Two weeks travelling around Madagascar with my 10-year-old son
I’ve just got back from an incredible two-and-a-half weeks travelling around Madagascar with my 10-year-old son, and thought I’d share a few photos and some of our experience.
We started in Tana, then travelled east to Andasibe for the forest and wildlife, before flying north to Nosy Be and spending time there and on Nosy Komba. It was our first time in Madagascar and genuinely one of the most memorable trips we’ve ever done together.
Andasibe was extraordinary - hearing the indri calling through the forest in the morning is something I don’t think either of us will ever forget. We saw lots of lemurs, chameleons and other wildlife, and being surrounded by the forest was magical.
Nosy Komba was equally special but completely different. It’s incredibly lush and beautiful, with lemurs appearing around the garden every evening and the sea right there. We went out on the water and saw dolphins and sea turtles, which was amazing. There was wildlife everywhere, on land and in the sea.
One of the most special and unexpected experiences was being invited to join a local Jôro procession while we were on Nosy Komba. We’d stumbled across it completely by chance, and being welcomed into something we hadn’t planned or expected became one of the moments we’ll remember most from the trip.
We travelled independently rather than with a tour. For the Tana–Andasibe part I hired a driver and an English-speaking interpreter/guide, which I’d really recommend, especially travelling with a child. The roads can be pretty challenging and journeys take much longer than the distances suggest, but our driver and guide were brilliant - friendly, knowledgeable and great fun with my son, playing games with him during the long drives. It made that part of the trip feel very easy and relaxed.
Madagascar definitely isn’t the easiest place I’ve ever travelled, and there were a few adventurous moments along the way, but that was also part of what made it so rewarding. The landscapes, wildlife and people were wonderful, and travelling there with my son made it particularly special.
Happy to answer any questions about travelling independently, travelling with a child, Andasibe, Nosy Be/Nosy Komba, drivers, accommodation, costs, etc.