Die Mal Kamper - Dewald Visser
Mal Kamper TV in Nosy Be, Madagascar
In November 2024 Dewald Visser approached MadagasCaT and asked us for our assistance in planning his first visit to Madagascar.
We planned a 19 night stay and he visited the Mitsios on Maki Cat, fishing with Maki 2. He sailed on our of our charter boats to the Radamas; dived with Ylang Dive Centre, explored the Tsingy of Ankarana with our guide, Angelot. His highlight was his stay at Sakatia Beachfront Villas with Griselda and Adrian.
I have it on good authority (out of the horses mouth so to speak) that Dewald has fallen in love with Madagasar and I am assured he will be returning!
In Season 4 of Mal Kamper, on kykNET (DStv channel 144), host Dewald Visser embarks on an exhilarating journey to Nosy Be in Madagascar. Known for his passion for overlanding and wild camping, Dewald explores the island's remote landscapes, immersing himself in its unique natural beauty and diverse wildlife.
Daniel Austin - Author of The Bradt Guide to Madagascar
Daniel Austin - Bradt Guide to Madagascar
Over the years that I have been involved in eco-tourism to Madagascar, it has been a pleasure to watch MadagasCaT Charters and Travel grow. Their first-hand knowledge of the island is second to none and you would be hard pushed to find any operator with a more genuine dedication not only to their travelling clients but, most importantly of all, to this special country and its people.
I’ve been fascinated by Madagascar since my mid-teens and it would be fair to say that I continue to live and breathe Madagascar more than 25 years on. My passion became my career almost by accident and I’m lucky to be able to spend time exploring the island on a regular basis. I’ve been writing the new editions of the Bradt Madagascar travel guide for over a decade, as well as two other books for travellers: Madagascar Wildlife: A Visitor’s Guide and Madagascar Highlights.
In between writing, I lead group wildlife tours and accompany expedition cruises of the western Indian Ocean as a specialist naturalist lecturer. Back home in the UK, I’m Secretary of the Anglo-Malagasy Society (which has been fostering British-Malagasy relations for over sixty years) and curator of the Madagascar Library, an important collection of some 7,000 books and other documents concerning this extraordinary country.
It was undoubtedly the island’s unique flora and fauna that first caught my interest, but what has kept me going back since is far deeper than that. I found the Malagasy people more welcoming than I could ever have hoped: at once charming, humble, relaxed, and ingenious in their approach to the challenges of life in one of the world’s poorest countries. Their endlessly photogenic faces run the full spectrum from African to Asian, betraying an astonishing history of human migration across the Indian Ocean almost two millennia ago. This is the meeting point of two great continents – a cultural melting pot where rice is grown in terraced paddies by highland tribes as nomadic herdsmen tend their humped zebu cattle on the grassy plains below.
You can learn more about Daniel and his incredible photography here.
Justin Fox - novelist, travel writer, poet and photographer, and former editor of GETAWAY magazine.
Justin Fox is a travel writer, novelist and photographer based in Cape Town, South Africa. He was the editor of Getaway travel magazine until 2020. Justin was a Rhodes Scholar and received a doctorate in English from Oxford University. His articles and photographs have appeared internationally in a number of publications and on a wide range of topics, while his short stories and poems have appeared in various anthologies.
We asked for his memory of his visit to Madagascar
"Visiting Madagascar left a powerful impression on me. My first trip was a Getaway assignment on a chartered catamaran operating out of Nosy Be in the northwest. As I stepped from the plane, warm, ylang-ylang and vanilla scented air filIed my nostrils creating an intoxicating impression. I joined the catamaran and spent a delightful week sailing, snorkelling, diving, exploring and island-hopping. The cruising rhythm remained more or less the same: daytime sailing punctuated by fishing and diving stops; then anchoring in the lee of some enchanted isle at sunset... I can't wait to return to Madagascar, this time to research a chapter for a World War II novel that concerns the invasion by British and South African forces in 1942. But I'll make sure I get back on a catamaran and out to the islands once more!"
Justin’s latest project is a series of novels based on the Royal Navy in the seas around Cape Town during the 2nd World War.
Fiona McIntosh is the former editor of Divestyle magazine, author of Dive Sites of South Africa & Mozambique and contributor to numerous international SCUBA diving titles.
