Doany
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.
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The name "Doany" is of Sakalava origin meaning a place of Royal residence, heritage and worship. Still today, traditional tromba events take place in and around the village of Doany, usually during times of full moon and especially in October when the descendants of the inhabitants of Doany return to connect with their relatives and ancestors.
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Several holiday villas have transformed Doany from the sleepy fishing village it was a few years ago into a beach destination, especially on weekends, providing the local community with an income beyond fishing.
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The occasional foreign 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. Due to a lack of tourism-related services tailored specifically to foreign visitors, Doany still retains its Malagasy charm and authenticity.
Accommodations in Doany village include Shambala directly on the beach which organises sailing and various other watersports while Le Panoramique on the hill behind the village offers a spectacular ocean view from where one might spot the humpback whales on the horizon during their migration periods.
Other accommodation options in Doany include Les Jardins D'Ankify and simple rooms offered behind the outdoor Ravinala restaurant in the village centre which serves daily fresh seafood among various Malagasy specialities.
For example, order a freshly caught fish with Kanto at Ravinala (+261 32 13 698 68) for that 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.
As of 2024, prices for accommodation in the village range between 40,000 Ar and 200,000 Ar per night.
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.
An approximate 30-minute walk across rocks 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.
Continue a little further at the end of the beach over the hill until Ampasikely Beach where the luxurious Diana Lodge with an upscale restaurant overlooking the ocean can be found.
The additional beaches beyond Doany village and around the peninsula can most easily be reached by hitching a ride with one of the local fishermen.
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Doany village and beach are located three kilometres from Ankify harbour where boat transfers connect with Hell-Ville on Nosy Be.
Regular and always overcrowded taxi-brousses run between Ambanja and Ankify harbour throughout the day. Occasionally, a special taxi-brousse goes the whole way to Doany. If not, the three-kilometre distance between Ankify and Doany makes for a scenic walk.
Alternatively, rent bicycles at Palma Nova and bike 25km from Ambanja to Doany partly through cacao plantations and across the large mangrove forest before entering the Ankify peninsula.
Further information
- Bike ride Ambanja - Ankify - Doany - Ambanja - 52.14 km
- https://www.wildmadagascar.com/en/ankify
- https://www.mewithmysuitcase.com/2021/10/from-nosy-be-to-ankify-by-public-ferry.html
- https://www.shambalamadagascar.com
- https://www.booking.com/hotel/mg/les-jardins-d-ankify-andimaka.fr.html
- https://mg.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saikinosy_Ankify
- https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankify
- Doany Beach in the Lokobe nature reserve on Nosy Be