Operation Wallacea in Madagascar: Day 11
Day 11 – Mariarano, Nosy Be 23/06/2024 – Sunday
Before making our way to the airport for our flight to tropical Nosy Be, we got to sleep in – getting our first restful start of the day in what felt like forever. During the short drive to the airport, we said goodbye to the bustling and comfortingly chaotic city of Antananarivo which we had begun to recognise as familiar from our few days in the area.
After checking our bags in and indulging in some lovely packed lunches, we were ready to board one of all two planes owned by Madagascar Airlines. Many of us were surprised by the size of the airport, as it was essentially just one small building divided into four sections. We all passed our time on the plane differently – from sleeping to watching tv or reading. We were also provided some aubergine and cheese buns – which were not the most popular among the group.
When getting off the plane, we were all relieved to feel the warm sunny air on our face – a nice contrast from the drizzly and rainy atmosphere Antananarivo had provided us with. We split into three vans and enjoyed a beautifully scenic drive to the Opwall site – during which we learned about the local cocoa farms. Once we arrived at the site, we were all pleasantly surprised. Not only was there real rooms with electricity all day long, there was running water – which we could drink! We got a quick tour of the area – including a lovely sunset on the beach. After making our way back to “the village” (the ‘camp’ site) and eating a delightful dinner of pasta – we had the pleasure of celebrating Diego’s birthday with some delicious cake and a card from the Opwall team. We went to bed that night excited for the days of diving to come.
Opal
