Suarez

Experiences

Choose from our collection of curated experiences that will help us to create a bespoke and memorable journey for you.

Lowland streaked tenrec , Andasibe Mantadia, Madagascar

Wildlife Night Walk

Set out on a night walk, spotting chameleons, tenrecs and other nocturnal animals by torchlight.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Manafiafy, Whale breaching,

Whale Watching

Watch humpback whales come to calve in the sweeping Bay of Antongil.

Suggested lodge

Forest track, Masoala, Madagascar

Trek the Masoala Peninsula

Venture to the rugged mountains and lush rainforests that offer challenging trails for the brave.

Suggested lodge

Masoala, Madagascar

Visit Local Communities

Discover some incredibly welcoming, and isolated, traditional towns and villages.

Suggested lodge

Aye aye, nocturnal lemur, Palmarium Private Reserve, Madagascar

Nosy Mangabe Nature Reserve

Travel by boat to the Nosy Mangabe Nature Reserve, home to white-fronted brown lemurs, black-and-white ruffed lemurs, leaf-tailed geckos, tree boas and even aye-ayes.

Suggested lodge

Beach View, Nosy Be, Madagascar

Nosy Be Adventure

Spend time with rays, sharks and dolphins whilst diving off Nosy Be.

Suggested property

View from cave in Tsingy de Bemaraha, Madagascar

Tsingy Rivers and Caves

Kayak along rivers and explore caves in Tsingy de Bemaraha.

Yacht charter, Ibo Island, Mozambique

Charter a Yacht

Island-hop along Madagascar’s north-western coast on a private, skippered yacht.

Traditional sailboat near Nosy Be island in northern Madagascar

Anjajavy Adventure

Sail, windsurf, snorkel and canoe off the beaches on Anjajavy.

Suggested stay

Aerial view of cost fo Ile St Marie, Madagascar

Snorkel on Ile St Marie

Snorkel over historical shipwrecks off the coast of Ile St Marie.

Suggested stay

Need Inspiration?
Browse our Madagascar holiday ideas.

Our experts have created and curated these holiday ideas to get you started. Take the time to search through them and find something to spark ideas for a unique adventure.

Where to Stay

Every captivating tailor-made itinerary needs a perfect base. Our team has handpicked this collection of properties to give you luxury options in styles to suit any adventure.

More luxury accommodation

Meet our experts

A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.

Illona Cross

Born in a small South African town, I have always followed my passion for nature and discovery. After studying Nature Conservation in Pretoria, I was one of the first women to complete a very tough cadetship in the Natal Parks Board. It was here where I cut my teeth in African wildlife management.

Talk with our experts
  • 1 800 571 2985

Chris Johnston

Having trekked through rainforests, searched for ancient tombs and been mistaken for a priest, Chris continues to travel the length and breadth of this beautiful, baffling country. Whilst many people consider Madagascar a wildlife destination, he finds the culture and landscapes just as captivating.

Talk with our experts
  • 1 800 571 2985

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Frequently asked questions about Madagascar

How unreliable are Air Madagascar?

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When is the best time to go to Madagascar?

There are lots of different parks. How do I choose the best Madagascar holiday for me?

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Durrell Madagascar project tree planting
Durrell, Madagascar

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

We support projects right across the planet. For example, in Madagascar, we have donated to the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. Durrell is working with local communities in Madagascar’s Menabe-Antimena Protected Area to preserve and restore forest habitat through community-led patrolling and reforestation efforts.

When planning your trip speak to our experts about how you can also support the destinations you are visiting.

Why Choose Steppes?

Our knowledge, curiosity and expertise set us apart, driving us to create remarkable holidays and Beautiful Adventures tailored perfectly to you, carefully curated to help protect and conserve our planet.

Are you ready to Discover Extraordinary?


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