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.

Masoala, Madagascar
Madagascar

Visit Local Communities

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

Suggested lodge

Aye aye, nocturnal lemur, Palmarium Private Reserve, Madagascar
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
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
Madagascar

Tsingy Rivers and Caves

Kayak along rivers and explore caves in Tsingy de Bemaraha.

Yacht charter, Ibo Island, Mozambique
Madagascar

Charter a Yacht

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

Lowland streaked tenrec , Andasibe Mantadia, Madagascar
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,
Madagascar

Whale Watching

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

Suggested lodge

Forest track, Masoala, Madagascar
Madagascar

Trek the Masoala Peninsula

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

Suggested lodge

Traditional sailboat near Nosy Be island in northern Madagascar
Madagascar

Anjajavy Adventure

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

Suggested stay

Aerial view of cost fo Ile St Marie, Madagascar
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

Some of the wonderful places to stay that we frequently recommended.

Mantadia Lodge £££££

  • Madagascar
  • Safari and Wildlife Lodge

The most stylish and contemporary option in Andasibe, Mantadia Lodge is a lovely base from which to explore the area. It perches on the side of a low hill, looking out over a mixture of farmland and forest. The lodge is formed of 25 beautifully designed rooms and is well located for exploring both Andasibe and Mantadia national parks.

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Thermal Hotel £££££

  • Madagascar

The Thermal Hotel is the newest lodge in Ranomafana, having been completely refurbished. It benefits from its location in the centre of town – perfect for those who like to explore. The 21 rooms are split into three large blocks, and whilst the size of the buildings makes the interiors seem a little empty, the rooms are very clean and comfortable, with pine panels lending the place a decidedly wood-cabin feel. The restaurant is excellent and many people come here from outside the hotel to eat. What it lacks in atmosphere, it more than makes up for in service, food and efficiency.

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Masoala Forest Lodge £££££

  • Madagascar
  • Safari and Wildlife Lodge

Masoala Forest Lodge is a tented camp in Parc National Masoala, in a secluded sandy cove, surrounded by forests full of wildlife. Offering the best of both worlds, the handful of palm-thatched treehouses sit on raised wooden platforms, not only creating privacy but a cool, shady spot to take in the sea views in the shadow of the forest. Solar lighting, local materials used for the building and clever use of the rainwater in naturally cooling the rooms, is a nod to the lodges green credentials.

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La Varangue £££££

  • Madagascar
  • City

This lovely old creole style house oozes colonial charm with the brightly painted shutters and national flags on the outside a colourful contrast to the whitewashed walls and corridors. Vintage cars parked outside and the cool, darkly wooded interiors lit at night by hurricane lamps complete the picture, but its location, hidden away down a steep lane next to the Presidential Palace makes it feel even more exclusive.

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Relais De La Reine £££££

  • Madagascar
  • Safari and Wildlife Lodge

The spectacular Relais De La Reine is one of a handful of beautifully designed lodges in the Isalo area, seeming to grow out of the spectacular rocky landscapes. Sitting amongst the canyons in lush gardens and dramatically lit paths feel like the grounds of a medieval castle.  

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Berenty Lodge £££££

  • Madagascar
  • Safari and Wildlife Lodge

Berenty Lodge is perhaps the most well-known property in the region, set in the heart of a private nature reserve allowing some of the best opportunities to observe lemurs up-close, and is naturally very popular with photographers. Each of the 12 simple, but comfortable bungalows are air conditioned and the open feel of the rest of lodge, with shady bomas in the garden are a great place to watch wildlife go by. Whilst the popularity of the lodge does mean it can get very busy at times, this is a simple, no frills lodge with good lemur sightings and some great self-guided trails in the reserve so you can wander to your heart’s content.

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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

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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.

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