La Cardinala exploring the Indian Ocean Madagascar
The waters around Madagascar are in many respects a holiday dream: mainly undisturbed, special ecosystems, unusual endemic species, pristine reefs, fantastic vegetation and a very friendly population. To be able to explore all of this on board of La Cardinala will bring you unforgettable days of sheer beauty while enjoying the unsurpassed hospitality of this luxury sailing yacht.
West Madagascar - Nosy Be
The West Madagascar Marine ecological region supports large barrier reefs with an unusually high percentage of endemic species. The marine habitats around western Madagascar and neighboring islands are diverse and include mangrove forests, mudflat ecosystems, and extensive barrier reefs. This relatively undisturbed ecological region is an important place to monitor coral reefs and observe underwater species.Nosy Be - Nosy Tanikely - Le Pain de Sucre - Nosy Iranja - Nosy Saba - Nosy Mitsio
• Nosy-Be 15 km from the north-west coast of Madagascar, a triumphal vegetation: festooned with green peppers, sugar cane plants, twisted ylang-yalang trunks from which a fixing agent for perfume is extracted from the flower. Nosy-Be represents the best starting point for sailing to discover deserted islands, covered with tropical vegetation, such as baobab, pachypodium, casuarins, didieracee and orchids. Departing Nosy-Be, you will be able to discover: To the South: Nosy Tanikely, Tsara Banjina - Russian Bay, Le Pain de Sucre (sugar loaf), Nosy Iranja - Nosy Radamas - Nosy Saba.
• Nosy Tanikely The small island, whose marine park invites you to discover its treasures simply by snorkelling.
• Nosy Iranja Known as the “Island of Turtles” is 4 hour’s navigation south-west of Nosy-Be. It is an idyllic island made up of two islets linked by sandbar at low tide and whose beaches are reproduction sites for turtles.
• Ramadas archipelago Situated 55 miles south west of Nosy Be, the archipelago is made up of 4 islands, including Kalakajoro Island where fishing eagles make their nests. The coral islands have shallow beds and welcome fishing and diving. To the North : Nosy Mitsio - Nosy Komba, the island of lemurs. This plays an important role in the cult of the Sakalava ancestors.
• The Mitsio archipelago Spreads over 70 km of beautiful marine life and situated 55 km to the north of Nosy-Be. Several points are worth the visit. It shelters a remarkable geological formation composed of organ pipe shaped basaltic rocks that plummet directly into the Mozambique Canal. • Tsara Banjina At 40 km north of Nosy-Be, you can enjoy its hot and white sandy beaches and lush vegetation.
• Efatra Zoky The four elders or the four cliffs, which are nesting places for gannets, have a magnificent marine life that attracts divers from all over the world.
