Cruises to Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), Madagascar
Port description
Antsiranana situated in the extreme north of Madagascar, known as Diego Suarez until 1975 and still called Diego by many, is the capital of Madagascar's northernmost province. It has one of the world's most beautiful deep-water harbours, complete with a photogenic sugarloaf mountain. Visitors on a cruise to Antsiranana usually love this city, which is probably the most French city on Madagascar. It has this colonial feel over it. This is the largest city of the north with a huge cosy market, a range of fine restaurants and some fantastic places and national parks to visit nearby. Diego is the perfect place to hang around and prepare for visiting the neighbourhood.
Typical Excursion
Emerald Bay is just one of 3 enclosed bays in Diego Suarez. It is round shaped, about 20 km in perimeter, the bay comprises several pristine and empty beaches with almost no tourist development. The Nosy Hara Archipelago is a group of about 12 islands which is now involved in conservations project to protect marine resources from unsustainable exploitation. The unique combination of fossil coral cliffs, jagged peaks, remote locality, and proximity to rich fishing grounds provide ideal habitat for Madagascar’s unique wildlife species. With an abundance of national parks, safari trips and all kind of water sports on offer a cruise deal to Antsiranana will keep everyone occupied.
A day trip to the nearby beach at Ramena is very recommendable. Ramena is a small village with a sandy uncrowded beach; the beach is popular among all ages. A series of beautiful turquoise bays, lined with long white beaches that bear fascinating names such as the Pigeons’ Bay, the Duns ‘Bay, the Sakalava Bay. In the latter, there are three islets but also the Hotel Club baie des Sakalava, a bay open to the winds and big waves of the Indian Ocean that make this place one of the best surfing spots in Madagascar. One thing is for sure you won’t be short of a beach whilst on a cruise to Antsiranana.
For those who want to try something different whilst on a cruise to Antsiranana the local delicacies include Ro (rice cooked with herbs), Ramazava (herbs, beef and pork cooked till brown in oil), Foza sy hena-kisoa (a stir-fried pork, crab and rice preparation) and Vary amid’ anana (rice, cooked with herbs and meat or seafood). A popular snack is Koba, a helping of rice, banana and seafood. A wide variety of local and international cuisine and beverages are also available.
Be sure to visit the alien-looking karst limestone formations of Tsingy de Bemaraha whilst on cruise to Antsiranana, this site is unique on Earth and have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, in 1990. The southern part of the area was transformed into a national park, open to tourists, while the northern side remains a carefully protected natural reserve. Known by most people as Nosy Boraha, this little island on the eastern coast of the Great Red Island was the centre of piracy in the Indian Ocean. Famous corsairs as William Kidd or Thomas White made Ile Ste-Marie their headquarters because of its concealing vegetation and tough-to-navigate lagoons. Often referred to as ‘the holy city’, ‘the blue city’ or ‘the forbidden city’, Ambohimanga is considered the birthplace of the Malagasy people and therefore, a significant symbol of cultural identity.
A cruise deal to Antsiranana offers the best of a cruise holiday along with the beauty of the beaches, the mountains and sea also chance to see and explore some of the most amazing Islands on Earth. Our cruise deals to Antsiranana are flexible, cheap and simple to organise for all the family so you can arrive when you want, how you want and on a budget to suit you, book today to get the best deals.
