Travel Guide · Written by Our Guides
The short answer: May to November. But the best month depends on what you came for — whales, turtles, fishing or an empty beach.
Right now you can have both — the humpbacks are still here, and the whale sharks have arrived. → Whale watching in Nosy Be
Nosy Be has two seasons: a dry, cooler one from roughly May to November, and a hot, wet one from December to April. Most visitors come between June and October, when the sea is calm, the sky is clear and boat trips run every day. That said, we run Nosy Be tours year-round, and some of the best wildlife happens outside those peak months.
Humpback whales — September to November. They migrate up the Mozambique Channel to breed and calve, and September is the most reliable month. → Whale watching in Nosy Be
Sea turtles — all year. The green turtles at Sakatia feed in the bay year-round, so this one doesn't depend on the season. → Nosy Sakatia turtle tour
Lemurs — all year, best early morning. Lokobe and Nosy Komba work in any month; the forest is at its greenest just after the rains. → Lokobe National Park · Nosy Komba & Tanikely
Big game fishing — April to June and September to December. Seas are at their calmest from May to November. → Nosy Be fishing charter
Snorkeling and clear water — May to November, when the sea is flattest and visibility is best at Tanikely and Sakatia. → Nosy Komba & Tanikely · Nosy Sakatia
Whale sharks — October to January, feeding in the channels off the north coast. → Whale watching
Beaches and sandbanks — May to November. The crossing to Nosy Iranja needs a calm sea, so the sandbar is at its best in the dry season. → Nosy Iranja · Catamaran charter
Vanilla, cacao and ylang-ylang — all year. The plantations near Ambanja are worked in every season, and the boat crossing is short. → Ambanja plantations
Inland Nosy Be — all year. Viewpoints, crater lakes and villages do not depend on the sea, so they still work on a day when a boat trip is moved — or go further north on a longer expedition to Diego-Suarez. → Island tour by 4x4 · Quad bike tour · Diego-Suarez expedition
Sea temperature stays swimmable all year — roughly 25–29°C — so you never need a wetsuit.
Cyclones: the risk window is January to March. Cyclones are not constant, but if you travel then, build some flexibility into your plans. We reschedule tours free of charge for weather.
Crowds and prices: July and August are the busiest months. May, October and November give you nearly the same weather with far fewer people.
What to pack whatever the month: reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, a light jacket for boat mornings, and shoes you don't mind soaking.
Nosy Be sits far from the weather stations most global apps rely on, so forecasts can vary. These three are the ones we actually use:
A note from experience: a forecast of rain in Nosy Be usually means a short heavy shower, not a washed-out day. We watch the wind more closely than the rain, and we'll tell you honestly the evening before if a boat trip is better moved.
January is typically the wettest month, with the rainy season running from December to March.
Yes. The island is green and quiet and prices are lower. Boat excursions may be moved for weather, which we do free of charge.
Humpback whales pass through between September and November, with September the most reliable month. Whale sharks are here from October to January, best in October and November.
Yes, roughly 25–29°C, comfortable for swimming and snorkeling in every month of the year.
The risk window is January to March. Cyclones are not constant, but if you travel then, build some flexibility into your plans.
Ready to plan? Browse all our Nosy Be tours, or tell us your dates and we'll suggest the best trips for that month.