Princesse Bora Lodge & Spa

Executive Beach Villa

These spacious villas (90m²) perfectly embody luxury and simplicity. They include a large central bathtub made of stone, a double shower, a double basin, separate closets, a wide terrace and a king size bed that faces the Indian Ocean.

An Executive Beach Villa can accommodate two adults as well as one child (12 years maximum) and has air conditioning.

Luxury Villa

These villas have an octagonal shape including a large terrace with a hammock. They include a double bed on the main floor, two single beds (for two children of 12 years maximum) on the mezzanine, a bathroom with a shower and a double basin, and separate closets.

A luxury villa can accommodate two adults as well as two children (12 years maximum) and has air conditioning.

Comfort Villa

The warm atmosphere of these villas is guaranteed to make you relax and feel at home. These villas include one double bed, bathroom with shower and a sink, cabinets and individual terrace with a hammock.

A comfort villa can accommodate a maximum of two people.

Coco Bay

Coco Bay, a private beach with a palm tree grove belonging to the hotel, is located in the northern part of Sainte-Marie Island. It is accessible either by 4x4 or by boat. The place includes a villa, an annexe, and a hotel guide that accompanies the day trips.

The impressive granite rocks in the bay enhance the unique atmosphere of this place and will stay in your memories forever.

The Jungle SPA

Inspired by ancestral traditions of Africa, the Jungle Spa uses an central impluvium well which collects rainwater for use in the many different treatments.

You will feel as if you are at the end of the world when you visit this jungle oasis, helped by smooth background music and the soothing sound of the well water that delicately runs over the stones. The specialist masseuse’s sensual expert touch will rid you of all tension and ensure you fall into a deep sleep. All the Spa’s products are natural, resulting in a holistic pampering journey. Why not try a citrus fruit scrub followed by a nurturing skin peel using wild honey, then to finish, a pampering massage using natural ingredients such as combava and soothing vanilla.

Sainte-Marie Island and its history

During the 17th century many European pirates elected Sainte-Marie Island as their residence, benefiting from the languorous life of the island and the passage of the ships belonging to the company of the Indies, and giving rise to the many love stories between pirates and Malagasy princesses that are popular all over the island.

Nowadays there are still many vestiges testifying the historical richness of that time: the cemetery of the pirates, the house of the ancient Governor of France on the Îlot Madame, the catholic church of Ambodifotatra (the oldest church of Madagascar), and so on.

The rich history of Sainte-Marie Island has attracted many historians to the island of the years. Among the most important ones is, without any doubt, Barry Clifford, a well-known American diver and researcher, who discovered the wreck of the legendary Captain Kidd in 2000.

Sainte-Marie Island and its inhabitants

The inhabitants of Sainte-Marie Island are proud of their history and traditions. Many of them have Malagasy, Asian or African origins or are descendants of pirates.

Among the major traditions on Sainte-Marie Island are the worship of ancestors, fights and sacrifices of Zebus. Here, life is guided by the ancestors’ spirits. This is the reason why there are sacred and prohibited (« fady » in Malagasy) places on the island, which we will ask you to respect.

Humpback whales

The scientific name of humpbacks (CetaMada novaeangliae) literally means ‘long-winged new Englander’. This nomenclature originates from their distinctive pectoral fins that are longer than in any other marine mammal. Humpback whales can grow up to 16 meters in length and live around 60 years although their lifespan is not known with precision.

They have a worldwide distribution but they are migratory so we can distinguish between the foraging and the mating season. In the Southern hemisphere, humpbacks spend their summer in the cold Antarctic waters which are very rich in nutrients – they feed primarily on krill and fish such as mackerel whereas during the winter they migrate to warm waters (low latitude) for mating. During this time the animals don’t feed at all and the males sing complex songs to attract a partner.

Get involved

From 1st July to 30th September the Princesse Bora Lodge & Spa and CetaMada offer you the opportunity to participate in different activities concerning humpback whales.

Each trip helps to fund the scientific data acquisition. The scientists collect the following types of data:

• photo identification.
• geographical location by GPS.
• recording of the whale songs with a hydrophone.
• genetic sampling to identify each mammal’s DNA.
• behavioural study.
• timing of the apnoeas.

This data collection makes it possible to feed a world database to increase the knowledge and protect humpback whales.

Due to their history, the inhabitants of Sainte-Marie Island have inherited the culture of welcoming foreigners which makes Princess Bora Lodge the more enticing. The short Zebu transfer from the airport is a fabulous way to arrive and the huge lodges are immaculately presented. The close reef for snorkelling from the beach and village nearby mean you have activities just a few steps from your beach front accommodation so there is something for beach lovers and explorers alike.

Need more info?
Please contact our Safari Experts now.


Call: 0044 (0)1227 753181