Fish from the channel. Vanilla from the island.
Cooked simply. Eaten slowly.
Whatever the boats bring back at noon is what we're cooking by evening. Around it: Malagasy vanilla from the next island over, peppercorns from the highlands, rum from the village distillery. The chalkboard at the bar lists today's specials — half of which won't be there tomorrow.
Island dining — the Sambatra way.
Natural Design Inspired By Island Living
From relaxed beachfront breakfasts to unforgettable sunset dinners, dining at Sambatra is designed to be as memorable as the island itself. Fresh coastal flavours, handcrafted cocktails, and breathtaking ocean views come together in a setting where every meal feels effortlessly special.
Island Hospitality — Naturally.
The People Behind the Experience
Every dining experience is shaped by genuine hospitality, warm island spirit, and the people who make every guest feel at home. From shared meals and sunset conversations to attentive service and unforgettable moments, our team is dedicated to creating experiences that feel personal, relaxed, and truly memorable.
The bar — open early, open late.
Dzama rum, Three Horses beer, and whatever the trees are giving us.
Cocktails are mostly improvised around what's ripe — usually lime, mango and something local. There's wine, there's beer, there's good rum. Opens around eleven; closes when the last guest finishes telling their story.
Shared by guests
Moments at Sambatra.
EXCELLENT Based on 181 reviews Posted on Tripadvisor Denis BVerified What a Memorable Holiday – Sambatra Beach Lodge Paradise on Ile aux Nattes – Sambatra Beach Lodge ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We spent 10 wonderful days at Sambatra Beach Lodge (end of August – early September) and couldn’t have chosen a better place. The island of Ile aux Nattes itself is a little slice of paradise, and Sambatra made our stay unforgettable. The lodge has just six bungalows, all facing the sunset beach – waking up and ending the day with that view felt like a dream. Every night we fell asleep to the gentle sounds of waves lapping on the shore, and each morning we woke up to the soft calls and songs of exotic birds – a truly magical way to start and end each day. The weather was perfect: warm, mild temperatures around 26–27°C, with almost no rain except for the occasional light shower at night. The food at Sambatra was excellent, and you have flexible dining options: you can eat in the lodge restaurant or, if you prefer, they can serve your meals right outside your bungalow. The fish dishes are exceptionally good, and every meal felt fresh and flavourful. One memorable moment was when we wanted some coconut water – Julie climbed a tree and provided us with a fresh coconut right there. It couldn’t get any fresher than that! Vincent also encouraged us to try other restaurants on the island – which we did – giving us a great sense of the local flavours. Vincent is an outstanding host. He created this resort from scratch, and his passion shows in every detail. He is always there at hand, offering advice, arranging trips, and making sure everything runs smoothly. His hospitality is exceptional – I honestly wish all hosts were like him. He personally organized our transport from Sainte Marie airport by tuk-tuk and the boat ride to Ile aux Nattes. Thanks to Vincent, we experienced some incredible activities: Whale watching – we were lucky to see three humpback whales at very close distance. We had to take two trips because we didn’t see the whales on the first trip, but it was absolutely worth it. The experience took our breath away and will remain one of our most unforgettable memories. Snorkelling at Îlots aux Sables – crystal-clear water and amazing marine life. All our boat trips around the island were arranged by local guy Florio, Vincent’s friend. Thank you, Florio! Day trip to Sainte Marie – we explored the island with Julie, a staff member at Sambatra who acted as our guide. We visited the local Malagasy market, enjoyed a tuk-tuk ride around the island, explored the Ikalalao jungle, took a serene boat ride through the mangrove forest, and had a relaxing massage at Princess Bora Lodge. Our visit to the Ikalalao jungle was particularly special: we went with a local guide who was extremely knowledgeable