Nosy Be (‘Big Island’: Malagasy), an island off the NW coast of Madagascar, is its largest port and Madagascar’s most popular beach-resort. Though Nosy Be’s inclination is towards mass tourism, it is still a largely peaceful place with sugar cane plantations, rum distilleries, ylang ylang bushes, and lounging lemurs. This still beautiful island offers some amazing snorkelling and diving opportunities as well as primary forests with great wildlife. Read more about Nosy Be, Madagascar

Read more about Nosy Hara, Madagascar

The island of Nossi-Komba (aka Nosy Komba, Nosy Ambariovato) is a small circular island 5km across, that lies between the larger tourist island of Nosy Be and the mainland of NW Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. The island is covered with tropical vegetation and rises to 622m at the centre. Thatched huts and palm trees ring the sea shore, and the largest of four villages is at the northern end. Read more about Nossi-Komba, Madagascar

Mahajanga is a city and a district on the NW coast of Madagascar. It is a favorite tourist destination for Malagasy tourists and international travelers, with beautiful beaches, a coconut-lined boardwalk, and eight months of hot, virtually rain-free weather. The town’s old sector is confined mainly to the harbour quarter and has some 19th-century Arabian houses. Read more about Mahajanga, Madagascar

Morondava is located on the north side the 4 km wide delta of the Morondava River on the island of Madagascar. It faces the Mozambique Channel that separates Madagascar from Mozambique on the African continent. Morondova is famous for its Avenue of Baobabs, roughly 17 km inland. Read more about Morondava, Madagascar

Tulear (aka Toliara, Toliary) is a town with a seaport on the SW coast of Madagascar, with a population of 160,000. Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world, and home to five percent of the world's plant and animal species. About eighty percent of these are endemic to Madagascar. Read more about Tulear, Madagascar

Richards Bay is a city encompassing one of South Africa's largest harbours, a 30 square kilometre lagoon of the Mhlatuze River, on the northern coast of KwaZulu-Natal. The deep water harbour has the largest coal export facility in the world as well as large-scale mineral and chemical exports. Tourism is a major industry, with the ocean beach a very popular kite-surfing destination, and a multitude of first class game reserves are within several hours' drive from Richards Bay. Read more about Richards Bay, South Africa

Richards Bay is a city encompassing one of South Africa's largest harbours, a 30 square kilometre lagoon of the Mhlatuze River, on the northern coast of KwaZulu-Natal. The deep water harbour has the largest coal export facility in the world as well as large-scale mineral and chemical exports. Tourism is a major industry, with the ocean beach a very popular kite-surfing destination, and a multitude of first class game reserves are within several hours' drive from Richards Bay. Read more about Richards Bay, South Africa

Durban is the third largest city in South Africa and is its busiest port. Its subtropical climate and extensive beaches provide excellent opportunities for sun-worshippers, surfers and swimmers. The Golden Mile, a wide stretch of golden sands, is artificially separated by various piers. Read more about Durban, South Africa