Ile Sainte Marie

Ile Sainte Marie is a tropical island just off the east coast of northern Madagascar. Once a haven for pirates and vagabonds, it is now a treasure island for those seeking palm-lined beaches, coral reefs and relaxation.

The island (known as "Nosy Boraha" in Malagasy), is about 57km long and 7km at its widest point. It lies about 8km off Madagascar's coast and can be reached by airplane (Air Madagascar), boat or ferry.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, Ile Sainte Marie became a base for pirates from all over the world. Its location close to the maritime routes between Europe and the East made it ideal for pirates who preyed upon commercial ships carrying their valuable wares between East and West. The island's many bays gave ample protection against tropical storms and there was an abundance of fresh water and fruit.

Legendary pirates such as William Kidd, John Avery, Captain Misson, Robert Culliford, Nathaniel North, Thomas Tew, John Plantain, George Taylor, John England and Olivier Levasseur frequented the island and a number of them established a base on île aux Forbans (island of pirates), a small island located in the bay des Forbans.

Today all that is left of the once thriving pirate population are a number of historical buildings, a few shipwrecks along the shore, the pirate cemetery (pictured on the right) and some descendents among the local population.

The largest and most developed settlement is Ambodifotatra which sports banking facilities (including credit cards), a hospital for emergency medical treatment and a number of shops (where you can buy anything ranging from imported chocolates to a coal-stove).

Apart from offering some of the best scuba and snorkeling sites in the world, Sainte Marie is also a prime spot for whale watching. Large groups of humpback whales migrate from the cold Antarctic to the warmer waters of the Indian Ocean where they breed. Around August these whales can be seen daily as they frolic and play in the channel between Sainte Marie and Madagascar.

Sainte Marie's high rainfall, warm climate and fertile soil also creates the ideal eco-system for a large, diverse and in many cases unique collection of fauna and flora. Several species of lemurs and small rodents can be found as well as many species of birds and butterflies. The island is a favorite with botanists as a large collection of exotic flowers and plants grow here, among which some very rare orchids.

THINGS TO DO:

      Discover the island by bicycle or rent a motorbike if you want to save energy (ask our staff at Hotel La Petite Traversee for information) .

      Visit the oldest Christian church in Madagascar at the Baie des Forbans (built in 1837), and then continue to the pirate cemetery a little further towards the village of St Joseph.

      Thursday, and to a lesser extend Tuesday, is market-day in Ambodifotatra and this should not be missed if you love fresh produce or regard yourself as a bargain-hunter (pictured on right).

      There is a military fort dating back to 1753 east of Lalana Sylvain Roux. Although visitors are not allowed inside (it is used as a military garrison), you can take some nice photo's after obtaining permission from the guards.

      Try to spot some of the famous humpback-whales which come to breed in the area around August. To get a better look at them, book a whale watching cruise (enquire at Hotel La Petite Traversee).

      Go snorkeling or paddling at the Ambodiatafana grottos or around the mystical Ille aux Sable (sand islands) to the south-east of Sainte Marie.

      Explore the island's rich natural biodiversity by foot - there are numerous hiking trials to choose from. Or you can visit the Endemika Zoo on the southern part of the island. It is well-kept and hosts several species of lemurs, chameleons and other endemic animals.

      Rent a boat from one of the hotels or join MadXperience for an adventurous deep sea fishing safari.

      Go scuba-diving and explore the incredible marine life at leisure (ask our staff at Hotel La Petite Traversee for information on this).

      If you're not staying at La Petite Traversee, hop onto a lakana on the southern tip of Sainte Marie for a visit to true Eden - Ile aux Nattes.

      Banking facilities (including credit cards), a hospital for emergency medical treatment and a few shops are found in Ambodifotatra.