Nosy Tanikely

Nosy Tanikely is a small island ringed by reef and protected as a marine park, which means fishing has been excluded long enough for the fish to come back, and the result is genuinely good snorkelling straight off the beach: parrotfish, angelfish, rays and reliably green turtles in water shallow enough for anyone comfortable with a mask. On the island a path climbs to a lighthouse and a viewpoint over the channel, and lemurs and fruit bats live in the small patch of forest. There is no accommodation and no village, only a ranger post and a day-visitor beach, so the island empties in the afternoon. Nearly everyone comes on a combined boat trip with Nosy Komba, which puts the crowd on the beach between eleven and two.

What you actually see

• Reef snorkelling - fish and coral in shallow water off the beach.
• Green turtles - regularly seen grazing near the shore.
• The lighthouse path - a short climb to a channel viewpoint.
• Fruit bats - roosting in the island's forest patch.

When to go

April to November for calm seas and visibility. Midday boats bring the crowd, so early or late in the day is much quieter. Cyclone months stop the boats entirely.

Honest expectations

The island is small and busy in the middle of the day, with several boatloads sharing one beach. There is no shade beyond the tree line and no facilities to speak of. Snorkel gear from boats is often poor, so bringing your own mask pays off. Standing on coral kills it and is still common here.

Nearby

Nosy Komba lies north; Nosy Be is the usual base.