Nosy Be Island (Madagascar)

Nosy Be Island (aka Nossi be, Nosse Be) is located off northwest Madagascar. Nosy Be is Madagascar's largest tourist resort destination, with area approx 320 km2 (124 mi2) and population around 73,000. Island's main port town is Andoany (fka Hellville). At close proximity to the south (approx 15-min tour boat ride) is Nosy Komba - popular for its Makis (lemurs).

In the 17t hcentury, Nosy Be *translated "big island") was named Assada and famous as an important port serving sugar cane plantation production of sugar and rum. Island's current-day economy is based on Ylang Ylang plantation (producing essential oils) and tourism. The island is Madagascar's only destination with large all-inclusive resorts.

Nosy Be is popular with one of the world's smallest frogs and chameleons (Stumpffia pygmaea and Brookesia minima). Lokobe Reserve on the island is one of the country's 5 Nature Reserves. The surrounding waters host habitat for Omura's whales - very rare, and one of the world's least-known species.

Nosy Be is served by Fascene Airport with domestic and international direct flights to and from Reunion (Saint Denis), Madagascar (Antsiranana), South Africa (Ekurhuleni), Ethiopia (Addis Ababa), Mayotte (Dzaoudzi), Europe-Italy (Milano, seasonally Rome, Fiumicino, Verona).

Nosy Be Island cruise terminal