Location: Mahajanga
Top Things to do in Mahajanga
What to do and see in Mahajanga, Madagascar: The Best Places and Tips
Mahajanga in Madagascar, from Africa region, is best know for Canyons. Discover best things to do in Mahajanga with beautiful photos and great reviews from traveller around the world here!
Restaurants in Mahajanga
1. Cirque Rouge
Overall Ratings
4 based on 81 reviews
Reviewed By liditagomez2
You need to take a taxi from Majunga, and then walk around the circus. It is very impressive once you're in the centre ogf the circus.
Try to get an explanation on what not to do, since it is a sacred place for the locals and there is a worship place, so though it's hard to get lost you have to be respectful.
2. Ankarafantsika National Park
Overall Ratings
4 based on 101 reviews
Reviewed By Maria_the_Snorkeler - Moscow, Russia
My experience at the Park was extremely enjoyable, to put it mildly. In fact, it was incredible. Bird- and animal watching started as soon as I arrived in the Park in the morning. Birds were everywhere: sickle-billed vanga, Madagascan hoopoe, broad-billed roller, Malagasy kingfisher, magpie robin, Malagasy bulbul, long-billed tretraka, and Malagasy coucal – just for starters, to say nothing about the family of Coquerel’s sifakas and numerous spiny-tailed iguanas. We went into the forest to see more birds including Van Dam’s vanga, paradise flycatchers (rufous male and female), rufous vanga, hook-billed vanga, crested ibis in the nest, red-capped coua, Coquerel’s coua, crested coua, Scops owl, white-breasted mesite, souimanga sunbird (male and female), Madagascan cuckoo-roller, lesser vasa parrot, crested drongo, Sakalava veaver, and Chabert vanga. The Scops owl was absolutely loveable and following and watching a couple of red-capped couas was fantastic. I also saw 2 snakes, a common big-eyed snake at the forest and a huge ground boa near my bungalow (the lodge where I stayed, Gite de Ampijoroa, is in the Park too). The boa was really big, about 3 meters (see picture). After a quite agreeable lunch at the restaurant near the entrance to the Park/Lodge, I had a boat ride on the lake. It was probably the most incredible boat ride I had in my life. I saw the crocodiles in the wild for the first time, some in the water and three crocs on the banks. And a wealth of birds! Apart from numerous cattle egrets, the birds included white-faced ducks, purple heron, Humblot’s heron, Malagasy kingfisher, Madagascar bee-eater, striated heron, glossy ibis, Squacco heron, black heron, three-banded plover, jacana, fish eagle, sooty falcon, and Madagascar buzzard. A Humblot’s heron walking among young crocodiles looked bizarre. It was great to see jacana, the famous small wader bird with disproportionately huge feet. The most interesting was watching black herons fish using the canopy trick: using its wings to make an umbrella to create shade and thus attract fish into the shade. There was a family of brown lemurs near the lake, playing and resting in a big tree. I liked Ankarafantsika so much that, on the way back from Nosy Be and Ankarana Reserve, I decided to spend one more night there and asked for the same bungalow in hope of seeing my friend the ground boa. Early in the morning I went birdwatching to another location where I was absolutely thrilled to see the iconic Schlegel’s asity, a small passerine bird with a blue and Emerald “flowers” around the male’s eyes. The couple of asities was working on their nest (redecorating it from the way it looked). During this short morning walk, among other birds, I also saw a couple of courting and, finally, mating crested couas. Amazing! The lake with its inhabitants impressed me so much that I took another boat ride, this time in the morning. There was only one crocodile in the water in the distance (perhaps because it was not warm enough yet for them to bask in the sun), but I had a wonderful chance to watch a jacana from a very close distance and take a very good look at the fish eagle (see pictures). When I returned from the boat ride, I was greeted by my friend the boa in front of my bungalow. Finally, wildlife I saw during my two night walks at Ankarafantsika included Malagasy-cat-eyed snake, several chameleons including short-nosed chameleon, nightjar, a big bat hanging from a branch, grey mouse lemur, a sleeping common gery, a frog Heterixalus luteostriatus, sportive lemur, fat-tailed dwarf lemur, and a tree rat. What else to dream of? To go there again. My special thanks to my wonderful and patient guide Olga
3. Grotte d'Anjohibe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By gail o - Mumbai, India
We went with Rivo John- a well known guide in the area and featured in Lonely Planet Guide (perhaps others) We met with Rivo to organize a couple of day tours in the area of Mahajanga. One area we went was the Grotte d'Anjohibe. We were told that the drive was going to be 3 or 3 1/2 hours and it could easily be covered in a day trip. (it was not - we spent over 10 hours in an old jeep which broke down for one hour) We were all fine with the rough roads, but if you have any back problems at all, don't undertake this trip. We were promised to see Waterfalls and lemurs in the wild - We did not, the only ones we saw were tied up at the restaurant or domesticated ones that came to the table while we were eating. (It was cute, but not what we expected and heartbreaking to see the animals tied up) We were told we would see a lake next to the caves, we did not. We did see a wonderful natural pool next to a restaurant and bungalows which we later found out are owned by the guide...
