Isalo National Park
A park of eroded sandstone ridges, canyons and open grassland in southern Madagascar. Trails lead to natural pools, shaded gorges and lookouts, and lemurs live in the greener valleys.
Isalo National Park
Ring-tailed lemurs, sandstone canyons and natural swimming pools are in Madagascar's dry south.
Attractive locations
Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park
A dry forest park on the road to Isalo, home to several lemur species and many birds. Short guided walks give an easy introduction to the forests of the southwest.
Ranohira
A small town at the edge of Isalo National Park, the main stop for visitors heading into the park's sandstone canyons and plains. Guides and simple lodges are based here.
Airports
Toliara Airport TLE
It is about 191 km in a straight line from Isalo National Park.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Madagascar page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan24.3 °C282 mm
- Feb23.9 °C196 mm
- Mar23.3 °C119 mm
- Apr21.8 °C38 mm
- May19.8 °C20 mm
- Jun17.9 °C12 mm
- Jul17.4 °C10 mm
- Aug19.3 °C6 mm
- Sep22.0 °C16 mm
- Oct24.7 °C39 mm
- Nov25.9 °C77 mm
- Dec25.7 °C174 mm
Driest months: Jun, Jul, Aug. Wettest months: Jan, Feb, Dec.
Costs
Prices here are about 31% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
Reported numbers: police 117, ambulance 124, fire 118 - confirm with your hotel or guide.
local government
Office National du Tourisme de Madagascar (ONTM)
Helps with: Madagascar's national tourism office. Contact it for tourist information and any request about travel in the country. Its website also lists regional tourism offices.
Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Madagascar or planning a trip there.
Email: [email protected]
Address: Lot IBG 29C Antsahavola, B.P. 1780, Antananarivo
ngo
Croix-Rouge Malagasy (Malagasy Red Cross)
Helps with: Madagascar's national Red Cross society. It runs first aid training, disaster preparedness and response, and health and hygiene programmes in all 22 regions, with about 9,500 active volunteers.
Who qualifies: People in Madagascar who need its first aid, disaster relief or health services.
Phone: 020 22 221 11
Email: [email protected]
Address: 1 Rue Patrice Lumumba, Tsaralalana, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Madagascar
Helps with: The UN migration agency. In Madagascar it supports emergency shelter and displacement response, border management, and the return and reintegration of Malagasy nationals.
Who qualifies: Migrants, displaced people and returnees. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +261 20 23 308 09
Email: [email protected]
Address: Porte 108, 1er etage, Immeuble SONAPAR, Zone Galaxy Andraharo, Antananarivo 101
local government
Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes (BNGRC)
Helps with: Madagascar's national office for risk and disaster management. Its website reports on cyclone and emergency preparedness and on ongoing emergencies.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Madagascar affected by a disaster or looking for official disaster information.
Phone: +261 34 05 480 68
Address: Avaratra Antanimora, Route Mausolee, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
local government
Police and ambulance emergency number 17 (landline)
Helps with: Reaches the police and the ambulance service in Madagascar from a landline. UK government travel advice says to dial 117 from a mobile phone.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 17
local government
Fire emergency number 18 (landline)
Helps with: Reaches the fire service in Madagascar from a landline. UK government travel advice says to dial 118 from a mobile phone.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 18