Many towns have municipal pools. Sea-bathing along the east coast is not advised due to sharks. The main diving centres are Nossi Bé (with its neighbouring islands Nossi Mitsio, Nossi Radama and Tanikely), Nossi Lava, Toliara and Ile Ste-Marie (Nossi Boraha). Scuba-diving centres are located on the north and west coasts. Water-skiing and sailing centres are located at Ambohibao (Lake Mantasoa), Antsiralse (on Andraikiba Lake) and Ramona. River-rafting can be done in season in the Highlands and the East Coast.

Local tour operators can organise a variety of trekking and hiking trips in many different parts of the country. They are generally designed to cater for specific interest groups – speleologists, mineralogists, ethnologists, ornithologists, those who wish to see rare orchids or lemurs, etc. Pony-trekking is also possible.

For golf, there are facilities at Tana. There are numerous football pitches and, during the dry season, it has been known for rice fields to be used as pitches. Basketball and volleyball are very popular and covered stadiums have been built.