Vezo Surf Camp - Anakao, Tulear. Madagascar
INTRODUCTION
A truly unique adventure package in Madagascar! Take advantage of your hosts’ in depth of the island and discover unique, untouched sites of mysterious Madagascar. The camp offers both, kite and surf packages.
The surfcamp is located on the lagoon 50 km south of Tuléar (southwest Madagascar). It is a small ecological structure facing a magnificent lagoon that stretches for 150 km.
Accessible only by sea, its exceptional location and isolation are its greatest assets, its local team its authenticity! It’s a unique place!
The facilities are simple, it is a rustic discovery tour, thus you will not encounter tourist crowds and overpriced resorts. This trip provides a real off the grid, authentic experience.
Ideal for surfing with 6 renowned waves, and for kitesurfing with an ever-present breeze and shallow crystal-clear waters, the lagoon, with its endless reef wave, offers a multitude of possibilities for freeride lovers.
Located near Nosy Satrana Island and the Mangoro (lagoon strait), the surf camp in Andramandéo is also the ideal base camp for coastal outrigger canoe raids to Beheloka, Lake Tsimanampesotse with its pink flamingos and baobabs or the magnificent turquoise bay of Itampolo.
Staying at the camp to watch the humpback whales pass by, walking alone on the beach to the villages of Maromena and Befasy, climbing the dune to watch the merchant pirogues pass the Mangoro, wandering in the mangrove, making your way inland to Tanalana to go to the market in Ankilimivony, whatever your activity, you will be blown away!
THE ACCOMMODATION
Consisting of only 5 bungalow, it is a small ecological structure. The facilities are simple, it is a rustic discovery tour, thus you will not encounter tourist crowds and overpriced resorts. This trip provides a real off the grid, authentic experience.
The sleeping capacity is 12 beds are distributed over 4 private bungalows. The facilities are incredibly simple.
The food is hearty and varied. Plenty of local produce, freshly caught fish and seafood. All natural and organic. Fish and seafood are a priority – yum! Full board is included for the entire trip. Drinks, tips and personal expenses are not included.
THE ACTIVITIES
Madagascar Kite Trip
The Kite season in Madagascar is all year round. Lessons and coaching are included in the package, however it will also be a great value trip for experienced kiters as well. Take advantage of crystal clear waters, Madagascar wilderness and embark on a true adventure!
Madagascar Surf Adventure
Surfing season in Madagascar is from April to end of December. Madagascar is a stunning place to visit as well as being home to epic, crystal clear uncrowded waves! Many reef breaks are world class! Sandy bottom blue lagoons are perfect for learners. Rustic, mesmerizing and epic surf trip!
Ideal for surfing with 6 renowned waves: Antsiforony (Jelly Baby), Antalivy, Flameballs, Mangoro, Maromena, Befasy. There are plenty of surf spots around the surfcamp, they are easily accessible by dugout canoe and most of the time you will be alone there.
LOCATION & GETTING HERE
LOCATION
Madagascar
Madagascar is a huge island nation off the southeast coast of Africa. It’s home to thousands of animal species, such as lemurs, found nowhere else, plus rainforests, beaches and reefs. Near the busy capital, Antananarivo, is Ambohimanga, a hillside complex of royal palaces and burial grounds, as well as the “Avenue of the Baobabs,” a dirt road lined by massive centuries-old trees.
Madagascar is not only home to many world class, yet uncrowded waves. The Island of Madagascar has incredibly unique flora and fauna. Ninety percent of the plants and animals found on the island evolved there and nowhere else. Tuléar is where the sealed road ends and many adventures begin.
Located in the middle of the Mozambique Channel to the north west of Reunion Island and Mauritius, Madagascar is your true deep in the heart of Africa surfing experience!
Tulear or Toliara
Toliara is a city in Madagascar. It is the capital of the Atsimo-Andrefana region, located 936 km southwest of Antananarivo. The current spelling of the name was adopted in the 1970s, and reflects the orthography of the Malagasy language.
Vezo People
The Vezo is the term the semi-nomadic coastal people of southern Madagascar use to refer to people that have become accustomed to live from sea fishing.
