Madagascar Weather in January

 Season: Rainy Season  

In Short: warm and humid

Nosy Be Island, Madagascar

The climate characteristics of Madagascar in January can be generalized into two words, that is warm and humid. Madagascar is in its rainy season now. The lowest and highest monthly average temperature ranges from 21-30°C (69.8°F-86°F). Besides, the average precipitation for the month is 291 mm and the average precipitation days can reach 18 days. On the whole, the weather is fairly warm and the rainfall is relatively heavy. If you want to visit Madagascar in January, make sure you prepare your umbrella and sunscreen.

 The warmest cities in Madagascar in January 

Toliara: 23°C-32°C (73.4-89.6°F); Mahajanga: 24°C-31°C (75.2-87.8°F); Antsiranana: 23°C-30°C (73.4-86°F)

 The coldest cities in Madagascar in January 

Antananarivo: 17°C-28°C (62.6-82.4°F); Fianarantsoa: 17°C-26°C (62.6-78.8°F); Toamasina: 22°C-30°C (71.6-86°F)

Recommended Clothes to Wear in January

The average daytime temperature can reach 30°C (86°F). Considering temperature and the possibility of rain, it is recommended to wear cool and breathable clothes such as shirts made of cotton and linen, long skirt, as well as shorts. The average night temperature is about 21°C (69.8°F), you can wear thin coat, thin jeans, trench coat and other comfortable clothes.

The fact is, raingear is really important for visitors who make the choice of visiting Madagascar in January, on account of it rains more. The sunshine is very strong and the temperature is really high in January, so you should protect yourself from sunburn, which means you can wear sunglasses, hats and so on. Plus, well-fitting and light sneakers or casual shoes will make your journey more comfortable.

Top Attractions to Visit in Madagascar in January, 2025

Tourism Rate:
As a matter of fact, the weather is not as good as in the dry season in January in Madagascar. It rains so much that the air is humid and there are cyclones, too. So try to visit Madagascar another time. If you still want to come, some comparatively acceptable attractions are recommended below.

1. Le Palais de la Reine

Le Palais de la Reine is located on the highest mountain in Antananarivo, and this building is typical of 19th century European Baroque style. If it happens to be a dry day, you can stand outside the building to have a good view of the whole city. It is said that Le Palais De La Reine is a symbol of the reign of the Queen of Melina. You can learn more about historical stories behind it through your visitation. Although it was destroyed by a sudden fire in 1995, it has been renovated and is open to the public now.

Le Palais de la Reine, Antananarivo

2. The Royal Hill of Ambohimanga

The Royal Hill of Ambohimanga is the oldest and a well-preserved royal palace in Madagascar, also went by the name of “Blue Hill”, and consisting of the imperial palaces, the royal cemeteries and a group of sacrificial buildings. It is also regarded as the “Holy City” by locals, who usually hold religious ceremonies and sacrifices here. Moreover, this historical site was listed as the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in 2001. 

3. Avenue of Baobabs

Baobab is a must see in Morondava. It is said that those baobabs have a long history of about eight hundred years. The origination of its name is that baobab’s fruits are delicious and they are the favorite of monkeys. There are several kinds of baobabs on the baobab avenue, which is the best spot in the world to appreciate baobabs. The Avenue of Baobabs belongs to arid region. So there is little rain even in the rainy season. In addition, the baobab trees are more luxuriant and the scenery is more beautiful in rainy season than in dry season.

Avenue of the Baobabs, Morondava

Madagascar Travel Tips in January

1. Madagascar is a tropical island, so it is inevitable that mosquitoes can be found everywhere. January is still in the rainy season and mosquitoes are more active than in the dry season. Therefore, measures such as the use of mosquito repellent should be taken to prevent you from biting.

2.The traffic in Madagascar is not very ideal for people because of narrow roads and bad traffic condition. Add to that rainfall will lead to muddy or slippery roads, so you must take care of yourself when you are driving or in a car.

3. If you plan to visit Madagascar in January, one important issue you have to take into account is whether the scenic spots are open to the public or not because of the rainfall. So please search for relevant information ahead.

January Weather of Major Madagascar Cities

City	Temp	Rainfall (mm)	Humi- dity (%)	Sunrise /  Sunset
Antananarivo	16.6-26.4°C (61.88°F-79.52°F)	316	80.5	05:19:08/ 18:33:09
Toliara	25.8-31.5°C (78.44°F-88.7°F)	89	69	05:19:55/ 18:51:46
Fianaranstoa	16.6-24°C (61.88°F-75.2°F)	259	88	05:11:51/ 18:40:62
Toamasina	22.5-30.1°C (61.88°F-79.52°F)	410	83	05:12:03/ 18:22:29
Mahajanga	25.2-29.9°C (77.36°F-85.82°F)	254	78	05:24:32/ 18:30:13
Morondava	26.6-31.9°C (61.88°F-89.42°F)	152	72	05:18:50/ 18:33:06
Antisiranana	22.8-30.2°C (73.04°F-86.36°F)	337	85.5	05:17:36/ 18:13:03

Madagascar Weather by Month