excursions in nosy be

One hour flight from the capital, and 15 mn from Antsiranana , Nosy Be is also nicknamed the perfumed island with the captivating scents of the Ylang Ylang .
In reality , Nosy Be is an archipelago of heavenly small islands and because of its geographical situation and its very mild climate , you will take the most of the sun, the hot and calm sea , as well as the under marine depths nearby the closest small islands as Nosy Tanikely or Nosy Sakatia and Nosy Komba or these more distant as Radama islands and Nosy Mitsio. Each of these islands presents an enchanting landscape where the nature still keeps all its rights.
Hell Ville is the capital of the main island Nosy Be, it is characterized by beautiful colonial buildings some of them built in the beginning of the century.
Concerning its economy , apart the tourism there is the sugarcane culture (sugar factory , rum), the coffee, green pepper, vanilla, ylang ylang plantation, the industrial fishing , and the handicraft (embroidery, cloth painting ).

The cornice and the port

Strolling along the cornice allows to admire the ancient colonial style houses and earth - platform following the cliff ; an unassailable view on the bay , Nosy Komba island, and the « great land » in the distance meet our eyes.
The port is animated at the end of afternoon when schooners , canoes and fishing boats return to quay.
The oceanographical museum of the C.N.R.O. :
It is opened every 5 days of the week from 7h to 13h. it is a pretty flowered station having a small museum where it is possible to observe some specimens of the local sea fauna : shells, coral and other wealth of the surroundings .
When continuing on approximately 5km after having crossed coffee trees , peppers , lemon trees plantation, mango trees and ricefields one arrives to the small village of Ambatozavavy and from there Lokobe integral natural reserve can be reached by a pirogue for hire . An entry door situated on a roadside a bit before Ampasindava gives also access to the reserve .

It is the most beautiful beach of Nosy Be. It spreads over nearly two kilometers between rocks to the south of Ambatoloaka village and to the north of Madirokely . With its many bars and restaurants, shops and cheap restaurants mixing in a touristic and popular atmosphere , the place is very animated at night .

Djamandjary agglomeration is situated at 15km from Hell Ville .
It lives on the sugar cane plantation and the distillery of the famous 55° rum : the Djamandjary, renowned beyond the country frontier: . The visit of the factory is interesting because of its technical and historical aspect. There is an admission charge and the visit takes approximately one hour during which the purchase of different rum quality is possible .
In the village , traditional round woods and Ravinala leaves roof constructions border on administrative buildings and permanent shops. On the road between Madirokely and Djamandjary, strange form houses , alike igloo, have been built to lodge the factory workers and the choice of this architecture is according to the cyclones passing in the region.

Andilana and Amporaha beach

It is situated north-westward of the island at the end of the North-South road. The pirogues leave the coast early in the morning to go to full of fish places off Andilana.
Amporaha beach is splendid and the transfer by canoe is made by Andilana fishermen . It takes approximately 3 hours according to winds.

Mount Passot :altitude 329m.
It is the highest point of Nosy Be. From this viewpoint one can enjoy without wearying the sunset illuminating the horizon of a crimson and purple fire flash , then more closer the view of deep blue crater lakes , and finally the coast and its contours with its exuberant vegetation.

Ambatozavavy is at 11km from Hellville .
It is a Sakalava coastal village where one cultivates the ylang ylang flowers and the coffee . Situated at the southeast of the island, the village is surrounded by mangroves .
The ylang ylang , from its scientific name Cananga odorata or artabotrys belongs to the anonaceas family . Fragrant plant originating from the Phillipines archipelago it has been introduced in the island toward the end of the XIX century.

Exploration of the numerous islets around Nosy Be : Nosy Tany Kely is a small island with its old lighthouse dating back the beginning of the last century and that can be visited if its guardian allows it . Divers can admire very beautiful fishes ( skates , barracudas, and may be crabs eater violin shark ) but also quite tame tortoises.

Nosy Komba or Nosy Ambariovato :lemurs island or rock surrounded island.
One of the main attractions of the island is the presence of a colony of quite tame and almost familiar lemurs (Lemur macaco). It is an ideal place if you are in search of tranquillity and simplicity within the real nature (absence of electricity ) but possibility to have tranquil bivouac .

Nosy Faly : Holy island.
Situated northward Ambato peninsula , this island contains princes of the region burials . Traditional feasts and customs are practiced there regularly each year.

Nosy Iranja : 27 miles the south westward Nosy Be.
It is composed of two islets connected between them by a white sand strip passable at low tide. Coral depths and very beautiful clear water . Small Nosy Iranja (13 ha) shelters a hotel in a heavenly and luxuriant vegetation while Big Nosy Iranja (200 ha) is occupied by a fishermen village and a lighthouse at its summit.

Nosy Mitsio , the long island situated 25 miles northward Nosy Be.
In point of fact it is composed of almost uninhabited several small regrouped islands . The right palces for scuba divings .