Madagascar is one of the last genuinely wild destinations reachable by private yacht, an island the size of France whose isolation over 88 million years has produced ecosystems found nowhere else on earth. Lemurs, chameleons and baobab trees are the obvious emblems, but the coast tells an equally compelling story: the Nosy Be archipelago in the north-west offers coral reefs and turquoise lagoons rivalling the Maldives, while the remote outer islands and protected bays remain almost entirely unexplored by charter. Five motor yachts operate in these waters.
Motor yacht charter rates in Madagascar typically run from around 75,000 to 200,000 euros per week before the advance provisioning allowance, which covers fuel, provisions and the port clearance fees charged by Malagasy harbour authorities. The prime season runs from April through November, with the austral winter months of June, July and August bringing dry and settled conditions to the north-west coast. The cyclone season from December through March is best avoided on exposed passages.
Most itineraries base around Nosy Be, the main charter hub on the north-west coast, using it as a departure point for the outer islands of Nosy Mitsio, Nosy Iranja and the reefs of the Barren Islands further south. A longer voyage can reach the Mozambique Channel, where the Bassas da India and Europa Island support pristine marine ecosystems visited by almost nobody. Shore excursions to lemur reserves and baobab forests add a distinctive character to any Madagascar charter.
