Updated: 10/23/17 | October 23rd, 2017
Madagascar. It has an exotic hold over the imagination, conjuring up a land of wild nature: plains of baobab trees, armies of lemurs, unique animals, and lush rainforests.
Since so few people visit (roughly 350,000 per year), our imagination runs wild when we hear its name. It’s some otherworldly region, a lush rainforest teeming with wildlife and white sand beaches from end to end. It would be like Avatar.
Most people I talked to thought the same. After all, with so few visitors there, the chances of knowing someone who has been is tiny.
But the Madagascar most of us envision is not the one that exists. The country is quite arid thanks to mining, deforestation, and climate change. These days, the landscape is a lot less lush than it once was. It’s not as wild and exotic as we think.
Yet there’s a lot of beauty here. From Westworld-like deserts and tiny tropical rainforests to valleys filled with rice fields and giant mountains, Madagascar is still outrageously magical and raw. While I’ll be posting many articles on what to see and do in Madagascar and my experience with the poverty and privilege there, I thought I’d start with some photographs from my visit to set the scene:
Lemurs, lemurs, and more lemurs. There are over 60 species in the country. Seeing them was a highlight of the trip. They were so cute!
One of the beautiful and lush valleys on the island.
The Paradise bird. Just one of the many colorful birds I saw.
“King Julien” lemurs (so called because this is the kind that was the character in the movie).
The poor infrastructure in Madagascar makes the country hard to get around. There’s literally one highway going north-south.
There’s a lot of chameleons here too.
Madagascar has this samosa tasting spring roll. I ate them all the time. They made me very happy. Delicious and at three cents each, budget-friendly.
Baby lemurs! I really can’t get enough of them.
This lemur is actually asleep. It sleeps with its eyes open to deter predators. Creepy, huh?
Some of the famous baobab trees.
A beautiful pastel sunset over the capital, Antananarivo!
A narrow bridge made even more crowded by a weekly market.
Always be on the lookout for thieves!
A candid shot!
So many lemurs, so little time.
Hiking in Isalo national park, a very Westworld like place.
This spider was frighteningly huge.
Taking in the amazing view!
Learning about the country with my awesome guide, Patrick.
Out for a hike with my Intrepid tour group.
The zebu (a type of cow) market, where people buy and sell cattle. This animal is a work animal and, sometimes, killed for food.
The hills and valleys of Madagascar fill up the long, slow driving days. And they are a wonderful sight.
This is what most of Madagascar looks like.
Just another Lemur doing his thing!
Chatting with my awesome guide Patrick. He was a depth of knowledge on the country and a really friendly guy!
This big fella was just relaxing in the sun.
Home sweet home!
Taking the classic Instagram picture!
Ok, one last lemur picture.
I found my new best friend while in Madagascar! We’re buddies now!
Sixteen days was not nearly enough time to visit a country the size of France — especially since Madagascar severely lacks decent infrastructure. Roads are filled with potholes and there’s no regular train service.
So, while there was much I missed, I’m grateful for everything I did see.
I guess, as always, it’s just another reason to go back, right?
Note: I went to Madagascar with Intrepid Travel as part of our ongoing partnership. They paid for the tour and my expenses during the trip. I paid for my flights to and from Madagascar. They offer discounts to readers — click the link and save on your next trip!
Book Your Trip to Madagascar: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to find a cheap flight. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. Start with Skyscanner first though because they have the biggest reach!
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
- Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)
Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.
Want More Information on Madagascar?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Madagascar for even more planning tips!
Anne
Would love to go to Madagascar but the issue of flights being very expensive have prevented me in the past. Any tips besides just using points?
Kaitlyn
Wow, Madagascar looks beautiful. Sad to hear climate change is taking it’s toll on beautiful places such as this. Those animals are so adorable! That’s neat yet crazy how it sleeps with its eyes open.
Ryan Biddulph
The animals are awesome Matt. And you cannot beat a 3 cent samosa, which is eating on the cheap.
The animals – lemurs, and everything really – would be my biggest draw, followed by the amazing natural beauty of the place. I see how unspoiled it is when peeping that image you snapped of the valley. Green, lush, pristine. Brilliant. As for the crumbling bridge that would be a bit maddening, trying to get around with all the infra-structure issues, but that almost always goes hand in hand with all the wildlife and beauty. People tend to screw things up and despoil nature so when we cannot get around, nature thrives, as does nature’s creatures.
Awesome post dude.
Ryan
Samantha Taki
HI Matt, great post and pictures. Love all the lemurs, not the spider so much lol. Looks beautiful. Hope we can make it there someday. Glad you enjoyed your visit even though you didn’t get to see all you wanted to see. Like you said, it’s a good reason to go back! I am trying to remember that and slow down a little when we are traveling and not have the “have to see it all” mentality. It’s still hard, but I am working on it. Thanks for the reminder and the great pics. Happy travels.
