Ile Sainte Marie - the Pirate Island

Madagascar is known for its hidden treasures of majestic beaches and lemurs, but this month our hidden treasures refer to gold and silver and pirate coins! Once a haven for pirates and vagabonds, Saint Marie is an island shrouded in ancient legends and superstitions...

As little as 300 hundred years ago hundreds of pirates called this island their home, including legends of the seas such as Captain William Kidd and Thomas Tew. Today all what remains of these scoundrels are a few shipwrecks and a pirate cemetery... The pirate graveyard is a must-see for anyone visiting Madagascar. Overgrown with creepers and filled with tombs marked with skulls and crossbones, the cemetery is sure to give you goose bumps! Local children will tell you about the local fady (superstitions) such as putting coins or candies under the headstones and cracking an acorn on others in order to apologize for disturbing the slumbering pirates. Explore the island and you might bump into Captain Jack Sparrow or find a hidden treasure!!
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Learn more about... Princesse Bora Lodge & Spa

Situated on the 'pirate island' of Ile Sainte Marie, the Princesse Bora Lodge is a real hidden treasure for those seeking luxurious accommodation, clear turquoise waters, sandy white beaches and total relaxation! This is the perfect choice for more discerning travellers who want to unwind and enjoy all the wonders that Madagascar has to offer in style.

The exclusive lodge offers a wealth of facilities and activities to keep guests entertained, including the privately owned Coco Bay - a 50 000 sq m island paradise made up of three pristine palm-fringed beaches and the stunning Jungle Spa for a relaxing massage. There are plenty of exciting things to see and do if you are feeling more active. Why not explore the island by mountain bike, motorbike, quad bike, canoe or pirogue (a traditional wood canoe). A visit to the famous pirate's graveyard (see article above), snorkeling, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, island hopping are just some of the activities that are on offer at the lodge.



Wind down after a busy day at the lodge's friendly bar and sip on a delicious cocktails (or one of the bar's specialty flavored rums including vanilla, cinnamon and litchi) while you watch the sun set over the lagoon. Indulge at the lodge's intimate restaurant and sample the menu, which consists of Creole, French and Malagasy-inspired dishes with seafood and local products like Zebu steaks accompanied by local French and South-African wines.

The lodge boasts more luxurious accommodation than the simple island lodgings typically found on the island, and is made up of just 20 villas situated directly on the beach including Comfort Villas, Luxury Villas and Executive Beach Villas; all built from traditional Malagasy materials such as rosewood, stone and traveller tree leaves. The villas are all elegantly furnished with dark wood floors and shutters and are equipped with en-suite bathroom and shower, and a private patio with deck chairs and hammock from where guests can admire the breathtaking island sunsets.

The Princesse Bora Lodge & Spa is the perfect tranquil retreat for travellers seeking a luxurious and memorable island experience!
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Madagascar kayaking and kite surfing packages for adventure enthusiasts!

Are you looking for a unique and exciting adventure but are bored of all the usual options? Then read on for some exhilarating Madagascar packages that will get your heart rate pumping!

Our 8-day Madagascar Sea Kayaking Trip gives you some of the best opportunities to enjoy the charms of Madagascar, including the islands' culture, craft markets and unique wildlife, flora and landscapes. Some of the many highlights of the trip include whale sharks in Ankazbiravina, lemurs in Nosy Komba and snorkelling at Nosy Tanikely marine reserve, which is filled with an abundance of marine life ranging from coral, starfish and anemones to colourful fishes of all sizes. You might even spot a turtle if you are lucky!

This incredible experience is priced from just USD 1070 / EUR 740 per person and includes transfers to and from Nosy Be airport, simple accommodation in twin or double rooms during the tour, all sea transport and support in a fully kitted motorized Dhow, use of sea kayaks & paddles, experienced kayak and island guide, and all meals during the kayaking tour. The price excludes all flights and their taxes.


Or why not take a walk on the wild side and kitesurf Madagascar? Madagascar offers the perfect climate and sea conditions for a kite-surfing holiday adventure with the wind averaging 30 knots per day and blowing constantly from April until November. Spend 8-days kite surfing, windsurfing, snorkelling, swimming, fishing and exploring the island on this fun-filled package! Priced from just USD 610 / EUR 415 per person based on a half board basis (Lodge Option), or USD 1 020 / EUR 690 based on a full board basis (Rustic Option).

For more information on any of the above tours, please contact one of our knowledgeable consultants on info@jenmansafaris.com.
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Lokobe Integral Reserve - Off the beaten track

Madagascar has some of the most unique, interesting and abundant wildlife in the world and many people travel to this beautiful island for this reason alone! If you're thinking of visiting Madagascar and want to experience more of the island other than the sandy beaches, then we suggest you veer off the tourist path and head to Lokobe Integral Reserve - one of the best places to see Madagascar's beautiful array of flora and fauna!

Situated in the south-eastern side of Nosy Be Island, Lokobe is the only protected area of the island, and is known for its endangered black lemur and the beautiful Panther Chameleon. Lokobe Integral Reserve covers about 720 hectares of the last remaining Sambirano forest habitat of Nosy Be, which provides a home to an array of rare animals and plants, many of which only exist here!

If you would like to find out more about Madagascar's national parks click here for more fascinating reading.
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Dear Hilka...

Hilka, one of our amazing consultants, received some great feedback from Chris and Winnie who recently returned from their stunning Madagascar holiday.

"Dear Hilka, We had a great time in Madagascar, it exceeded our expectations. Nono our driver has our highest appreciation for introducing us to Madagascar. We would gladly recommend him to anyone, and if we get back to Madagascar we would like to continue our travelling with Nono.

The hotels were surprising, quite a hidden oasis of peace and quiet; each one had its own enjoyment. If it wasn't that there was Madagascar to see, it would have been nice to spend a few days at the hotels. I would certainly recommend LeLac as a hidden away gem of an experience.
Thanks for organising the train trip, it was even better than expected, a really nice introduction to some of the more remote Malagasy villages and villagers, providing a different vista from the roads.

We enjoyed the Isalo area, another surprise for us. We had plenty of interactions with lemurs and chameleons and enjoyed the organisation of the trip such that we saw the wildlife at many stages in the journey. The drive to the Ifaty hotel, I should have taken the hint when Nono said he was too old to drive on these roads, but by this stage I had explained the Australian sense of humour to Nono, so I wasn't sure if he was joking, he wasn't :-). The hotel was worth it. Again, the hotel had ambience and the view of the sea while eating will remain with us a long time.

Thanks for all your help and adding in the Train journey, we would highly recommend our trip to anyone, and have and will be. We also felt we got good value for money and a trouble free experience. Thank you for all your help and interest in our holiday, we appreciate the service and the interest, we are off now to save up for the next one.....

Regards, Chris and Winnie"

Interested in reading other comments from our clients in Madagascar? Click here to check out our guest gallery!
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