Weather in Madagascar: What to Wear by Region and Season

Madagascar’s climate is highly regional: tropical and humid along the coasts, arid in parts of the south, and milder in the central highlands. 

Madagascar has two main seasons:

• Dry season (May–Oct): cooler, less rain.
• Rainy season (Nov–Apr): hotter, more humid, with heavy showers (especially Jan–Mar).

However, these seasons play out very differently across Madagascar’s diverse regions, depending on geography and elevation, so packing smart means tailoring your clothes to where you’re going.

This guide breaks down Madagascar’s weather patterns and clothing recommendations by region – north, east, west, south, and the central highlands (Antananarivo area) – for both the dry and rainy seasons. 

Region	Dry Season (May–Oct)	Rainy Season (Nov–Apr)
North	Warm, mostly dry. Light clothes, sunhat, jacket for breezy nights.	Very hot & humid, heavy rain. Quick-dry clothes, rain gear, mosquito protection.
East	Warm, humid, some showers. Quick-dry clothes, rain jacket.	Hot, very wet, cyclone risk. Waterproof gear, insect repellent.
West	Sunny, dry. Summer clothes, sun protection, scarf for dust.	Hot, occasional storms. Light wear + rain jacket, quick-dry shoes.
South	Dry, warm days, cool nights. T-shirts by day, sweater/fleece at night.	Scorching hot, rare rain. Airy clothes, hat, sunscreen, poncho for showers.
Highlands	Mild days, cold nights. Layers (tee + jacket/fleece).	Warm, daily storms. Light summer wear + rain jacket, waterproof shoes.

Northern Madagascar (Nosy Be & Antsiranana)

Overview: Northern Madagascar is tropical, with coastal areas such as Nosy Be (northwest) and Antsiranana/Diego Suarez (far north) known for warm year-round temperatures. The northwest and northeast differ slightly. The northeast is among the wettest parts of the country, while the northwest (including Nosy Be) is a bit drier outside the core rainy months

Eastern Madagascar (East Coast & Rainforest Belt)

Overview: Eastern Madagascar, including cities such as Toamasina and island destinations like Île Sainte-Marie, has a tropical rainforest climate. This is the wettest region of Madagascar, receiving rainfall year-round thanks to the trade winds that hit the east coast. In fact, some eastern areas receive up to 3,500–4,000 mm of rain annually. The trade winds bring moisture year-round, so even the “dry” season here isn’t very dry. Expect lush green landscapes, high humidity, and frequent rain showers.

Western Madagascar (West Coast & Dry Inland Plains)

Overview: The western side of Madagascar (including Mahajanga in the northwest, Morondava on the central-west coast, and the inland plains around the Kirindy Forest) has a drier climate than the east. This region lies in the rain shadow of the central highlands, meaning the trade winds lose much of their moisture by the time they get here. The result: the west has a pronounced dry season with almost no rain for months, and a distinct (but relatively short) rainy season. Vegetation ranges from dry deciduous forests to open savannah and baobab-studded landscapes. It’s generally hotter here year-round compared to the highlands. One thing to note is that the northwest part of the west (e.g., near Mahajanga) does get more rain in the wet season than the southwest part of the west (near Toliara), so there’s a gradient of wetness, with the northwest being lusher.

Southern Madagascar (Arid South and Southwest, Toliara & Fort Dauphin)

Overview: Southern Madagascar is a land of extremes. It’s the driest region of the country, especially the southwest around Toliara (Tuléar), which is almost desert-like. Much of the south is covered in unique spiny forests and semi-desert landscapes; rainfall is scarce and erratic. The far southeast, around Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin), gets a bit more rain than the southwest, but it’s still relatively dry compared to the east coast. In the south, the difference between seasons is mostly in temperature and the small chance of rain in summer. The dry season here is cooler (especially at night) and absolutely parched, while the rainy season is very warm to hot, with only a few rainy days or sometimes none at all in some years. Travelers should be ready for intense sun and, in summer, potentially extreme heat.

Central Highlands (Antananarivo & Surrounding Highlands)

Overview: The central highlands of Madagascar, including the capital Antananarivo (elevation ~1,280 m) and towns like Antsirabe and Fianarantsoa, have a milder, temperate climate compared to the tropical coasts. Thanks to the higher altitude, temperatures here are generally cooler, and nights can be downright chilly in the dry season. The area still has a clear dry vs. rainy season pattern, but even the rainy season is less hot and humid than at sea level. The highlands receive moderate rainfall (mostly in summer), but they avoid the extreme deluges of the east coast. You’ll want to be prepared for layering your clothing here, since you might feel like it’s autumn in the morning, summer at noon, and spring in the evening.

Madagascar weather by month and region

Average Monthly Temperature & Rainfall in Madagascar.
(Approximate averages – Temp in °C/°F, Rain in mm)

Month	North (Nosy Be)	East (Toamasina)	West (Morondava)	South (Toliara)	Highlands (Antananarivo)
Jan	28 °C / 82 °F · 400 mm	27 °C / 81 °F · 450 mm	28 °C / 82 °F · 250 mm	28 °C / 82 °F · 90 mm	22 °C / 72 °F · 280 mm
Feb	28 °C / 82 °F · 350 mm	27 °C / 81 °F · 400 mm	28 °C / 82 °F · 220 mm	28 °C / 82 °F · 75 mm	22 °C / 72 °F · 240 mm
Mar	28 °C / 82 °F · 300 mm	27 °C / 81 °F · 380 mm	28 °C / 82 °F · 200 mm	27 °C / 81 °F · 60 mm	22 °C / 72 °F · 220 mm
Apr	27 °C / 81 °F · 180 mm	26 °C / 79 °F · 250 mm	27 °C / 81 °F · 90 mm	26 °C / 79 °F · 40 mm	21 °C / 70 °F · 90 mm
May	26 °C / 79 °F · 70 mm	25 °C / 77 °F · 180 mm	26 °C / 79 °F · 30 mm	24 °C / 75 °F · 15 mm	20 °C / 68 °F · 20 mm
Jun	25 °C / 77 °F · 40 mm	24 °C / 75 °F · 120 mm	25 °C / 77 °F · 5 mm	23 °C / 73 °F · 5 mm	18 °C / 64 °F · 10 mm
Jul	25 °C / 77 °F · 30 mm	23 °C / 73 °F · 110 mm	25 °C / 77 °F · 5 mm	22 °C / 72 °F · 5 mm	17 °C / 63 °F · 8 mm
Aug	25 °C / 77 °F · 40 mm	23 °C / 73 °F · 110 mm	26 °C / 79 °F · 5 mm	23 °C / 73 °F · 5 mm	18 °C / 64 °F · 10 mm
Sep	26 °C / 79 °F · 60 mm	24 °C / 75 °F · 150 mm	27 °C / 81 °F · 10 mm	25 °C / 77 °F · 10 mm	20 °C / 68 °F · 15 mm
Oct	27 °C / 81 °F · 120 mm	25 °C / 77 °F · 200 mm	28 °C / 82 °F · 40 mm	27 °C / 81 °F · 20 mm	21 °C / 70 °F · 50 mm
Nov	28 °C / 82 °F · 250 mm	26 °C / 79 °F · 300 mm	28 °C / 82 °F · 120 mm	28 °C / 82 °F · 40 mm	22 °C / 72 °F · 140 mm
Dec	28 °C / 82 °F · 350 mm	27 °C / 81 °F · 400 mm	28 °C / 82 °F · 200 mm	28 °C / 82 °F · 70 mm	22 °C / 72 °F · 220 mm