Sakatia Lodge
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Booking by Tour Leader Club
4 room types · house reef
Sakatia Lodge stands on Nosy Sakatia, a small island off the western shore of Nosy Be in north-west Madagascar. At its closest point the island lies 740 metres from Nosy Be. There are no roads and no cars: people walk the paths or travel by boat.
The lodge was built between 2004 and 2006 and took its first guests in 2006 — more than twenty years on the island. Accommodation is four glamping tents of canvas and timber at the edge of the primary forest, plus three bungalows: Ravinala, Madiro and Mango. The minimum stay in every category is four nights.
The house reef runs for over a kilometre along the shore. At low tide the corals and reef fish are easiest to explore; as the tide rises, guests head for the turtle reserve at the foot of the Sacred Mountain, where large green turtles feed in the seagrass meadows.
The dive centre has been running on site for over twenty years. It is SSI and NAUI affiliated, a member of DAN Southern Africa and supports the hyperbaric chamber on Nosy Be. Two boats, an on-site training facility, full gear hire including computers and torches. Snorkelling gear is free for guests; nitrox is available on request for an extra charge.
Depths at the sites are generally 15–25 metres, visibility 15–25 metres and occasionally over forty. Water runs from 27 °C in winter to 30 °C in summer. Humpback whales pass from late August to October, whale sharks from October to November. Sakatia Lodge was the first centre in Madagascar to run fluorescent night dives: blue lights at 450–470 nm and a yellow filter over the mask reveal the fluorescence of corals and animals.
The island is home to three groups of black lemurs, panther chameleons, the tiny Brookesia stumpffi, geckos and fruit bats. The Sacred Mountain is protected by fady: no dogs are brought to the island, and nobody washes clothes on Tuesdays.
The lodge is open from mid-March to mid-January and closes for the rainy season from mid-January to mid-March.
No markup
You pay exactly the rate the resort publishes. On top of that, only the actual bank costs of currency conversion and the international transfer — no commission of ours.
We run the deal
Correspondence with the resort, holding the room, the contract, booking confirmation and all paperwork are on our side. There is nothing for you to arrange yourself.
Card payment
We accept payment by card through Stripe and issue an invoice. The transfer to the resort is our job — you do not have to find a way to pay abroad.
Support all the way
We help you choose the room and dates, work out the dive package, answer questions about flights and gear, and stay in touch until you are home.
The exact amount is confirmed when we hold your booking: it includes the resort's rate at the day's exchange rate plus the actual transfer costs. No hidden fees.
About the resort
- Country
- Madagascar
- Location
- Nosy Sakatia, Nosy Be, Madagascar
- Nearest airport
- Fascene (NOS), Nosy Be
- Transfer
Road transfer from the airport to Chanty Beach takes about 45 minutes, then a 15–20 minute boat crossing
the lodge arranges everything
- House reef
- true
- Dive centre
On-site dive centre running for over 20 years, SSI and NAUI affiliated, member of DAN Southern Africa
- Nitrox
- true
- Internet
- true
- Languages
English — the language of the lodge site and correspondence
At the resort
Diving
The dive centre is a few steps from the beach and the bar, so there are no transfers to the boats. Each day is planned around the tides, the conditions and the interests of the group, with most dives in the calmer morning. La Piscine, a sheltered patch of shallow reef at the foot of the Sacred Mountain, is used for first dives. Night dives run through most of the season: the reef is five minutes away and a cocktail waits after the dive. Fluo dives are run in small groups and need good buoyancy control. Snorkelling starts from the beach — gear is free for guests.
Food
There is no full board. The kitchen mixes Malagasy, South East Asian, French, African and Creole traditions. Breakfast covers cereals, yoghurt, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, bread, cake, local fruit and eggs to preference. The lunch menu has croque monsieur, sandwiches, burgers, pasta, salads and gateau royal. Babies eat free, children up to 12 pay a reduced meal price. The bar is open all day: soft drinks, beer, wine and cocktails, including a mojito and a caipirinha in alcohol-free versions.
