Chasing the beach : Your Summertime Guide in the North Madagascar’s coastal gems

So, what are these breathtaking places on the coast like?

We are so thrilled to share with you in this guide our favourite places for a summertime in Madagascar. To begin with, let’s first focus on our trip in the north of Madagascar. Two main places always stand out with the reference of the North of Madagascar :

• Nosy Be
• Antsiranana or Diego Suarez.

Besides the beautiful beach spots, these places are also famous for their lively towns by the sea.
In addition, the easy access through the air makes these places the gateway to the northern paradise.

At least one daily domestic flight from Antananarivo, the capital, is operated by Madagascar airlines.
Moreover, while for Nosy Be, international flights from other countries connect the destination. Without doubt, this makes the area a delightful place for a relaxing holiday.

The northernmost Madagascar town : Antsiranana

Antsiranana, which goes by its malagasy name and often called Diego Suarez. This town is in the northern tip of Madagascar. It gives a perfect mix of adventure and relaxation trip.
Thanks to its location, it’s usually the ideal starting point for North Tour. You can explore famous national parks such as Montagne d’Ambre and the Tsingy de l’Ankarana. At the same time, the city is also well-surrounded by exceptional sites for water activities.

The Three Bays : the must-to see place for the water-sports lover

Three Bays or Trois Baies in French is one of the most spectacular attractions near the city of Diego-Suarez. It is a succession of three bays : the Sakalava bay, Pigeons Bay and Dunes Bay. Not far from the city of Diego-Suarez, the drive to the place crosses the iconic view to the Sugar-Loaf Nosy Lonjo and Montagne des Français with its scenic baobabs tree in a « T » letter endemic to the area (Adansonia Suarezensis).

A hectic road through red soil leads you to the first stop at the Sakalava Bay. First, you can start with a visit to one of the large baobab trees of the region, the Adansonia Madagascariensis. However, the place is not only for Baobabs as Sakalava Bay is mostly famous for kitesurfing and windsurfing. It is one of the best spots for these kinds of sports here in Madagascar, as reported by some professionals. Many local hotels specialize in training and offer all-inclusive stays with instructors.

To reach Pigeons Bay and Dunes Bay, you have the choice between a hike for the more adventurous or a 4×4 ride. For example, for a group visit, we suggest hiking through the decidous forest to encounter some wildlife such as Madagascar Hopoo birds, chameleons etc.

After a winding path, you will arrive at Dunes Bay, a white sand beach with crystal-clear waters, perfect for swimming. Right next to it is Pigeons Bay, a more wild and beautiful beach surrounded by rocks, although often winder.
After these visits, the relaxation on the Dunes Bay is on the program.

The underrated sea excursion to the Emerald sea :

Another gem of Antsiranana is the Emerald Sea, which is often called Mer d’Emeraude. Just as its name suggests, it is a lagoon with a mix of clear and dark turquoise waters, like a precious jewel.
The journey begins from Ramena Beach, where you will embark on a traditional boat for a full-day excursion. The main activity is relaxing on the beach, but you can also enjoy snorkeling or windsurfing, especially on the Babaomby peninsula.

Regarding lunch, sumptuous grilled fish, the fresh catch of the day. On the way back, be prepared for a slightly more eventful journey due to the afternoon tradewind because the place is in the Indian Ocean. Raincoats to avoid the seawater splash will be provided by the crew, who are, therefore, well accustomed to sailing in these conditions.

Local vibe at Ramena and Diego-Suarez

Ramena beach is also known for its small “gargottes”, which are local restaurants facing the sea. It is a fun experience taking lunch at this place during a high tide. One time, we have been there with some customers and we literally have our feet in the tepid water while eating.
In addition, lobsters are fairly affordable compared to other places here, although availability depends on the day’s catch.

Therefore, it’s highly recommended to order the lunch in advance to shorten the time waiting, as dishes are prepared from scratch depending on the customer’s order.
On Sundays Ramena becomes the gathering place for the people of Diego Suarez, making it the perfect spot to party and dance to the rhythm of local music.

Sometimes, the party here stands until dusk, but nightlife also moves to Colbert Street in the downtown. Bars, restaurants, nightclubs and shops open late create a vibrant and festive atmosphere.
With the north location of Antsiranana, the area can be combined to different itineraries, which are mostly going a little further south to Nosy Be.

The marvelous island of Nosy Be and its archipelagos gem :

When preparing a beach holiday in Madagascar, we may scroll through the large data of the internet and search for “Madagascar best beach”. The place which always repeats and appears most on the top of the results is Nosy Be island.

Nosy Be literally means “the Big island” in Malagasy language. This consists of an archipelago in the north west of Madagascar. The main island is called this way. It is the biggest one with a total surface about 321 square kilometers.

The area is also known as the second main gateway to come to Madagascar. This is because International airlines directly connects Nosy Be with foreigner cities such as :

• Italy with NEOS
• Addis Ababa with Ethiopian airline
• La Réunion with Air Austral

By land, a mix of land-drive and sea boat transfer is required. Even from Antananarivo, or from Antsiranana, a bifurcation from Ambanja city is needed to reach Ankify harbour. This followed by a sea boat transfer with speed boat is needed to reach Nosy Be.
Generally the transfer has to be in the morning. This to avoid the wind waves. The sea-crossing lets you see from afar some small islands part of the archipelago. Examples include Nosy Faly, Nosy Tanikely, and Nosy Komba that is crossed firstly with its “sea-oil water”.