in botany and passionate about the forest. He showed us the medicinal and traditional uses of many plants, which gave us a whole new appreciation of the Malagasy flora. Along the way, we spotted colourful Sunbirds and several Chameleons perfectly camouflaged in the vegetation. Observing these creatures in their natural habitat was both fascinating and unforgettable. Exploring the north of Ile aux Nattes – where we enjoyed seeing Black and White Ruffed Lemurs in their natural surroundings. The island itself is stunning, covered in lush tropical vegetation and alive with the sounds of nature. Small sandy paths crisscross through the greenery, leading you past coconut palms, banana trees, and patches of vanilla and rice fields. As you explore, you’ll often come across the occasional zebu grazing quietly or chickens running around freely, adding to the island’s charm and authenticity. Even outside our bungalow, we were delighted to spot a Madagascar Day Gecko and cute Ghost crabs running across the beach to their burrows, adding a touch of wildlife right at our doorstep. Getting a little lost is part of the adventure, and it never feels worrying — there are always friendly local kids nearby who are more than happy to guide you to your destination with a smile. The whole atmosphere feels untouched, genuine, and deeply connected to traditional island life. Nights on Ile aux Nattes were magical. With no light pollution, the sky was filled with countless stars, and walking along the beach under the glow of a full moon lighting up the sand and producing ghostly shadows of palm trees felt truly unforgettable. A special highlight: a Malagasy Kestrel is nesting right at the lodge – a rare and wonderful sight for nature lovers. It was also very nice to meet and talk with other guests at Sambatra Beach Lodge, who came from different parts of the world. Sharing stories and experiences added another enriching layer to our stay. On a practical note: mosquitos here are tiny, almost invisible, but not very numerous. We only got a few bites in 10 days, thanks to mosquito repellent and the bed netting provided in the bungalow. We would also like to give our heartfelt thanks to Vincent’s amazing staff and the local people who helped us daily – Julie, Florio, Pepita, Monique, and Eve. Their kindness and support made our stay even more special. We would also like to thank cat Kinga and dog Vinnie for the amusement they provided during dinner! Overall, Sambatra Beach Lodge is the perfect place to relax, explore, and immerse yourself in the island’s magic. Highly recommended – we would return in a heartbeat! Thank you Vincent!Posted on Tripadvisor Peter_HermitVerified Gran bel posto Veramente un gran bel posto. Chiunque in zona voglia fare una sosta marina non può che scegliere l‘Ile aux Nattes, e su quest‘isoletta da sogno, soggiornare da Vincent. E‘ un sudafricano innamorato del posto - e si vede. Ad agosto le temperature sono miti, non calde, ma si riesce comunque a fare il bagno.Posted on Tripadvisor Marzena ZVerified Place to be active and lazy in great scenery. Fantastic place, fantastic hospitality, fantastic very helpful owners. Great food and drinks. Variety of activities.Posted on Tripadvisor Michael KVerified ein Traum Wir waren 19 Tage Gäste bei Vincent und Valerie und jeder Tag war wie ein neuer Tag im Paradies. Die Logde ist einfach nur ein Traum, man fühlt an jeder Stelle das sich Vincent hier sein kleines Stück vom Paradies erschaffen hat und es mit seinen Gästen teilt. Von der Begrüßung bis zum Abschied haben wir uns nicht nur wohl gefühlt sondern wirklich herzlich willkommen. Die Logde und der Strand waren super sauber, das Essen klasse und der Staff immer da um alle unsere Wünsche zu erfüllen. Das beste aber waren die Menschen die wir dort trafen. Anders als in andern Hotels, versammelt man sich dort in der regel abends um einem langen Tisch und es wurden Geschichten geteilt und spätestens wenn das "Rum Schiff" ankommt ist die Stimmung einfach nur perfekt. Bitte kommt an diesen Ort, so etwas gibt es nirgendwo mehr auf der Welt und ich wünsche mir so sehr das diese ganz spezielle Energie die dort herrscht noch sehr lange erhalten bleibt. Danke Vincent, Danke Valerie das wir für 19 Tage das konzept für Zeit bei euch velieren durften und durch die