Things to do
The island is small enough to walk: a network of paths leads through tropical vegetation, fruit trees and coastal viewpoints. A boat trip around Sakatia reaches secluded coves and the northern beach of Ampasindava. Neighbouring islands include Nosy Iranja, with a sand spit joining two islands and a lighthouse to climb, Nosy Tanikely with its hawksbill turtles and tropicbird colonies, and Nosy Komba. Lokobe is the last stretch of primary rainforest on Nosy Be, reached by pirogue, with mouse lemurs and Brookesia chameleons. The lodge team arranges the excursions.
Rooms
Tent
View: Garden, with a sea view from the upper tent
Beds: One king bed and one single
Four canvas-and-timber tents at the edge of the primary forest and the tropical gardens. En-suite hot-water shower, veranda, safe, cooler box and kettle.
Bungalow
View: Garden and partial sea
Beds: Double bed or two singles
A bungalow between the garden and the sea-facing side of the lodge, with a partial sea view from the veranda. An extra bed for a child up to 12 is available on request.
Bungalow
View: Secluded beachside
Beds: One queen bed and two singles
The family bungalow right by the beach, sheltered by the sacred tree and the mangroves. Direct access to the sea and the closest to the Sacred Mountain. An extra bed for a child up to 12 is available on request.
Bungalow
View: Garden
Beds: Double bed or two singles
A traditional bungalow thatched with Traveller's Palm, set among the lodge's tropical gardens. Quiet, close to the beach and the shared areas.
When to go
- Water temperature
- 27 °C in winter to 30 °C in summer
- Visibility
- 15–25 m, occasionally over 40 m
The lodge is open from mid-March to mid-January and closed for the rainy season from mid-January to mid-March. The dry season from May to October is cooler and drier with the best visibility. November to January is warmer and more humid with occasional rain, but visibility stays good and whale sharks are more frequent. Humpback whales pass from late August to October.
Getting there
Fly to Nosy Be, Fascene airport (NOS). The lodge lists six airlines serving Nosy Be across 15 direct destinations: Air Austral, Airlink, Ethiopian, EWA Air, Madagascar Airlines and Neos. Neos is the only one flying non-stop from Europe, with some European routes seasonal. Airlink is the lodge’s official airline partner and flies from Johannesburg. There is no need to route via Antananarivo.
From the airport to Chanty Beach on Nosy Be is about 45 minutes by road. Then a boat crosses to Nosy Sakatia: 15–20 minutes in normal conditions, longer in rougher weather. The boat is open and luggage is covered. The lodge arranges every transfer.
The local currency is the Malagasy ariary. Euros are the easiest to use (notes only); US dollars are accepted too (notes dated 2017 or newer, no $1 notes). There is a bureau de change and an ATM at Fascene airport. Sockets are European, types C and E. Tap water is not recommended for drinking.
Included in the price
Not included
Mandatory extras
Extras are per person and paid on site.
Price on request
Sakatia Lodge
Availability for your dates will be confirmed before any payment. Estimated wait time — 24 hours
Tent
Four canvas-and-timber tents at the edge of the primary forest and the tropical gardens. En-suite hot-water shower, veranda, safe, cooler box and kettle.
- View
- Garden, with a sea view from the upper tent
- Beds
- One king bed and one single
- Maximum guests
- 3
- Rooms of this type
- 4
Bungalow
A bungalow between the garden and the sea-facing side of the lodge, with a partial sea view from the veranda. An extra bed for a child up to 12 is available on request.
- View
- Garden and partial sea
- Beds
- Double bed or two singles
- Maximum guests
- 2
Bungalow
The family bungalow right by the beach, sheltered by the sacred tree and the mangroves. Direct access to the sea and the closest to the Sacred Mountain. An extra bed for a child up to 12 is available on request.
- View
- Secluded beachside
- Beds
- One queen bed and two singles
- Maximum guests
- 4
Bungalow
A traditional bungalow thatched with Traveller's Palm, set among the lodge's tropical gardens. Quiet, close to the beach and the shared areas.
- View
- Garden
- Beds
- Double bed or two singles
- Maximum guests
- 2
Sakatia Lodge
Dive resort
