This is a question I’m often asked: How to get to Madagascar? The short version is, that it depends on where you’re from. Madagascar is an island, so driving there is definitely out of the question. Getting to Madagascar is only possible by plane or sea. Depending on where you live, your journey varies greatly in accessibility and duration.
The long version, I’ll get to in a jizz. But first, let’s touch the basics.
Where is Madagascar?
Madagascar is one of the world’s largest islands and part of the African continent. More specifically, it’s located a few hundred kilometers from the African southeastern coast.
West of Madagascar you find the Mozambique channel, and to the east the Indian Ocean where the Mascarene Islands (Reunion, Mauritius, and Rodrigues) reside not far from Madagascar’s east coast.
Because of Madagascar’s size the climate and weather differ greatly depending on the region and time of year. Read more about Madagascar’s climate in The Best Time to Visit Madagascar
Why Visit Madagascar?
On this matter, I’ll keep repeating myself throughout this site. There are thousands of reasons to visit Madagascar. An interesting and accommodating culture, good weather, amazing beaches, the chance to support one of the weakest economies in the world, and first and foremost; the unique nature.
Madagascar was uninhabited longer than most places in the world, resulting in a unique natural environment. 90% of species found in Madagascar are endemic to Madagascar. That’s thousands of species you’ll never experience anywhere else on Earth.
If you’re not convinced, read my article 12 Reasons to Visit Madagascar and we’ll fix that in no time!
Now let’s get back on topic.
How to Get to Madagascar?
As previously mentioned, there are two ways to get to Madagascar. By sea and by plane. Embarking on a plane is the easy way for most, but getting there by boat is possible. Those are your options unless you’re keen on swimming 400 km from Mozambique to Madagascar.
Madagascar by Plane
Madagascar has two international airports. Ivato Airport in the capital Antananarivo and Nosy Be in the north. There’s talk that Sainte Marie airport in the east might be converted into an international airport within a few years, but as for now Nosy Be and Ivato are the only choices for tourists.
From each of those airports, you can fly to Madagascar’s different regions through the 11 national airports, or get around by car or public transportation depending on how adventurous you are. Public transportation requires a very loose schedule and a lot of patience, so traveling by car is recommendable if you want to make the most of your time.
The destinations covered are different from Ivato and Nosy Be. As well as the airlines commuting them. Here’s a short overview.
Ivato Airport – Antananarivo
Ivato airport is the largest airport in Madagascar, and it is located in the capital Antananarivo. It was rebuilt a few years ago and is quite impressive in size and efficiency. In general, it’s one of the few places in Madagascar providing a European feel.
Ivato receives planes to and from the following destinations:
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Powered by Ethiopian Airlines a plane from Addis Ababa arrives almost every day. When coming from Europe or the States, flying through Ethiopia is often the most affordable solution. Northern Europe is likely to have a layover in Frankfurt or Paris before departing towards Addis Ababa and further on to Antananarivo.
Johannesburg, South Africa
Flight traffic from South Africa to Madagascar just reopened after a few years of political disagreement. But as of 2023, the lines have reopened, and several flights a week depart to and from Johannesburg. For travelers coming from Australia and New Zealand, it is probably the easiest and cheapest connection. The flights are powered by Airlink.
Nairobi, Kenya
Kenya Airways have several flights a week from Nairobi to Madagascar. North African visitors are likely to use this connection, but it’s often a suggested way to go from Europe and USA.
Charles de Gaule, Paris
Both Air France and Air Madagascar have direct flights from Paris to Antananarivo. Charles de Gaule is one of the largest airports in Europe, and since daily flights are going back and forth, it is one of the most popular routes.
Mascarene Islands – Reunion & Mauritius
Madagascar’s neighbors in the Mascarene Islands are, of course, frequent visitors. From Reunion and Mauritius, weekly flights are arriving in Ivato. The flights from Reunion are powered by Air Austral and the ones from Mauritius by Air Mauritius. Unless you’re already located on either one of those islands, it won’t be affordable to do a layover there.
Istanbul, Turkey
Turkish Airlines do once in a while have a route to Ivato Airport from Istanbul. It is not a frequent route, but it is flying from time to time. Unless you are located in Turkey, you’re not likely to take that route, but again, it’s an option.
