Madagascar’s Tranquil Tsara Komba Eco-Lodge Embraces Life in the Slow Lane

Although it's starting to become really hard to find far-flung retreats that embrace life in the slow lane, they do exist -- and few are more enticing than the tranquil <a href="http://www.tsarakomba.com/">Tsara Komba Eco-Lodge</a> in Madagascar. Built on the <a href="http://www.nosykomba.com/english/index_eng.html">Nosy Komba Island</a> (otherwise known as "Lemur Island" for its prevalence of animals made famous by the Madagascar animation film), the four-star resort employed local craftsmen to build a series of small lodges using <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_building">locally-sourced materials</a> that blend in with the breathtaking natural environment. A host of other measures were also taken to ensure that this very special hideaway has the smallest environmental impact on one of the planet's most biodiverse ecosystems.

This beautiful lodge in Madagascar was recently certified as "eco"

Situated on the Nosy Komba island, it has a tiny footprint

Each lodge was made using natural materials

Local craftsmen were employed to build the structures

The majority of the interior decor and furniture comes from island craftsmen as well

There are no televisions and no telephones

The lodge is situated between a verdant forest and the Indian Ocean

A lot of food served in the restaurant is sourced from the lodge's very own organic garden

Natural cooling is derived passively

Solar heaters provide hot water

Low voltage lighting keeps energy consumption low

Water is derived via a gravitational system

The lodges have a tiny footprint at either 70 or 100 square meters