With all that said, which region would suit your holiday dreams the best?
OK, so the below are technically not regions, but it makes for far easier reading than my listing all twenty-two official regions… Besides, how many of us can list the regions alphabetically between Alaotra-Mangoro and Vakinankaratra? So to save ourselves from some tongue-twisting embarrassment, I have opted for the easy way out…
Madagascar is a large island with much to offer. So, if you’re looking for an undisturbed week on the beach, where you can kick back and relax yet still try a few activities in your own time, then Nosy Be is for you. This beautiful island has many activities on offer like sailing, diving. to exploring random spice markets.
The North-West, which delicately cradles the Nosy Be archipelago, is home to a quieter, slower pace of life. This is evidenced by access to many parts being virtually impossible without chartered flights. So if you want a secluded break at a high-end lodge, with limited disturbance, then this may well be your Eden.
Nowhere else in the world can you get to appreciate the “essence” of life more than in the North-East of Madagascar. For this, you may be excused for calling it the vanilla coast. It is a gastronome’s delight, with some of the largest vanilla plantations in the world. Due to Madagascar’s unique growing seasons, not only will you be able to witness the full production cycle, but you will be able to buy some of the best vanilla pods money can buy. I believe Coco Chanel concurred by including vanilla in her iconic 1921 release of Chanel N°5. It also happens to be the seasonal home (June to September) to humpback whales who come off the coast of the picturesque island of Sainte Marie to mate and calf.
The West is bold and in your face, like a good Californian Chardonnay. There’s nothing timid or introverted here. If you are looking for a wow of the less furry kind, then look no further than the spectacular Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park; the majestic Avenue of the Baobabs; or Réserve Forestière de Kirindy, home to Madagascar’s largest predator, the fossa.
The East, by contrast, is intimate. The forest canopy envelopes you in shaded hues, and if you are a birder, then this is the place to be!
The Highlands, with its cooler and less humid climate, is home to the capital, Antananarivo, a bustling city that seems to sprawl with no end in sight… If you prefer trips into the countryside which ends with a comfortable bed in a vibrant town, then a road trip through the highlands should be on your to-do list!
Last but not least, if you are looking for a big sky country, then look no further than Isalo National Park in the South. The stars are truly just out of reach.