We spent the entire afternoon exploring the neighbouring fishing villages of Mangily and Ifaty, located around 30km north of Toliara on Madagascar’s southwest coast. Fringed by white sand beaches, coral reefs and the extraordinary spiny forest landscape, the area has become one of the country’s most popular seaside escapes.
Although the two villages are often collectively referred to as “Ifaty,” Mangily is where most travellers choose to stay, thanks to its larger selection of hotels, beach lodges, restaurants and dive centres. Ifaty itself has retained more of its traditional Vezo fishing village atmosphere, with colourful wooden pirogues lining the shore and fishermen bringing in the day’s catch at sunset.
The coastline here is protected by the Great Reef, creating calm turquoise waters ideal for snorkelling, diving and sailing excursions. Offshore, vibrant coral gardens shelter tropical fish, sea turtles and, during the migration season, humpback whales passing through the Mozambique Channel.
As evening approached, we stopped for dinner at Ifaty Beach Club, where we enjoyed a delicious zebu steak by the sea — a perfect way to end a relaxed day on Madagascar’s sun-soaked southwest coast.
