Short Madagascar Safari
In this safari you can experience a vast amount of wildlife in a short amount of time. Head into Andasibe National Park and Mantadia Reserve to offer you a truly unique insight into the initial fauna and flora of Madagascar.
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Madagascar Safaris
Madagascar is a destination like no other and has even been named the ‘8th continent’ for its enchanting beauty and resplendent breadth of diversity. The only place in the world where you can see lemurs in the wild, Madagascar is home to a unique plethora of endemic wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. Boggle-eyed chameleons, dancing lemurs, and leaf-tailed geckos are just the start. With over 100 species of lemur, 300 bird species, and a dazzling variety of reptiles and amphibians, Madagascar is a dream for nature lovers and wildlife photographers alike. Explore more of Madagascar's amazing wildlife
Madagascar is a destination like no other and has even been named the ‘8th continent’ for its enchanting beauty and resplendent breadth of diversity. The only place in the world where you can see lemurs in the wild, Madagascar is home to a unique plethora of endemic wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. Boggle-eyed chameleons, dancing lemurs, and leaf-tailed geckos are just the start. With over 100 species of lemur, 300 bird species, and a dazzling variety of reptiles and amphibians, Madagascar is a dream for nature lovers and wildlife photographers alike
The Madagascar Safari Experience
- This is no traditional African safari, swap the 4x4 with exploring on foot to allow for getting up close and personal with wildlife.
- From the tiny egg-cup sized mouse lemur to the morning calls of the teddy bear-esque Indri, a safari to Madagascar offers something truly unique for the wildlife lover.
- The East Coast and Masoala Forest Lodge is a hot spot for some world class whale sightings as humpback whales migrate through this eastern oceanic corridor, even using it for calving.
- Visit the Avenue of Baobabs for an incredible photography location.
- Discover the unique landscapes that Madagascar has to offer by hiking through the hot southern deserts and dramatic rock formations of Isalo.
- From private islands to luxury retreats, there are many options available if you want to wind down at the end of your safari by the beach.
Madagascar Safaris
From 6000 per person
Wildlife & Nature Expedition
This exhilarating adventure through some of Madagascar’s most biodiverse regions showcases the best of its wildlife and natural splendour.
Luxury Madagascar Safari
This exhilarating adventure through some of Madagascar’s most biodiverse regions showcases the best of its wildlife and natural splendour. Lacking in the big game and fierce predators of its African relatives, Madagascar offers a unique and ‘hands on’ experience for your safari. A range of weird and wonderful insects and reptiles can be discovered and closely inspected, and the instant appeal of cuddly lemurs is magnetic for many travellers.
Contact a Madagascar Safari Specialist
The Madagascar Safari Experience
How much does Madagascar cost?
A Madagascar holiday is still very good value for money, especially when you compare it to mainland Africa. For a 7-day safari in Madagascar, we recommend a starting price of $8,000 per person. If you are looking to stay in some of Madagascar’s most iconic and best loved lodges, you’ll need to increase the budget to $54,000 per person including private light aircraft and helicopter flights, intimate lemur encounters and private guides.
When to go on a Madagascar Safari?
The best time to visit Madagascar is from April to October. This dry season brings fewer rain showers, meaning optimal conditions for seeking out wildlife, hiking and enjoying the beach. Whilst Madagascar holidays can be enjoyed year-round, the principal wet season is from late December through to the month of March; often involving cyclones and is probably best avoided! Read more about when to go.
Where to stay in Madagascar
From remote camping in undiscovered parks, to luxury beach hideaways and jungle lodges, Madagascar now has a great selection of truly diverse places to stay. If you are looking for primary rainforest, tropical coastlines, and truly wild lemurs, then look no further than Masoala Forest Lodge. A family run property owned by Pierre and Maria every guest is made to feel at home in thatched tented bandas overlooking the beach. For a luxury beach retreat, escape to the private island destination of Miavana with stunning villas and ocean views. Read more about where to stay in Madagascar.
