If you like adventure and are not afraid of challenges, if you like to get out of your comfort zone and feel that you really know the world, don't you want to know Madagascar? It is a diverse island, still little known, little explored, unique, special and very beautiful.
It is also an island with the aroma of vanilla because for centuries it has been dedicated to the cultivation of this aromatic spice. Here you can swim, dive, snorkel, canoe, boat, go through pristine beaches and villages away from the madding crowd ...
Madagascar
It is an insular republic that it's in the indian ocean, on the coast of southeastern Africa. It's a big island the fourth largest island in the worldor, and some islands around. It split off from the supercontent Gondwana 88 million years ago so almost all of its fauna and flora does not exist anywhere else on the planet. Imagine that! Its biodiversity is wonderful.
Has some 5 thousand kilometers of coastline, sometimes narrow and with cliffs, sometimes open and flat furrowed by rivers that flow into the ocean. The most populated coastal part is the northwest, with its ports, coves and islets, and then it becomes more inhospitable until it reaches the south coast with its crystal clear waters, its fishing villages and dunes.
Between November and April it rains a lot and it's hot, there may even be cyclones. Between May and October it is cooler. The tourism industry grows little by little and the infrastructure remains poor and underdeveloped. Arriving by plane is not cheap (Air France dominates the airspace), but still there are around five hundred hotels and a hundred of them have international standards.
Antananarivo is the capital and it is close to the center of the island.
Things to do in Madagascar
First, you can do cruises that will help you discover the incredible biodiversity of the island. You move by the sea and the views are the best. You touch different beaches, feel the sea breeze and see things that your eyes will hardly ever enjoy again in the future. To the north there are many possible excursions that move between the outlying islands of the main island: the Mitsio Islands, Perfume Islands, Nosy Mamoko, Baie des Russes, Kisimany, Nosy Iranja or Sakatia or Radama Islands which are a true paradise of super transparent waters.
There are all kinds of boat rides available: by canoe, by sailboat, by motor boat, by catamaran, one day or more days. The idea here is to enjoy spectacular sunsets and star-studded nights.
Another possible activity is the diving. The waters of Madagascar are a diving treasure as they are inhabited by many species of colorful fish with strange names that move in settings of all shapes and colors. There are stingrays, clown fish, unicorn fish and there is no lack of whale sharks either. You can dive on the coast or in the sea, basically in three large areas: Sainte Marie, Nosy Be and the Southwest.
In the southwest is the third largest coral reef in the world, on the coast of Tuléar. On the south coast is the famous arch that marks the contact with the Indian Ocean and is a paradise for surfers due to the waves that form. Baie de Saint Vicent, the Andranobe reef and the Ifaty bay are other great diving destinations. For its part, Nosy Be is a supreme marine exploration site, both for people just starting out and for experienced busters.
There is the Black Coral with parts that have reached a meter and a half in height, and there are also the waters of tanihely the sea of colors with its marine species. Sainte Marie is the place of the Ille aux Nattes, with its lagoon and its shipwreck for swimming, a tropical paradise that is located on the east coast of the main island where you can see humpback whales and unforgettable sunsets. You have to see what level of diving you have and what is there for you, but basically there is something for everyone.
Speaking of whales, the truth is that Madagascar is a good destination for whale watching. During the XNUMXth century and part of the XNUMXth, this part of the world was a whale hunting ground, although since 37 years ago there has been no hunting and the place is a sanctuary. The whales that are here travel from Antarctica and spend the whole summer here, giving birth, eating and delighting the human beings who come to see them.
If you like windsurfing and surfing, Madagascar is also for you: Vinanible, in Fort Dauphin, is a well-prepared big wave destination, with infrastructure, to receive athletes. There is also Lavanono, 300 kilometers from the capital of Madagascar, home to international competitions. Túlear is great for sports that require wind like windsurfing and kitesurfing, and Mahambo has instructors, lifeguards, and meets international surfing standards. The same in Baie des Sakalava, near Diego Suarez.
If you like surfing then you must go between April and the end of August because at air temperature it is between 29 and 32 ºC and the water at a pleasant 25 ºC. There is no wind or very little near the coast.
National parks in Madagascar
Beyond the sports or activities that you can do here, the island's biodiversity is the queen of the place, so you have six national parks that are World Heritage. That's how it is. These are six rainforests located to the east of the island: Marojejy, Masoala, Zahamena, Ranomafana, Andringitra and Andohahela.
They are ancient forests, vital for the survival and wealth of the island's biodiversity. They reflect the geological history of this part of the world and are testimony to a bygone Earth.to. Its fauna and flora have developed in isolation during the last 60 million years, a marvel.
Did you hear about the lemurs? They are the most representative mammals of Madagascar and there are so many species and subspecies that it is difficult to make an inventory. Well, here you can see many and learn about them. And if you like animals there are about 285 species of birds, more than half endemic (the best time to see them is between October and December), 20 species of raptors and the landscape is not lacking those fantastic trees that seem brought from outer space, the baobas trees.
Sustainable tourism and luxury tourism
They are the two tourism options in Madagascar. We said at the beginning that getting there is expensive and that there is not a highly developed mass tourism, so moving around and doing things here usually costs something.
There are truly luxurious accommodations that offer personalized attention, on the coast and in the mountains, but also a sustainable tourism vein has developed very interesting, tourism that helps local populations and contributes to the preservation of the environment. There is such a project about 35 kilometers from Ambositra carried out by the Ngo people.
From the hand of this town one can visit the forest of tapias, a type of small tree whose leaves are eaten by caterpillars that later produce a kind of "wild silk" that is only seen here. With this silk fabrics are made in the village of Soatanana, which can also be visited. Another sustainable tourism destination ands ambohimahamsina, 39 kilometers east of Ambalavao, with forests and mountains.
Local communities have opened up to ecotourism ten years ago: the visitors stay in their homes, pay by means of payment, coexist, share their daily life and their meals and activities. Visits to the surroundings, forests and mountains are organized and you can buy handcrafted souvenirs. Other options are visit Malagasy village where the homeopathy company Homepharma works with its health center that offers bungalows on the coast to stay a few days or Anjozorobe, two hours from the capital Antananarvo, in the heart of one of the oldest forests.
You can stay inside the Saha Forest Camp, with ten tents with private terraces overlooking the forest. from here you can go on fantastic walks to get to know the local fauna and flora and taste local products such as red rice or ginger. These are just some of the many sustainable tourism opportunities that Madagascar offers.
As you can see, you have to have a certain adventurer soul but Madagascar will undoubtedly be a place that you will never but never forget.