Tsarabanjina

“Tsarabanjina” is the kind of private island to be discovered in complete tranquillity, enhanced by the soft pace of the sea and its natural surroundings. An amazingly calm sea filled with a variety of fish and lobsters. A place renowned for its diving and ideal for navigation.

You can stroll around, climb up the hills and lose your way in its luxuriant vegetation. At the end of a path, you will for sure discover many birds, including the famous flycatcher of Madagascar (the emblem of Tsarabanjina) as well as a couple of fish eagles. A biologist has even come across the tiniest chameleon in the world; it barely exceeds one centimetre in length when fully grown.

Location

Situated in the north-western part of Madagascar, at about 40 miles from the island of Nosy Be, Tsarabanjina is one of the islets of the Mitsio Archipelago. Fringed by white sandy beaches with extraordinary birds, lush vegetation and encircled around by coral reefs, the region is bathed in sunshine all year round. Tsarabanjina is a sacred islet. On the small peninsula of the eastern beach is found the tomb of the Sakalava kings of the Mitsio islands. Up to this day the people of the Mitsio islands venerate this place; they come here bringing their offerings (money, honey, rum, ...).

Les Quatre Frères

Les Quatre Frères (The Four Brothers islets), facing Tsarabanjina, on the north-west side, are mythical rocks where a large number of birds (northern gannets, white-tailed tropic birds, frigate birds, ...) come to build their nests. These islets, except one, are well-known for scuba diving. Legend has it that the gods sent five brothers to that spot. One got mad with three of his brothers and he decided to leave them. The fourth brother, who loved the fifth one very much, pined away broken-hearted. It is for this reason that birds do not nest there and the seabed seems desolate. As for the fifth brother, he is today near the Russian Bay, off Nosy Be. It is called the "Pain de Sucre" (Sugar Loaf).

The Beaches

• North Beach (270 metres long)
• South Beach (200 metres long)
• Bar Beach (100 metres long)

Accommodation

Twenty-one bungalows of a surface of 45 square meters, looking out on the sea with private terrace built from rosewood with a thatched roof.

Every bungalow is unique, with each one bearing the name of a flower, a tree or a fish. There is a main bedroom equipped with fans, minibar and kimono, a bathroom with shower and a separate toilet, a private terrace with two deck chairs and a coffee table.

The bungalows are built on two beaches: North and South and for each bungalow there are 2 loungers and 1 umbrella provided on the beach.

Children under the age of 4 years are not allowed for security reasons.

Restaurant & Bar

The restaurant has a surface area of 135m², it is built from rosewood and it has a seating capacity of 60. Meals are served in the restaurant in the mezzanine above the bar overlooking the sea.

The breakfast buffet is open from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Lunch is served from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Dinner, à la carte, is served as from 8:00 p.m. Cuisine is basically of sea foods.

For an additional fee, you can be served a seafood platter on the beach.

The bar has a floor of fine sand. It faces the lagoon and it is open from 10:00 a.m. to 0:00 a.m. It can sit a maximum of 45 persons. It is a great place for meeting people and for relaxing: an ideal spot to watch the sunset while sipping a drink, a delicious cocktail before dinner, or a late drink after dinner.

Tea-time (tea/coffee/cookies) is from 4:00 p.m., at the bar.

Other Facilities

The boutique offers a wide range of Malagasy art and handmade craft items, a line of clothing of Tsarabanjina as well as products for
sunbathing and other basic items.

At the reception, you can request the following services:

• A safe for your valuables
• Telephone network GSM (mobile phones with roaming)
• Satellite Telephone (payable)
• Free Internet access 24hrs a day with WIFI at the reception

The library is next to the bar. A wide choice of books and games are available to guests during their stay.

Getting There

A ninety-minute crossing by Tsarabanjina’s own speedboat from Nosy Be.

Activities

Tsarabanjina offers a number of sports activities. The majority of which are included in the price.

• Snorkelling: Mask, flippers and snorkel are at your disposal for the whole duration of your stay to help you discover the giant aquarium of the Mitsio seas.
• Water Skiing: Everyday you can practise water skiing, mono-skiing or wakeboarding from 11.30 to 13.30
• Tennis: A Tropical Tennis court is available in the centre of the island. Rackets and balls may be borrowed at reception.
• Sailing: Catamarans are at your disposal on the beach, with or without coaching. You will also find kayaks to go rowing around the island.
• Volleyball and Pétanque (Game of Bowls): Every evening around 6:00 p.m., during the cooler hours of the day.
• Gym: Aquagym in the sea is proposed in the morning for physical fitness.
• Walks: Our team will serve as guide on a long walk around the island. A full panoramic view of Tsarabanjina and the Mitsio Archipelago can be enjoyed from the top of the hills.
• Games: They can be borrowed from the bar.

For an Additional Fee

• Scuba Diving: For beginners or qualified divers. Our diving team will take you on a discovery of the coral reefs of Mitsio for certified divers (equipped with PADI, CMAS, NAUI certifications) and propose a discovery dive for beginners.
• Sports Fishing: Fish with drag net on sites teeming with fish, the best in the region.
• Massage: Bookings between 11.00 and 19.00. Appointments are confirmed during pre-dinner drinks at the bar.
• Excursions: Various excursions are offered. You can observe the sunset on the Frères islands with a ballet of frigate birds, northern gannets and white-tailed tropic birds. Traditional fishing in the evening. Boat trip to the great basalt columns, the famous sight of “Grande Mitsio”.