Responsible Travel in Madagascar
Île Aux Nattes (Nosy Nato)
A fantastic island with pristine beaches and a quiet village.
For many people, this small island off the southern coast of Sainte-Marie is even better than the main island. With no roads or cars, it is much more peaceful.
The island is 8 km around and it takes at least 3 hours to walk around it, but some parts are impassable at high tide.
There is much to see during a short walking tour, including the island's extremely rare and stunning orchid,Eulophiella roempleriana, popularly known as the pink orchid. It grows on pandanus trees and its flowers are a deep pink color.
The best beaches are in the north of the island: calm, shallow, crystal clear waters, soft white sand, and palm trees worthy of a postcard.
A short trip to the interior of the island is also recommended. The village of Aniribe, in the center of the island, is pure Madagascar. From there, head the south to the old lighthouse, a rather stocky masonry construction (7 m high) dating from 1914.