Madagascar Travel Info
Trekking in Madagascar
Madagascar is a trekking paradise, offering a diverse range of landscapes from lush rainforests to dramatic rock formations. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or a nature lover, the island's national parks promise unforgettable experiences.
Madagascar Honeymoons
Madagascar is situated in the Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of Africa and is a fantastic destination for a honeymoon for adventurous couples looking for something a little different. From the weird and wonderful endemic wildlife to a stunning coastline and tiny islands, there is plenty to see and explore.
Ringtail Lemur Baby Encounters
Nature's Great Events
Trekking the arid lands of southern Madagascar, working your way around dry forest and bush, and past bizarre sandstone formations; you spot what you are looking for - arguably the most captivating and iconic of all the lemurs in Madagascar, the ringtail.
Madagascar Safari Highlights
Client Reviews
Rated 4.9/5 based on 9 customer reviews
- —Sanju R, Madagascar: Eastern Rainforest & Isalo Safari, November 2023
This trip was so meticulously designed and was perfect for a solo female traveler like myself - thank you so much! My guide, Tojo, and our driver were simply superb! They ensured that I got to see and do every single thing I wanted to.
- —Terry G who travelled on Madagascar: Small Group Safari 2022
Everything that was shown to me and described to me before the trip was exactly as it played out and I can humbly say that this trip exceeded my expectations. The guide we had was fantastic. He was not only knowledgeable with answers for every question and concern but his passion, pride, and love for his home was quite evident which made it easy to learn about Madagascar regarding the wildlife, the cities, the countryside, the people and everything else in between. Thank you for this experience and a special thanks to Toky, our guide who made this trip very special and to be quite honest, the best trip I have been fortunate to enjoy.
- —Varsha P who travelled on Madagascar: Small Group Safari
David was excellent and was very professional and courteous to communicate with. My trip to Madagascar was wonderful and easily a 10/10 experience. I enjoyed the landscapes and wildlife and our guide Toky went above and beyond to make sure we had a great trip - he even included extra night walks that weren't included in the itinerary. NWS is clearly committed to delivering quality trips with excellent guides and accommodations to beautiful destinations in the world.
- —Elizabeth L who travelled on Madagascar Small Group
We saw so many lemurs as mentioned in the itinerary and lots of other wildlife including chameleons! The tour was very well organised and we were treated with great accommodation. We felt safe and sure we were getting the best experience available in each location.
- —Lori M who travelled on Madagascar Small Group Safari
All in all, this was a great safari - highly recommended! Everyone we interacted with from NWS was friendly and helpful. This tour was reasonably priced for the high quality of its guides, accommodations, and local tours. The small group safari was the perfect size (for mobility, to encourage interaction, and to ensure that everyone got good looks at sometimes skittish wildlife). The NWS app was very helpful, and I referred to it frequently before and during the tour to check the itinerary, weather, map, etc.
- —John E who travelled on Madagascar: Treasures of Masoala
We loved this trip and Masoala with incredible wildlife sightings. Our guide, Felix, was amazing. We had no idea the food would be so excellent at the lodge. The evening campfire, while a small detail, was a very nice touch and helped form relationships among guests and staff.
- —Richard C who travelled on Madagascar: Rainforsts, Lemurs and Beaches
Madagascar is a fascinating but very difficult place to travel to. NWS worked with me to put together a really interesting itinerary. Lodges ranged from good to superb. Local guides were excellent. Tough place to travel. Glad I had their help.
- —Nancy G who travelled on Madagascar, Zambia & Botswana: The Ultimate Safari
Simply amazed. We had unrealistic expectations for this "adventure" but they were nevertheless exceeded. In almost every instance where it could have gone south...it went NORTH! All in my travel group were impressed by the superior service and experiences that were a direct result of our NWS itinerary. This experience set the bar. We don't know how any other service could exceed it for the things we like to do.