Wali Egal
Madagascar has to be the most underrated place to visit. Such Beautiful landscapes people and animals. I want to visit there so bad but it just way to expensive!
Nicci
Thanks for showing us inside Madagascar. The landscape is very different to what I imagined but still beautiful. It’s hard to believe so few people visit there each year, especially when you can see so many animals up close.
Akmal
I am craving those samosa tasting spring rolls now and that chameleon pic is soo cool. How blending that it. Damn it.
Choi Rose
All pictures are very beautiful! You had great trip of Madagascar!
Elina
I’m loving these photos, there isn’t such a thing as too many lemurs. Why do so few people visit Madagascar per year, though? Is it difficult to get to?
Leanne
Zoboomafoo! Sorry, couldn’t resist. Great photos.
Rida
Wonderful gallery!
Dilip
Thanks for sharing the wonderful gallery of Madagaskar. They are great pictures.
Elena
Beautiful photos. I was there for a month a fee months ago and got to experience the REAL Madagascar. I traveled there as a solo woman, stayed with locals, helped communities directly by living with them and spending my money with them, not in hotels or mafia “charities” without guides and tours, without knowing French or Malagasy, using only public transport. Experienced the sacred Famadihana ceremony (dancing with the dead) that is dying out due to mainstream religion and was accepted as their own family by locals, chopped firewood and on top of chariot with bulls got to go to mountains and get firewood for the family I stayed with. People are one of the kindest I met… yes, they don’t hava electicity, heat, things , but they have beautiful souls!! We have a lot to learn from them. Fed bananas to wild Lemurs, that came to see me (free of charge) and saw whales near the island that once belonged to Pirates. I am 33 year young dame, living permanently on the road. Traveled close to 60 countries in 6 continents. going back to Madagascar next year. Who’s with me? ) However this is not a “tourist” version, that Matt got to see. Any brave souls who want to joing? Promise ya, it won’t be boring ) Safe travels to all! Beautiful photos, Matt. Come join me next year abd I show you a different color of Mada… The one, I fell in love with. Tips — get a Malagasy/English phrase book in the local market in main town… saved me!! Learn French … only a tiny percentage know English… bring warm clothes or you can buy cheap ones on the street from locals .. in some parts of Mada temperature drops to 1 or even 0C .. research the region of where you are going and weather in that month. All my love.
Micaela
Elena! Im a solo woman traveler, going in September! It was somehow heartsinking reading about the solo travel on the other ‘How to travel…’ post Where did you go? Do you have any posts to read somewhere? Thanks!
Katie
Beautiful photos, would love to visit. Seems like poverty, poor health conditions, and government instability have given Madagascar a poor rap currently, hopefully tourism can help improve the economy and the quality of life there.
Bacith M
Really there monkeys are very naughty !!
in this site i got more details about different speices of animals.
Thank You !!
Have a Good Journey !!
JOSUE ZUNIGA
Beautiful photos, would love to visit. Seems like poverty, poor health conditions, and government instability have given Madagascar a poor rap currently, hopefully tourism can help improve the economy and the quality of life there.,
WITH THESE PHOTOS I HAVE KNOWN MORE OF THE GREAT AMOUNT OF ANIMAL SPECIES THAT HAS MADAGASCAR IS VERY BEAUTIFUL EVERYTHING.
Niyas
It’s a wonderful trip…. Amazing photos…
Peter
What stunning pictures and Madagascar has such abundant and amazing wildlife I am surprised that more people don’t visit there. It really seems to offer so much but tourism doesn’t appear to be high on the list of priorities for the Government. Thanks for sharing these wonderful pictures.
Dave
Ahh Madagascar looks so incredible! It’s been a dream destination of mine for as long as I can remember.
Clemens
That’s so cool. Madagascar has been on my list for ages. I really hope they will get rid off their plague soon.
Tomáš
Lemurs, the biggest thieves in the world 😀 Nice photos 🙂
Guilherme
Amazing photos from this exotic land…such a difference from what most of us are so used to!!
Mark
Thanks for the pictures! My wife loves nature and her paintings are mostly about nature. Some of her masterpieces were inspired by the places we travel to. I’m excited to bring her in Madagascar next year. We were able to book cheap flights and accommodation through Costco! Safe travels to all of us!
Lynne Venart
There are actually over 100 species of lemurs in Madagascar! New species are being discovered regularly. Sadly, they are the most endangered group of mammals in the world, with over 90% endangered. Glad you enjoyed your trip to this amazing country.
NomadicMatt
Interesting to know! Thanks!
Daniel Champagne
I Matt
In November 2018 I will be in Madagascar for 2 weeks and I was
wondering which lens should I carry with me
I’m a Sony Shooter I have 24-105 & 16-35 & 100-400
Thank you
Carol Henshaw
We were there in 2019 with Wild Frontiers and it was fantastic. It is one of the poorest countries and there is more to see than lemurs