highlights and main attractions of ile sainte marie
An island gem located just 8 kilometres off the eastern coast of Madagascar, the narrow Sainte Marie or ‘Nosy Boraha’ as it is known locally, has a considerable amount of island charm. Numerous deserted beaches show off a fringe of coconut palms and luscious vegetation, and intriguing inland villages make the perfect place to explore…
Ikalalao is a great area of primary forest for exploring, and you may see up to three species of lemur – the Microcebus, mouse lemur and the fat-tailed dwarf lemur. On the east coast, the Ampanihy is characterised by sand dunes and rich mangroves, where tours can be arranged on a pirogue. In Ambodena forest you may come across chameleons, geckos, frogs and a wider variety of lemurs, including white-fronted brown, the rather rare black-and-white ruffed lemur, the grey gentle lemur and mouse lemurs.
At 50 kilometres long and just 7 kilometres wide, Ile Sainte Marie is easily navigable by foot, or by mountain bike on a tour of the palm-lined paths and trails that criss-cross the island, leading to secluded coves.