Beach and Island Holidays in Madagascar
Beautiful, sandy beaches, spectacular diving and snorkelling and some wonderful hotels for your tropical island holiday or honeymoon, or as an extension to your Madagascar tour.
Ile Ste Marie
PRINCESSE BORA LODGE
is a lovely, small hotel on the west coast of Ile Ste Marie. Its twenty stylish, self-contained villas stand amidst a palm grove at the edge of the beach. The restaurant is known as the best on the island. The lodge has an attractive decked pool, a watersports centre, bikes on which to explore Ile Ste Marie, and a full programme of island excursions. Diving and deep-sea fishing are offered, and the new spa is stunning.
Princess Bora is affiliated to MEGAPTERA, the association for research, observation and protection of marine mammals. Owner Francois-Xavier Mayer is the driving force and the quality of the whale-watching programme is impressive (and moving, as you listen to the whale song).
Price:
Comfort bungalows from £85/100/125
Luxury bungalows from £95/109/135
Executive Beach Villas from £163/182/209
Children under 12 sharing a luxury/executive villa with 2 adults from £27/36
Prices are per person per night based on 2 sharing and include breakfast, 3-course dinner and airport transfers - and two whale-watching excursions per person from 1 July - 30 September 2009.
Minimum stay: 3 nights
ROE £1=1.1 euro
ANJAJAVY
Set on a remote peninsula in the Mozambique Channel, in northwest Madagascar, ANJAJAVY HOTEL is an exceptional hotel in an extraordinary location.
Opened in December 2000, Anjajavy is set on the beach at the edge of a 450-hectare protected area interspersed with tsingy and containing more than 1800 species of plant, as well as Coquerel's sifaka, the rare Madagascar fish eagle and amazing reptiles.
Anjajavy has 24 air-conditioned, two-storey villas built of rosewood and roofed with satrana leaves. Each has a large patio overlooking the sea, a living area and a bedroom. Upstairs is a room to accommodate children or friends, or to use as a study. The bathroom has a king-size tub and is separate from the w.c. Each villa has a safe, mini-bar, tea- or coffee-making facilities, phone, WiFi internet access and footshower.
The restaurant overlooks the 200 sq. metre pool and the sea, and offers an international menu with Malagasy flavours. The bar is another good spot from which to enjoy the sunsets. The boutique has a selection of both traditional and contemporary Malagasy crafts items.
The beach in front of the villas is for swimming and relaxation. A second beach is geared towards watersports. Complimentary activities include: catamarans, windsurfing, canoes, snorkelling and aquagym. Water-skiing, parasailing and exceptional deep-sea fishing are also available. Boat trips are offered to the Bay of Moromba and the 'Garconniere des Dieux'; or you can explore the mangroves by pirogue or kayak.
You can walk through the mangrove at low tide; through the forest, populated by Coquerel's sifakas and a wealth of bird species; to the Sakalava fishing villages of Ambondro Ampasy or Anjajavy; to the enormous baobab or the Valley of the Baobabs; or explore the numerous small coves. Mountain bikes are available for more distant exploration. You can feel secure - there are no dangerous or venomous creatures.
You can observe the wildlife virtually without effort. Each day, troops of Coquerel's sifaka and Brown lemurs visit a fruiting tree a few metres from the beach; and cross the Oasis to their night-time roosts. At night, you can spot mouse lemurs in the beam of your torch. There are flocks of love-birds. sickle-billed vangas, crested couas, vasa parrots, to mention but a few. And then there is the rich marine world, including regular and increasingly frequent whale and dolphin sightings in the summer.
Price: From £168/236
Children under 12 sharing a villa with 2 adults from £72/90
Prices are per person sharing per night based on a stay of 4 or more nights and include all meals, many activities and laundry.
Low Season Offer: Stay 7 nights for the price of 6 or 12 for the price of 10. Valid 6 Jan - 31 March, 1 May - 13 July 2009.
Long Stay Offer: 11 nights for the price of 10 in high season (April, 14 July - 31 October 2009)
Honeymoon Offer: 50% discount on accommodation for the bride & honeymoon extras with minimum 5-night stay.
Minimum stay: 3 nights
ROE £1=1.1 euro
There are no roads to Anjajavy. The private airline, Air Hotel, operates three flights per week between Anjajavy and Antananarivo and weekly flights to/from Nosy Be (£482 return). Special air transfers can be arranged on other days at a higher price.
