What we love in Madagascar is also feasts and sport trips. For many years, festivals and sporting events have been organized across the country, and attract travelers.
Find below a selection of the greatest events in the Red Island:
- Sporting events
Ultra-Trail des Ô Plateaux, May ,4th-5th-6th 2018 www.utop.mg
An ultra-trail of 130 km and a half-trail of 65 km, run alone or in relay, in a team of two. The course begins at 9pm, from the valley of Mandraka to Antananarivo, including Mantasoa lake area. One or two nights under the stars … A very beautiful adventure with a height difference of more than 5 000 m!
Racing Madagascar, from July, 9th till July, 14th 2018 www.racing-madagascar.com
An ultra-trail, along 150 km, with six stages, crossing the most beautiful landscapes of northern western Madagascar. This coming third edition has a chameleon as an emblem. In 2016, it was a lemur and in 2017, it was a zebu. Racing Madagascar combines touristic exploration, sportive challenges and responsible and sustainable spirit.
Isalo Raid, July, 28th 2018 www.randorunoi.com
An utra-trail in a lunar scenery, in the heart of Isalo massif. Two courses of 45 km and 25 km, with a respective height difference of 2 500 m and 1 200m, across beautiful landscapes characterized by rocks, canyons, natural pools … A unique opportunity to combine sport and discovery, in the most visited national park of Madagascar.
Lemur Trophy, early November www.lemurtrophy.com
By cross-country vehicles, 4wds, buggys or quads, Lemur Trophy is at the same time a touristic, sporting, humanitarian and sustainable raid. The main objective: to go across the Big Island in several steps, up and down wild tracks, through isolated villages. In short: to live an authentic Malagasy experience!
Trail of Nosy Be, December, 8th 2018 www.randorunoi.com
A great trail through plantations, sacred lakes, ylang-ylang and sugar canes fields, plus a hike on the Mount Passot, which is the highest point of Nosy Be. It offers a panoramic view of the island … The amazing “Island of Perfumes” unveils itself to you, along 35km, with a height difference of 2 400m.
- Festivals
Nosy Be Jazz Festival, from March, 31th till April 2nd 2018 www.nosybe-jazz-festival.com
This festival gathers about twenty musicians and jazzmen from Belgium, Italy, France, Palestine, USA, and Madagascar. Six concerts, three master classes, cultural activities and many surprising events in an island paradise.
Simply put, it is #JazzOnTheBeach !
Short films Festival, from April, 13th till 21st 2018 www.rencontresdufilmcourt.mg
Screening of the best short films from the whole world, meetings, competitions, workshops, roundtables … During nine days, Antananarivo, as well as other big towns welcome the unique film festival of Madagascar.
Donia, from May, 16th till 20th 2018 www.festival-donia.com
Every year, a popular event called Donia is held in the gorgeous Nosy Be island. In Sakalava dialect, Donia means literally “good life”. After several editions, Donia has become an inescapable festival with sporting, social and cultural activities, evening concerts, and numerous shows with great artists from the Indian Ocean.
Madagascar Carnival, June, 15th -16th -17th 2018 www.carnaval-madagascar.com
Carnival in Madagascar implies parades, dances, cultural activities, celebrations … During three days, Antananarivo, the capital city, rallies all the regions of Madagascar and rounds up all Malagasy cultures and traditions.
A gigantic celebration, a colorful cultural event!
Vez’tival, late October – early November 2018
Cultural, social and sporting activities, concerts, fairs, shows, conferences, exhibitions around art and Vezo culture – the Vezo is a tribe who lives in southern western Madagascar. The festival last seven days.
Madajazzcar – October 2018 https://fr-fr.facebook.com/Madajazzcar-Festival-official-151933077358/
Over the years, Madajazzcar has become an international event, getting famous among jazz lovers. An annual magnificent musical event in Madagascar, with jazzmen from all over the word, during a whole month and in Antananarivo, Nosy Be, Diego-Suarez, Fianarantsoa and Fort-Dauphin.