As I discovered when I spent a month travelling the length and breadth of the island to provide content for a website, Madagascar has many facets. And for the intrepid traveller, there’s much more than the obvious tourist attractions of giant baobab trees, cute lemurs, weird and wonderful chameleons, bustling markets, laid back beachfront hotels and exotic spice tours. That journey was fascinating, but it’s the life under the shimmering ocean surface that has taken me back year after year. I just love donning a mask and snorkel and finning out over the shallow reefs, ogling turtles and colourful reef fish and feeling the warm water wash away all my cares. But it’s the SCUBA diving that really blows me away. Madagascar’s diving is seriously under rated – for my money the clear waters off Nosy Be, in north-west Madagascar, offer some of the best and most bizarre diving in the world.
Fiona McIntosh is the former editor of Divestyle magazine, author of Dive Sites of South Africa & Mozambique and contributor to numerous international SCUBA diving titles.
My wonderlust comes from my early days as international fencer, which took be behind the Iron Curtain and to relatively unknown parts of the world like Cuba and Korea way back in the 1970s. Since then, in between writing a few books and churning out magazine articles. I’ve skied to the north and south pole, climbed the highest peaks, dived to the depths and kayaked raging rivers. Do I sound like an adrenalin junkie? That would be about right then!
Riaan Manser - Explorer and first man to circumnavigate Madagascar alone and unaided. (With a little bit of help from us!)
Riaan’s rise to prominence began with the unbelievable world-first circumnavigation of the African continent by bicycle. It took him exactly two years, two months & fifteen days, alone & unaided, he pedalled a staggering 34 500 kilometres (22 680 miles) through 34 different countries, some of them ranked as the most dangerous & most inhospitable places in our world today. Manser’s achievement earned him the title “Out There Adventurer of the Year 2006” & his first book, “Around Africa on my Bicycle”, became a bestseller & continues to enjoy huge success.
In July 2009, Riaan set another world first when he became the first person to circumnavigate Madagascar, the world’s fourth largest island, by kayak - also alone & unaided. This colossal journey, which saw him paddle 5 000 kilometres (3 107 miles) in eleven months, was, he said, considerably more demanding, both physically & mentally. Conquering extreme loneliness whilst enduring treacherous conditions such as, pounding seas, cyclones & an unrelenting sun which, combined with salt water, almost pickled him alive.
MadagasCaT hosted Riaan for a week on Yacht Gecko to give him a well deserved rest and time to de-salinate! In return he was kind enough to dedicate a chapter to us in his “Around Madagascar in my Kayak” book.
Riaan and MadagasCaT are in the process of planning a humanitarian operation for the people of Southern Madagascar who are in dire straits due to drought, famine and climate change. We hope to raise funds and contributions of essentials to send to the deep south. More about this project will feature on this website as the plan gains traction.
Craig Thomassen - Inside Angling TV series
Craig, or Tommo, is one of the pioneers of catch and release recreational angling and his passion for the sport of artificial lure is unrivaled. Over the last three decades Craig has chased down nearly every major game fish in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans around Africa, with some record breaking results. His first book 'Fishing Yourself Single' typifies how important time on the water is to his life and his commitment to sport fishing. Always willing to share, he takes every opportunity to showcase the behemoths that lurk below and impart much of his knowledge and experience on how to land trophy fish.
MadagasCaT was fortunate enough to host Craig on Maki Cat for a series for the TV series Inside Angling.
Craig says: “I have been fortunate to visit Madagascar on a number of occasions. My main reason for visiting is because of the amazing fishing that is on offer around the island. I have always been impressed with the variety and quality of fish that we catch on these trips. An added bonus is the incredible scenery, interesting fauna and flora, superb diving and friendly, laid back locals. The people of Madagascar are welcoming and warm and always have a smile and a wave for foreigners. Madagascar is unique in so many ways that it cannot be compared to any other Indian Ocean destination.”
Craig wrote an article about his experience on Maki Cat
Aaron Gekoski - award winning environmental photojournalist.
We first met Aaron when he spent a week on Yacht Gecko exploring the diving in the Nosy Be area. Since then he has been a good friend and support of MadagasCaT for which we are grateful and honored.
