When is a great time to spot wildlife? Wild animals can be found in ecosystems like deserts, forests, rain forests, plains or grasslands. Often wildlife is hidden and difficult to spot. Here you will find the right time and areas where the chance for a wildlife sighting is much higher.
It's an unforgettable experience to witness almost a million bats flying out of the cave. Each evening at dusk the bats come out of the cave in a spiral formation which can last for hours. You may think you get hit by raindrops, but this is the bat's pee.
Best time to travel to Trinidad is the dry season from January to May, but showers can always occur. During the rainy season, it may rain several times each day, but the sky clears up in between. There is often a short break between mid-September until mid-October Luckily, Trinidad and Tobago are south of the hurricane belt and hardly experience any hurricane, but it can happen as it did in September 1963 or September 2004. Trinidad is more likely to be affected between August and September.
The dry season from Jan to May is likewise the peak season. It's less crowded from October until Christmas when the temps are cooler.
All animals are active at the beginning of the rainy season in December.
The dry season last from April to November. Often Kirindy is not accessible from January to end of March. In October you may see baby lemurs. There are fewer midges at the end of the dry season.
The Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary can be visited year-round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's not far from Cradle Mountain. Their significant contribution to the Tasmanian devil is unique. For more than 30 years now they run the conversation breeding programme successful. You shouldn't miss the feeding time of the Tasmanian devil at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Around December you may see the baby devils as well.
If you like to feed the kangaroos, that's an extra charge of $3. Visit Trowunna already in the morning when they open the park. It starts to get crowded from 10.30 a.m.onwards and the kangaroos start hiding.
Cradle Mountain National Park is a heaven for wildlife which is plentiful throughout the park. Have a look at the different species to get detailed information when and where you can spot them. Most of them are used to humans and let you watch them as long as you don't get to close.
They are crepuscular and nocturnal. The best chance for a sighting is at dusk and dawn. They also venture out for feeding on cool and overcast days. The famous Cradle Mountain is crowded with day visitors but in the late afternoon it becomes quiet and peaceful, and you may spot several wombats near the Interpretation Center, Waldheim Lodge, and Cabins.
Wallabies and pademelons
Can be spotted late afternoon and evening especially near Waldheim Lodge and Cabins. Pademelons are also often seen around the self-catering cabins.
Active until the end of summer (March/April) before they hibernate again until late October to mid-November.
Possible to spot but rare. Unfortunately, cases of devil facial tumor disease are reported recently. Trowunna close to Cradle Mountain is an excellent Wildlife Park to see them relatively close.
Possums are seen during the night frequently close to garbage bins and around the cottages.
Platypus is extremely difficult to spot, coming out when it's almost dark. We haven't seen any yet.
Snow in winter usually from July to September with an average day temp of 6°C / 43°F. It can get pretty cold during the night (below 0°C). Snow can occur even in November with a temp of 0°C / 32°F at daytime. More stable weather from December to April with warmer temps. The warmest months are January and February. The coldest months are July and August. Anyhow, the weather is unpredictable in Tassie. Be prepared for 4 seasons in one day even in summer. Autumn from late April to May is an exceptional time with colors ranging from gold to deep red.
The best months to visit Cahuita are February/March until April and September, October because it rains less compared to the wet season in the rest of the country. The dry season is also the best time for snorkeling.
The leatherback-, green-, hawksbill- and loggerhead turtles lay their eggs at the park's beaches. Nesting season for leatherback is from March to July, the green from July to October, the hawksbill and loggerhead from February to May. Therefore, it's always worth to travel to the east side of Costa Rica.
The Analamazaotra Reserve and the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park are famous for the Indri; the largest lemur still in existence and today classified as critically endangered. The Analamazaotra Reserve is just a three hours drive from Tana, easily accessible and therefore crowded. Although the park is accessible all year, hiking conditions are better during the drier season from April until November. Continue reading to get the most out of your visit.
Black-and-white ruffed lemur in Andasibe-Mantadia
Weather and Crowds
Dry Season (May to October) - Peak Season
The weather improves and it gets drier from May onwards. Anyhow, precipitation can always occur in the east for around 210 days each year. Madagascar is a popular destination from May/June to October. Analamazaotra gets pretty busy especially in July and August with visitors from Europe. The best time to visit the entire island is the end of the dry season in September and October. You avoid the heat, and there are fewer mosquitos.
Rainy Season (December to March) - Not recommended
Precipitation increases already in November, but December to February are the worst months and cyclones are likely to happen. Roads and trails can get flooded.
Shoulder Season (April, May, November)
The season already starts in April, but April and May are still not too crowded. In November rain increases and crowds thin out. If you can handle precipitation, you experience a much quieter island. Prices are not on the highest level, and plenty of accommodations are available. Different orchids species start blooming when the rain begins until January.
Average Monthly Temperature and Rainfall for Madagascar from 1991-2015
Top Tip to Avoid Crowds
If you are physically fit, and you like hiking a lot visit the Andasibe Mantadia National Park. A 4x4 is recommended to get to this part of the park. There are two existing trails not well developed. You may leave the tracks when following the lemurs to the thick primary forest. It's pure wilderness to hike here, and you may enjoy the lemurs with very few people only. We spent here a whole day hiking, observing lemurs and sweating from the fast pace to follow sifakas and indris.
Diadem Sifaka and Baby in September
Where to Stay Close to the Reserve
It's Madagascar, so hotels are commonly below the European standard although some have similar quality. Wifi is not often available. Try to book a hotel where breakfast and dinner are included. Chose wisely where to stay and where you eat your meals. We traveled almost a month through Madagascar, and we saw some people sick from the food. Sometimes we just ate pure rice for dinner only. The Mantadia Lodge Andasibe is the only one we can recommend for 2019. They will spoil you with the best food on entire Madagascar.