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Old, weathered stone gravestones in a grassy clearing surrounded by unique, fan-shaped traveler's palm trees under a clear blue sky.
SAINTE-MARIE · HALF-DAY TRIP

The Pirate Cemetery.

The only one in the world.

In the 17th and 18th centuries Sainte-Marie was a pirate base — a quiet bay protected from the navies of three empires.
The cemetery on the hillside still has the coral headstones of the Sainte Marie pirates. An easy excursion from the lodge.

ÎLE AUX NATTES · 20 MIN FROM THE LODGE

Île aux Nattes Lighthouse.

Climb up, 360° of reef.

A self walk, or with a guide, to ile Aux Nattes very own lighthouse. From it's balcony you can see the entire southern reef, the channel back to Sainte-Marie, and on a clear day the mainland. Best at golden hour, before sunset.

CHANNEL · 45 MINUTES BY BOAT

The Sandbar.

A 3km stretch of white sand with all the blues you can imagine.

A stretch of white sand appears off the reef— surrounded by water on all sides, nothing else. Bring snorkels and sunscreen. The lodge can arrange the boat and time it to the tide.

AMBODIFOTATRA · MAIN TOWN MARKET

Sainte-Marie Market.

Vanilla, cloves, pepper, and all things organic.

Take the pirogue across to Sainte Marie for market days. Madagascar grows the world's best vanilla and you can buy a year's supply for the price of a single pod at home. Also: cloves, peppercorns, seasonal fruits. Its as Malagasy as you can get.

ÎLE AUX NATTES · A FEW WORDS

Try a little Malagasy.

A few words go a long way in the village.

Hello
Akory
Welcome
Tonga soa
What's news?
Ina vao vao
I'm well
Tsara fa misaotra
Thank you
Misaotra
Please / excuse me
Azafady
Yes / No
Eny / Tsia
Good
Tsara
A beer, please
Mila Labiere Azafady
Goodbye
Veloma
Even a single Misaotra at the market or Akory? on the path will be met with a smile. French works almost everywhere too — Madagascar's second language — but Malagasy is the door-opener.

Whales calve off the beach. Each year humpback whales travel from Antarctica to the warm channel between Sainte-Marie and mainland Madagascar. SEASONAL · JULY TO SEPTEMBER Reefs most divers haven't heard of. Quiet, healthy coral — a short boat ride from the lodge. Our partner dive centre handles everything. AVAILABLE YEAR-ROUND
 An island with no cars. Walk it, cycle it, or take a pirogue across the channel. Île aux Nattes rewards the curious. AVAILABLE YEAR-ROUND
 Out past the reef, into open ocean. Giant trevally, barracuda, prodigal son and maybe a lucky sailfish run in the deep water off the reef of Île aux Nattes. The charter leaves at first light with the local skipper. Choose half day or full day — bring sunscreen and a hat. BOOK THROUGH THE LODGE
 The reef begins just metres away. Walk straight out from the lodge beach to swim and snorkel the lagoon.
Off the reef wall, Parrotfish, sea sponges, coral formations and on calm days hopefully a turtle or two. FROM YOUR FRONT DOOR Old, weathered stone gravestones in a grassy clearing surrounded by unique, fan-shaped traveler's palm trees under a clear blue sky. Guest snorkelling over coral reef at Île aux Nattes, Madagascar
Shared by guests

Moments at Sambatra.