Île aux Nattes - ISLAND OF DREAMS

 
L’île aux Nattes, also known as de Nosy Nanto, has a remarkably beautiful white sandy beach and granite rocks. The south of the island is fringed with a vast blue lagoon, that appears to be at one with the blue horizon. Its coral reef adds to the island’s beauty. Agniribe, the biggest village on the island, is mainly composed of huts made out of ‘Falafa’ (timber and local palm leaves) and is surrounded by paddy-fields. Cassava, sweet potato, vanilla, cloves, pepper and cinnamon are grown there as well. The local population also grows the Malagasy periwinkle, with its purple flowers, which has therapeutic properties.
 
The natural environment of the island is very well preserved, with no important transformations carried out and no road infrastructure. The island has exceptional lush vegetation, mainly consisting of coconut palms, mango trees, raffia and pandanus. There are also a few white and purple endemic orchids. During your stay, surrounded by nature, you may also catch sight of lemurs leaping from tree to tree and calling to each other.
 
At the end of the day, you can have a show of fire-flies giving out their magic light signals and see the mesmerising show of plankton, glowing as the dug-out canoes sail past or the moray eels with their leopard-spotted skins. From July to September, the whales leaping out of the sea will contribute to the delights of the island.
 
This article was featured in Prime Magazine August 2019

Useful Information

When to go

With a hot wet climate, the period between April and November remains the best time to visit the island of Île aux Nattes.

How to get there

You can get to the Sainte Marie island by boat from Soanierana Ivongo or from Mahambo. There are also Air Madagascar/Tsaradia flights from Antananarivo or Toamasina or from Gillot (Reunion island). Then take a taxi or tuk-tuk to the southern tip of île Sainte Marie and find a dugout canoe to take you across the lagoon

Where to stay

The Hotel Masoandro Lodge or the Hotel Soanambo will give you a warm welcome, comfort and relaxation, as well as offering various activities. Other hotels such as the Princesse Bora Lodge & Spa, Libertalia Hotel, Hotel Vanivola, Lakana on are also recommended.

Where to eat

In addition to the hotel where you are staying, and for those with more adventurous tastes, you can eat at any one of the many snack-bars in the centre of the village. The Ravoraha,the Idylle Beach, the Birgogne and the Varangue all serve delicious food.

What to see

Take a walk right or hire a dugout canoe to sail around, stopping at the tiny sand island with its bird colony. Try snorkeling, very popular on the island for visitors wishing to observe the rich marine life in the crystal-clear waters of the lagoon. Take a dugout back to the island of île Sainte-Marie and visit the Ambodiforaha zoo and botanical garden, the Antanandava waterfall or the pirate cemetery.