20/07 /23
Hi Sue
We absolutely loved Madagascar. I would highly recommend it as a destination for anyone who loves nature and the ocean and I am definitely going back – the short flights there from Cape Town are a total bonus.
Our accommodation was wonderful, comfortable and well organised (thank you for your role in this) the food was good with lots of vegan and vegetarian options and the Malagasy people that we met were wonderful, despite our inability to speak French or Malagasy. The road trip was a bit hairy as the roads are really really bad, but the scenery was spectacular and it is a good way of seeing more of and getting a feel for the country and the people, rather than just flying in and lying on the beach. I would do it again.
If you have clients who only fly into Nose Be and are looking for options in the northern area of Madagascar I highly recommend a trip (4 hours by car – preferably with a Malagasy driver and good shocks) from Ankify harbour (30 minutes by boat from Nose Be harbour) to Iharana Bush Lodge near the Iharana Special Reserve – It was fantastic – beautiful, interesting rock formations and underground caves, excellent food and a bit of luxury. They are working on the road from Ankify to Diego Suarez which runs directly past Iharana and Ankarana and it should be a better drive in the next year or so.
I also highly recommend Sakatia Lodge on Sakatia Island next to Nose Be – world class dive centre and dive experiences, beautiful accommodation, fabulous staff, good food – turtle sanctuary and coral reef accessible with mask and fins from the beach in front of the lodge. Beach walks and lemurs on your roof.
If you fly in to Antananarivo the Andasibe Reserve is a must (road there is horrible but it is worth it) – rainforest and lemurs and walks and just beautiful – Vakona Lodge was excellent.
So all in all – fabulousssss! Best holiday ever! Highly recommend.
Thank you very much for organising – all went down without a glitch.
Kind regards
Marisa