Visit Manafiafy, Madagascar

Manafiafy is a sleepy fishing village on the southern coast of Madagascar, and was where one of the first contacts was made by westerners in Madagascar, as the Portuguese laid anchor in the bay of St Luce in 1613.

Protected by several small islands, the calm blue waters provided safe anchorage.

The village has changed little since those times, the Portuguese, the French and the British have come and gone, yet the smell of fresh cloves, vanilla and coffee still sweeten the air, and the fishermen still paddle their dugout canoes through the safety of the bay to open ocean beyond.

The village is flanked by forest, home to dwarf, mouse, sportive and brown lemurs. Reptiles such as chameleons, snakes, and geckos are all found and the forest has excellent birding.

Offshore there are coral reefs rich in marine life and humpback whales come into the bay from mid June until early December.