Madagascar, the Green Island

Madagascar is, to this day, a tourist destination that is still little touched: the fourth-largest island in the world, it is a country impossible to visit in full if you only have two weeks available (as in our case). That is why we chose NOSY BE as our destination, a small island north of Madagascar, fairly touristy and busy: here, booking only the return flight, it would have been easier for us to adapt, given that it was also our first time in Madagascar. From Italy we had already been able to contact a guesthouse, for the first three nights, in the locality of Ambatoloaka, so when we landed at Nosy Be airport we immediately had the chance to rest after the long journey (13 hours of flight).

From Nosy Be it is then possible to move on to the 'Big Island', preferably through the local agencies, which offer multi-day tours for all tastes (and budgets!!!): we had the bad luck (and the recklessness) to turn to a Malagasy guy we met on the beach (watch out for the beach boys!), and we got an unbelievable rip-off, thinking we'd save money. Still, in general, the locals are welcoming and very helpful. It was very interesting to chat and swap opinions with the Malagasy guys our age (we even gave Marcel our Italian-French dictionary:)) As for the place, well, words are worth nothing: all we have left is a few photos (which don't do it justice anyway)....and the memory of an earthly paradise. One we can't wait to return to.

Booking: return flight only (Blue Panorama), destination Nosy Be *****legend: the stars are awarded based on how much we liked them

For sleeping (AMBATOLOAKA): - "Chez Gerard et Francine" - Ambatoloaka (double 50€/night) ***** - "Le Coucher de Soleil" - Ambatoloaka (double 20€/night) ** - "Ylang-Ylang" - Ambatoloaka (double 16€/night) **

For eating (AMBATOLOAKA): - "Chez Pat" (x2 27.000 Mga = 11,60 €) *** -"La Grilladerie" (x2 42.000 Mga = 18,10 €) ** - "Chez Papa Bebeto" (x2 42.000 Mga = 18,10€) **** - "Chez Ernest" (x2 88.000 Mga = 37,90€) ** - "Chez Mama" (x2 14.000 Mga = 6,03 €) **** - "Le Residence d'Ambatoloaka" (x2 47.000 Mga =20,25 €) *** - "Chez Angeline" (x2 37.000 Mga = 15,94€) ** - "Baobab" (x2 53.000 Mga) *** - "La Saladerie" (x2 53.000 Mga) *

to visit nearby: -Nosy Komba -Nosy Iranja -Nosy Tanikely

GOLDEN RULES: 1) Ask about the local "Fady", genuine taboos tied to places or actions, (things that to us would seem perfectly normal) 2) Don't trust most of the "Beach Boys" who offer you multi-day excursions, because they are often complete con jobs! 3) Don't buy bottles of water in the small villages: they are often refilled with unsterilised water 4) If you have even a little knowledge of French, trust me, and prefer a do-it-yourself holiday to tourist resorts 5) Absolutely don't forget to bring a first-aid kit and, if you travel in a malaria-risk area, get the relevant vaccine (or take the course of pills prescribed by a doctor) 6) Always bring a sleeping sheet, because in some lodgings the sheets leave something to be desired on hygiene 7) Travel with small-denomination banknotes close at hand (keep the rest in a safe place, preferably out of sight) 8) Don't forget pencils, notebook

s and used clothes to leave in the schools for Malagasy children 9) Absolutely remember a French dictionary! 10) Enjoy this magnificent earthly paradise and, TONGAVA SOA!