In December, the Costa Marina will pake port calls at two different places in Madagascar: Nosy Be, just off the NW coast, and Toamasina, on the east coast.
On the above map, you'll notice that Nosy Be is and island. Nosy is the word for 'island' in the Malagasy language.
From Wikipedia:
Madagascar, or Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic), is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the southeastern coast of Africa. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the fourth largest island in the world, and is home to five percent of the world's plant and animal species; more than 80 percent of which are endemic to Madagascar. Most notable are the lemur . . .
Madagascar's long isolation from the neighboring continents (it is the oldest island in the world, isolated for at least 65 million years) has resulted in a unique mix of plants and animals, many found nowhere else in the world; some ecologists refer to Madagascar as the "eighth continent"
The eastern, or windward side of the island is home to tropical rainforests, while the western and southern sides of the island, which lie in the rain shadow of the central highlands, are home to tropical dry forests, thorn forests, and deserts and xeric shrublands
Nosy Be is a charming tropical island, covered with palm trees and bougainvillea, and is Madagascar's leading tourist destination. It boasts breathtaking beaches, lush vegetation, friendly people and a relaxed atmosphere. It is the largest of Madagascar's islands and lies off its northwest coast in an area with a particularly pleasant climate, characterised by a rainy season and a dry season, and enjoys many more sunny days than the eastern region of the country. It is often called Nosy Manitra (the "Scented Island"), because - like nearby Comoros - it is a producer of a precious essential oil extracted from the flowers of the ylang-ylang tree,
. . . . The island's capital and main port is Hell-Ville and is built on its south-eastern tip. It is Nosy Be's only large town, and is home to around two thirds of its 30,000 inhabitants. The town is named after the French admiral de Hell, who was the island's governor. Its official Malagasy name is Andoany, but it is rarely used, even by the local people. The most interesting area is undoubtedly the old town near the port, which is home to several colonial buildings, including the old prison, built in 1855.
The Musée deNosy Be is also worth a mention and displays exhibits that belonged to the local Sakalava and Antankarana tribes. The daily market in the capital offers an excellent opportunity to buy spices at reasonable prices. The most renowned beaches are located ten kilometres west of the capital, while the southwest tip of the island is home to the Lokobe Strict Nature Reserve
Toamasina, commonly known as Tamatave, is the main city on Madagascar's eastern coast. The origins of the Malagasy name are controversial. Some say that it is derived from the Portuguese name São Tomas, while others trace it to King Radama I and his first journey made to see the sea in 1817. It is said that, on bending down to taste the water, the sovereign exclaimed Toa masina! ("It's salty!").Founded as a pirate settlement, Tamatave did not become a real town until the nineteenth century and has had a particularly eventful history.
For decades it was the scene of fighting between French and English troops and later between the French and the local people, before the British placed it under the control of Mauritius at the beginning of the 1800s. Over 70% of Madagascar's imports and exports pass through Tamatave, which is the country's leading port.
However, it is also an attractive city, with long palm-lined avenues, a fine seafront and a good selection of hotels and restaurants. The lively main streets of the city run north to south. Boulevard Joffre is the main shopping street, with lots of shops and hotels, while Boulevard Ratsimilaho is the favourite promenade for both foreign tourists and Malagasy visitors, who like to spend their holidays in this part of the country.
Masdagascar -
Population - approx. 19.4 million
Literacy rate (age 15+ can read and write) - about 69%
Phone lines - about 67,000
Cell ohones - over 500,000
Internet users - 100,000 +
Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers
-
Centrum Deck
-
Cruise Places
-
Africa
-
Madagascar
#
MADAGASCAR
Linear Mode