Aaron Gekoski is an internationally acclaimed environmental photojournalist, film-maker and TV host, specializing in human-animal conflict.
His photography regularly appears in the international press. He has won numerous awards; at Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Nature Photographer of the Year, and - as a film-maker - Wildlife Conservation Film Festival.
Aaron has presented environmental films across a number of networks, and aims to make conservation accessible to all through entertaining and educational content.
He has spent years documenting animals in captivity and is founder and lead investigator at Raise the Red Flag, a global campaign to end cruelty in the Wildlife Tourism industry.
MadagasCaT is proud to be associated with this remarkable environmental warrior. We urge you to follow him on Facebook to keep up with the horrors that he is uncovering with regard to human/wildlife conflict.
Aaron’s National Geographic Travel Article about Threatened Tortoises in Madagascar
Adrian Rorvick - travel journalist
For the better part of a decade, Adrian Rorvik travelled hard and fast, continuously- chasing deadlines for weekly travel features linked to prizes that he arranged as Travel and Leisure Coordinator for Independent Newspapers, South Africa. He now manages Travelogue.tv and Travelogue.africa and still gets about, contributing regularly to iol.co.za, citizen.co.za and thesouthafrican.com . Adrian has travelled extensively in Southern Africa, but feels he has hardly scratched the surface of this diverse land and its neighboring islands.
Adrian was part of one of the press trips we sent to Nosy Be for the launch of the Airlink direct flight.
Here are his articles.
“A Boat Ride to Hellville and Back” 31st August 2016
“If you are looking for freedom” 24th July 2016
“Azure waters & Cocktails” 7th August 2016
Dawn Bradnick - award winning travel journalist
A self-proclaimed earth advocate and beauty seeker, Dawn is a conscious traveller with a deep love for Africa, its people and the environment. With a career that has embraced all aspects of travel and tourism, including running her own successful tour operating company, planning weddings and being behind the award-winning The Incidental Tourist travel blog, her passion lies in organising dream holidays, consulting in sustainable travel practices, promoting animal rights and writing. When not on the road or working through her travelogues, you’ll find her beach walking with her dogs, doing yoga, or seeking out ways to save a species.
Island Hopping off Madagascar.
Madagascar with MadagasCaT Video.
5 Must Have African Water Experiences.
African Destinations for the Adventurous Traveller.
Moving Sushi
The name “Moving Sushi” was first etched in vinyl, in 2008, along the body of a 4x4 before Mike and Linda Markovina set out on a 42-country expedition driving across East and West Africa, Europe and Asia. For two years they documented in video and photos the inspirational stories of people who are doing things right when it comes to ocean conservation. Since then Moving Sushi has evolved into a passionate team dedicated to all things ocean and marine related. From filmmaking, journalism, blogging and photography to ground breaking marine science expeditions, fisheries science, ocean conservation and travel writing.
Linda and Michael Markovina visited Nosy Be with MadagasCaT and rewarded us with some wonderful publicity. Below is a video they made for us and a podcast/slide show where they featured on Passport to the World with Cathy Retief Nel. Their video is featured on the Nosy Be page showing viewers what is on offer in Nosy Be.
GILLIAN McLAREN - Travel & Science writer
Gillan has been a great friend to MadagasCaT and Madagascar for a long time.
Gillian’s love of culture, food and diving has led Gillian to visit 56 countries. When not in wetsuit and fins, she is searching for tigers and anacondas.
Gillian has written a number of articles about MadagasCaT and other destinations in Madagascar:
Miavana Island Sanctuary • Madagascar • WANTED
Masoala Forest Lodge • Madagascar • Inspire Travel
MadagasCat • Madagascar • Longevity
Masoala Forest Lodge • Madagascar • Travel Africa
Tsara Komba Luxury Beach and Forest Lodge • Nosy Komba • Madagascar
Elizabeth Sleith - Copy editor and features writer at Times Media Group
Elizabeth was a guest of Airlink, MadagasCaT and the lodges she stayed at during a press trip to Nosy Be after Airlink relaunched their direct flight.
Here is her article that appeared in the Sunday Times on the 7th August 2016 entitled Nosy Be, the next BIG thing