Frequently Asked Questions

April to November is the dry season and our recommended window. April–June gives you green rainforest and few other travellers; July–September is peak season with humpback whales off Sainte-Marie; October–November adds whale sharks off Nosy Be. December to March is the rainy season — possible for parts of the country but not for first-time visitors.

It depends on the trip. Our standard wildlife itineraries involve 2–4 hour daily walks at gentle pace and suit anyone in normal walking shape. Trekking trips like the Makay or Andringitra are 6–8 hour days with full backpacks; we grade these honestly and will tell you straight if a trip isn't right for you.

Most nationalities can buy a visa on arrival at Antananarivo (Ivato) airport. As of 2026 it's €35 for stays up to 30 days, payable in cash (euros). We send you the latest guidance with your travel pack two months before departure.

Madagascar is a malaria zone — we strongly recommend prophylaxis. Yellow fever is required only if you arrive from a yellow-fever country. Speak to a travel-medicine specialist 6–8 weeks before departure for the latest guidance.

Send us a quick inquiry. We reply within 24 hours with a draft itinerary and price. No payment until you're happy with the plan; deposit is 30%, balance due 60 days before departure. Full cancellation policy is sent with the proposal.

All accommodation, daily breakfast, all ground transport in private 4x4 vehicles, all park entrance and local guide fees, our 24/7 in-country assistance, and a detailed travel pack. International and domestic flights are not included — we book the domestic ones for you at cost.

Almost all of our trips are tailor-made. The itineraries on this site are starting points — tell us when you're coming, who's coming with you, and what you most want to see, and we'll build the trip around you.

Yes. We've designed several family itineraries, and we can adapt almost any trip for children aged 7+. Shorter driving days, kid-friendly lodges, and guides who actually like talking to children.

Generally yes for travellers on guided trips. Tana, like most large cities, has petty crime — we provide guidance on what to avoid. Outside Tana, the country is calm and very welcoming. We have 24/7 in-country support for the duration of your trip.

Food is plentiful and good — fresh seafood on the coasts, French-influenced cuisine in lodges, excellent rice and vegetables everywhere. We don't recommend tap water; bottled water is widely available and included on most days.

Yes. Tell us at booking — vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and kosher are all manageable in most regions. Remote camps (Makay, deep Tsingy) can accommodate vegetarian but have limited flexibility for stricter diets; we'll be honest about what's possible.

Malagasy and French are the official languages. Most of our guides speak fluent English; on a few specialty trips we work with French- or German-speaking guides on request. Outside the tourist circuit, French is more useful than English.

Yes, it's required. Make sure your policy covers medical evacuation — Madagascar has limited specialist medical care, and serious cases are usually evacuated to Réunion or South Africa. Read the exclusions carefully.

Madagascar is a big country and a few of our itineraries use domestic flights to skip long drives (e.g. Tana–Tulear, Tana–Diego). We book these for you at cost. They're operated by Madagascar Airlines; schedules can shift, so we always build buffer days before international departures.

Private Toyota Land Cruisers and similar 4x4s for most routes. For larger groups (8+) we use comfortable minibuses on paved sections. Every vehicle has an experienced Malagasy driver-guide who's been with us for years.