- —Edward D who travelled on Madagascar: Short Lemur Safari
David was excellent in crafting a short safari that met the special requirements of our group, giving us a wonderful variety of wildlife experiences in eastern Madagascar. NWS were appropriately realistic in describing the resource challenges in the country, but nonetheless we enjoyed very comfortable accommodations, very good food and superb local guides throughout the week. Great service from NWS HQ and the high-quality local partners who provide the experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink tap water in Madagascar?
No, we recommend that you always drink bottled, boiled or treated water during your time in Madagascar. You can buy purification tablets or iodine to treat water during your travels, and vitamin C tablets are good for hiding the taste. If you are buying bottled water, ensure the bottle is sealed when it is handed to you. Always ensure that any ice in drinks is purified or made from bottled water rather than tap.
Which languages are spoken in Madagascar?
The official first language of Madagascar is Malagasy, and the official business language is French. Your guides and some hospitality staff in hotels and lodges will speak English but speaking some basic French could come in handy.
What is the money in Madagascar?
The local currency in Madagascar is Malagasy Ariary, although most major currencies are accepted. US Dollars and Euros are usually the preferred currency. There are not very many opportunities to change money in Madagascar, so when you arrive at the airport (or before you depart) try to change enough to last you at least a week. Credit card use is very limited throughout Madagascar (the most widely accepted is Visa), but very useful as a back up.
What is the most popular food in Madagascar?
Malagasy food is heavily rice based, influenced by the many cultures of Madagascar, including Indonesian and European. The closer to the coast you are, the better the seafood. In Antananarivo, as with many big cities, there is a huge variety in international restaurants and cuisine.
For those who eat meat, there are lots of pork, beef and fish dishes, including a traditional dish made from pork and cassava leaves. Vegetarian and vegan options can be quite limited - often there will be a choice of omelettes or spaghetti and sometimes there will be some sautéed vegetables on offer with rice and noodles. Let us know your dietary requirements in advance and we will do our best to arrange something for you in destination
Is Madagascar safe for tourists?
Madagascar is one of the safest and friendliest countries we have travelled to. The locals, staff and guides are all welcoming and friendly, happy to answer your questions and keen to talk. Remember that Madagascar is a very poor country and there are some cases of petty theft in the capital, so make sure you don’t walk around flaunting jewellery or money. You must ensure, as with travelling in any destination, that you look after you belongings, keep money in separate places in case of loss or theft and ensure you’re not out alone at night. In regards to the wildlife, there are very few animals that pose a threat to humans. Listen to your guides, you will remain in safe hands.
Do I need a visa to go to Madagascar?
At present, tourist visas are required by all nationalities entering Madagascar. These can be gained upon arrival in Antananarivo, however we do recommend you look into obtaining it in advance. Visas for Madagascar are approximately EUR35 per person, to be organised on arrival at the airport, but things change regularly so contact your local Embassy for more details. Obtaining the correct visa is your responsibility.
Embassy Contact Details
- The closest Malagasy Embassy to the UK is located in Paris: 4, avenue Raphael, 75016, Paris. Tel: +33 145 046 211, info@ambassade-madagascar.fr , https://www.ambassade-madagascar.fr/
- In the USA the Malagasy Embassy is located at 2374 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington DC, 20008 Tel: +1 202 265 5525, Malagasy@embassy.org
Wildlife Specialists
Wildlife remains our primary focus and we ensure accommodation is carefully selected as the very best places to stay for front-row wildlife spectacles for the time of the year you are travelling. Hear the Indri before you see them and wake up to their songs of communication in the early hours of the morning with the mist still hugging the rainforest canopy.
Wealth of Experience
NWS started as World Primate Safaris more than a decade ago. There is no better team to take you to discover the unique primates of Madagascar. We maintain close relationships with our partners on the ground; our dedicated naturalist guide has hosted research groups, film crews and dignitaries; his knowledge is encyclopedic.
Tailored Safaris
Share your interests with our Destination Specialists and we will match you to the in-country experts, providing you with nothing but the best access and highly experienced wildlife trackers and guides. Safari are meticulously planned to be seamless in terms of quality and service, with private transfers available throughout.