Madagascar caught me totally by surprise. I visited with little to no expectations but came away feeling absolutely confounded.
Madagascar is an island country lying off the southeastern coast of Africa It is the world’s fourth largest island and the second largest island country and the 44th largest country in the world. Its capital and largest city is Antanarivo
I travelled from Lagos Nigeria to Nosy Be Island Madagascar with Ethiopian Airlines. Flights to Nosy Be tend to sell out pretty quickly so if you plan to visit this island be sure to book your flights on time.
The first thing that struck me on my arrival in Madagascar was how raw and beautiful this island was. There was something so untouched and pure about the landscape and beaches that somehow reminded me of Seychelles.
However in terms of development and infrastructure, Madagascar still has a lot of catching up to do. I would have loved to visit other parts of the country as they have some of the most unique national parks and diverse landscapes. Then of course you have the infamous baobab trees and lemurs, the canyons, gorges and the grand waterfalls.
However journeying to any one of these places takes some 6-10 hours on the road, some of which are dirt roads.
I wanted a very simple and relaxing holiday so I chose to stay on and enjoy only Nosy Be Island.
Nosy Be, which means “big island” in Malagasy, is Madagascar’s most popular beach resort thanks to its laid-back towns, unique wildlife, and amazing snorkelling.
Located just off the coast of Africa, the world’s oldest island is home to weird and wonderful animals, a lot of which cannot be found anywhere else on earth.
Another thing I noticed when I arrived on the Island was that there were very few African tourists . I had a feeling I had just stumbled upon one of Europe’s best kept secrets for affordable island holidays in Africa which is probably why flights to Nosy Be sell out pretty quickly.
I was profoundly moved by Madagascar. The people were very warm and friendly. The beaches were pristine and beautiful and the food was amazing.
This place will make you pause in a way that you are not used to. It will stop you in your tracks and help you appreciate the absolute wonder of God’s creation.
It is also a great place to rest, retreat and recharge, mostly because the pace of the local life here is quite slow. If you are feeling burnt out from the concrete jungles of our modern cities, I recommend Madagascar as one of the destinations to enjoy some fresh air, peace and quiet.
I don’t think I have been able to rest and recharge in any destination as I was able to do in Madagascar.
I booked two stays on the island and both were simply amazing. One of them was an inclusive resort and everything about it was just right.
The food was amazing. It was always fresh and always in excess! Really, a foodies heaven!
The resort was located right on the beach which I always had access to and what a beautiful beach it was!
I left Madagascar feeling so loved and so blessed.I felt healed and whole on this island and truly, I cannot wait to be back.
