Samira
Annabelle’s sister sold coconuts and mother of pearl at a bamboo stall overlooking a turquoise mountain lake in the very heart of Nosy Be island.
Amanda
Women in Madagascar use saffron powder and natural clay to protect their skin from the sun’s fierce rays.
Annabelle
Waiting half way up the trunk of a fig tree gives one a better vantage point to spot your siblings as they return to a favorite spot for play.
Tropical Pool
Lakes and ponds dot the surface of this large island and appear like shimmering blue and lilac buttons from the air. They support a wealth of wildlife and are revered as sacred places to animistic tribes.
Nosy Be Mangroves
The north of Nosy Be’s coast in fringed with beautiful mangrove forests. The surreal effect of roots rising up from the silt and the mud was stunning.
Mangrove Roots
Like the twisted towers of Mordor, Mangrove roots rise upwards for aeration and nutrient supply.
Sea Struck
An old arm of driftwood rise out of the sea in splendorous contrast against the vivid blue of the Indian Ocean
Gnarled History
The weathered surface of a large trunk tells a tale of erosion and sea-battering.
Little Orange Vessel
A mangrove leaf in clear water would make a perfect boat for a shipwrecked ant or grasshopper. Mangroves play a crucial role in the coastal ecosystem of these islands.
Bushman’s Fire
Octopus tentacles bubble and boil on the white hot pebbles of a beach fire. People here live off the land and the sea.
Man with Machete
A Bushman clears jungle away from his home on the northern coast of the island.
Coastal Life
A man makes his usual journey along the palm-lined waterway towards the open ocean. many islanders live off the land and the sea, supplementing their catch with farmed crops and livestock.
Draped Nets
Fishing nets dry in the baking heat of the day. Traditional means of catching fish are still widely used.
Pile of Coconut Husks
Their many uses - as fuel and fishing line - make coconut husks a valuable resource for Malagasy bushmen.
Coastal Outstation
A Rubber Plantation stands as a colonial reminder on the shores of Nosy Be island. Wooden cabins and young palm trees create an agreeably haphazard backdrop to coastal life.
Quiet Backwaters
Modest fishing boats lay about the banks of a backwater harbour. Fishing is the island’s main source of revenue.
Shrimping
A small boat with a drag net is used to collect shrimps from the muddy shallows.
Golden Oldies
Fishing boats at the end of their working lives lie rusting in the salty lagoon, on the southern coast of Nosy Be island.
Palace Roots
Throngs of strangler fig vines engulf the remains of an abandoned palace.
Ancient Skylight
Walls made of vines and creepers enclose a crumbling courtyard in the centre of this palatial maze.
Window to a Jungle
The heat of the afternoon was almost tangible. Lemurs criss-crossed from one branch to another, flaunting their acrobatic skills.
Glassy Sea
Turquoise mixes with lilac as the sun lessens its grip on this beautiful bay.
Through the Bushes
Ancient ruins just out of the tropical scrub. Many of Madagascar’s ancient remains date back to the French Colonial period.
Framed by Trees
The roots of strangler vines lined the entrance to this palace complex.
Hanging Roots
Banana plants and young saplings rise out of the moist earth on the coast of Nosy Be island.
Old Train Station
An abandoned colonial train station lies forgotten and engulfed by weeds and creepers.
Welcome to our Island Village
A group of children halt their play and line up for a quick photo at the entrance to their island village on the southern coast of Nosy Be. The air was tranquil and the light crystal clear.
Fanojah, Timothe and Sol
Three siblings bask in the warm light before picking up their ball and escaping to the shade of the tamarisk trees.
Anju and Wilfred
Young boys play on the edge of a dirt road in southern Nosy Be. Children on the offshore islands of Madagascar live rural lives. Wooden toys and beach combing objects are rare treasures for them.
Sulemi
My guide through the interior of Nosy Be. A quad bike proved to be a useful means of transport through the rougher parts of the island.
Palm Shoreline
Young palms and mangrove trees crowd the edge of Nosy Be’s muddy shores.
Shade of a Banana Leaf
The sun reaches its gentle arc at the end of a warm evening. Banana plants are often found at the edge of plantations and farms.
Overgrown
Vines and twisted roots engulf the face of a simple home in Hell-Ville, the tepid capital of Nosy Be island.
Sisters of Hell-Ville
Three girls look out from their balcony and laugh at the odd assembly of tourist, quad-bike and camera.
Sisters of Hell-Ville
These children were so content to watch life go by from the balcony of their little house by the sea. Time ebbs and flows in the languid capital of this colourful island.
The Red Quatrelle
A farmer proudly washes his bright red Renault IV.
Layers of Sunset
A beach appears to burst into flames of colour under the evening sun.
A Peaceful Bay
Long stretches of dark sand catch the fiery rays of sunlight as everything turns to gold in Nosy Be.