It’s no secret that here at Barefoot Breaks we’re not crazy about the main island of Nosy Be itself – instead we rather suggest heading off to one of the smaller islands in the archipelago where you’ll find some gorgeous little beach lodges. Definitely the most popular of these amongst South Africans is Sakatia Lodge, located on the island of the same name which lies just a hop, skip and a jump off the west coast of Nosy Be. The fact that it’s just a short boat trip off Nosy Be is a major advantage in that it allows night-time or early morning transfers whereas with the further flung island lodges you often have to spend a night on Nosy Be itself. The close proximity to Nosy Be is also a bonus in that it allows you to easily nip across on day trips to the main island to check out the main attractions there.

Approaching Sakatia Lodge by sea, what strikes you first is the stunning location and in particular the densely forested mountain jutting out into the sea which lies adjacent to the lodge. Photographs of this “sacred mountain” (so-called because it is off limits in terms of the superstitions of the local Malagasy people) inevitably fail to illustrate its impressive, indeed massive presence which dominates when you’re at Sakatia Lodge. A golden beach stretches away towards a small local village, with the lodge tucked away prettily in the corner nearest the mountain.

A warm greeting awaits from owners Jose and Isabella who go out of their way to make guests relax and feel at home (son Jacques runs the extremely popular dive centre so it really is a family business) The lodge sleeps 26 people in total and the available accommodation varies quite a bit, in terms of position, size and of course price. Just don’t expect luxury or contemporary styling touches – they are all clean and simple rooms which are very comfortable and attractively laid out but without an air-conditioner in sight.

The cheapest option are the 4 Mango Bungalows which are simple rooms with an ethnic feel tucked away in the trees closest to the mountain. Then there are the 4 Ravinala Bungalows, larger rooms and up a hillside from which they enjoy lovely views over the sea towards Nosy Be. For families there’s the 2 bedroom Madiro Bungalow – one bedroom with a double bed and 2 singles in the other – which boasts a lovely veranda perched above the sandy beach amongst the trees next to the mountain. Finally the most upmarket and expensive option is the 3 bedroomed villa - Villa Ranomasy - perfect for larger families or groups of friends and enjoying a prime location above the main stretch of beach (these rooms are also rented out individually on occasion with the large veranda divided by partition screens for privacy)

It all sits amidst attractive gardens that strike the perfect balance between being natural and manicured at the same time. You’ll wake up to the song of scores of birds whilst lemurs can be seen coming down to the bar to feast on mangoes. Speaking of which, perched on the terrace above the beach lies the bar and restaurant area. No doubt you’ll end up enjoying a couple of ice-cold beers or cocktails as you relax in one of the loungers that sit overlooking the beach. The whole feel is very relaxed and sociable where you’re likely to spend time chatting with fellow guests at the bar like old mates – you’re likely to have plenty in common with them too given that the biggest proportion of guests here are South African! The restaurant with its circular thatched roof is open sided to take advantage of the cooling sea breezes. As you can imagine, seafood is the star of the show here with most of it caught earlier in the day and tasting superb – the food at Sakatia gets consistent rave reviews from guests!

For many of the guests the main attraction of Sakatia is the excellent diving on offer – compared to many other Indian Ocean island destinations, the coral reefs here are in superb condition with loads of diverse life, from a multitude of reef fish through to colourful nudibranchs. Further good news is that there are many prime dive sites within just a short boat ride of the lodge.

Of course you don’t have to be a diver to enjoy yourself as there are plenty of other activities and excursions on offer, both on Nosy Sakatia as well as Nosy Be. Snorkellers will love the warm clear waters with loads of exquisite corals and abundant fish – you can even swim out to the house reef in front of lodge. One thing to note is that the beach in front of the lodge is very tidal and there’s no swimming pool. Otherwise why not enjoy a guided tour of the island where you may see everything from exotic vanilla, ylang ylang and massive mango trees, to chameleons and lemurs. Throw in options like kayak trips, quad biking, deep-sea fishing (there’s a deep-sea operation based at the lodge) pirogue trips around the island, excursions to nearby Nosy Tanikely (where we snorkelled with loads of turtles!) and it’s clear that if you’re a lover of the great outdoors there’s more than enough to keep you happy!