Translating from Malagasy as “Big Island”, Nosy By lies off the north-west coast of Madagascar. It was originally home to several groups of ethnic peoples before being colonised by the French in 1840. Its capital, Hell-Ville, is named after Admiral de Hell who governed Reunion from 1838 to 1841.
Things to do in Nosy Be
Spend your days relaxing on one of Nosy Be’s blissful beaches, with one of the most beautiful being Andilana. You can swim in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, kick back on the idyllic white sands or come face to face with tropical fish while snorkelling. Boats can be rented for accessing nearby Nosy Iranja, which is home to a sea turtle hatchery.
On Nosy Be’s south coast is the island’s main town, Hell-Ville, which is clustered with colonial buildings dating back to French colonial rule. Soak up the sights, sounds and smells at the covered market or observe playful lemurs at Lemuria Land. This wildlife park is also home to a variety of reptiles, plus a 19th-century distillery where essential oils are extracted.
Hugging the south-east corner of Nosy By is Lokobe National Park, where you can see grey-backed sportive lemurs and nocturnal mouse lemurs in their natural habitat. Join a guided trek along its network of walking trails to spot panther chameleons, which are renowned for their vibrant and changing colours. Lokobe National Park is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with endemic owls and kingfishers regularly spotted.
Getting around Nosy Be
Fascene Airport is the main aviation gateway to Nosy Be and has flights to destinations across Africa. Passenger speedboats depart from Ankify on mainland Madagascar, with the journey to Nosy Be taking around 40 minutes. Vehicle ferries also run the same route and take around two hours.