The Secret Side Of Madagascar

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

Belo Sur Mer village is on the west coast of Madagascar facing the Mozambique Channel, and 90 km south of Morondava. It is situated amid a number of coastal inlets, and a lagoon flanked by sand dunes and fed by local rivers. The village is a regional shipbuilding centre and huge cargo vessels are still constructed on the beach just as they were four centuries ago, specializing in the large dhows known as boutres. Read more about Belo Sur Mer, 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

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

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

Pointe des Galets is the principal port of Réunion island, a French island located in the Indian Ocean 680km east of Madagascar, and about 170km SW of Mauritius. Two thirds of the island’s western side is covered by mountain ranges. The 3,069m Piton des Neiges (Snow Peak) is the highest point. Read more about Pointe des Galets, Réunion

Port Louis is the capital of Mauritius, located on the NW coast of the island. The very large city is dominated by the Citadel from which almost the whole city can be observed, and it is surrounded by a range of mountains. The city as a whole is a place of interest, but of special attraction is the famous China Town, where many still dress in national clothing. Read more about Port Louis, Mauritius