Nosy Komba is a small island off the northwest coast of Madagascar, located a short boat ride south of Nosy Be.

Understand

Nosy Komba is a small volcanic island almost equidistant between Hell-Ville on the neighbouring island of Nosy Be and Ankify on the mainland. The beaches are clean and excellent for snorkelling. The island is known for its population of black lemurs.

Get in

The only way to get to Nosy Komba is by boat. Trips from Hell-Ville take 20-30 minutes, and can be arranged through the lodge you are staying with.

Get around

There are no roads on Nosy Komba, so you'll either need to take a boat or walk. Trails across the island inevitably involve a hike up and over the peak at the center of the island.

See

• 1 Black lemurs (Ampangorinana). Ampangorinana is the main village on the island, and it has long had a fady against hunting lemurs. As a result, the black lemurs whose territories are adjacent to the village have no fear of people, and the villagers now capitalize on this fact by charging a small fee for visitors to feed the lemurs bananas. For those looking for the "lemur on your shoulder" experience, this is the place. Ask anyone where to go, and you will be assigned a guide who will take you on a short walk up into the hills where the lemurs are hanging out. When the guide begins calling "maki maki maki" it will be a matter of seconds before the tiny creatures are bounding their way down from the trees towards the bananas that are on offer. 

Sleep

• 1 Nosy Komba Lodge, nosykombalodge@yahoo.fr. This lodge offers two bungalows overlooking the ocean that are straight out of a tropical island fantasy. The owners are an extraordinarily pleasant French family who provide everything you need for an enjoyable trip - boat transfers are easily arranged, snorkel equipment is available for loan, and food and drinks are prepared exquisitely and whenever desired. The lodge works to support the local village, and one of the two co-owners is a doctor who works closely with the locals when he returns from his main job on Reunion Island. 
• Tsanga Banga, tsangabanga@gmail.com. Hotel / bed & breakfast. 

Go next

• Nosy Be - Nosy Be is offers everything from budget accommodation to luxury resorts located on pristine beaches, but is much more developed than Nosy Komba.
• Nosy Tanikely - A tiny, uninhabited island that is located west of Nosy Komba, this marine sanctuary offers world-class snorkeling and is also popular with scuba divers.