Photo: Anisha Shah
framed by a natural lagoon and dotted by local
fishermen, this beach is rugged and undeveloped. The Vezo fishermen cast their nets into
the horizon, half a kilometre ahead of my villa,
whilst others head to sea on wooden pirogue
boats. I watch them whilst I sway on a swing
on the beach. In the distance, flashes of vibrant
silk catch the sunlight; flame-red, rust orange
and fiery fuchsia, a trio of fishermen’s wives
sashaying across the infinite san ds to greet
their husbands. It’s a trek to the water’s edge.
The beach is long and more than a kilometre
wide, with natural undulations.
On arrival at the hotel, after sunset at Baobab
Alley, I’m ushered into the spa for a dusk
massage, before being seated to private dinner
on the beach under intense starlight. My
waiter is also an artist. He’s painted the plates
on which dinners are set. I fall in love with and
purchase one of his artworks of L’Allee des
Baobabs, as my personal souvenir.
If the itinerary allows, spend a couple of days
in Morondava to truly appreciate this authentic
African beach on the exquisite Indian Ocean. It
is surrounded by local life at its most rustic and
picturesque. Palissandre Cote Ouest and the
surroundings of Morondava are unmissable.
Scars of history
The central highlands are a full day’s drive from
Morondava, introducing an entirely separate
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