You can see fan pictures on Facebook; and find Anjajavy Hotel & Reserve on Google Earth (The coordinates are 14º59'26"S by 47º13'40"E. The village of Ambondro Ampasy is at 14º59'S by 47º14'E.).
Nosy Be Archipelago
TSARABANJINA
Nosy Tsarabanjina is an idyllic private island with pure white beaches and clear turquoise seas about 40 miles northeast of Nosy Be. Constance Lodge Tsarabanjina offers the pleasures of barefoot luxury and the chance to relax after exploring Madagascar's national parks, the stress of exams or a wedding.
Tsarabanjina's 21 thatched bungalows are set on North and South beaches. Each has an uninterrupted sea view from its private verandah and its own loungers and parasol on the beach.
You can lie on the beach and revel in the changing light on the offshore islets of the "Quatre Freres" or, at low tide, walk around the island. Climb the volcanic rocks in the centre of the island and you will be rewarded with a stunning view over the Mitsio Archipelago and, perhaps, a sighting of Madagascar fish eagle. Discover the rich marine life of the surrounding reefs with a snorkel or with the excellent PADI dive centre. There is superb fishing to be had in these waters (advance booking advised). Catamarans, kayaks and water-skiing are also on offer and, if that's not enough, there is a tennis court and a range of excursions. The new spa offers massage and reflexology.*
Price: From £164 (1 June - 15 July & Sept 2009)/£198 (1 Apr - 31 May)/£219 (16 July - 31 Aug & 1 Oct - 22 Dec)
Child under 12 sharing a bungalow with 2 adults from £84.50
Prices are per person per night based on 2 sharing and include all meals and many activities.
Honeymoon Offer: Candlelit beach dinner with a bottle of South African wine, massage for two are among the honeymoon extras with minimum 5-night stay.
ROE £1=1.1 euro
NOSY IRANJA
Except at high tide, the two islands of Nosy Iranja, a 90-minute boat journey from Nosy Be, are linked by a 1.2km-long winding white sandbank. On the larger island, you will find a small fishing village and a lighthouse designed by Gustave Eiffel; on the smaller, a luxury lodge. Green and Hawksbill turtles come to Nosy Iranja to nest and observing them, or watching the hatchlings make their way to the sea, is one of the highlights of a stay at Nosy Iranja.
Nosy Iranja has 20 spacious, octagonal double chalets with a large, comfortably furnished octagonal terrace overlooking the sea and an octagonal bathroom. The 9 senior suites provide an additional bedroom.
The restaurant serves fresh seafood, international dishes and some Malagasy specialities. Breakfast and lunch are usually served as a buffet. Dinner is normally à la carte, with three choices for each course. The bar is comfortable and well-stocked with games and the ingredients for a sunset cocktail.
There is a small outdoor gym and land activities include badminton, volleyball and archery. Water skiing, wake-boardig, windsurfing, snorkelling (both from the beach and at offshore sites), kayaking, parasailing and hobie cats are among the watersports on offer. There is a new a massage area. The lodge has its own dive centre, with access to over a 20 fine sites, and fishing excursions of different kinds can be arranged. Nosy Iranja also offers seasonal dolphin and whale watching and a boat excursion to the magnificent Baie des Russes.
Price: From £380 May - 14 Jul; £464 Sep - 15 Dec & £545 Apr, 15 Jul - 31 Aug 2009
Prices are per person per night sharing and include all meals, transfers from Nosy Be and non-motorised watersports.
ROE £1 = 1.1 euro.
Long Stay Offer: Stay a minimum of 7 nights and receive a 5% discount.
Honeymoon Offer: Complimentary extras include a private sunset cruise with cocktails, a private seafood dinner with wine, a traditional Malagasy ceremony on the beach, special decorations, photo album.
The VANILA HOTEL is a welcoming beachfront hotel run by the father-and-son team of Jean-Louis and Damien Salles and is probably the nicest on Nosy Be. It has good facilities on site and is an excellent base for scuba diving, sailing and deep-sea fishing.
We recommend the Vanila for a few relaxing � or active � days at the end of a Madagascar tour; for people who want to do some serious diving from a comfortable hotel; or for a very nice family beach holiday with a difference.
