27/08/2026
Lindsay recently travelled to beautiful Madagascar with her family, and here’s what she had to say about their unforgettable trip:
‘If you’re looking for somewhere that feels a world away without actually being a world away, Madagascar should be on your list!
We recently spent a week in Nosy Be with our family during the school holidays, and it was one of those trips that reminded us just how much there is to discover closer to home. A 3-hour direct flight from Johannesburg with Airlink makes it an incredibly easy option for a week-long getaway from South Africa as the flights go once a week every Tuesday. And while July is winter, it’s the best time to be in Madagascar (the main travel season is from May – October). We were enjoying beautiful daytime temperatures of around 30°C, warm tropical seas and pleasantly cooler evening.
We stayed at Home, The Residence, a lovely property set on its own private beach. Rather than a traditional resort, it’s a collection of privately owned villas. There’s a restaurant, large swimming pool, spa, small gym and a shop for essentials — but the real attraction is the peaceful setting and the opportunity to use it as a base for exploring.
One of our favourite days was a boat trip to Nosy Iranja, often described as one of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Two islands are connected by a spectacular white sandbank which appears at low tide. Walking along the sand surrounded by impossibly blue water was simply magical — and swimming with turtles made it even more special. The day included a delicious lunch cooked by the locals on the beach under palm trees. Another day took us to Nosy Sakatia, where we snorkelled and swam with turtles before enjoying a delicious lunch on a private beach. We had the whole beach to ourselves, with deck chairs, SUPs and fantastic snorkelling right off the shore. We also took a couple of short boat trips from our own beach to Nosy Fanihy, a tiny rocky island with a beautiful little beach and spectacular coral and marine life.
There’s plenty to see away from the water too. We explored Hell Ville, Nosy Be’s main town and harbour, wandered through the local markets, enjoyed lunch and cocktails at a popular beach, and finished the day with sundowners from the highest viewpoint on the island. We also visited a lemur sanctuary and an ylang-ylang factory. The island is covered in ylang-ylang plantations, and the fragrant flower is one of Madagascar’s important exports. The food was another highlight. Expect plenty of freshly caught seafood, local vegetables and tropical flavours, along with chicken and the local Zebu beef. The people we met were incredibly warm, friendly and helpful.
Nosy Be isn’t trying to be another Mauritius — and that’s precisely why we loved it. There are some more traditional resorts but much of the island offers rustic, barefoot luxury, beautiful untouched nature and a wonderfully authentic sense of place. If you’re adventurous, love nature and wildlife, enjoy island-hopping and snorkelling, and would rather experience something authentic and different then put Madagascar firmly on your travel wish list. And the best part? It’s right on our doorstep.’
Ready to discover your own island adventure? Get in touch with us and let’s start planning your unforgettable escape!
