Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ISLANDS AROUND NOSY BE
If money is no object, the islands surrounding Nosy Be - particularly Nosy Iranja and Nosy
Mitsio - are home to some idyllic resorts, ideal for a few days of remote tranquillity. If
you're on a tighter budget, take a day trip to check out the palm-fringed white beaches and
do some excellent snorkelling.
Nosy Komba
This
island
(
www.nosykomba.com
) rises off the ocean floor midway between the mainland
and Nosy Be in an almost perfect cone shape and looms above the turquoise sea: its summit
reaches a mighty 622m (much higher than that of Nosy Be).
Most people visit Nosy Komba on an organised tour from Nosy Be: these generally com-
bine Nosy Komba and Nosy Tanikely, with just a couple of hours at the village of
Ampan-
gorina
, so the best way to experience the island is either to sleep there or to hire your own
pirogue (dugout canoe) for the day.
SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES
Ampangorina Craft Market
MARKET
Ampangorina is Nosy Komba's main village; it doubles up as an interesting craft market,
with everything from multicoloured raffia bags to embroidered bed sheets and table linen
spilling out of every house in the village.
Nosy Komba Trails
HIKING
Nosy Komba's interior has been remarkably well preserved and is prime hiking territory. It
takes about five sweaty hours to walk from one side of the island to the other or up to the
summit from Ampangorina and back down. It is recommended you take a guide (Ar20,000):
ask for Yvonne at any of the shops or enquire at Chez Jojo.
Lemur Park
ZOO
(admission Ar2000) This isn't a zoo so much as an attraction: the lemurs are wild, but locals
feed them bananas so that the animals will eat off your hand or jump on your shoulder for
that perfect photo op. The practice is detrimental to the animals but generates substantial
revenues for the village, which has helped protect the forest. So if you'd like to support the
village, pay the admission fee to admire the lemurs, but decline the offer to feed them.
