Nosy Be

Nosy Be is an island off the northwest coast of Madagascar in the Diana Region, well known as a tourist destination for beaches, diving and biodiversity. The island’s economy combines tourism with agricultural products such as ylang-ylang.

Beaches, coral reefs and diving sites are primary attractions, while the island’s internal roads connect visitors to markets, distilleries and small resorts. The Lokobe Reserve on the southeast of the island preserves patches of lowland rainforest and endemic species and is one of the island’s main nature attractions.

The island has a colonial and trading history and developed as a tourist destination during the 20th century; plantations for aromatic plants like ylang-ylang remain an economic feature. Local towns retain colonial-era architecture and a mixture of Malagasy and settler influences.

Nosy Be lies off Madagascar’s northwest coast in the Mozambique Channel; the island’s main town Hell-Ville (Andoany) is the ferry and transport hub connecting to the nearest mainland ports.

• Tourism and agriculture: A popular tourist island known for beaches, scuba diving and ylang-ylang plantations that supply local distilleries.
• Access and main town: Main access from the mainland is via the Ankify/Ankofia ferry point; Hell-Ville is the island's principal port and town.

What to See #

• Hell-Ville (Andoany): Hell-Ville (Andoany) is the island's main town and administrative centre with markets, colonial-era buildings and ferry connections to the mainland.
• Lokobe Reserve: Lokobe Reserve, a protected area of lowland rainforest on the island preserving endemic species including black lemurs and other wildlife.