Day 13: Ampangorinana, Nosy Komba, Nosy Tanikely & Nosy Be, Madagascar

Ampangorinana is a village on the north coast of the beautiful and small volcanic island of Nosy Komba. The island is set between Nosy Be, the island of perfumes, and the mainland of Madagascar. Covered by a magnificent primal forest, the island is home to all kinds of trees, plants and flowers, but lemurs are one of the main attractions. Not to be neglected and often hiding in the dense tropical forest is a multitude of other animals including maki macacos, chameleons, lizards, snakes, spiders, and 19 species of birds. Nosy Komba has easily accessible, clean and private beaches that offer great snorkeling. Sea turtles, rays, and dolphins frequent the clear azure waters surrounding Ampangorinana and Nosy Komba.

A coral reef awash with colourful fish abutting a white sand tropical island complete with a cute lighthouse. Sound ideal? Nosy Tanikely is a Marine National Park dedicated to protecting the island and its marine environment. Despite its small size, Nosy Tanikely is recognized for its remarkable marine and land biodiversity. The corals begin near the shore and gradually drop away to deeper water. Fish of various colours and shapes weave amongst coral fingers. Damselfish, butterflyfish, anemonefish and blue parrotfish are common.

The island has its own delights. The unusual spiral staircase of the lighthouse, built in 1908, leads to views of nearby islands. Panther Chameleons and Black Lemurs were brought to the island, while the Madagascar Flying Fox found its own way. A small colony of these large bats allows us to watch their engaging behaviour like licking themselves clean, passing their wastes, caring for young and squabbling with neighbours. Something we never do!

If you have ever wanted to go to somewhere that is remote and exotic, then you have come to the right place. The two right places in fact, as the islands of Nosy Be and Nosy Komba offer a chance to revel in nature that is uncommon, even in the Indian Ocean. There is a saying in Madagascar “same, same but different” and nothing could be more illustrative when describing Nosy Be and Nosy Komba. Both feature fertile forests sheltering endemic species but while Nosy Be (meaning Big Island) attracts holiday makers in search of a rustic, unhurried destination, Nosy Komba literally translates as Lemur Island, leaving nothing to the imagination when considering its main attractions. The aforementioned forests are without a doubt the jewel in both the islands’ crowns.

The heady scent of ylang-ylang trees, vanilla and pepper gave Madagascar its moniker of the perfumed isle, and exports of spices and scents continue to be a pivotal part of the island’s economy. The island is essentially French speaking, after the queen of the Boina Sakalava tribe called upon the French from the nearby Reunion (thus inviting colonial rule) in 1841. If making the 20-minute boat trip to Nosy Komba (actual name Nosy Ambariovato) and the lemur park, then be prepared to be enchanted. The arboreal primates, with their enormous eyes, soft fur and long curling tails are both charismatic and friendly. Add cheeky to the list too, especially if you have any fruit in your hands. They’ll jump right out of the trees and take it from you.

Day 14: Nosy Hara, Madagascar

The Nosy Hara archipelago off the northern tip of Madagascar is made up of about 12 small islands surrounded by coral reefs. The sandy beaches show evidence of marine turtle nesting activity, and tagged turtles regularly haul their great bodies out of the surf to nest in the dry sand above the water line. The Nosy Hara archipelago is characterized by the unique rock formations of eroded limestone known as ‘tsingy’. On some islets the forest grows through this rock and onto the cliff faces themselves. Endemic birds and reptiles inhabit the forest – among them a pair of the endemic and endangered Madagascar Fish Eagles, one of the rarest birds of prey in the world. Nosy Hara is also home to the world’s smallest chameleon.

Day 15: Assumption, Seychelles

Assumption (Assomption) Island is a small, crescent shaped island about 4.3 square miles (11.07 sq km) in size. Considered one of the Outer Seychelles Islands, Assumption is part of the Aldabra Group, lying approximately 600 miles (960 km) southwest of Mahé, in the Indian Ocean. These outer islands are not made from granite, like their larger sisters Mahé, Praslin or La Digue, but rather are coralline formations. Once a part of the French colony Réunion, then a member of the British Indian Ocean Territories, today Assumption is governed by the Seychelles. Assumption is a rough and arid island, shaded only by shrubs and palm trees but is redeemed by a spectacular reef with huge coral heads and a white ocean floor. Jacques Cousteau said he'd never seen any other place on earth with same clarity of water or diversity of reef life. He filmed large parts of documentary “The Silent World” here, and held audiences across the globe, spellbound by the magic that lay beneath the sea.

