Doany

From MadaCamp
Jump to: navigation, search

The small fishing village of Doany on the Ankify half island in northwest Madagascar is a popular beach destination among day visitors from Ambanja and surrounding villages.

Doany 092.jpg
Le Panoramique 027.jpg Doany 093.jpg Le Panoramique 024.jpg
Doany 087.jpg Doany 075.jpg Doany 083.jpg

The name "Doany" is of Sakalava origin meaning a place of Royal residence and ancestry. Traditional tromba events, which are spiritual gatherings, take place in and around the village of Doany, usually during times of full moon and especially in October when the descendants of Doany's inhabitants return to connect with their relatives and ancestors.

Doany 084.jpg
Doany 005.jpg Doany 003.jpg Doany 007.jpg

The village has seen changes in recent years, with the development of holiday villas turning the location into a popular beach destination, especially on weekends. This has provided the local community with additional income besides fishing.

Doany 068.jpg
Doany 094.jpg Doany 096.jpg Doany 098.jpg

The occasional tourist exploring Madagascar beyond Nosy Be sometimes discovers Doany, although tourism is nowhere near comparable to Nosy Be which receives the highest number of holiday visitors in northern Madagascar. As there are limited tourism-related services tailored specifically to foreign visitors, Doany has retained its authentic Malagasy charm.

Accommodation options in Doany include beachfront villas such as L’Arche de Noé and Shambala while Le Panoramique tucked up on a hill behind the village offers a spectacular ocean view from where one might spot the humpback whales during their migration periods.

Le Panoramique 003.jpg

Other options include Les Jardins D'Ankify and simple rooms offered behind the Ravinala outdoor restaurant in the village centre, known for serving daily fresh seafood and various Malagasy specialties.

Visitors can order a freshly caught grilled fish from Kanto at Ravinala for a perfect beach picnic. The restaurant is open every day, although, according to Sakalava tradition the inhabitants of Doany do not work on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Doany 067.jpg

As of 2024, prices for accommodation in the village range between 40,000 Ar and 200,000 Ar per night.

Doany 073.jpg

Continue about 500 metres after the main beach to find another less frequented beach named Ampagnamo where there are only a few private villas along the shore.

Doany 040.jpg

An approximate 30-minute walk over rock boulders and through a small tropical forest leads to a more secluded beach named Antonremba where construction of a new lodge is ongoing as of 2024.

Doany 043.jpg

Continuing at the end of Antonremba beach over the hill, visitors will find Ampasikely Beach where the Diana Lodge with its upscale restaurant overlooking the ocean can also be found.

Doany 055.jpg

The additional beaches beyond Doany village and around the peninsula can easily be accessed by hitching a ride with a local fisherman.

Doany 001.jpg
Doany 023.jpg Doany 033.jpg Doany 100.jpg
Doany 099.jpg Doany 021.jpg Doany 024.jpg

Doany village and beach are located three kilometres from Ankify harbour where boat transfers connect with Hell-Ville on Nosy Be.

Loading map...

Overcrowded taxi-brousses run between Ambanja and Ankify harbour throughout the day. Occasionally, a special taxi-brousse runs the whole way to Doany. Otherwise, the three-kilometre distance between Ankify and Doany makes for a scenic walk.

Doany 030.jpg

Alternatively, visitors can rent bicycles at Palma Nova and bike 25 kilometers from Ambanja to Doany, partly through cacao plantations and across a large mangrove forested area between Ampahakabe and the Ankify peninsula.

Google Maps directions

Accommodation

  • Le Panoramique: +261 (0)32 75 324 88
  • Shambala: +216 (0)32 55 482 88
  • Les Jardins D'Ankify: +261 (0)32 20 066 06
  • L’Arche de Noé: +261 (0)32 78 113 87 / +261 (0)34 89 638 29
  • Ravinala: +261 32 13 698 68
  • Diana Lodge (Ampasikely Beach): +262 693 00 70 01 (WhatsApp / La Réunion)

Further information