« What is rare is expensive and ... MADAGASCAR is UNIQUE »
Coming to Madagascar will undoubtedly be a unique and unrepeatable experience. Madagascar is quite certainly like no place you have ever visited and it will be a trip you will never forget. An “African” country but with a unique endemic biodiversity, Madagascar is a place like no other offering unrivaled wildlife and rare sought-after species such as lemurs and humpback whales, outstanding landscapes, wonderful coral islands with pristine beaches and natural clear water swmming pools protected by coral reefs. The hospitality of Madagascar’s eighteen ethnic groups will encourage a great spirit of respect and a total immersion in the warmth and soul of this country. To ensure a unique and in-depth discovery of Madagascar make sure to plan your stay in all its details with your preferred travel agency. Despite offering all these fantastic attractions, Madagascar is not a destination for everybody and the ability to adapt is required in order to willingly accept any unexpected delay due to poor infrastructure in the country. At the moment, Madagascar is still preserved from mass tourism and a spirit of adventure is essential for discovering this country where the most popular motto is “mora mora”! (slowly slowly). All hotels, restaurants and service providers have been carefully selected to represent the best value in their class. It should also be pointed out, however, that these services should not be compared with those on offer in other of the world’s most sought-after tourist destinations.

TONGA SOA à Madagascar » « Welcome to Madagascar »
Pearl of the Indian Ocean, Madagascar lies 400 km off the southeast coast of the African continent. Often referred to as the Great Red Island, Madagascar will meet the expectations of the most demanding visitors, whether you are a tourist, a sportsman, a scientist or a curious intellectual searching cultural enlightenment. Madagascar is a concentration of Austronesia civilization mixed with Bantu, Arab and European cultures, whose foundation, as attested by several navigators’ stories and certified by archaeologists, would go back as far as the first decade of the Christian era.
Madagascar’s history is integrated in the great era of trading adventures which, as early as the tenth century, linked the different states and kingdoms situated along the western Indian Ocean coastline, which was then considered as an internal sea.
The island itself comprised several kingdoms, whose unification was completed in the 18th century under the Merina monarchy of Andrianampoinimerina. Then it started to have diplomatic relationships with the western world, which after all sorts of events led to it becoming a French colony from 1896 to 1960. Since independence (26 June 1960), Madagascar has chosen to adopt a western style parliamentary democracy, and since the mid-20th century, its contemporary history has modeled itself on the principles of modern world economic and political development, the latest change being a shift towards economic liberalism.

NOSY BE THE SCENTED ISLAND
Eight kilometres off the north-west coast, Nosy Be is Madagascar’s largest and best known island and the country’s most popular destination for travellers and tourists thanks to its tropical paradise charm. Because of its tropical microclimate, Nosy be is home to unique endemic flora and fauna and unmistakable aromas and flavours fill the air. The powerful fragrance of the Ylang-ylang plant, whose essential oil is obtained through the distillation of its flowers, is widely used in elegant perfumeries all over the world, (such as Chanel N°5) and will delight your sense of smell. The main town of Hell-Ville is the vibrant centre of the island and boasts the ancient history of Sakalava tribes and beautiful buildings reminiscent of French colonialism. You will discover its market, an array of smells and colours, bustling with people and vendors offering vegetables, spices and fish of all kinds. Nosy Be is home to beautiful beaches that, even if incomparable with the Caribbean, will captivate you with the tranquil and “sweet doing nothing” air which reigns all around. For those who wish to discover the unique flora and fauna, a visit to Lokobe Nature Reserve should not be missed. But Nosy Be offers a wide choice of excursions to suit all tastes: the ylang ylang distillery, the evocative holy tree and its ceremonial traditions, the sacred waterfall and the Dzamandzary sugar cane distillery producing the popular Dzama rum. The most popular and lively beaches, Madirokely and Ambatoloaka, house several hotels and restaurants at affordable prices for travellers and tourists and offer a magnificent view of beautiful sunsets. To make the most of your time on Nosy Be, be sure to visit some of the surrounding islands: close by you can discover the beautiful islands of Nosy Komba for its forest, lemurs, arts and crafts; Nosy Tanikely for its wonderful marine life; or the beautiful Nosy Sakatia for its wilderness. Farther afield to the south lies the idyllic island of Nosy Iranja, and further still the Radama islands, or to the north the wild and stunning Mitsio archipelago.

NOSY TANIKELY
Minuscule island half an hour away by boat from Nosy Be, Nosy Tanikely is a protected marine reserve. Just a few meters from the beach the seabed boasts a multiform sea life. Peaceful turtles and swarms of colourful fish come alongside visitors in the crystal clear and silvery water, a real paradise for snorkelling and diving.

NOSY KOMBA
Small volcanic island in front of Nosy Be, Nosy Komba is home to a multitude of animals among which its increasingly “friendly” black lemurs. As soon as you step off the boat from Nosy Be onto Nosy Komba you will immerse yourself in the timeless atmosphere of the typical fishermen’s village, where among the artwork on display it is possible to buy wooden objects such as model canoes or “point Richelieu” style embroidered tablecloths.