Madagascar : Profile

Facts

In the past officials have not especially welcomed visiting sailors, who were invariably treated with suspicion and as a result very few yachts stopped in Madagascar. The situation is definitely changing and as the island is attracting an increasing number of tourists to its resorts, the attitude to visiting yachts has shown a marked improvement. With the Red Sea becoming a difficult area for yachts, more are choosing the Cape of Good Hope route and the numbers of boats coming through Madagascar is on the increase. The authorities have recognised this, with improving services and a much more friendly attitude towards yachts, with formalities becoming more straightforward.
More cruising boats have been visiting Madagascar in recent years and reporting excellent experiences there. Previous issues with "special fees", corrupt officials, and petty theft have been greatly reduced. Whether this is due to less criminal activity or a heightened awareness on the part of cruising sailors is not clear - though it is probably a combination of the two.
The most attractive ports and anchorages are on the north-west coast where Antseranana, formerly known as Diego Suarez, has a beautiful natural harbour. The old town has a cosmopolitan atmosphere with its mixed population of Malagasy, Arabs, Indians, Africans and Réunionnais.
Further along the coast is Madagascar's prime attraction, the picturesque island of Nossi-Be, now a thriving tourist resort. Another island worth visiting is Nossi Boraha (Ile Sainte Marie), close to Toamasina, the country's chief commercial harbour and main port of entry. The latter is a good place to stop for yachts on passage to the Cape of Good Hope.
Another interesting stop for southbound yachts is at Taolanaro, formerly Port Dauphin, the site of the first French settlement in the seventeenth century.
Good repair facilities can be found at Mahajanga, on the west coast, which is used by many foreign shrimping boats as a base of operations. With the increase in visiting yachts, repair facilities are improving in Nossi-Be.

The climate is tropical. November to March is the rainy season. The SE trade wind season lasts until the end of October and the trades can be very strong at times, occasionally being accompanied by violent thunderstorms. From December to March cyclones are common on the east coast.