Affordable Madagascar Holidays

Whilst accommodation is generally not expensive in Madagascar, private island resorts aside, the country is generally not a cheap place to holiday. Part of the reason for this is that it’s a big island. In order to get around you are escorted by a driver/guide throughout and in the parks and reserves it’s the law to use a local guide. All these elements alone aren’t expensive, but put together they all add up. Internal flights aren’t cheap and are notoriously unreliable, yet they’re a necessity if you want to explore decent chunks of the country. If you’re looking for a budget Madagascar tour that includes a wildlife fix and a beach, we suggest a few days in Andasibe and Mantadia before flying up to Ile Sainte Marie for beach and whale time. Alternatively, Nosy Be is always a good bet for an affordable Madagascar holiday.

Generally, the best value flights are with Ethiopian Airways via Addis Ababa, although there aren’t any direct flights. The bonus here is that if you visit Nosy Be, Ethiopian provide a service direct to Addis from there meaning you don’t have to go back to Antananarivo.