Location
Vanila Hotel stands at the edge of the beach 3 km from Dzamandzar on the northwest coast of Nosy Be, opposite the island of Nosy Sakatia. It is 20 minutes� drive from Hell-Ville, the capital of Nosy Be, and 40 minutes from Nosy Be airport.
Accommodation
The hotel has 41 comfortable rooms and suites, all equipped with overhead fan, optional air conditioning, TV, telephone, safe, hairdryer and mini bar. All the rooms have en suite bathrooms, with shower and separate wc, and a private terrace or balcony.
The 21 airy garden rooms are between 28m2 and 36m2 and look onto tropical gardens. We like the views from the 18 ocean rooms (32m2 and 42m2), four of which intercommunicate. Two of these rooms are a bit special, for honeymoons and other romantic holidays.
The two 64m2 prestige suites provide a fine sea view and a large private balcony with jacuzzi. They are also equipped with a second wc, a DVD player and a tea/coffee station.
Food
The Vanila has two restaurants directed by a French chef, each beside one of the pools. The main restaurant serves breakfast and dinners based mainly on local fish, shellfish, Malagasy spices and tropical fruits and vegetables. You can select some of the wonderful dishes based on the vanilla and rum for which Nosy Be is famous; and the kitchen can accommodate children�s tastes. The smaller Grill du Sol stands between the pool and the sea and serves lunch � lighter fare, like salads and grills � and gastronomic evening meals.
There are four bars, two of which are attached to the pools � lovely places from which to watch the sun sink into the sea.
Facilities
Vanila Hotel has two freshwater pools, each beside one of the restaurants and served by a pool bar. The pool beside the Grill du Sol is made up of three circular pools, one of which is suitable for small children. The hotel provides beach towels, and there is a solarium, table tennis, billiards and a video room. There is also a little playground for small children.
The hotel offers traditional massage in its dedicated massage room, internet access, money changing facilities, babysitting and an excellent boutique, which is stocked with well-priced and attractive local handicrafts. There is a variety of evening entertainment, and a children�s club and teen programme in the holidays.
Activities
The Vanila has a boathouse on the island of Nosy Sakatia, which is directly across the water from the hotel. Here you will find sea-kayaks, hobie cats and lasers, snorkelling and water-skiing.
The hotel is an excellent base for scuba diving and deep-sea fishing. Mountain bikes, 4WDs and motorbikes can be hired. The hotel has a full programme of excursions, including bivouacs on the nearby islands, and will be pleased to organise any that you wish to book on the spur of the moment.
Family
Rooms can accommodate an extra bed and some rooms can accommodate two additional beds for families. There are also four interconnecting rooms.
The hotel has a pool suitable for younger children and a small playground. It runs activity programmes for children and teenagers during the (French) school holidays.
The kitchen is responsive to children�s tastes.
Children under 3 stay free of charge; under 12, benefit from a 50% discount on rates.
Price
Garden rooms from �33/42 per person sharing, including breakfast.
Ocean rooms from �42/52 per person sharing, including breakfast.
Air-conditioned suite from �104 per person sharing, including breakfast.
Half-board supplement �12.50.
Special Offer: Stay 4 nights and get the 5th night free � on the same meal basis. Offer valid 1 � 22 December 2007 and 1 June � 11 July 2008.
Other
This hotel accepts Visa, travellers� cheques and hard currency. English is spoken.
Anakao
ANAKAO CLUB RESORT is a new hotel at the end of an unspoiled beach on the Bay of Andovoka, just south of the village of Anakao.
It has four double bungalows, three bungalows with a mezzanine room and a family suite. The hotel has been such a success that several more rooms are being added. The thatched bungalows are built from local stone and wood, and the d�cor is a simple complement to the dark, polished wood floor and furniture. Huge French windows open onto a private verandah. All bungalows have modern en suite facilities.
The restaurant features an open kitchen. It employs local produce in its menu, a fusion of modern European cuisine and the Malagasy culinary tradition.
There is diving for both novice and experienced divers. The hotel organises trips to both Nosy Ve and Nosy Satrana, fishing trips and boat and quad bike excursions. Whales are often seen between August and October.
Contact us
or phone (44) 20 7226 1004 for more information