Other airlines do from time to time offer tickets to Ivato, so you might get lucky with an easier connection for you. However, in general, these are the airlines providing frequent flights to Madagascar.
Nosy Be Airport
Nosy Be Airport is located by Nosy Be (surprise!) in the North of Madagascar. While it’s significantly smaller than Ivato, it does receive quite some traffic – including connections Ivato doesn’t have.
Flying to Nosy Be airport makes sense if your roundtrip starts or ends with a beach vacation in Nosy Be, or if you’re arriving from Italy. From Italy, there are two direct lines. one from Brescia and one from Verone.
If you’re flying to Nosy Be Airport but plan to explore other regions as well, you can take a national flight to Ivato (Antananarivo) and fly from there.
Destinations covered by Nosy Be Airport are the following:
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Ethiopian Airlines)
As with Ivato, Ethiopian Airlines have a line from Addis Ababa to Nosy Be Airport. Many Europeans are likely to go through this route.
Dzaoudzi, Mayotte
There’s a direct line to Nosy Be for visitors coming from Mayotte. Unless you’re visiting the French overseas department before flying to Madagascar, you’re unlikely to go that route.
Reunion
Our neighbors in Reunion are frequent visitors in Madagascar, and so Air Austral has direct lines both to Ivato and Nosy Be. Visiting both Reunion and Madagascar while you’re in the area, is the recipe for an amazing vacation, but otherwise, this route is probably not an affordable choice.
Brescia & Verone, Italy
Believe it or not, Italiens are one of the largest tourist groups in Madagascar. The airline Neos has two direct lines from Italy to Nosy Be. It’s the obvious choice for Italians, but might also be a good option for other Europeans.
Johannesburg, South Africa
Airlink has a line directly from Johannesburg to Nosy Be just as they do to Ivato. Coming from Australia, this would be the obvious route.
But what about those of you not a fan of flying? It’s tricky, but there are a few options.
Where to Find Flights to Madagascar
Finding flights to Madagascar is not the slightest problem these days. There’s the option of contacting the above-mentioned airlines and booking directly. If you have a preference, that’s the best choice. If not, so many booking engines exist and often offer the cheapest fares. Here are a few:
Momondo (My personal choice – there’s a low-fare calendar for planning cheap vacations)
They all work more or less the same, so it doesn’t really matter which one you use. Find your favorite and start your booking!
Go to Madagascar by Boat
Since Madagascar is an island, it is possible to visit by boat. One option for the sailors and yachters is to chart their own boats. Unless you’re sailing from the east coast of Africa, the journey is long – and beware of the Indian Ocean. If you make it through, many harbor cities are accustomed to housing visitors arriving on their own large boats. Ile Sainte Marie and Nosy Be especially.
But I’m gonna go out on a limb here, and guess that most readers are not experienced sailors with the qualifications to cross oceans, so that’s what we’ll focus on.
The truth is, that as of now, the only way to visit Madagascar by boat, is to join a cruise or hire a private charter. No public ferries are crossing from Mozambique or the Mascarene Islands. However, you can find some private boat services doing the trip in smaller boats. I would highly discourage you to cross either route in boats smaller than a ferry. The oceans are wild, and the area is known for extreme weather conditions. Flying is a much safer option.
… and of course Cruise Ships, if you’re into that.
Cruise Ships
Cruise ships exploring Madagascar are not a rare sight during high season. Some explore only Madagascar, and some take a cruise around African harbors or the Macarene islands.
Cruises are not for everyone, but if it fits your temperament to the point, I’ll recommend you take a look at Ponant. They have a rather wide selection of cruises visiting Madagascar.
Want more information on traveling to Madagascar?
It’s hard to find good travel guides for Madagascar, but I’ve collected a list of good resources for your research. On top of that, feel free to indulge in my travel guides.
How to Make the Most of Madagascar in 10 Days
11 Reliable Travel Agencies & Tour Operators in Madagascar
The Ultimate Itinerary: Madagascar in 3 Weeks
Remarkable Hotels on the Tropical Island Ile aux Nattes
