Made up of several islands and islets, Mitsio Archipelago lies north of Nosy Be, at the same latitude as Ankarana mountain range. Those islands have a strong link with the Antankarana dynasty and their inhabitants are part of its people which are proud of its history and culture. It is said that the king and its court, under siege by Merina armies coming from the highlands in the eighteen century, were able to flee from their Tsingy fortress aboard pirogues and reach the Mitsio islands thanks to an eclipse. Thus the little Tsarabanjina paradise, before becoming a privileged hotel island, is a sacred place sheltering in a cave the tombs of some of the Antankarana kings.
Great Mitsio Island is a world apart, thanks to it size and biodiversity rich of endemic species such as rare chameleons and Pachypodiums hanging from the cliffs. Its people live in small villages, scattered along many beaches; they are at the same time fishermen and peasants. Basaltic organs prove the volcanic origins of Mitsio islands. From Marimbe village one can very well imagine the old crater, now partially immersed, which has given birth to Ankarea islet and its magnificent corals. Farther South, like sentinels in the middle of the sea, the Four Brothers islets stand out in the picture. Their limestone rocks, shaped like sugar loafs, are enjoyed by seabirds, and their steep underwater falls provide scuba divers with a lot of excitement.