IT06-L-Madagascar Nosy Be: Tsarabanjina Lodge **** (private island)

Tsarabanjina is the kind of private island to be discovered in all tranquillity, carried about leisurely by the soft pace of the sea and its natural surroundings. An amazingly calm sea filled with a variety of fish and lobsters. A place renowned for its diving and ideal for navigation.

Tsarabanjina offers you one more hour of sunshine per day, therefore, do not forget to set your watch... when it is midday in Madagascar, it is 13h00 on the island. You can stroll around, climb up the hills and lose your way in the mesh of its luxuriant vegetation. At the end of a path, you will for sure fall upon many birds, amongst whom the famous flycatcher of Madagascar as well as a couple of fish eagles. If you are lucky your will find the tiniest chameleon in the world; it barely exceeds one centimetre in length when full grown.

LOCATION

Situated in the north-western part of Madagascar, at about 40 miles from the port of Nosy Be, Tsarabanjina is one of the paradisiacal islets of the Mitsio Archipelago: the Mountain islet, fringed by white sandy beaches with its extraordinary birds, its lush vegetation and ringed around by coral reefs. The region is bathed by sunshine all year round (except February is cyclone season).

Tsarabanjina is a sacred islet. On the small peninsula of the eastern beach is found the tomb of the Sakalava kings of the Mitsio islands. Up to this day the people of the Mitsio islands venerate this place; they come here bringing their offerings (money, honey, rum…). Should you want to go there for a visit, respect the place by going barefoot, wearing a lamba (shawl) without forgetting to leave your gift in order not to displease the gods.

Les Quatres Frères (The Four Brothers islets), facing Tsarabanjina, on the north-west side, are mythical rocks where a large number of birds (northern gannets, white-tailed tropic birds, frigates…) come to build their nests. These islets, except one, are well-known for scuba diving. Legend has it that the gods sent five brothers to that spot.

One got mad with three of his brothers and he decided to leave them. The fourth brother, who loved the fifth one very much, pined away broken-hearted. It is for this reason that birds do not nest there and the seabed seems desolate. As for the fifth brother, he is today near the Russian Bay, off Nosy Bé. It is called the "Pain de Sucre" (Sugar Loaf).

THE BEACHES

The three beaches are:

North Beach - 270 meters long
South Beach - 200 meters long
Bar Beach - 100 meters long

ACCOMMODATION

All 21 bungalows are looking out on the sea with private terrace of a surface area of 45m² each, some of them built from rosewood with a thatched roof. Every bungalow is unique, each one bearing the name of a flower, a tree or a fish. It consists of the main bedroom equipped with fans, a bathroom with shower and a separate toilet, a private terrace with deck chairs and coffee table. They are built on two beaches: North and South.

TRANSFER

Nosy Be (Hellville port) to Tsarabanjina:

A ninety-minute crossing by speedboat from Nosy Be. Please wear clothing that allows your feet to get wet!

RESTAURANT & BAR

The Restaurant has a surface area of 135m², it is built from rosewood and it has a seating capacity of 60. Meals are served in the restaurant, in the mezzanine above the bar overlooking the sea. The breakfast buffet is open from 7:30AM to 10AM. Lunch is served from 1PM to 2PM. Dinner, à la carte, is served as from 8PM. Cuisine is basically of sea foods. For an additional fee, you can be served a seafood platter on the beach. The Bar has a floor of fine sand. It faces the lagoon and it is open from 10AM till the last guest. It can sit a maximum of 45 persons. It is a great place for meeting people and for relaxing: an ideal spot to watch the sunset while sipping a drink or a delicious cocktail before dinner or a late drink after dinner. Tea-time (tea/coffee/cookies) is as from 4PM, at the bar.

OTHER FACILITIES

The Boutique offers a range of Malagasy art and handmade craft items, a line of clothing of Tsarabanjina as well as products for sunbathing and a few basic items.
At the reception, you can request the following services: safe for your valuables, telephone network GSM (mobile phones with roaming), internet access 24hrs a day and WIFI at the reception.
The Library is next to the bar. A wide choice of books and parlour games are available to guests during their stay.

