Anjajavy and the North West
Anjajavy Private Reserve is Located on a remote peninsular on the North West coast of the island
This exclusive resort can only be accessed by air using a thrice weekly air transfer from Antananarivo. The 450 ha reserve reflects the incredible diversity of Madagascar with four distinct habitats; dry deciduous forest with palissandre and ebony trees interspersed with iconic baobab trees, a pocket of protected mangrove, some limestone formations of the tsingy, and pristine beaches.
The reserve is rich in wildlife with chameleons, frogs and several resident species of lemurs including the common brown, sportive and mouse lemurs. Of particular interest here is the beautiful Coquerel’s sifaka. Anjajavy is one of the few places where you might catch sight of the elusive fossa, Madagascar’s largest carnivore. Birding is rewarding with Madagascar harrier hawks, crested ibis and coua and the endangered Madagascar fish eagle all present.
Anjajavy is part wildlife reserve and part beach resort. Walking trails through the reserve can be followed with or without a guide, offering easy wildlife viewing whilst beach activities include catamaran sailing (accompanied), snorkelling, boating and sea kayaking (or in the mangrove).
Located in the Mozambique Channel, Nosy Be is Madagascar’s most popular beach resort. The main island is relatively busy with large resort style hotels popular with the Italian market but the smaller islands offer a tropical island escape. The volcanic island of Nosy Komba has no roads, no vehicles, is covered by dense forest interspersed only by granite and basalt boulders. Hiking trails lead to secondary forest where black lemurs live freely. Nosy Sakatia, Orchid Island, remains relatively untouched by tourism and one can easily visit local fishing villages and eat in local restaurants. Nosy Iranja which is an important nesting site for green turtles, is one of the archipelago’s most photographed destinations: two islands which at low tide are connected by a thin 2 km stretch of perfect white sand, often visited as part of a day trip.
Aside from the picture perfect beaches, the attraction of the area lies in the sheltered waters where humpback whales can be seen from June until September and whale sharks, the gentle giants of the oceans, arrive to feed in the plankton rich waters from late September until December. Nosy Tanikely is a marine reserve popular with divers and snorkellers who come here to see the intact coral gardens, starfish, large shoals of fish and sea turtles.