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Home / Beaches / Plage Ankoba

Plage Ankoba

Пляж Анкоба
Madagascar · Beach · Taolagnaro
moderate
Best month: September

Best for

Ideal for beginner surfers thanks to gentle sandy bottom and consistent waves, and for families with children in calm weather. Not suitable for seekers of solitude — this is a popular urban beach.

Best month

September

Water
+23.0°C
Length
7 000 m
Plage Ankoba is an arc-shaped sandy beach, popular for surfing and swimming on calm days. It has restaurants and hotels, as well as excellent conditions for learning to surf.
Surface
sand
Waves
moderate
Entry
gentle
Description Pros & Cons Best For Features Beach & Entry Water & Waves Swim Season Safety Infrastructure Vibe Nature Activities Tips Nearby
Description
General information about the beach
Plage Ankoba is an arc-shaped sandy beach, popular for surfing and swimming on calm days. It has restaurants and hotels, as well as excellent conditions for learning to surf.
Pros and cons
Main advantages and disadvantages

Pros

  • Excellent spot for beginner surfers
  • Gentle sandy bottom
  • Wide arc-shaped beach
  • Three restaurants within walking distance
  • Scenic 7-kilometre bay
  • Swimming possible in calm weather
  • Ankoba Beach Hotel nearby

Cons

  • Strong waves in windy weather
  • Rocky sections on the beach
  • Limited infrastructure
  • No lifeguards
  • Can be crowded on weekends
  • Access requires transport
Best for
Who this beach is ideal for
Ideal for beginner surfers thanks to gentle sandy bottom and consistent waves, and for families with children in calm weather. Not suitable for seekers of solitude — this is a popular urban beach.
Features
What makes this beach unique
7-kilometre south-east facing bay with gentle sandy bottom and consistent waves, ideal for learning to surf. Formerly known as -Monkey Bay- due to lemurs kept at the Lavasoa Hotel.
Beach & Entry
Surface, sand, water entry and bottom
Surface Type
Main surface type
sand
Sand Color
Main sand colour
golden
Sand Texture
Grain size
fine
Water Entry
How steep the drop-off is
gentle
Shallow Distance
Metres to waist-deep water
30 m
Bottom Type
Main bottom type
sand
Water Shoes
Whether special footwear is needed
not needed
Beach Length
Beach length in metres
7 000 m
Water & Waves
Colour, clarity, temperature and waves
Water Colour
turquoise
Water Clarity
moderate
Average Water Temp
+23.0 °C
Max Water Temp
+25.0 °C
Wave Type
moderate
Wave Height
1.0 m
Swim Season
When the swimming season starts and ends
Season start
September
Season end
October
Best month
September
Safety
Currents, water quality, dangerous creatures, hospital
Rip Currents
Likelihood of rip currents
moderate
Water Quality
Water purity rating
good
Jellyfish Risk
Likelihood of jellyfish
low
Shark Risk
Likelihood of sharks
none
Crime Level
Overall safety level
safe
Hospital Distance
Kilometres to hospital
2.0 km
What exactly is dangerous
No serious threats. This is a popular beach with low crime rate.
Dangerous creatures
sharks
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Infrastructure
Amenities on and near the beach
Sunbeds
No
Umbrellas
No
Showers
No
Toilets
No
Changing Rooms
No
Lifeguards
No
First Aid
No
Parking
Yes
Wi-Fi
No
Kids Playground
No
Sports Ground
No
Restaurants Nearby
3 pcs
Best restaurants

Bernard-s Restaurant

Malagasy and French

Restaurant 120 metres from the beach with sea views, fresh seafood and French cuisine

Saint Pas

Malagasy

Restaurant 160 metres from the beach with traditional Malagasy cuisine

L-Arrivage

Seafood

Restaurant 200 metres from the beach, specialising in fresh seafood

Nearby cuisines

Malagasy

Traditional Malagasy cuisine with rice, fish and seafood

Must try: Fresh fish, Fort-Dauphin oysters, romazava

French

French cuisine in town restaurants

Must try: Steaks, seafood, desserts
Vibe
Energy, crowd, silence and sunsets
Energy
active
Crowd Level
moderate
Silence Level
moderate
Sunset Quality
beautiful
Nature
Trees and natural shade
Trees on Beach
Yes
Natural Shade
little
Activities
Snorkelling, diving, surfing, kayaking
Snorkeling
No
Diving
No
Surfing
Yes
Kayaking / SUP
No
Tips
What to bring, best time, local rules
What to Bring
SPF50+ cream Hat Towel Swimsuit Water shoes Cash Water
Best Time to Swim
Best time for surfing is September to October. For swimming, choose calm days.
Local Rules
Do not leave litter. Respect local surfers. Be careful on rocks.
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Flights, transfers and car rental to reach the beach
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Nearby
Attractions and places near the beach