A notable feature of this island is the Assumption Island day gecko, a subspecies of gecko found only on this island. Assumption is also a known nesting site for turtles and rare birds. Because Assumption Island was found to be rich in guano, coveted for its phosphorous fertilizing abilities, it was essentially plundered in the early 1900s. The island today is has an interesting geography that includes a gorgeous 3-mile (5-km) white beach, a rocky coastline, caves, and two very large sand dunes prominent on the south eastern coast of the island, one of them reaching 104 feet (32 metres) high. There is a very small settlement with less than 10 registered inhabitants, mostly in place to service the small landing strip used by scientists with permission to study the neighboring Aldabra Atoll. The settlement is surrounded by Casuarina trees and there is an abandoned coconut palm plantation to its south.

Days 16 & 17: Aldabra, Seychelles

Part of the Outer Islands of the Seychelles, Aldabra is reputedly the world’s second-largest atoll and has been described as “one of nature’s treasures” and a “sanctuary”. The inner lagoon teems with marine life like eagle rays and sea turtles. It is possible to snorkel and drift along with the tide passing in or out of the lagoon as massive numbers of fish come and go through the same channels. Narrow channels between fossilized coral islands are fringed in mangrove forests supporting large colonies of nesting boobies and Great Frigatebirds. Its distinctive island fauna includes the Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea). Approximately two-thirds of the world’s population of giant tortoises lives on Aldabra – some 100,000 out of a reported 150,000. Because of its extreme isolation in the blue of the Indian Ocean, and due to a lack of freshwater, the island has not been developed for tourism. No airport has been built, and only a handful of smaller ships with special permits are allowed to call at this unique atoll.

Day 18: Day at Sea

Day 19: Zanzibar, Tanzania

A tropical paradise, with swathes of long white sand and flanked by tall, skinny, palm trees, Zanzibar sits in the clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean. Part of the Zanzibar archipelago, the island – also confusingly called Zanzibar – is found just 22 miles from mainland Tanzania. Considered today as a honeymooners’ paradise, visitors will find vestiges of both Arabic and Portuguese colonialism (the island was Portuguese until 1698 when it was seized by the Sultanate of Oman), amid the picture-perfect landscape. But there is much more to Zanzibar than meets the eye. With just one step off the ship, and you are already breathing the heady scents of nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and cloves. Rightfully known as the Spice Isle, Zanzibar was once a trading hotspot on the trading route from Arabia to Africa. At the time, the island enjoyed an influx of wealth and European bourgeoisie, with spices being traded at astronomical prices.

The influences of the various colonies are glamorously reflected in the main city’s architecture. But sensual smells and beautiful beaches aside, Zanzibar has the vestiges of sinister history. The island was a capital for the slave trade in the 19th century, with an estimated 50,000 slaves passing through the Zanzibar slave market each year, with many more dying en route. The epicentre for trade was in the Market Square, in the heart of Stone Town, a melting pot of Arabic, African and European history that today is one of the world’s most popular UNESCO World Heritage Sites. (Voyage end.)

Please Note: When travelling in remote regions tide, wind, ice and weather conditions determine the details of our itinerary. While we will do our best to maintain all suggested activities, some of these may be subject to change. Come with an open mind and a great sense of adventure, together we can turn any voyage into a wonderful Expedition.

Activity Level: Easy to moderate. This operator offers more rigorous hikes in addition to slow hikes and zodiac cruising.

Special Offer Details: Early Booking Bonus: Up to 20%-off on your next cruise if you pay in full by Aug 31, 2021. Furthermore, on all voyage through April 2022, and complementing the Early Booking Bonus savings up to 20%, you can take advantage of the reduced deposit of just 15%.