This is generally a shorter circuit than travelling around the more adventurous south. It is also easily combined with the some of Madagascar’s gorgeous beaches.
Diego Suarez
Surrounded by a ring of mountains, the largest city in Northern Madagascar has one of the world’s most beautiful deep-water harbours, quietly decaying colonial architecture and baobabs standing watch over the graves of the Commonwealth soldiers who fell during the Battle of Madagascar in 1942. Straight and parallel roads lead visitors along impressive stone buildings with columns and large balconies, decorated public gardens and incredible views of the bay. The city has its own special character, which can not be found elsewhere in Madagascar. A lot of excursions can be organised from Diego : Windsor Castle, Mountain of the French, Emerald sea, 3 bays ….
The Grand Hotel
Allamanda
Montage D'Ambre
The 18,500 hectare rainforest of Montagne d’Ambre is 30 kilometres to the south of Diego and is not part of the eastern rainforest corridor, so its floral and faunal communities are somewhat different. You would expect to see groups of Crowned and Sanford’s lemur and this is the sole locality for the locally endemic Amber Mountain rock-thrush. Four crater lakes and three waterfalls contribute to the park’s scenic attractions. It is one of the few reserves that can also be enjoyed by people with limited mobility.
Domaine de Fontenay
Nature Lodge
Ankarana Special Reserve
Ankarana presents a fantastic landscape, with its expanses of razor sharp pinnacles (‘tsingy’). The 35 kilometre long limestone massif is pierced by caves and canyons, and, between sheer cliffs, sunken moist deciduous forests harbour rare wildlife. The reserve contains ten species of lemur, with large concentrations of Crowned, Sanford’s and sportive lemurs. Other mammals include Madagascar striped civet, tenercs, fosa and 13 species of bat! The 54 endemic birds include Coquerel’s coua, white-breasted mesite and various vangas.
Ankarana is best visited on a day trip from Diego.