ACTIVITIES

Tsarabanjina offers a number of sports activities. The majority of which is included in the package:

Snorkelling: upon your arrival, mask, flippers and snorkel are at your disposal for the whole duration of your stay to help you discover the giant aquarium of the Mitsio seas, at the very foot of your bungalow.
Water Skiing: everyday you can practise water skiing, mono-skiing or wakeboard from 11:30AM to 1:30PM.
Tennis: Tropical Tennis is available in the centre of the island.
Sailing: catamarans are at your disposal on the beach, with or without coaching. You will also find canoes to go rowing around the island.
Volley ball and Pétanque (bowls), every evening around 6:00 p.m., during the cooler hours of the day.
Aqua gym is proposed in the morning for physical fitness.
Walks: the team will serve as guide on a long walk around the island. A full panoramic view of Tsarabanjina and the Mitsio Archipelago can be enjoyed from on top of the hills.
Parlour games can be borrowed from the bar.

For an additional fee:

Scuba Diving: for beginners or qualified divers. The diving team will take you on the discovery of the coral reefs of Mitsio for certified divers (equipped with PADI, CMAS, NAUI certifications or any alternatives) and propose initiation for beginners.
Sports Fishing: fish with drag net on sites teeming with fish, the best in the region.
Massage: bookings between 11AM and 7PM. Appointments are confirmed during pre-dinner drinks at the bar.
Excursions: Various excursions are offered. You can observe the sunset on the Frères islands with a ballet of frigate birds, northern gannets and white-tailed tropic birds. Traditional fishing in the evening. Boat trip to the great basalt columns, the famous sight of “Grande Mitsio”.

Please note:

Tsarabanjina has no air-conditioning!
The last boat transfer from Nosy Be harbour to Tsarabanjina Island is at 16h00.
Minimum length of stay is 3 nights throughout the year except during peak season 23 DEC to 06 JAN the minimum stay is 7 nights.
Payment in cash Ariary / Euro / USD or traveller’s cheque. The only credit card accepted is the Visa card.
Children under the age of 4 years are not allowed for security reason.
Please contact us for Tsarabanjina Private Island and Anjajavy combinations.

Prices for activities (subject to change)

Scuba diving:

Introductory dive € 50
with equipment tank and weights

Price per dive                     € 43                          € 38
Price per dive (5-9 dives)   € 40                          € 35
Price per dive (10 dives +) € 37                          € 32

Trawling:

Per hour                                                             € 70
4 hours                                                              € 265
8 hours                                                              € 480

Hand line – bottom fishing free of charge

Massage € 26/hour

Itinerary Nosy Tsarabanjina: 7 nights

DAY 1: Fly to Antananarivo (Tana), the lively Malagasy capital in the Central Highlands. On arrival proceed you will be met by our agents. Transfer to the Relais des Plateaux Hotel (B&B).

DAY 2: Transfer to the airport and fly to Nosy Be. You will be met by the Tsarabanjina hotel representative who will transfer you to the town of Hellville. Boat transfer to the Tsarabanjina Island where you will be staying for 6 nights on full board basis.

DAY 8: Boat transfer back to Nosy Be Island and transfer to the Nosy Be airport. Check in for your return flight to Antananarivo. On arrival change to the International Departure terminal and check in for your return flight to Johannesburg.

Prices include

International (departure from Johannesburg) and internal Malagasy flights, all accommodation and meals as indicated and all airport-hotel transfers.

Prices Do Not include

Meals not indicated, drinks, tips to guides, porters, etc., any personal expenses, travel insurance, internet access, airport taxes and visa fees.

Below is an approximate price per person sharing (October 2009)

±Euro2850

Specials:

Honeymoon special: valid all year around except from 23^rdDecember to 06^th January

Minimum stay is 5 nights
In room upon arrival: Pareo and soubik for the beach
During the stay: 1 candlelit dinner on the beach with a bottle of South African wine
One massage per person per stay
Marriage certificate to be produced upon request and the stay should not be more than 9 months after the date of wedding.

Wedding Anniversaries: valid all year around except from 23December to 06 January

Minimum stay 5 nights
In room upon arrival: Pareo and soubik for the beach
During the stay: 1 candlelit dinner on the beach with a bottle of South African wine
One massage per person per stay
Applicable to the 10th and subsequent anniversaries at 5 years interval. Stay should not be more than 6 months prior or after date of anniversary