wichtigen dinge wie ruhe und gelassenheit ersetzten konnten. Michael und DanielaPosted on Tripadvisor Tommaso VVerified Il paradiso è Ile Aux Nattes Tutto perfetto. Posto da cartolina, spiagge incontaminate,acqua cristallina, natura selvaggia. Un sogno che si avvera. Sambatra rispecchia perfettamente l’ambiente circostante, una struttura semplice e accogliente, dotata di tutti i comfort ( per chi cerca un’esperienza autentica e al contatto con la natura). Vincent e Valerie insieme al loro staff coccolano gli ospiti con un’ospitalità familiare, ti viziano con degli ottimi pasti a colazione,pranzo e a cena in base alle tue esigenze, ti accompagnano con la loro barca ad osservare le balene ( esperienza unica e meravigliosa), ti raccontano l’isola ,che è possibile visitare passeggiando tra una natura lussureggiante e villaggi autentici, ti danno informazioni su eventuali spostamenti e creano una magica sinergia tra tutti gli ospiti pur dando loro tutta la riservatezza necessaria. I bungalow di Sambatra hanno una splendida vista mare, con tramonti unici e notti illuminate da un cielo stellato e cullate dal suono delle onde del mare. Un’isola ancora sconosciuta al turismo di massa, un vero paradiso Un viaggio che rimarrà nei nostri cuori così come le persone incontrate. Tommaso e SofiaPosted on Tripadvisor Lisa CVerified This place is perfect if you want a chilled, comfy, friendly vibe! Sambatra Lodge really helped me out when I started out staying at the south of the island, and found the beach and area was not what I had hoped for at all. Sambatra was totally different to that. The beach was beautiful, the water deeper and the bungalows all had an ocean view from their patio with sun loungers. The owners, Vincent & Valerie couldn’t have been nicer, and Vincent went to great lengths to introduce me to all the other guests and make me feel very welcome, which was lovely as I was travelling solo. I’ve never known anyone else to do this. At dinner time all of us shared a long table, which was so much fun! There are several areas to relax, with comfy chairs, which was also very welcome. Bungalows have a lovely comfy bed, with mozzy nets that were actually big enough for the bed, which made a nice change in Madagascar. Even after I had gone back to my hotel on main island of Sainte Marie, Vincent still came to pick me up for a great morning of whale watching with the guests I had met before, and it was greatly appreciated.Posted on Tripadvisor Roeland NVerified Our best accomodation in Madagascar My girlfriend and I stayed at Sambatra for three nights and we loved it! The island (Île aux Nattes) is very special, the lodges are excellent, the location is stunning and the owner has become a friend. You can even see whales from the veranda of your lodge.Posted on Tripadvisor Enrico MVerified Magnifico Location e accoglienza perfetta , grazie ad Elisabetta e suo marito Jan , assieme al loro direttore Valerio ogni esigenza viene risolta grazie alla loro esperienza e conoscenza di Nosy Be. Ristornate tutto espresso con piatti locali e non, di altissimo livello ! Se volete riposare è il posto giusto e se invece volete muovervi e vedere tutto quello che c è da vedere, dalla spiaggia ,fronte hotel, partono tutte le escursioni ! Vi dico solo andateci e provate … EnricoPosted on Tripadvisor Rachel WVerified Amazing location, wonderful hosts We spent a wonderful 4 nights at Sambatra Lodge with family - we were 4 adults and 4 kids aged 8-15. We all loved it. Vincent and Valerie were fantastic hosts and made us feel very welcome. They went above and beyond to make our trip special and also to help us celebrate our son’s 8th birthday - so many special memories. The location is spectacular, the food delicious and the ambience second to none. Whale watching was an experience we’ll never forget. We have stayed in various hotels on Ile aux Nattes and Sainte Marie and Sambatra Lodge is our favourite. I really hope we can return.Posted on Tripadvisor NickThomasTCBVerified This is where you want to be. Vincent and Valerie are really good people who will ensure you're completely taken care of on your visit. The lodge is awesome, complete with good food and great bungalows at the waters edge. This was the nicest place we stayed at in six weeks of travel here.
















