Nosy Komba
Small volcanic island a short boat ride from Nosy Be, with a village known for embroidery and handicrafts. Black lemurs live in the forest above the shore and are used to visitors.
Nosy Be
White beaches, snorkelling and diving fill this island resort area, and day trips go to lemur-filled Nosy Komba.
Attractive locations
Lokobe Reserve
Protected rainforest on the southern end of Nosy Be, reached by dugout canoe and a guided walk. It shelters lemurs, chameleons, tree frogs and many forest birds.
Nosy Tanikely
Tiny marine reserve island with clear water and a coral reef just offshore. Boat trips stop for snorkelling among colourful fish and sea turtles, and a short climb leads to a lighthouse view.
Nosy Iranja
Pair of small islands linked by a sandbar that appears at low tide, with white beaches and clear water. Day trips by boat are the usual way to visit, and sea turtles nest on the shores.
Mont Passot
Hill on the island's west side, a favourite spot for watching the sun go down. From the top, visitors see the sea, forested slopes and neighbouring islands across the water.
Airports
Nosy Be International Airport NOS
It is about 5 km in a straight line from Nosy Be.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Madagascar page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan27.0 °C309 mm
- Feb27.1 °C247 mm
- Mar27.3 °C235 mm
- Apr27.5 °C83 mm
- May27.0 °C31 mm
- Jun25.7 °C13 mm
- Jul24.8 °C10 mm
- Aug24.9 °C8 mm
- Sep25.5 °C13 mm
- Oct26.4 °C27 mm
- Nov27.1 °C101 mm
- Dec27.2 °C237 mm
Driest months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep. Wettest months: Jan, Feb, Dec.
Costs
Prices here are about 31% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
Reported numbers: police 117, ambulance 124, fire 118 - confirm with your hotel or guide.
local government
Office National du Tourisme de Madagascar (ONTM)
Helps with: Madagascar's national tourism office. Contact it for tourist information and any request about travel in the country. Its website also lists regional tourism offices.
Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Madagascar or planning a trip there.
Email: infos@madagascar-tourisme.com
Address: Lot IBG 29C Antsahavola, B.P. 1780, Antananarivo
ngo
Croix-Rouge Malagasy (Malagasy Red Cross)
Helps with: Madagascar's national Red Cross society. It runs first aid training, disaster preparedness and response, and health and hygiene programmes in all 22 regions, with about 9,500 active volunteers.
Who qualifies: People in Madagascar who need its first aid, disaster relief or health services.
Phone: 020 22 221 11
Email: com@crmada.org
Address: 1 Rue Patrice Lumumba, Tsaralalana, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Madagascar
Helps with: The UN migration agency. In Madagascar it supports emergency shelter and displacement response, border management, and the return and reintegration of Malagasy nationals.
Who qualifies: Migrants, displaced people and returnees. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +261 20 23 308 09
Email: iommadagascar@iom.int
Address: Porte 108, 1er etage, Immeuble SONAPAR, Zone Galaxy Andraharo, Antananarivo 101
local government
Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes (BNGRC)
Helps with: Madagascar's national office for risk and disaster management. Its website reports on cyclone and emergency preparedness and on ongoing emergencies.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Madagascar affected by a disaster or looking for official disaster information.
Phone: +261 34 05 480 68
Address: Avaratra Antanimora, Route Mausolee, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
local government
Police and ambulance emergency number 17 (landline)
Helps with: Reaches the police and the ambulance service in Madagascar from a landline. UK government travel advice says to dial 117 from a mobile phone.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 17
local government
Fire emergency number 18 (landline)
Helps with: Reaches the fire service in Madagascar from a landline. UK government travel advice says to dial 118 from a mobile phone.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 18