The Surf Window

Fort Dauphin

Anosy, Madagascar

Reef breakAdvanced

A remote port town on the southern tip of Madagascar, Fort Dauphin (Taolagnaro) sits at the confluence of the Indian Ocean and the southern tip of the world's fourth-largest island, receiving powerful swells from multiple directions on exposed reef breaks.

Typical Conditions

The Surf Window

Swell Window

N
OptimalE (90°)
WindowNNE–SSE (30°–150°)

Wind

N

Offshore

Tide

mid tide

LowMidHigh

Season

June–August

JFMAMJJASOND

The Wave

Type

Right (primarily)

Bottom

Rock reef

Shape

Powerful, raw right-hand reef, exposed to Indian Ocean and South Atlantic swells, producing intense, consistent waves

Length

60–150m

Skill Level

  • •Who it's for: Advanced
  • •Why: Remote Madagascar reef with powerful swell, self-sufficiency and coral reef experience essential.

Hazards

  • •Sharp rock and coral reef
  • •Extremely remote, Fort Dauphin is accessed only by domestic flight or very long road
  • •Limited medical infrastructure
  • •Cyclones affect the region December–March

Local Tips

  • •Madagascar is one of the world's great biodiversity hotspots, combine the surf trip with lemur watching in the surrounding forest reserves.
  • •Fort Dauphin has a small expat community and some good restaurants, logistics are challenging but the remoteness is part of the appeal.

Location

Map showing the location of Fort Dauphin in Anosy, Madagascar

-25.0290, 46.9967