Madagascar
Wild. Fecund. Kaleidoscopic. Madagascar is nature, amplified.
Everything here is louder, brighter, more saturated with colour: from the plant life to the dive sites, the island teems with life and chorus. A remote adventure playground, it barely qualifies as part of Africa, separated by hundreds of miles of Indian Ocean and some 165 million years of evolution. It’s this isolation that has led to a bizarre mix of cartoon creatures and unique plantlife.
Experiences
Explore dripping rainforest, stark desert and swarming forests by helicopter, and drop into otherworldly landscapes; meet tribes with intriguing cultures, ceremonies and taboos; adventure by 4x4; ride enduro-motorbikes off-the-beaten track; dine in privacy amongst golden baobabs at sunset as lemurs swing in the canopy; cruise pristine waters in an Arab dhow sailing boat; dive among flamboyant tropical fish on untouched reefs; walk barefoot on uninhabited tropical islands, doze on icing sugar sands, swim in gin-clear water; loll in a hammock in your own private paradise.
Where to Stay
Specially set-up luxury camps, eco lodges in the forest canopy, and superlative private island sanctuaries.
When to Go
July and August are cool, dry and great for exploring. See whales off Île Sainte-Marie from July–October. September to November is warm.