What I Learned (the Hard Way) About Planning a Trip to Madagascar…
Before you plan your trip to Madagascar, read this post!
Let me be honest — even as someone who’s been organizing group trips for years, Madagascar humbled me. I partnered with a local Destination Management Company (DMC), thinking I was doing everything “right.” But what I quickly learned is this: you don’t know what you don’t know — and sometimes, neither do they.
🚩 Lesson 1: Ask More Questions Than You Think You Need To
Local operators know their country, but they don’t always anticipate what first-time visitors (like us) might not understand.
In my case, that lack of transparency left room for unexpected fees and last-minute adjustments. I’m not saying it was intentional, but it’s something to be aware of when working with DMCs abroad.
Pro tip: Always ask for an itemized quote and clear explanations for what’s included (and what’s not). For example, I was once offered a $450 USD reimbursement for a no show guest, and when I asked for an itemized bill, $450 turned into $716!
🚩 Lesson 2: Know Your Domestic Flight Options
We flew from Antananarivo to Nosy Be (about 1 hour and 45 minutes via Air Madagascar).
Later, I realized Nosy Be actually has its own international airport — meaning we could’ve flown directly home from there on Ethiopian Airlines and saved money on the domestic return flight and the extra hotel night in Antananarivo.
Lesson learned: Always double-check flight routes after your itinerary is built — you might find an easier (and cheaper) option.
Lesson 3: Expect High Domestic Flight Prices
Madagascar Airlines (formerly Air Madagascar) basically runs the show when it comes to local flights. With little competition, prices stay high.
Even though flights like Nosy Be to Morondava technically exist, they’re inefficient — with layovers in Antananarivo that make a short trip take hours.
Traveler tip: If your time is limited, focus on 1-2 regions like we did instead of hopping around the island.
Lesson 4: Know What You’re Sacrificing
We had just 10 days, which meant cutting Morondava — and the iconic Baobab trees — from our trip. I didn’t realize until later that skipping that internal flight meant missing the Baobab altogether. I naively assumed they would be everywhere.
To put it in perspective, the drive from Antananarivo to Morondava takes about 12 hours by car, plus more time off-road to reach the actual site. It’s simply not realistic for a short itinerary.
Reality check: Madagascar is huge. Build in buffer time for travel days.
All in all…
Even with the hiccups, we had an amazing time. Madagascar is wild, beautiful, and full of lessons for travelers who love adventure and culture.
If you’re planning a trip to Madagascar — learn from my mistakes, do your homework on logistics, and give yourself enough time to really experience the island. You’ll thank yourself (and me) later.
