Known today as Constance Tsarabanjina, this secluded beach lodge occupies the small island of Nosy Tsarabanjina in Madagascar's Mitsio Archipelago. With only 25 beachfront villas and an all-inclusive format, the emphasis is on simple island living done extremely well: white sand, clear water, direct access to the sea and enough activity to make a longer stay interesting without disturbing the sense of escape.
This is not a conventional large resort transplanted onto an island. Tsarabanjina’s appeal comes from its scale and setting. The island can be explored on foot, the surrounding water is central to daily life and the dress code is appropriately relaxed. Guests can spend the morning snorkelling, take a guided nature walk over the island, disappear back to their villa during the heat of the day and return to the beach for sunset.
Beachfront villas
The lodge has 25 villas divided between North Beach and South Beach. Their beachfront position is the defining feature: guests stay close to the sand and ocean rather than behind a large central resort complex. The accommodation is designed around the island environment, making Tsarabanjina particularly attractive to couples and honeymooners as well as travellers who value privacy and direct access to nature.
Because the island is small and the number of villas limited, choosing between North Beach and South Beach is more about preferred position and atmosphere than access to facilities. Private Hideaway Escapes can advise on the most suitable current villa category when checking availability.
Dining and all-inclusive island life
The main restaurant sits on the beach and combines Malagasy flavours with international dishes, with fresh seafood and local ingredients playing an important role. The atmosphere is deliberately informal, including a relaxed barefoot dress code. The lagoon-facing bar has a sand floor and is a natural meeting point for drinks, cocktails and lighter snacks, particularly around sunset.
Tsarabanjina operates on an all-inclusive basis, making it easy to settle into the island without continually thinking about individual meals and drinks. Exact inclusions should always be confirmed for the dates booked, particularly for excursions, premium drinks, diving and special private dining.
Snorkelling, diving and time on the water
The Mitsio Archipelago is the reason to come here, and much of the experience takes place in or on the water. Snorkelling equipment is available for guests, with opportunities to explore around the island as well as by boat. Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards provide an easy way to see the coastline at a slower pace.
For divers, the Blue Wave PADI diving centre caters for beginners as well as qualified divers, with courses and guided dives on the coral reefs of the Mitsio area. Sports fishing and additional boat excursions can also be arranged at extra cost.
Island excursions and nature
Guided walks reveal another side of Tsarabanjina, with routes climbing through the island landscape for broader views across the archipelago and opportunities to learn about its flora and birdlife. Longer excursions can include the Four Brothers Islands, Nosy Komba and the striking basalt formations of Grande Mitsio, bringing wildlife, geology and local culture into a stay that might otherwise be entirely beach focused.
Back at the lodge, beach volleyball, petanque and other simple activities keep the atmosphere sociable without turning the island into an organised activity resort. Spa treatments are available from the spa kiosk for guests who would rather spend the afternoon slowing down.
Highlights
- Private-islet setting in the Mitsio Archipelago
- Only 25 beachfront villas across North Beach and South Beach
- All-inclusive resort concept
- Snorkelling directly from the island and by boat
- Blue Wave PADI diving centre
- Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding
- Guided island walks and birdwatching
- Excursions to Nosy Komba, the Four Brothers Islands and Grande Mitsio
- Beach restaurant, lagoon-facing bar and spa treatments
Good to know
Access normally involves road and boat transfers via Nosy Be, and the boat journey is weather dependent. The resort currently advises allowing approximately 60 to 90 minutes for the boat sector and requests advance transfer reservations. This is part of the appeal of Tsarabanjina: once guests arrive, they are genuinely removed from the busier parts of Nosy Be.
Why stay at Constance Tsarabanjina?
Tsarabanjina suits travellers looking for a small-scale Indian Ocean island experience rather than a large full-service resort. It works particularly well at the end of a Madagascar wildlife itinerary, when several days of swimming, snorkelling, diving and unstructured beach time provide a natural contrast to time spent travelling on the mainland. Private Hideaway Escapes can build the island into a wider Madagascar itinerary and coordinate the connections required to make the transition as smooth as possible.