Things to see and do Diego-Suarez – Antsiranana

A magnificent excursion, to realize in quad or in VTT for example. We reach the bay of Sakalava, then the bay of the Pigeons, and finally the bay of the Dunes, before finishing by the beach of Orangea and the village of Ramena. The sandy track criss-crosses between the forests of achypodiums and xerophilous species. From Ramena, you can also visit the 3 Bays on foot, count about 4 hours of walking. Note however that there is often a lot of wind and that the sun hits very hard! The return trip can be done by cab with reservation or by 4x4 if a guide is waiting for you.

The Emerald Sea, which faces the Bay of Dunes, is a paradise for lovers of turquoise waters and deserted beaches. Windsurfers and kitesurfers have a great time! Day trips are also organized. Snorkeling is also a must. From mid-June to early September, the wind can be violent and this expedition less attractive (the lagoon is cloudy). However, this is the best season to have the wind at your back! We therefore advise you to make this trip in the morning, before the wind gets stronger.

In Diego, whether in the warmth of the morning or the softness of the late afternoon, you have to relearn how to stroll... Flooded with sunshine, the streets of the city center are lined with colonial houses with faded facades in pastel shades of blue, pink, sienna or green. Traces of history, the beauty of buildings, the elegance of a drape, the fire of a look - there's so much to contemplate! The most successful example of colonial architecture is the string of colonnades on rue Colbert. Starting at Place Foch and following this artery, you'll find a succession of colonial-style buildings, with their flower-filled balconies and verandas. Take particular note of the beautiful Alliance française building. Rue Colbert ends in Rue Richelieu. At the intersection of these streets, you'll find an imposing colonial-style residence surrounded by ravenalas, the governor's residence in colonial times. Today, it is the seat of a territorial administration. Further on, frozen in oblivion, an imposing ochre-colored building, the ex-Hôtel de la Marine, a luxury establishment from the colonial period, lines its porticoes, arcades and arabesques. Overgrown with trees, this ghost of the past faces the immense, wind-swept bay. It exudes a strange atmosphere. The call to prayer echoes from the small white mosque nearby. In Diego, Chinese temples, churches and mosques are good neighbors. Continuing on to Place Clemenceau, you come to the bandstand. White columns lining the bay of Antsiranana bear witness to a bygone era. Further on, at the end of Rue Gourand, Place de l'Amiral Ronarch, adorned with a statue of Marshal Joffre, offers another perspective on the great harbor. In the foreground are mountains of containers, shipyard cranes and cargo ships awaiting unloading, while on the horizon, the jagged ridges of the creeks reveal themselves. This is where the most important port facilities begin. Diego offers a variety of atmospheres: elegant Sakalava women, old Comorian men in babouches, wearing fez and djellaba... A stroll through the popular Tanambao district is a must, with its stores of all kinds, its houses of wood and tin. At the end of boulevard Sylvain Roux, at the corner of the roads leading either to Ramena or to the airport, the Commonwealth military cemetery is a moving site where British, Indian and African soldiers lie buried, victims of the fighting against the Petainist administration in 1942. Their sacrifice enabled Mada to join Free France.

Farouk is THE guide who will enchant your trip to Madagascar! Official guide since 2016 and native of Diego, Farouk is passionate about travel and multilingual. He will organize for you any type of visit, culture or nature, in the city of Diego and in all the North of Mada. Endowed with a great culture, always attentive and listening, Farouk works for the biggest travel agencies of the country and he will be able to adapt to all your desires. He combines both know-how and know-how... You can follow him with closed eyes!

A quality website offering the discovery of the north Malagasy, which was updated by Guillaume.

A website very often updated by Pierre to discover Diego and the north of the country (also Nosy Be and Sambava/Antalaha).

In the Cul de Sac Gallois Bay, a 15-minute boat ride will take you to small hills planted with baobabs. Dozens of these majestic trees, some of them several hundred years old, can be discovered during an easy one-hour walk. The opportunity to see two endemic species of baobabs. We walk near Diego, in a completely different universe already with the crystal clear waters nearby. A visit of the most exotic not to be missed, especially if you do not go to see the baobabs of the Menabe region or the west of Madagascar.