Nahampoana Reserve

Reserve with lemurs, chameleons and rare plants 2 km from the beach

Libanona Beach

The most beautiful and cleanest beach in Fort-Dauphin 1 km from Ankoba

Monseigneur Beach

Popular surfing beach on the east side of town

Lake Vinantany

Scenic lake with rare birds and plants

Where to stay
Hotels and apartments near the beach
Frequently asked questions
Plage Ankoba: what is the water like at this beach?
At this beach, water colour — turquoise, clarity moderate, average temperature +23.0°C, warms up to +25.0°C in the warmest season. Check the exact temperature by month in the chart section.
Plage Ankoba: what are the waves like and is it safe to swim?
Waves at this beach are — moderate. Average wave height — 1.0 m.
Plage Ankoba: what is the water entry and bottom like?
Water entry is — gentle. The shallow area extends for 30 metres from the shore. Bottom — sand. Special shoes are not required — the water entry is comfortable. The gentle slope is safe for children and inexperienced swimmers.
Plage Ankoba: what kind of sand and surface does the beach have?
Beach surface — sand. Sand colour — golden. Texture — fine. Beach length — 7 000 metres.
Plage Ankoba: when is the swimming season?
The swimming season starts in September. It ends in October. The best month for a holiday is September. This is when the water is warmest and the weather is most comfortable.
Plage Ankoba: is it safe to swim?
Water quality is rated as good. Rip currents are likely — swim only in designated areas. Jellyfish risk — low. Always watch for warning signs and follow lifeguards instructions.
Plage Ankoba: which dangerous creatures live in the water?
The water contains: sharks. We recommend wearing protective footwear, not touching marine life and taking care when entering the water.
Plage Ankoba: what infrastructure is available on the beach?
The beach offers: parking. All amenities are listed in the "Infrastructure" section above.
Plage Ankoba: are there lifeguards and a first aid station?
There are no lifeguards on the beach — be especially careful when swimming.
Plage Ankoba: where can I eat near the beach?
Popular places nearby: Bernard-s Restaurant, Saint Pas, L-Arrivage. Cuisines available: Malagasy, French. See the "Infrastructure" section for details.
Plage Ankoba: what should I bring to the beach?
We recommend bringing: SPF50+ cream, Hat, Towel, Swimsuit, Water shoes, Cash, Water.
Plage Ankoba: when is the best time to swim?
Best time for surfing is September to October. For swimming, choose calm days.
Plage Ankoba: what are the rules and restrictions on the beach?
Do not leave litter. Respect local surfers. Be careful on rocks.
Plage Ankoba: what activities are available?
The beach offers: surfing. See the "Activities" section above for details.
Plage Ankoba: who is this beach best for?
Ideal for beginner surfers thanks to gentle sandy bottom and consistent waves, and for families with children in calm weather. Not suitable for seekers of solitude — this is a popular urban beach.
Plage Ankoba: what makes this beach unique?
7-kilometre south-east facing bay with gentle sandy bottom and consistent waves, ideal for learning to surf. Formerly known as -Monkey Bay- due to lemurs kept at the Lavasoa Hotel.
Plage Ankoba: what are the pros and cons of the beach?
Pros: Excellent spot for beginner surfers, Gentle sandy bottom, Wide arc-shaped beach, Three restaurants within walking distance, Scenic 7-kilometre bay, Swimming possible in calm weather, Ankoba Beach Hotel nearby. Cons: Strong waves in windy weather, Rocky sections on the beach, Limited infrastructure, No lifeguards, Can be crowded on weekends, Access requires transport.
Plage Ankoba: what is near the beach?
Nearby you can visit: Nahampoana Reserve, Libanona Beach, Monseigneur Beach, Lake Vinantany. Detailed descriptions in the "Nearby" section above.
Plage Ankoba: how do I get to the city of Taolagnaro?
The beach is located near the city of Taolagnaro. Full information about the city — hotels, restaurants, attractions, transport — is available on the city page for Taolagnaro.

City

Taolagnaro

Full information about the city: prices, hotels, attractions.