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A JOURNEY TO THE SOUL: DISCOVERING MADAGASCAR WITH MIAVANA


My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.
LÉOPARD  Editor in Chief LIGA ZEMTURE

Isolated by time and sea, Madagascar is not merely an island — it’s an entire world itself. Suspended between Africa and the Indian Ocean, this ancient land is home to species, cultures, and landscapes found nowhere else on Earth. From mist-veiled rainforests to sunburnt baobab plains, Madagascar pulses with a quiet magic that defies definition — inviting those who wander to witness nature at its most poetic and untamed.



My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.


There are trips, and then there are

journeys

that gently

shift

the rhythm

of your soul.


My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me


both

grounded

and

lifted,

all at once.



My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.


From the very beginning, the journey felt cinematic. We arrived via helicopter, soaring above Madagascar’s wild rivers and dense jungles, landscapes untouched by time, pulsing with raw, ancient beauty. As music played in my ears, the scenery below unfolded like a living painting, and I felt overwhelmed by a sense of deep gratitude—for life, for nature, for this moment of stillness above the world.



My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.

My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.

My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.


Miavana itself is a masterpiece. Set on the remote island of Nosy Ankao, it offers not just luxury, but soulful immersion. The villas are vast, perfectly designed to blend open space with absolute privacy. Each one feels like its own world—floor-to-ceiling glass, soft natural textures, and views that open out to the shimmering turquoise sea and Madagascar’s distant mainland. And the sunsets—fiery, poetic—feel like offerings from the earth itself.



My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.

My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.



Beyond its beauty, Miavana holds a deep reverence for Madagascar’s culture and history. One of the most intriguing spaces on the island is the Cabinet de Curiosités—a room filled with rare, 1000-year-old artifacts from across the region. Fossils, ceremonial tools, ancient remnants—all displayed like a quiet conversation between past and present.




My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.

My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.



And then, there’s this: there are no poisonous snakes or insects on Madagascar. When the island broke away from the African continent millions of years ago, it became a world apart—untouched, unspoiled. A place where, in local lore, the gods blessed the land with purity. You can walk through the jungle as if through a field of wildflowers—free of fear, surrounded only by wonder. It’s a place that feels impossibly magical, because it is.




My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.

My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.

My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.

My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.


While Miavana offers every kind of adventure—diving, nature trails, wildlife exploration—this trip was, above all, about connection. I found myself surrounded by an incredible group of women from all over the world, each vibrant and kind, each with her own light. We came together with ease and joy, sharing laughter, stories, and a sense of unity that felt destined. The most precious activity was simply being together, barefoot on white sand, soaking in the warm ocean and each other’s presence.


Though we had only four full days, it felt like a week—time slowed down just enough for me to breathe deeply, to release the static of daily life, to truly be present. I let go of thoughts, worries, work. I gave in to the rhythm of the island: the sun on my skin, the salt in the air, the sound of laughter, and a few unforgettable jokes that I’ll carry with me forever.



My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.

My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.

My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.


Perhaps the most moving part of our time there was visiting the Time + Tide Foundation’s Girls Club at a nearby school. In a country where many girls are married off far too young—often just to reduce the number of mouths to feed—this initiative offers a different path. They provide not just education, but empowerment. One of the classes is called Self Esteem—a gentle, powerful reminder that every girl deserves to know her worth, to dream, to choose her own future. It was an honor to witness this.



My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.

My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.

My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.

My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.


Leaving Madagascar, I felt changed—not in a loud or dramatic way, but quietly, like something had been stirred awake.


Miavana is not just a destination.

It’s a place of elemental beauty,

of deep peace,

of reconnection—to nature,

to others,

and to

yourself.




Forever grateful for this experience, and for the women who made it unforgettable.




My recent voyage to Madagascar—more specifically, to the private island sanctuary of Miavana by Time + Tide—was one of those rare experiences that left me both grounded and lifted, all at once.







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