The Pirate Cemetery
Old stones among plants.
Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Lemurbaby — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lemurbaby — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lemurbaby — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Frank Vassen from Brussels, Belgium — CC BY 2.0
Ile Sainte-Marie, also known as Nosy Boraha, is an island off the east coast of Madagascar, covering 222 square km, with Ambodifotatra as its main town. It has an estimated 30,000 people. It is known for its preserved character, beautiful beaches, whale watching and its history as a pirate haven. It stays quieter than Nosy Be, so it suits anyone looking for somewhere simple. The Betsimisaraka are the largest group here, with a long history of mixed marriage, including with pirates in the 17th century. The island was a well-known base for Indian Ocean pirates at that time, and their stories live on. It has a cemetery known as the Pirate Cemetery, along with an old church counted among the oldest in the country, on a hill near the town. You ride a motorbike along a narrow coast road among palms and villages. You can visit the cemetery with its old gravestones among the plants, then walk empty beaches. In the whale season, roughly July to September, humpback whales come into nearby waters, so take a boat with an operator who respects a safe distance. Sunset is lovely from the west coast. Visitors arrive by air from Antananarivo or by ferry from the mainland, which can be rough in heavy seas. The Pirate Cemetery and church lie near Ambodifotatra. The best time is July to November. Bring mosquito repellent, as the island is humid.
Old stones among plants.
Close to the coast.
Palms and quiet villages.
Off the east coast of Madagascar
Roughly July to September, so ask for the latest news before booking.
Yes, it was a base for Indian Ocean pirates in the 17th century, with fact and legend blended.