Overview
Madagascar sits in the Indian Ocean off the south-east coast of Africa, and it feels quite unlike anywhere else on the continent. Roughly nine in ten of its plants and animals live nowhere else on Earth, from wide-eyed lemurs to the giant baobabs of the west. For UK travellers it is very much a long-haul trip that rewards planning: there are no direct flights from Britain, so every routing involves at least one connection. This guide covers when to fly, which airports you will use, the airlines that serve the island, and how to keep the fare sensible.
Best time to fly to Madagascar
The dry season runs roughly from April to November and is the most comfortable time to visit, with clearer skies and good wildlife viewing. April to May and September to November are especially pleasant. Humpback whales gather off Ile Sainte-Marie between July and September. The hot, wet season from December to March brings heavy rain and a cyclone risk on the east coast, and some roads and parks become hard to reach. Fares generally ease outside the July to August and Christmas peaks; check the When to book chart above for the current pattern.
Main gateway cities & airports
Almost all visitors arrive at Ivato International Airport (TNR) in the capital, Antananarivo, often shortened to Tana. It has a modern terminal and sits about 15km from the city centre, a 30 to 45 minute drive. Nosy Be (NOS) in the north-west also handles some international flights and is convenient if you are heading straight for the beach resorts.
Airlines and routes
No airline flies direct from the UK. The most common one-stop options are Kenya Airways via Nairobi, Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa, Air France via Paris and Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, with Airlink connecting via Johannesburg and Air Mauritius via Mauritius. From London, expect around 14 to 18 hours in total including the connection; from Manchester, Ethiopian and Turkish both offer handy links through their hubs, usually a little longer. Madagascar Airlines operates most domestic hops once you arrive.
Popular places to visit in Madagascar
- Avenue of the Baobabs: the iconic row of ancient trees near Morondava, best at sunrise or sunset.
- Andasibe-Mantadia National Park: the easiest place to hear and see the indri, the largest living lemur, a few hours east of Tana.
- Ile Sainte-Marie: a laid-back island off the east coast known for beaches, pirate history and seasonal whale watching.
- Nosy Be: Madagascar's main beach-resort island in the north-west, with diving and dhow trips.
- Tsingy de Bemaraha: a UNESCO-listed maze of razor-sharp limestone pinnacles in the west.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Madagascar
- Be flexible by a few days: midweek departures and travel in the April to May or October shoulder months are usually cheaper, as the price charts on this page show.
- Compare one-stop routings, as an African hub such as Nairobi or Addis Ababa can undercut the European connection, or the other way around.
- Book long-haul fares two to six months ahead; last-minute seats to Tana are limited and expensive.
- Price the domestic legs early, since internal flights fill up and overland journeys are slow.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders need a tourist visa, which can be bought on arrival at Ivato and other international airports or arranged beforehand through the official eVisa system; stays of up to 30 days are the usual choice, and your passport should be valid for at least six months. The currency is the Malagasy ariary (MGA); it is largely a cash economy, euros are the easiest to exchange, and cards are accepted only in larger hotels and lodges. For the best fares, use the When to book chart above and set up a price alert.
