National park · Madagascar
Nosy Tanikely
Treat Nosy Tanikely as a half-day boat trip from Nosy Be, not a hike: arrive before 10:00 to snorkel the reef before the day boats, walk the 15-minute lighthouse trail, and leave before dark — overnight stays are not allowed.Treat Nosy Tanikely as a half-day boat trip from Nosy Be, not a hike: arrive before 10:00 AM to snorkel the reef before the day boats, walk the 15-minute lighthouse trail, and leave before dark — overnight stays are not allowed.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
approximate
Established
1998
Best months
May–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- African islands ↗Sleep on the island you fly home from the night before your long-haul departure; inter-island flights and ferries in this region are cancelled or rescheduled often enough to break a same-day connection.
- African islands ↗In the Indian Ocean islands book flexible rates for December to March: a cyclone warning can shut airports, ferries and roads for two or three days.
- Madagascar ↗Check visa and e-visa rules for your passport on Madagascar's official e-visa portal before booking.
- Madagascar ↗Book a travel-clinic visit several weeks ahead; ask about malaria prevention and whether a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for your route.
- Madagascar ↗Hire a car with a driver for road trips; self-drive is rarely practical and driving after dark is unsafe.
- Madagascar ↗Do not buy or export wildlife, tortoise shell, precious stones without a certificate, or protected plants; enforcement at the airport is strict.
At a glance
- Country
- Madagascar
- Area
- 1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
- Small uninhabited island and marine sanctuary; land area is roughly 1 km² and the protected marine zone extends around it (check).
- Established
- 1998
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Nosy Tanikely is a small uninhabited island and marine sanctuary southwest of Nosy Be, protected for its reef rather than its walking. Almost everyone arrives on a boat arranged through a hotel or agency, snorkels the coral and turtles off the main beach, climbs the short stairway to the lighthouse and interpretive kiosk, and leaves before dark — overnight stays are not permitted. Treat it as a half-day reef trip from Nosy Be, not a hiking destination: the island is about 1 km² and the only paths are the beach trail and the steps to the high point.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national siteMarine sanctuary with a no-take reef zone around the island (check).
Size and age
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²) · national park since 1998
Small uninhabited island and marine sanctuary; land area is roughly 1 km² and the protected marine zone extends around it (check).
Why go
- Snorkelling straight off the beach over coral and reef fish, with sea turtles a common sight.
- A short walk to a lighthouse and an interpretive kiosk that explains the reef and the island.
- Introduced brown lemurs in the trees at the centre of the island, reached by a short stairway from the beach.
- A fruit-bat colony in a tree along the beach trail — viewed from a distance only.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanWet season; rough seas, boats often cancelled
- FebCyclone risk; poor visibility
- MarRain easing; sea still unsettled
- AprDrier; water clearing
- MayDry, calm, good visibility
- JunCool and clear; peak season starts
- JulDry and busy; book boats ahead
- AugDry; busiest weeks
- SepDry, warm, fewer crowds
- OctWarm and calm; good snorkelling
- NovHot; first rains arrive
- DecWet season; boat trips weather-dependent
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea turtles on the reefAll year · Almost always seen by snorkellers; do not chase or touch them. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Reef fish and coralApr–Nov · Clearest water in the dry season. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Introduced brown lemursAll year · Resident in the trees at the island centre. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Madagascar flying foxes (fruit bats)All year · A colony roosts in one tree along the beach trail. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Nosy Be (Hell-Ville or Ambatoloaka)
Day boat or speedboat arranged through your hotel or an agency; compare prices before booking.
45–90 min
From Nosy Komba
Boat transfer, usually combined into a two-island day trip.