Climate
The climate is dominated by the southeastern trade winds that originate in the Indian Ocean anticyclone, a center of high atmospheric pressure that seasonally changes its position over the ocean. Madagascar has two seasons: a hot, rainy season from November to April; and a cooler, dry season from May to October.
Health and Insurance
Much of the healthcare in Madagascar is robust, with several hospitals and health care centres spread throughout the country. However, services are sometimes lacking, and whilst basic healthcare is free, hospitals are often woefully under staffed. Health insurance is strongly recommended;
Most travelers to Madagascar will need vaccinations for:
- Hepatitis A
- Typhoid fever
- Influenza
- Polio
As well as medications for malaria prophylaxis and travelers’ diarrhea. Other immunizations may be necessary depending upon the circumstances of the trip and the medical history of the traveler.
Getting Here
HOW TO COME
1) Antananarivo > Tuléar
Upon your arrival in Antananarivo, you have 2 options to reach Tuléar:
– By plane , with Tsaradia (Air Madagascar), which offers a daily flight from Antananarivo to Tulear for approximately €150. The flight takes 1 hour and 10 minutes direct, and 2 hours and 35 minutes with a stopover in Fort-Dauphin. Please note that only one 20kg piece of checked baggage is allowed; additional baggage costs €50.
Reservations can be made online at www.tsaradia.com
– By road , the 950 km of the RN7 offer one of the most accessible routes on the island, as well as a great diversity of magnificent landscapes. From Antsirabe to Antoetra, Fianarantsoa, Ranohira, and the Isalo Massif, the road is a constant spectacle and provides an excellent introduction to the heart of Malagasy life. The journey takes 22 hours by bush taxi (very economical, a wonderful experience but also a challenge) or two days by minibus or 4×4 with a driver, with an overnight stay in Fianarantsoa or Ambalavao. Véronique will be happy to organize this trip for you according to your dates and the number of people in your party.
2) Tuléar > Anakao
The easiest way from Tuléar is to take the Anakao Express speedboat and get dropped off in front of “Chez Emile” in Anakao. Departure every day at 9:00 am from Tuléar, unlikely boarding by zebu cart, duration 1 hour, €15/person (60,000 ariary).
3) Anakao > Vezo Camp
In Anakao, Billy, our pirogue driver, takes over for the transfer to Vezo Camp (Andramandeo). Duration: 1 hour, price: €30 (120,000 Ar) for the entire pirogue, which can carry up to 5 people with luggage.
The crossing is perfectly safe. Navigation takes place in the lagoon along the shore, except during spring tides and always according to the tide schedule. In case of very bad weather, it is possible to reach the camp by taking the coastal track in a zebu cart… (longer but very reliable).
For the return trip, depart from Camp Vezo at 6:30 am by motorized dugout canoe to Anakao (1 hour) to catch the Anakao Express speedboat at 7:30 am (only one shuttle per day). Arrival in Tuléar is around 9:30 am, depending on sea conditions.
The airport is a 20-minute taxi ride away for €10.
Coming from Australia or New Zealand
Grab a low cost to Bankok then a connecting flight with Air Madagascar to Antanarivo (Tana) then another flight down to Tulear with Air Madagascar. Air Mauritius have very competitive fares from Sydney and Perth through to Antananarivo with a stop over in Mauritius on the way and direct connections on the return leg.
Coming from Europe
Best bet would be to get yourself to Paris, Marseille, or Milan and then take one of the numerous companies that fly to Antananarivo including Air Madagascar, Air France, and Corsair.
Coming from the States
Either go the Paris option mentioned above or get yourself to Johannesburg or Bankok and then over to Antananarivo and down to Tulear.
Coming from South Africa
Direct flights to Antananrivo depart from Johannesburg with Air Madagascar, South African Airways, and Interair.
Other
Other Airlines that fly into Antananarivo include Kenya Airways from Djbouti and Nairobi. Turkish Airlines also have a new flight from Istanbul which is very competitively priced.
PRICES & PACKAGES
- Accommodation in bungalows: From € 48 per night with full board included
- Surf and Kite Lessons: From € 40 each session included boat security, lesson, board rental
