Answers to Your Questions
Weather conditions, logistics for the kitesurfing school in Madagascar, windsurfing lessons, eco-friendly accommodations: find all the information you need.
Planning Your Trip
Because a kitesurfing trip to Madagascar or a family vacation in the heart of Sakalava Bay requires seamless planning, we’ve compiled here the complete answers to the questions most frequently asked by our travelers.
Answers to your questions.
Our lodge is situated right on the beach at Sakalava Bay, 20 km from Diego-Suarez (Antsiranana), in northern Madagascar. You step out of your bungalow and you’re right there.
Ocean Lodge is open from 15 March until the end of November. The wind is strongest from July to September. At the start and end of the season, it is more moderate, which is ideal for learning and improving.
From mid-March to April and in November, the wind ranges from 15 to 25 knots: ideal for beginners or for getting back into it gently. From May to June and in October, expect 20 to 30 knots, suitable for all levels. From July to September, conditions are at their peak: 25 to 35 knots with strong reefing waves – the perfect playground for experienced riders.
Over 98 per cent of days throughout the season are suitable for riding, with winds stronger than force 4. In practical terms, if you come for ten days, you won’t leave without having been out sailing.
The water temperature is between 27 and 28 °C at the start and end of the season (March–April, October–November) and between 23 and 25 °C in the middle of the season (July to September). A shorty or a lycra wetsuit is sufficient all year round.
The UV index in Diego-Suarez reaches 12 on the WHO scale. The wind keeps you cool, so you don’t realise you’re getting sunburnt. Wear Lycra when out on the water, use a water-resistant, reef-safe SPF 50 sun cream (free from oxybenzone and octinoxate), reapplying it after every session, along with a sun stick for your face and goggles with a cord.
Answers to your questions.
No prior experience is required. Our IKO-certified instructors will guide you right from your very first session, in exclusively one-to-one lessons.
Yes, it’s one of the safest spots in the world for learning. The seabed is sandy, the slope is gentle, and the side-onshore wind always carries you back towards the beach.
Yes. You step out of your bungalow, the equipment is ready on the beach, and you can go sailing right in front of the lodge. No transfer is required.
Generally speaking, 10 hours of lessons spread over a week are enough to enable you to sail on your own for the first time. Our all-inclusive package, priced at €800, includes exactly this amount of tuition.
Everything is included in the course price: wing, bar, harness, shorty or lycra wetsuit, helmet and impact vest. You don’t need to bring anything.
We stock Airush Lithium (all-round), Session (wave), Ultra (light wind) and Cabrinha Moto (all-round) kites – a kite for every condition. Twin-tip and surf boards are also available.
Yes, absolutely. Storage at the lodge is free and secure. It’s a service we offer to all our guests.
Answers to your questions.
Yes, no previous experience is required. You’ll start on a paddleboard to get to grips with the kite, then gradually move on to the foil with your instructor.
The wingfoil spot is accessible for around 3 hours before and 3 hours after high tide, giving 4 to 6 hours of sailing per day with a 75 cm mast.
We use F-One Strike wings (one of the market leaders), F-One and Quatro boards, and foils suited to every ability level and body size. Everything is provided during the lessons.
Answers to your questions.
Windsurfing is a sport in its own right here. We maintain a full fleet comprising Goya wave sails, carbon masts and booms, and boards ranging from 72 to 180 litres for freeride and wave riding.
Yes. Our courses cover everything from complete beginners’ lessons right through to advanced freeride and wave riding, with equipment suited to your level.
Yes. We offer full sailing rigs for hire, suitable for everyone from beginners to experienced sailors. If you bring your own equipment, storage is free and secure.
Answers to your questions.
The bungalow is situated right on the seafront with a private terrace and high-quality bedding, and is available with a choice of half-board or full-board. The chalet is more basic, set within the tropical garden, and full board is included in the price. It is the most economical all-inclusive option.
We have 10 bungalows overlooking the lagoon, each accommodating between 2 and 5 people.
Yes, high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi is available throughout the lodge. It’s ideal for working from home if you’d like to combine skiing with remote working.
No. The lodge is sheltered from the wind: you can enjoy the peace and quiet on your terrace, even when the wind is blowing at 30 knots right outside.
Answers to your questions.
No, there aren’t any fixed meal times. You eat according to your sessions, the tides and your lessons. If you come out of the water at 3 pm, your meal will be ready for you at 3 pm.
Yes. There are two different set menus available at each sitting, for lunch and dinner. All the food is made from scratch, and a pastry chef creates the desserts every day.
Yes, by booking only. Priority is given to guests staying at the lodge, which enables us to guarantee you a table and a high standard of service.
Our menus are created daily using fresh produce from the market and the catch of the day: fish, lagoon crab, prawns, zebu and Madagascan specialities.
Answers to your questions.
There are two possible arrival options. Via Diego-Suarez Airport, 40–45 minutes from the lodge. Or via Nosy Be, served by airlines including Ethiopian Airlines: in this case, allow around 6 hours for the journey, by boat to Ankify and then by road. We can arrange a private transfer for you on request, at an additional cost, and a meal will be waiting for you on arrival.
There is a direct flight to Diego-Suarez from Réunion. From Mayotte, you can take an Ewa Air flight to Diego-Suarez. In both cases, we’ll organise your transfer from the airport.
It takes about 40 to 45 minutes by road from Antsiranana Airport (Arrachart) to the lodge.
No, we take care of everything. Our team will meet you as soon as you step off the plane with a private car. You won’t have to organise a thing between the airport and your bungalow.
The price depends on the number of people: €320 for 1 person, €160 per person for 2, €110 per person for 3 and €80 per person for 4. The transfer from Diego-Suarez Airport costs €40 in a private 4×4 (1 to 4 people) or €25 in a small car.
Answers to your questions.
Yes. The lagoon is shallow and protected by the coral reef; the seabed is sandy and the slope is gentle. Our instructors monitor the water at all times. We offer accommodation for up to 5 people and discounted rates for children under 12.
Yes. Our trusted team looks after your children right at the lodge whilst you’re out sailing. You can head out onto the water with complete peace of mind.
The lodge is sheltered from the wind: you can spend a peaceful day there. Guests can enjoy yoga and hammock yoga just a 5-minute walk away (Yogisland), seaside massages, snorkelling in the Emerald Sea or at the Three Bays, day trips (Emerald Sea, Amber Mountain, Diego Suárez) and our home-cooked cuisine, including desserts created by our pastry chef.
Answers to your questions.
7 nights’ full board and 10 hours of private IKO lessons. From €800 per person.
Directly via WhatsApp or by email. We’ll draw up a bespoke quote based on your dates, your level and your chosen discipline.
Yes, but we have a limited number of rooms. However, we’d prefer you to contact us directly via WhatsApp or email: this allows us to discuss your skill level, suitable equipment and the best wind conditions for your stay.
No. Storage is free and secure for all stays at the lodge. You can bring your own equipment at no extra cost.
Answers to your questions.
Yes. The lodge is powered by solar energy and blends in with the natural environment of Sakalava Bay.
This is a charity run by Ocean Lodge and the Lakana Hotel. It covers the school fees and school supplies for 74 children in Diego-Suarez and supports a school in Ramena, near the Lakana Hotel.
Yes. The Lakana Hotel is our second hotel, situated on the beach in Ramena. Transport between the two is provided free of charge. You can enjoy two different atmospheres during the same stay.
Experience the adventure
Your holiday is tailor-made. Please email us with your date
