Eastern Madagascar
Princesse Bora Lodge
The well-established, popular hotel is perhaps the best on the island of Ile Ste Marie and set along a sandy beach within good reach of all local points of interest. A classically beautiful tropical isle, Ste Marie has sandy beaches, coral reefs and lush foliage with many orchids and palms. It was a pirate base in the 17th & 18th centuries and there is an historic privateers’ graveyard on the island. The hotel accommodation is very comfortable and the food is superbly cooked and presented.
The 20 bright and spacious detached villas are of three standards: Charming Villas with fans, Villas Luxe, air-conditioned and ideal for families, and Executive Beach Villas with private garden, bathtub and double shower and also good for families.
The friendly bar has stunning sunset views and the restaurant is considered among the best on the island. There is a pontoon in the lagoon, a water sports centre and a full service spa.
There is an emphasis on freshly cooked seafood displaying French, Creole and Malagasy influences. Pizza is also available, baked in a special oven.
Facilities
Restaurant, bar, lounge, en-suite facilities, air-conditioning, watersports, spa.
Local Wildlife
The main wildlife interest is humpback whale watching from July to September, when the gentle leviathans are reliably seen on ethically-run boat trips organised by the hotel. You will be briefed and accompanied by a trained naturalist guide during the trip, and debriefed afterwards. The island is also notable for its orchids and other flora, seen best on a tour to Ile Aux Nattes, a small island just offshore.
Optional Activities
You can hire snorkelling gear, canoes, catamarans and local boats (pirogues), and book water-skiing and paragliding trips – all at the on-site water sports centre. You may hire a quad bike, motorbike or 4x4 with driver to explore the island yourselves. Surfing can be good on the island, and fishing is also a possibility.
Claire Pote
Area Specialist
Be sure to visit from July to September during the whale-watching season.
If you have any questions regarding our Madagascar tours, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
It was lovely to meet Helen face-to-face and to devise the ideal trip with her – her enthusiasm for Madagascar certainly confirmed us in our choice of destination. Enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides, seemed genuinely interested in their work and in interacting with tourists. Invaluable in spotting wildlife and discussing uses of local medicinal plants. [Our escort guide] was a delightful companion on our journey in Madagascar and very solicitous of our welfare. We were thrilled by the wildlife. Without the keen insight and knowledge of our guides we would certainly have failed to spot the giraffe-necked weevil and stick insects. The night walks were very productive – several mouse lemurs. The first sight of indris was an especial thrill as was the sight of a sleeping mouse lemur in broad daylight. Perhaps the most rewarding experience occurred when the lemurs came to us – six ring-tailed lemurs in Isalo, sifakas on the balcony in Anjajavy, flocks of grey-headed lovebirds on the lawn at breakfast. An excellent tour which gave us a good insight into the wildlife and potential conservation issues in Madagascar. We had opportunities to visit local communities. We were most impressed by the efficiency in ensuring a trouble-free and very enjoyable time in Madagascar. Our tour leader and driver were delightful and very hard working. We shall certainly look forward to booking a further tour with you.