30–60 min
From Nosy Be island plan
Where to sleep, dive shops and other island day trips.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Main beach and anchorage | Where boats land, the snorkelling entry point and the lunch set-up. | Open to all visitors. |
| Reef flat and snorkel zone | Coral, reef fish and turtles to the right of the anchorage, facing the water. | Swim only; no anchoring on coral. |
| Lighthouse hill and centre | Stairs up to the lighthouse, the interpretive kiosk and the lemur trees. | Open; walk on the marked path. |
| Beach trail and bat tree | Short trail along the beach to the fruit-bat colony. | Open; keep your distance from the bats. |
Sketch map
- 1Nosy Tanikely anchorage and main beach · Beach≈-13.483, 48.236Map ↗
- 2Lighthouse · Viewpoint≈-13.482, 48.236Map ↗
- 3Interpretive kiosk · Headquarters≈-13.483, 48.236Map ↗
- 4Snorkel zone (right of the anchorage) · Dive site≈-13.485, 48.238Map ↗
- 5Fruit-bat tree on the beach trail · Trail≈-13.482, 48.237Map ↗
- 6Hell-Ville, Nosy Be · Town≈-13.405, 48.278Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Positions are approximate, taken from the island's centre and the Wikivoyage markers, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine sanctuary entry (collected on the island or by the operator) | MGA 10,000–25,000 | person | 2026 estimate; often bundled into the boat price (check). |
| Return boat from Nosy Be (shared day trip) | MGA 150,000–400,000 | person | 2026 estimate; varies with distance, boat type and whether lunch is included (check). |
| Beach lunch cooked by villagers | MGA 30,000–60,000 | person | 2026 estimate; arrange with your operator or bring your own food. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Marine sanctuary access permit or guide
Overnight stay no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- MGA 10,000–25,000
- MGA 150,000–400,000
- MGA 30,000–60,000
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Madagascar National Parks (MNP) — marine protected areas before you go.
Park rules
- No overnight stays
- Camping and sleeping on the island are not permitted; boats leave before dark.
- No anchoring on coral
- Boats use the sandy anchorage; snorkellers must not stand on or touch coral.
- Wildlife distance
- Do not approach the fruit-bat tree or feed the lemurs.
- No services
- There is no shop, no fresh water and no rubbish collection — carry everything back to Nosy Be.
- Marine sanctuary rules
- Fishing and shell collecting are not allowed in the protected zone (check).
Where to stay
Near the park
Nosy Be (Ambatoloaka, Hell-Ville, Madirokely)
The only realistic base: budget guesthouses to resorts, 45–90 min by boat.
Near the park
Nosy Komba
Quieter island stays with no roads, often combined with a Tanikely day trip.
Safety
Sunburn while snorkelling high
Boat crossings in the wet season medium
Coral cuts and urchins low
No medical facilities on the island medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Boarding boats at Nosy Be beaches usually means wading or a small gangway — check with your operator.
- The beach and snorkel entry are level; the lighthouse stairs and the lemur steps are not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Do not stand on, touch or collect coral; the reef is the reason the island is protected.
- Take all rubbish back to Nosy Be — there is no collection on the island.
- Buy the beach lunch from the villagers who cook on the island so the money stays local.
- Choose operators that limit group size and do not anchor on coral.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Nosy Tanikely?
The marine sanctuary fee is a small per-person charge, roughly 10,000–25,000 MGA (2026 estimate), and it is usually bundled into the boat price. The return boat from Nosy Be is the real cost: about 150,000–400,000 MGA per person on a shared day trip, more for a private speedboat. Confirm what is included before you pay.
What are the best hikes in Nosy Tanikely?
There are no long hikes. The island is small and the walking is short: stairs from the beach to the lighthouse and interpretive kiosk (30–45 minutes return), a short stairway to the lemur trees at the centre, and a beach trail to the fruit-bat colony. Everything else is done in the water.
When is the best time to visit Nosy Tanikely?
May to October, in Madagascar's dry season, when the sea is calm and underwater visibility is best. July and August are the busiest. December to March is the wet and cyclone season, when crossings are often cancelled.
Can I stay overnight on Nosy Tanikely?
No. Overnight stays are not permitted and boats leave before dark. Sleep on Nosy Be or Nosy Komba and visit as a day trip.
Do I need to book the boat in advance?
In the high season (July–August) yes — arrange it through your hotel or an agency a day or two ahead. At other times you can often book the evening before, but compare prices between operators first.
Is there food or water on the island?
No shops and no fresh water. Either bring your own lunch and drinks, or arrange for villagers to cook a beach lunch through your operator.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go