Nosy Be is Madagascar’s premier island destination, renowned for its white-sand beaches, fragrant ylang-ylang plantations, and vibrant marine life. Highlights include snorkelling in the Nosy Tanikely Marine Reserve, hiking up Mont Passot for breathtaking 360-degree sunset views, exploring...
The rather rough road from Ambanja brought us to Ankify Port (about 1 hour / 22 km), a busy maritime hub in northwestern Madagascar. It serves as the main gateway for passengers and cargo travelling between the mainland and nearby islands such as Nosy Be, Nosy Komba, and Nosy Tanikely...
Sambirano cocoa, grown in the Sambirano River valley in northwestern Madagascar, is a premium, largely organic “fine cacao” prized for its distinctly fruity, bright, and slightly acidic flavour profile. Thanks to the valley’s unique microclimate and high-quality genetics—typically a blend...
We spent the night in Ambanja, the gateway to the Sambirano Valley. Located in northwestern Madagascar along the Sambirano River, the town is a vibrant agricultural hub and the heart of the country’s organic cocoa production. The name “Ambanja” literally means “where there is powder.”...
The road from Antsiranana (Diego-Suarez) to Ambanja follows the RN6, which has been largely rehabilitated—a massive improvement over the former dirt track. Although maintenance is still ongoing, travel time has been reduced significantly to about 3.5 to 4 hours (237 km). Some stretches...
We got our first dose of the day’s scams right at the entrance to Montagne d’Ambre National Park (Amber Mountain). Staff tried to charge us for a full-day visit, even though we had clearly agreed with our local guide on a short 3-hour hike (🎟️ 55,000 MGA, guide 80,000 MGA, car...
Today, we set out on a full-day adventure from Diego Suarez (Antsiranana) to the breathtaking Les Trois Baies—Sakalava Bay, Pigeon Bay, and Dunes Bay—renowned for their turquoise waters, white sand, and wild, untouched landscapes. The journey itself was part of the experience. We drove...
We finally made it to Antsiranana (formerly Diego-Suarez), a historic port city at the northern tip of Madagascar, defined by its huge and strategically important natural harbour, first recorded by Portuguese explorer Diogo Soares in 1543. In the 17th century, the area is believed to have...
The Tsingy Rouge (Red Tsingy) is located in the Diana Region of northern Madagascar, about 60 km south of Antsiranana (Diego Suarez). Situated near the village of Sadjoavato, it can be reached via the RN6 national road, then via a 4×4 journey along a dirt track to the Irodo River...
Again, the perfect tarmac brought us from Ankarana to Antsiranana, covering roughly 101 km of the RN6. It took us just 1.5 hours to pass through scenic dry forests and red laterite landscapes before reaching the coastal city.