u/ClearDefinition37

I visited Nosy Be earlier this month (June ) and had a fantastic time, so I'm considering returning in the first half of November. I'd really appreciate some opinions from people who know the island well or have been there at that time of year.

I know November is the start of the rainy season, but how bad is it in reality?

A few specific questions:

- Does it normally rain all day, or is it more like short afternoon/evening tropical showers?

- Is the humidity uncomfortable enough to affect your holiday?

- Can you still do boat trips and excursions to Nosy Iranja, Nosy Komba, Nosy Sakatia and Lokobe, or are cancellations common?

- Are the roads around Ambataloaka and Madirokely prone to flooding or becoming difficult to use?

- I had just 1 mosquito bite in 10 days in June. Is there a massive increase in mosquitos in November?

- Is Nosy Be still reasonably busy with tourists in early/mid November, or does it become very quiet?

For context, I loved my June trip and would happily return if November is still enjoyable despite the wetter weather.

Thanks

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Hi all – I’m planning a stay in Ambatoloaka, Nosy Be and trying to choose between a few hotels:

Blue Velvet

Hotel Orchidees

Hotel Sarimanok

Au Sable Blanc

If you’ve stayed at any of these, I’d really value your insights. Specifically interested in:

a) Room quality (AC, cleanliness, comfort)

b) Reliability (WiFi, power cuts/backup generator)

c) Overall vibe (quiet vs social, hotel vs more local feel)

Are there any you’d strongly recommend, or avoid? If there’s a clearly better option in a similar price range, I’m open to suggestions.

Thanks in advance 👍