Madagascar

I came to Madagascar for the wildlife.

From the moment our plane touched down, surrounded by cultivated rice fields and steep terraced mountains, I was blown away. I knew little about this ecologically and culturally diverse country other than its whimsical-looking lemurs and bulbous Baobab trees. We had planned an ambitious 3-week road trip across the Southern half of the country with the help of Road Trip Africa, and it was the perfect way to immerse ourselves in Madagascar.

This collection of guides is very road trip-focused. Partially, because we gravitate toward this kind of slow, immersive travel, and partially because I truly believe that is the only way to get to know this massive island nation. Even if you’re not planning to self-drive or travel independently in Madagascar, these guides will help you to better understand a complicated destination and get a taste for what you’re in for. If Madagascar isn’t already on your bucketlist, it should be.

Madagascar Travel Guide

Recommended Destinations: Andasibe National Park, Ranomafana National Park, Isalo National Park, Adringitra National Park, Tsingy de Bemahara, and Morondava.

Recommended Minimum Trip Length: You need a minimum of 3 weeks to visit all the destinations I listed above. I recommend 3-4 for all travelers on a shoestring budget, as you’ll need lots of time to accommodate for public transport. Road-tripping independently is barely faster.

One Bucketlist Item You Cannot Miss is seeing Indri at Andasibe National Park. Not only is this the only place in the world this super-endangered lemur exists, but it is also one of the most culturally important and unique wildlife on the island.

Things to Consider Before You Go: Travel in Madagascar is slow. Super slow. The distances between destinations are long, and the roads are in poor shape at best. Give yourself ample time if you plan to visit different regions of the country.

Expected Madagascar Backpacker Budget

Madagascar has one of the largest ranges of budgets possible for a backpacker. The country is super affordable, maybe the most affordable we’ve ever visited, but if you want to replicate many of our road trips, this raises prices significantly.

On a Shoestring: $20/day

Flashpacker: $/day

Backpacker Luxury: $150/day

Keep in mind these are backpacker budgets. On a shoestring expect to be eating street food, sleeping in cheap guesthouse beds, & using public transport only. Backpacker Luxury opts for a rental 4×4 with private rooms in hotels, eats mostly in restaurants, and does all the activities. Flashpackers are the middle ground & often do a mixture of both.