Madagascar, a country full of unique surprises

by Jody Hendricks (South Africa)

A leap into the unknown South Africa

2019 was a tough year. It was a few days before Xmas and all I wanted to do was go on my annual vacation. I was excited yet nervous. I’ve always wanted to visit other African countries (I’m from South Africa) but have not traveled much on the continent of my birth. A few months earlier I googled top African holiday destinations and one country, well Island actually, kept popping up. Madagascar, the world’s second largest island country. “An African gem” as one online publication described it. After doing some research I was convinced and immediately booked my flights and accommodation. It was now 23 December 2019 and I’m standing at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, waiting for my flight to Addis Ababa and from there straight to Nosy Be, the second largest Island off the North West coast of Madagascar. To be honest I had no idea what to expect. I arrived in Nose Be, the morning of Xmas eve. A driver at the airport is waiting for me, holding a sign with my name on it. After exchanging greetings we were on our way to Palm Beach Resort & Spa, the place I would call home for the next two weeks. On our way to the resort I was struck by the poverty, much worse than back home in South Africa. How do these people survive? I kept thinking to myself. We arrive at Palm Beach and it’s almost like you are in another country. State of the art facilities, views that overlooks the ocean, the resort also features an outdoor pool (where I spent a lot of time) buffet restaurant and a spa and wellness centre. Very different from what I had witnessed just a few minutes earlier. After a few days of sight-seeing and interacting with the locals, I was intrigued by their humility and happiness. They had so little yet would go out of their way to make you feel welcome, mostly with a warm smile to go with the hot summer weather. The interaction with my fellow tourists, 90% who were from France and Italy, well let’s just say that’s a story for another day… Besides enjoying the facilities at the resort, I also visited a few of the neighbouring islands as well as the main city Hell-Ville, a must if you ever visit the Island. Here, animals and motorcars all have the same rights on the road, so don’t ever get stuck behind a herd of sheep… The island is known for its sea and water adventures that you can experience on a surfboard, canoe, speedboat, snorkeling or just a swim in the hot Indian Ocean. But Nose Be also has a variety of wildlife adventures to offer and is home to the world famous Lemur that can only be found in this part of the world. I was also fascinated to learn that even though there are lots of snakes on the Island, they are not venomous or deadly at all. (I was not going to find out) The local cuisine is something to get use to but definitely worth a try. The seafood is delicious, fresh and compares to the best in the world. The local (homemade) rum that are available at the street markets is also worth a try, just be careful it’s very potent and could leave you with hangover for three days. I can confirm this. Nose Be is also known as the “Scented Island” and spices and various other indigenous flavours drive the local economy. I was surprised on so many levels, like the safety aspect, I did not feel unsafe for one second. The locals with their diversity and work ethic, but the Island is also a tale of two communities, divided by the haves and the have nots. The holiday was a great experience, affordable and I definitely got value for money. The Euro and US Dollar together with the local Malgassiese ariary are the excepted currencies. I will always remember my visit to Madagascar, a country filled with lots of tradition, culture and opportunities. A place I would recommend to anyone in search of the unknown and looking for a unique African experience.