Surfing in Madagascar - Full Guide / Seasons + Spots

There’s a bit of a spotlight on Madagascar these days.

South Africans tired of jetting over the island and seeing potential reef setups have been drawn by the promise of barrels a la Indo, only WAY closer than Indo. Others are simply tempted by a place that still has the allure of an old-school surf frontier; undeveloped, unknown, not yet packed with surf camps and stuff.

The island, which is the third biggest island in the whole world no less, is now a fantastic destination for proper off-the-beaten-path surf adventures.

The south and southwest coasts are the hunting ground and they are beautifully undiscovered, with reports of totally unridden reef breaks still emerging some years.

It’s not for beginners for sure. It’s more for the advanced surfer who likes a challenge and likes the chase. You’ll spend a lot of time negotiating boat rides with locals, paddling out on sketchy reefs that might not even be makeable, and camping/staying in fishing huts up and down the coast.

(One caveat: There is a beginner-friendly wave or two dotted around, so this guide is also for you if you’ve searched this because you’re wondering about having a cheeky session while on your honeymoon or something. That’s doable but kinda only on the east coast, so I won’t focus on it here.)

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This guide is one part of our full guide to surfing in Africa

Surf spots in Madagascar

The southwest and south coastlines are the place to surf in Madagascar. These are the only areas that get the good hit of SW swell.

Now, loads of the spots here either aren’t named, haven’t been surfed yet, or only have local names, known locally, which we’re not going to mention.

It’s just that there’s like 120 miles of workable coastline, with long strings of reef that have coral banks facing west, south, and north. Most of the good stuff is in an area known as the Vezo Reefs, which come down from Ambolomailaka to around Befasy.

All work on different swell sizes, but the general feeling is that the north-facing banks are better because they can give the world-class waves on the massive low-pressure swells during the winter, as sets need to swing around and refract in.

Anyway, here’s a look at just a few of the top surf spots that are known in Madagascar.

Parkers’

This remote left-hand reef point is a workable shoulder with big tubes on offer. It’s very far on the outside of a gorgeous white-sand bay with just a single guesthouse by it.

No idea how to get out there, but there will be passing fishingfolk you can get a ride with. It’s got a bit of N angle to it, so should be good to go on the big 2-meter swells in midwinter but it’s not a very well known wave so I literally have no idea what you can expect to find.

Could be freight trains, could be nothing. Probably sharky AF.

Goggles

Another left reef that works on the far outside section of the rivermouth area north of Toliara. Probably super sharky because of where it is in relation to the riverwater.

There’s also a few A-frame peaks that work down the beach but this is undiscovered area 101.

Flameballs

Flameballs is one of the best-known waves on the island. It’s a super nice left with a pretty long ride off the sides of the reefs that fringe Tulear.

Take off is very steep on the inside, so hang further down the shoulder and just paddle harder to get on the wave at easier sections. It starts pretty steep and pitching but mellows fast and has some nice smooth faces to carve on before dropping you in the channel.

Needs a boat charter for sure.

Jelly Babies

Tucked inside between the island that makes Flameballs work and another reef, there’s only a small channel for the swell to push through to get Jelly working.

That means it’s not as consistent as other spots here and generally a little smaller than others but it’s a rare right option on this southwest coast that could be welcome relief for a non-goofy.

Puss Puss

A swell-sucking outer reef break that’s a bit of a boat right to reach from Anakao but vert consistent. Blows out badly with wind that won’t behave.

When to surf in Madagascar?

The prime surf season in Madagascar runs from April to October. This is when the Indian Ocean’s powerful south swells roll in, lighting up the reef breaks along the southeastern and southwestern coasts.

Consistent SW swells paired with steady offshore trades from the E to create clean, powerful waves, making it the ideal time for intermediate and advanced surfers looking to tackle spots like Flameballs and the Anakao reefs.

The November to March offer smaller, more manageable waves. However, this is also cyclone season, meaning conditions can be unpredictable, with strong winds and storm-driven swells. Some sheltered breaks, particularly those in the north near Nosy Be, can still offer fun surf during this time but I definitely wouldn’t rely on em.

Getting to the waves in Madagascar

Getting out to the waves is kinda a chore here. It’s not like Bali where you can just step over some reefs and paddle across.

Boats are a must really, since the bulk – AKA all – of the breaks sit on the outside reefs. The good news is that the whole of the Vezo Reefs area is essentially served by one harbor, at Toliara. Go there to negotiate your boats for the day. It shouldn’t be hard as the fishers are used to it now.

The other option, as we’ve already mentioned, is to fork out for a place to stay that’s a surf camp with its own boat. That will simplify matters.

On the plus side, every break here is a left or right reef that has a clear paddle channel, so once you’re at the wave, it’s a case of just hopping off the side of the boat and paddling over.

Where to stay for surfing in Madagascar

The key things to know here:

1) South and southwest coastlines are the gems. Don’t think about going anywhere else as you need that exposure to S-SW directional swells that push up in the winter months.

2) There’s no real capital of surfing in Madagascar, no central surf town. At least not yet. Your best bet will be to stay somewhere like Anakao and then venture out by 4X4/boat from there.

3) The very best option is to just throw in with the Madagascar Surf Resort and they’ll take care of everything. It’s pretty much the only surf stay on the island and they’re experts in Madagascar’s outer reefs.

TL;DR: Stay with a surf resort or stay in Anakao, somewhere like:

Chez Peter Pan Anakao – Right on the beachside near Anakao, this charming resort offers proper Madagascan character and some cozy rooms.
LA DUNE DES SONGES – A very lux beach hotel with almost Mykonos vibes to it. One of the best on the shoreline here and just downright stunning.