Surfing

Surfing is becoming more popular in Madagascar, with the best surf spots between Tulear on the south-west coast and Fort Dauphin, further east along the coast. Accommodation is rustic on this stretch of coast, and the country is extremely wild but beautiful. Some wave-types have attained international recognition, eg. Flame Balls and Jelly Babies.

Kitesurfing

Two spots have a proper base for kitesurfing and windsurfing: Fort Dauphin and Diego Suarez. The best time to kitesurf or windsurf is from May until November.

Diving and Snorkelling

The best diving spots are Tulear, Belo Sur Mer (near Morondava), Nosy Be and Sainte Marie; December to April the waters may contain sediments from rain season floods. A good spot, for snorkelling especially, is the Nosy Hara archipelago, west of Diego. There are some other lovely spots, harder to reach and without much infrastructure: marine reserves Masoala and Mananara.

Sailing

Best and almost exclusively from Nosy Be and surrounds. For the best of Nosy Be islands, book our Dhow camping trip.

Fishing

Tulear, Nosy Be, Diego Suarez and Ile Sainte Marie are the best fishing spots, with proper angling boats. Expect to catch barracuda, dorado and even tuna. Nosy Be and Ile St Marie are also suitable for fly-fishing.

Sea Kayaking

The only base is presently around the Masoala peninsula. The season is short (September to December) and it does rain quite a bit in this area, though the scenery makes up for it. Be aware that this is a spectacular region for eco-tourists and adventure travellers alike, but that it lacks infrastructure in the form of roads or even dirt tracks.

Trekking and Hiking

Possibly the best area for hiking - certainly the most mountainous area - is around the Andringitra mountains (south of Fianarantsoa). Alternatively, canyon hikes can be done in the Isalo and Makay range. The Tsaratanana traverse (Mada's highest) is a long 13-day trek; an exceptional but very remote mountain trek. 

Mountain biking

Best on Central highlands with tracks perfect for biking. Be aware that no really decent bikes are available to rent anywhere in Madagascar, so it's best to bring your own bike and kit.

Canoeing, rafting and river kayaking

For kayaking and canoeing , western rivers like Mangoky, Manambolo, and the Tsiribinha and her tributaries are best. There's also excellent rivers on the eastern side (Onibe and Sahatandra), but the weather can be problematic. Lily Falls, about 100 km south-east of Tana, has been a popular white-water rafting spot for over 10 years, with excellent rapids and beautiful scenery.

Quad-biking

Quads are available in Tana, Morondava, Tulear and Diego Suarez. You can also rent quads on Nosy Be and Ile Sainte Marie from the bigger hotels, but usually for day tours only.

Motorbiking

Professional accompanied tours are available from Tana and from Tulear. Some more remote spots near Ankarana in the far north, also offer off-road biking for the more intrepid adventurer.

Bird Watching

Madagascar will be of great interest to any ornithologists, with over 250 species of bird, including many water bird species. Some of the best spots to observe these water birds are along the remote areas of the western and south-western coasts, such as Lac Tsimanampetsotsa.

Whale Watching

Baie d'Antogil and the channel separating Ile Sainte Marie from the mainland are considered among the best whale watching sites in the region. It's estimated that close to 1000 whales visit Madagascar each season, with up to several hundred of these in Baie d'Antogil at any given time.

Tailor-made activities

One of your best options when embarking on an activity-filled holiday is to consult the experts. Allow Jenman Island Safaris to tailor make the perfect island getaway for you, catering to your budget, group size and special requirements.