There are some lodges where the real magic is actually the people behind them, even more so than the physical buildings themselves – and Komba on the Rocks is pretty much the perfect example of this! The lodge is the dream-made-reality of South African couple Isak and Sunette, who first came on holiday to Madagascar in 2018 and absolutely loved it – so much so in fact, that they sold up their life back in SA and returned the following year to buy a piece of land on the small island of Nosy Komba where they (despite the many challenges posed by the Covid epidemic) proceeded to build this lovely little 4-roomed lodge! And if there’s one thing that’s repeated in just about every guest review you’ll read about Komba on the Rocks, is how guests simply rave about these wonderfully friendly hosts, who have succeeded in fostering a real home-from-home atmosphere at this little gem of a lodge!

A 20 minute boat ride from the harbour on Nosy Be brings you to Komba on the Rocks’ gorgeous location on the east coast of Nosy Komba where it sits perched on a lushly forested hillside above a small stretch of sandy beach surrounded by large granite boulders – there’s even a small stream with waterfall flowing through the garden! The 4 spotlessly clean rooms are in a modern-style build with cement walls and roof structure as opposed to the wood and palm thatch construction more commonly found in many of the other lodges in the area. They’re simple but very comfortable, boasting king-size beds, twin his’n’hers vanities as well as a spacious shower. The star of the show however, is definitely the superb views on offer from their elevated hillside position, with spectacular sunrises on offer for the early risers!

If you’re looking for a wonderfully relaxed spot to simply chill and shake off the stresses and strains of our fast-paced modern existence, then Komba on the Rocks is absolutely ideal. The spacious room veranda decks with their comfortable loungers are a great place for guests to relax and chill for a few hours with a good book. Or how about a blissfully relaxing massage utilising local aromatic oils!  If you’re feeling a bit more active, then kayaks and stand-up paddle-boards are available at the lodge to explore the calm waters surrounding the island. Even better, a short swim (or you could paddle out instead) brings you to a nice house reef in front of the lodge, where you can enjoy decent snorkelling admiring the pretty corals, reef fish and more likely than not, also spot the odd turtle!

Komba on the Rocks is also the perfect base to explore the many other attractions of the area and Isak takes great pleasure in arranging excursions for his guests – from experiencing the craft market and lemur sanctuary at the village of Ampangorina on the northern tip of Komba island, or perhaps a visit to the gorgeous coral reefs of the nearby marine national park of Nosy Tanikely; other options include excursions to spot the humpback whales and whale sharks that can be found in the waters around Nosy Be during the second half of the year, or you could enjoy scuba diving or deep sea fishing!

Back at the lodge after a busy day full of action (or having enjoyed a chilled day of relaxation – you choose after all!), you’ll be able to enjoy the other aspect of Komba on the Rocks that guests most commonly rave about – the excellent meals on offer here (we recommend you indulge in a delicious sundowner cocktail or two first of course!) Fresh seafood features prominently as you would expect, often accompanied by lovely salads from the lodge’s organic veggie garden. And as you would expect from any decent South African, Isak also delights in showing off some seriously talented braaiing skills!