Antongil Bay- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Antongil Bay, the largest bay in Madagascar at approximately 60 km long and 30 km wide, forms a sheltered marine landscape stretching into the Analanjirofo region and bordered by the Masoala Peninsula. This semi‑enclosed bay is home to a mosaic of rich habitats—mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, coral reefs, rocky shores and estuaries. It supports exceptionally high marine productivity and biodiversity, including 19 species of sharks, marine turtles, dugongs, and at least 11 species of cetaceans, and serves as a major nursery and feeding ground in the Indian Ocean. From June through September, the bay hosts around 7,000 humpback whales returning each year to breed and give birth in its warm, protected waters, making it one of the best‑studied wintering sites for these giants in the region. Its coastal communities—roughly 150,000 people across nearly 100 villages—have developed a pioneering network of locally managed marine areas (LMMAs), including no‑take zones and gear restrictions, to sustainably govern fisheries and safeguard coral reef health. These community‑based initiatives underpin Madagascar's first shark sanctuary, officially instituted to conserve 19 shark species and strengthen resource stewardship by locals.