Missing Nosy Be and Enrico

We left with the tour operator Albatour, airline Air Italy (uncomfortable seats, and watching the film was impossible given the position of the screen, projected onto a panel with a video projector in terrible quality); we stayed at the Coral Noir Jardin in Ambaro — the property is very nice and the staff, above all the Malagasy waiters, very kind and friendly; the cost of the trip (flight and hotel) was €2200, booked with an offer in April, plus €190 for the fuel surcharge. There were 4 of us (two couples). We did the excursions with the beach boys and got on very well. 20 August: Nosy Komba - Nosy Tanikely (with Enrico, lunch included €40) 21 August: Nosy Iranja (with Enrico, lunch included €50) 22 August: Tour of the island (with Enrico, €30) 23 August: Nosy Fanihy.

Nosy Sakatia (with Enrico €35) 25 August: Lokobe (with Enrico, lunch included €35) 26/27/28 August: Northern tour (Ankarana Park, Montagne d'Ambre, Ramena, Tsingt Rouge, with Bruno, €270) 31 August: Nosy Tanikely (with Enrico, lunch included €30) 1 September: Nosy Sakatia (with Enrico, FREE — A GIFT FROM ENRICO)

All the excursions are worth it, each island has its own marvels; the northern tour of Madagascar was tiring because of the long jeep journeys and the walks in the parks, but I recommend it because you see the most beautiful things — animals and stunning landscapes.

Watch out for the mucafui, sand flies; before going to the beach, get hold of the raw coconut oil the ladies sell on the beach...it's the only salvation from being bitten.

Watch out for the water bottles: buy six-packs of one-and-a-half-litre bottles in the "supermarkets" and not from the street stalls, because there's a risk they're recycled bottles, filled with tap water and resealed with glue to look sealed — the risk is spending a day sitting on the throne!!! The water bottles from the hotel and those brought by the beach boys are safe, but when we came out of the airport, along with the welcome garland we were handed a half-litre bottle of water...it tasted of prawns and we threw it away.

We were lucky because we met Enrico, who treated us very well as far as the lunches and excursions were concerned, but above all for his company and good humour; he took us to a disco and at the end of the holiday gave us an excursion to Sakatia. We also got on very well with Bruno for the northern tour of Madagascar; he was a good guide.

We also met an Italian person with great courage and a huge heart, Manina, a Neapolitan lady who lives in Ambatoloaka and has built schools, hospitals and free clinics to guarantee education and medical care even to those who can't afford them. To find out how much good she has done you can visit the website of her association, "I bambini di Manina".

For me it was a fantastic trip, beautiful places and wonderful people. Thank you Enrico!!!