Nosy Be is the most popular choice in Madagascar for people who wish to enjoy time relaxing on the beach combined with great diving, snorkelling, day trips and even some nightlife. It does tend to be dominated by the French and Italian markets, and despite there being some rather touristy areas, there are still some great hotels on offer here.
The island is quite busy and developed in the southern region, with many hotels also in the west. The northern part of the island is calmer, but is also harder to access. The airport is located on the eastern part of the island. Visitors who wish to do more than relax on the beach can visit the local markets to shop for vanilla, spices and local produce, spend several hours at the Lokobe nature reserve where you can see several types of lemur, snakes and chameleon, or take in the various water-sports on offer including kayaking, windsurfing, sailing or fishing.
Meal Basis: Bed & Breakfast
Antananarivo is Madagascar’s capital city, perched on top of a mountain range close to several nature reserves, including Tsingy de Bemaraha, with its fantastical limestone spikes. Founded in 1625, it has a rich historical heritage that is complemented by scenic landscapes traversed with a multitude of hiking routes.
Meal Basis: Full Board plus Activities
A place of great beauty and biodiversity, Andasibe-Mantadia National Park stretches across 154 square kilometres, and is now divided into two distinct sections – the smaller ‘Perinet’ Reserve to the south and the larger Parc National de Mantadia to the north. The region is swathed with thick tropical rainforests – made up of lush ferns, tangled lianas, hundreds of orchid species and myriad other jungle flora – teeming with a diverse array of endemic wildlife. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you hear the peculiar call of the Indri, the largest living lemur in existence, which can reach up to one metre in height.
Meal Basis: Full Board plus Activities
Set in southern Madagascar, the Berenty Reserve is a small private forest along the Mandrake River. This reserve is ideal for bird enthusiasts as it attracts a wide range of endemic bird species. For visitor convenience, the Berenty Reserve has an accommodation establishment set in the forest along with forest trails to discover this region.
Meal Basis: Full Board
Nosy Be’s is Madagascar’s biggest and most popular tourist destination and it’s easy to understand why – located off Madagascar’s northwestern coast, this small island is blessed with exquisite sand beaches, glittering volcanic lakes and diverse flora and fauna. What’s more, despite its popularity, Nosy Be has remained refreshingly unspoilt and free of rampant development, with low-key beach bungalows more the order of the day here than glitzy commercial resorts. Most visitors are content to do very little except relax on the idyllic beaches, go swimming or snorkelling in the calm azure waters and enjoy seafood feasts at oceanfront restaurants, but if you fancy a bit of sightseeing, it’s worth paying a visit to the bazaar in Hell-ville – where you can pick up samples of the fragrant spices for Nosy Be is nicknamed ‘The Perfume Island’ – and exploring the lush rainforests of the Lobeke nature reserve. Coral reefs skirting the coast offer phenomenal scuba diving opportunities, while a peppering of surrounding islets make for enchanting day trips.
This itinerary is a guideline, Africa & Beyond tailor every trip to your individual specifications including all accommodation, flights, transfers & activities, please contact us to discuss your ideas.
