Beaches and marine life

From Mgias

Introduction

The unspoiled 5000 kilometres of beaches are one of Madagascar’s greatest tourist assets. These beautiful beaches, include an 1000 kilometre coral reef, coral islands and lagoons, shelter an abundance of marine life. So, Madagascar can offer excellent water sports such as snorkelling, scuba diving, surfing and big game fishing.

The Northern Region

In the West of The Northern Region there is excellent beaches and marine life. In particular, the resort Island of Nosy Be, is a favourite tourist destination where game fishing and water sports are very popular. Surrounding Nosy Be are the coral islands of Tsarabanjina, Ankarea and Nosy Tanikely marine reserve, which have a micro-climate with heavy rain and sunshine all year round. These coral islands are influenced by the Tsaratanana massif on the mainland, and offer visitors excellent opportunities for snorkelling and diving.

These offshore islands are well known not only for its marine life, but also the lush vegetation of Lokobe Nature Reserve in Nosy Be and on Nosy Komba, the island of lemurs, provide an ideal habitat for the indigenous black lemurs.

The Southern Region

The Southern Region of Madagascar has a number of untouched beaches and marine life with beautiful lagoons containing seashells. The reefs of the Nosy Ve marine reserve are not to be missed by nature lovers.

The south-west coast with the 250 kilometer great barrier reef of Toliara, considered to be one of the largest beaches and marine life in the world. It offers a breathtaking underwater wonderland of other indigenous creatures like bright colored living corals, starfish, sea urchin, shells and colorful fish. The reef provides shelter for more than 250 coral species, 750 fish species, the loggerhead turtle, marine mammals such as dolphins, whales and a prehistoric deep sea fish, the COELACANTHE (LATIMERIA chalumna), which was considered extinct 70 million years ago yet still inhabits the Mozambic Channel.

Anakao and Ifaty southwestern remote beaches and marine life with their warm crystal-clear turquoise waters are the most wonderful sites for water sports especially for snorkelling and scuba diving. These areas are now becoming tourist destinations and have accommodation ranging from good hotels to chalets and cottages.