The beautiful secluded island Ile aux Nattes is no more than 2,5 km long and 1,5 km wide, which probably makes you think that there’s hardly anything to do. Well, you couldn’t be more wrong. This post will introduce you to seven places you simply must experience when staying on Il aux Nattes.
Maison Blanche
Amongst the wooden houses in the largest village on the island, resides a tall beautiful modern house better known as Maison Blanche. It’s white and modern, which is quite the contrast to the surrounding structures. You simply can’t miss it. What’s special about this house is not the way it looks, but the most incredible viewpoint from its roof-top terrace. The price to enter is either a symbolic amount of Ariary or simply buying a drink. The latter it’s recommendable, as you are likely to spend some time in pure awe when you’ve climbed the stairs to the top. From the rooftop, you can see the entire island and a good part of Sainte Marie, followed by kilometers and kilometers of the turquoise sea.
Lucky Dube
Close to the crossover point from Sainte Marie, you’ll find a funny-looking bar shaped like a pirate ship. The walls are full of graffiti art, the floor consists of pure sand and the stereo always plays South African and Caribbean tunes. Lucky Dube serves amazing pizzas, and cold beer, and hosts plenty of entertaining events. As you can imagine, this bar is a true pearl.
Le Fafana
On the southwest corner of the island, you’ll find the island’s best restaurant, Le Fafana. Fafana is only open for lunch, and it’s famous all over Sainte Marie. Make sure to plan ahead, because this is not an experience you should spare yourself. For getting there, take a pirogue. It’s easy, it’s relaxing and it’s a stunning trip. When you get to the beach, you’ll see the dining tables are sporadically placed on the beach, decorated with white tablecloths and flowers from the wild. A bar is centered in the middle, and there’s likely to be many guests – even in low season. The owner, Allain, is working the floor himself and is an essential part of the atmosphere. It already sounds fantastic, right? We haven’t even gotten to the best part yet: Fafana serves the most amazing food! Even by European standards.
Kafé Kulture – Boutique
In the north of the island, not far from the Pirogue cross-over, you’ll find a small café with a belonging boutique. Most importantly this small family-owned place has the best coffee on the island. Secondly, it’s the perfect place to buy souvenirs. The boutique is full of local craftsmanship in every thinkable variation from jewelry to woodwork. And it’s reasonably priced. The coffee you will enjoy in the beautiful garden of the family who lives on site.
Linda Plantation de Vanilla
Vanilla is one of Madagascar’s biggest export commodities, and for those of us from Europe, Vanilla is a true luxury. What you probably don’t know, is how a vanilla plantation work. The vanilla plant is actually an orchid that grows as a vine, and as you can imagine, that promises a beautiful sight. While you find most of the vanilla plantations in the northeast of the country, which is rather inaccessible for most travelers, it is possible to find small private plantations around the country – in this case, on Ile aux Nattes.
La Buvette
Another must-try place on the island is the restaurant La Buvette. It’s owned by a Syrian-Malagasy couple, who have taken a true passion for local food. The restaurant does not only offer a cozy and informal environment but is also home to every traditional Malagasy dish you could want for. And if you get bored easily, it’s located right by the beach and lends out canoes to its guests.
The Local Villages
Even though Ile aux Nattes only stretches for about 4 km2, there’s actually a surprising number of 2000 people living on it. Now, as a tourist, you would’ve never guessed that, unless you went for a walk through the local villages. On the north side of the island, you’ll find the most populated village right around Maison Blanche. The streets are busy with activity, and just by walking through, you’ll get a good idea of what Malagasy life looks like. On the south side of the island, you’ll find a smaller village, in which all activities are centered around fishing. In both of them, you’ll find small stores where you’re able to buy basic commodities such as water, cigarettes, and candy. If you do pass by, make sure to purchase something, as just the profit from a bottle of water makes a big difference to the village. Plus, it’s a lot cheaper than in the hotels.
There are plenty of unique places to visit on Il aux Nattes despite its small size. Besides the above-mentioned places, the island is packed to the brim with wildlife, alluring waters, and breathtaking views. All you need to do when you get there is simply to start walking, and the adventures will come.
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