Antsiranana city is in Antsiranana Province.
Understand
[edit]Antsiranana, formerly known and still frequently named as Diego-Suarez, is at the northern tip of Madagascar. It's the country's 5th biggest city.
Get in
[edit]- It is 1108 km from Antananarivo. Travel time with a taxi-brousse is around 2 days. You can stopover in Antsohiny which is 424 km south of Antsiranana.
- 1 Arrachart Airport (DIE IATA). You can fly from Antananarivo or Nosy Be or Sambava with Tsaradia airlines part of Madagascar Airlines.
- EWA airlines has flights from Dzaoudzi Mayotte
- Air Madagacar booking office. Rue Sourcouf.
- 2 Cotisse transport, Route de la Pyrotechnie (corner w/ bd de l'Amiral Miot, 2 km south of city center). 06:00–19:30 every day. To/from Antananarivoː 2 days, 120 000-155 000 Ar (you can stop at Ambanja for Nosy Bay but you must still pay the full price to Antananarivo).
- Cruise terminal - a few cruise ships periodically dock here.
Get around
[edit]
Map of Antsiranana
- Badjaj around the city cost 1000 Ar.
See
[edit]
- 1 Pain de Sucre (Nosy Lonjo) (Southern part of the Diego Suarez Bay, south-east of the city center). Small conical island covered with vegetation and revered as a holy place.
- 2 French Military Cemetery.
Houses of Worship
[edit]- Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Anglican Cathedral
- Mosquée Bambao Antsiranana
Do
[edit]- 1 Montagne des Français (Ambohitr'Antsingy), N59B (7 km east of the city towards Ramena). Protected area with many hikesː 2 Vallée des Baobabs (also visible from the park entrance), 360° panoramic view of the bay, Vallée des Perroquets with wildlife. Entryː 30 000 Ar + mandatory guideː 50 000 Ar.
- 3 Sentier des 3 baies. 3 bays footpathː Baie de Sakaleva, Baie des Pigeons and Baie des Dunes.
A taxi from Diego Suarez can drive you in 1 hr to the Baie de Sakaleva, via N95B towards Ramena, turn on the right and drive on a sandy, bumpy track to Sakaleva Beach.
The walk is a day trip through the bays, watching kite surfers, old forts and a light house.
Walking around the cape, you can end your trip at the 4 Orangea Beach on the West coast and find your taxi at 5 Ramena Beach to drive you back to Diego Suarez (40 min).
Taxi hire for the dayː around 150 000 Ar (bargain). - 6 Mer d'Émeraude. Beautiful islands with unspoiled beach and emerald green sea. You can arrange a day trip from Ramena includingː boat trip, fresh lunch, snorkelling (100 000 Ar). Bring sunscreenǃ
- 7 Cap Diego.
- 8 Parc national de la Montagne d'Ambre, ☏ +261 32 56 337 24. National Park with abundant wildlife including lemurs, water falls, crater lakes.
Allow at least 2 hr drive from Diego Suarez to the town of Joffreville next to the park. Due to road works, the road is closed at some hours on the last 3 km from Joffreville to the Park entrance. Check the schedule beforehand. Entry adult/childː 55 000/25 000 Ar; tour guide 2-3 hrː around 90 000 Ar. - 9 Tsingy Rouge (60 km south of Diego Suarez, near the town of Sadjoavato). Stone formation of red laterite formed by erosion.
- 10 Réserve spéciale d'Ankarana (RN6 110 km south-west of Diego Suarez and 29 km north-east of Ambilobe).
Buy
[edit]- BFV-SG Bank, Rue Richelieu. 24-hour ATM. Has a Mastercard visa card ATM.
- Dokany Inporte Department store, R J Bezara. 09:00-20:00.
- Supermaki supermarket, Ave Diego. 07:00-23:00.
- Score Supermarket, Rue Golbert. 09:00-20:00.
- AccesBanque, R J Bezara. 24 hour atm. mastercard visa card atm.
- BNI, R Lafayette. 24 hours atm.. mastercard visa card atm.
- BMOI, Rue Colbert. 24 hours atm.. visa card atm.
- BOA Bank of Africa, Rue Richelieu. 24 hours atm.. visa card atm.
Eat
[edit]- Oh La La Pizza, Rue Sainte Marie. 10:00-22:00. Good pizza.
- Pizza Naelle, Rue Colbert. 10:00-22:00.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- Hotel Concorde. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. Double room with own bathroom. 30,000 Ar.
- Haimah Hotel, ☏ +261 32-6791756. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. Double room with hot water bathroom cable TV and free Wi-Fi. 25,000 Ar.
- Paradis Du Nord, Rue de Loky. Double room with own bathroom. 45,000 ar.
- Hotel Suffren, 6 Rue Suffren, ☏ +261 32-5920967. A/C double room with own bathroom. 40,000 Ar.
- 1 Hôtel Le Colbert, 51 rue Colbert. Centrally located. Friendly staff. Sporadic Wi-Fi. Next to the hotel, the Bistro Colbert offers very good breakfasts and meals at moderate price. Double w/ bathroomː 127 000 Ar.
Stay safe
[edit]Patronizing sex work can and will result in blackmail, arrest, and imprisonment for years. Be sure to read travel advisories before venturing on your own, especially to remote beaches. Avoid talking to overly-friendly locals, as they might be criminals.
Go next
[edit]- Ambanja Hotel Patricia phone +261 20-8650022. rooms from 35,000 Ar. Hubiscus Hotel in Ambanja rooms from 30,000 Ar.
- Ambilobe Hotel National. rooms from 45,000 Ar.
- Antsohihy Hotel Valiha. rooms from 50,000 Ar