Ratranavona

Ratranavona is an isolated village located in a small bay on a sandy beach in the southern part of the Masoala Peninsula. About two kilometres from the village starts the Masoala National Park.

Most of the villagers live from fishing, rice farming and harvesting cloves. During the months of September, October and November the cloves are picked and thereafter dried in the sun in front of the houses. During the drying period the whole village scents like a giant Xmas bakery.

There is a shop with bar/restaurant and an attached cinema at the end of the village where films are shown on Saturdays at 9pm. The entrance fee is 300 Ariary (2015). Behind the bar is a separate building which has two rooms for rent. The rooms are very simple with only a mattress on the floor and a not recommended outside shower and toilet. In 2015, the price for the room was 5,000 Ariary a night.

A bit confusing can be the name of the village. In Malagasy ratra means "a wound" or "injury" and navona can be translated into "the core of boils". Together Ratranavona translates into "a wound/injury from boils". However, there were no signs of any skin irritation throughout a visit to this village in 2015 :-)

GPS Coordinates
S 15°54.160'
E050°03.912'
22m elevation

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