Once in Nosy Be, during the day, the possibilities for sea excursions are endless.

Day exploration of the Lokobe Réserve

Lokobe Reserve is located on the southeastern part of Nosy Be. This exploration is for those who are seeking for a day combined with nature exploration and dip in the water.
The day starts with a drive to Ambatozavavy village, where a traditional dugout boat is taken to reach the reserve during which guests can paddle with the crew.
The crossing takes about 45 minutes through the mangrove and gives a breathtaking view to the evergreen mountains overlooking the sea.

You will start to explore the reserve first where you will find animals such as the region endemic Macaco lemurs, as well as the third smallest chameleon called Brokesia minima. With the way going up inside the forest, be prepared for the heat, but you will be delighted with the refreshing waterfall inside the trails which is well-suited for swimming.
After some bath and discovery you will have sea-food picnic lunch under the shades of the beach hut with fresh vegetables, fruits and drinks.

It is also possible to swim in the sea water near the picnic area then in the afternoon, way back with a motorboat pulling the traditional pirogue so you can enjoy the sail without paddling.

A double dose of islands in Nosy Komba and Nosy Tanikely

Nosy Komba and Nosy Tanikely are often visited together on a day excursion. As these islands are completely out from Nosy Be, a speedboat is required. The journey starts from Ambatoloaka to reach the village of Ampangorina in Nosy Komba first.

Nosy Komba is known as the lemur island (Komba means lemur in Malagasy) and many of the visitors who come here are looking for the iconic selfie with the eulemur macaco.
The trail here is less physical than in Lokobe. Once the visit is over, you will cross local villages who master handcrafting. Guests can enjoy shopping for local products such as carved wood souvenirs.The island also has a dozen lodges, far from the hectic touristic areas, if you want to connect with nature while staying near the beach.

During a transfer going to or from Nosy Komba by boat, keep a watchful eye, you might be lucky enough to spot sea turtles emerging to take a breath or gracefully gliding through the water. From Nosy Komba it takes about 30 minutes by boat to reach the second island.
Nosy Tanikely or Nosy Tanihely is a protected marine reserve that is a snorkeler’s and diver’s dream. It has crystal waters with colorful coral reefs and a dazzling array of tropical fish. Don’t worry, those who are not strong at swimming can enjoy the calm of the waves on the seashore. Most of the time, lunch is served on this island after guests have done their water activities.

The pristine Nosy Iranja

Last but not the least, one of our favourite beaches in Madagascar is Nosy Iranja, this place is known for its iconic sandbar that connects two islands at low tide (Iranja Be and Iranja kely). Nosy Iranja is a perfect representation of a tropical summer holiday. The day excursion also starts from Ambatoloaka where you will take a speedboat, sailing around an hour thirty. The aim for this sea excursion is relaxing and sea bathing. For those who want adventure before dipping into the turquoise blue water, it is possible to have a walk till the lighthouse to get a panoramic breathtaking view of the two islands, like the one you always see on every picture.

Iranja has a local village that is famous for its handmade fabric embroidery. On the way to the village, you will walk through an alley of these colorful and patterned artworks, where you can buy them.
Nosy Iranja is also called The turtle island since species such as green or hawksbill turtles lay their eggs in this island. Some guests love to camp on this island to experience the hatchling depending on the season. There are some simple hotels who offer accommodation with tents which perfectly blend in the environment to let the visitors enjoy more days in Nosy Iranja.

Nosy Be : The place to be in Madagascar for a festive night vibe

Most of the Madagascar coast has a summer festive vibe at nightfall, but experiencing Nosy Be at night hits differently. Nosy Be at night offers a mix of traditional vibes in a modern setting. The place has several nice spots.

Where to eat and chill?

In terms of restaurants, our favourite in Hell-ville downtown is « Le Papillon ». They served a mix of European italian-like style dishes that perfectly blended with local produce and seafood. The decor is reminiscent of a Neapolitan style but keeps you by the seaside of Madagascar.

For chilling out, Ambatoloaka is the hot spot for enjoying the sunset over the sea and sipping some drinks. We have already tried local spots like L’apero, where you can relax on a deck chair with a cold drink, mocktail or cocktail, while enjoying the sunset with some chill ambient music in the background.

Where to Party and experiencing Nosy Be’s Nightlife?

In addition, for those who love to party and dance, places such as Beach Klub 22 has an open-air dance floor, especially on Sundays, where you can dance under the stars and palm leaves with the sea breeze.

In Ambatoloaka, you can also find various spots including local nightclubs, where you can experience the vibrant and lively nightlife with the hometown music called « Salegy ». This is the signature music of the North of Madagascar, it consists of a rhythmic and exciting party music with drums, guitars and an accordion.

If you’re worried about getting around at night, having accommodation near Ambatoloaka is the best option. You’re not far from everything, but hotels are in calm places such as L’Heure Bleue, Royal Beach, Sarimanok etc.
In case you do not want to go out, some hotels on the seaside also offer local entertainments at night for their guests, where local bands sing and teach you how to dance with the Malagasy rhythm.