The reviews for the caves are very positive, so please keep that in mind! The caves were spectacular, but I don't think we were able to see as much as others did because we needed to leave enough time so we had light in which to travel back.
Shop around for a guide and compare prices - ask up front what you are going to see and ask what is included. The lunch was very expensive and turned out to be extra..
Aside from that what an amazing country to see! Can't wait to go back!
4. Lac Sacre
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 46 reviews
Reviewed By Avani A - Algarve, Portugal
This is a very enchanted sacred and well protected place, with many stories and legends, that you can't miss!
The trees are part of the misticism and they look so beautiful with all that stuffs around!
The sweet waters of the lake are absolutely magical, and the fact that the fishes living there belong to salt waters of the ocean, is magical!
Here you also will find many lizrads and iguanas, a lot of beautiful exotic colourful birds, Lemures, cameleons, baobas trees, and a lot more!
We understood there is some local wise Xamans that can give you prayers or blessings, but only if you speake with someone of the area, and in very special days!
You need to pay some money to get in, and there will be a guide for explain you all about!
It's amazing!
I love this lake!
Again, deep thank you to Mr. Toki Armel, from Mahajunga Tourisme Office.
5. Antsanitia Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By Jean-rené G - Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Après une longue piste plus ou moins pratiquable mieux vaut avoir un4x4 vous arrivés au dessus d’une belle plage et estuaire d’une rivière à marée basse belles balades et baignades un village de pêcheurs sympas et un restaurant très agréable belle terrasse et piscine et restauration correct
6. Aventure et Decouverte Madagascar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
Tout operator specialized for excursions in the region of majunga with a chart of quality and safety. You can descover many beautifull place with buggy 4x4 pirogue an catamaran (sailing). You can ever descover the new ecolodge Papamena. videos available on youtube
Reviewed By Noureen L
Franck nous a vendu un voyage qu'on a pas du tout eu la chance de vivre. Il nous a dit que toutes les excursions étaient compris dans le prix, mais les excursions ne s'aggissaient que de marcher dans la brousse autour de son site. Il parlait aussi souvent de bungalow, mais il faut dire que c'étiat en fait des tentes dans les arbres avec des lits. On a été promis des quads pour notre utilisation compris dans le prix... mais il n'y avait aucun quad sur le terrain. Tandis que la nourriture était bonne, la boissoin gazeuse était inclus dans le prix... mais pas en vrai vie! Il a fallu qu'on paie pour toutes nos boissons, sauf l'eau. On a payé beaucoup trop cher pour un voyage en camping proche d'une rivière belle, mais qui ne vallait pas du tout le tarif.
7. Eco Parc Reniala
Overall Ratings
4 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By karinae1 - Gothenburg, Sweden
Iguess we just strolled the short walk, after this, I dont see the point going here. Liked to see the baobabs, few birds. soooo dry area.
8. Piste rouge location de quad
Overall Ratings
4 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By keshmad - Toliara
Went to look at quads and servicing for my car,just a fuel filter change,was quoted over 400000 ariary. Boss not speak or attempt to speak English just quite rude ,had to go through secretary to get any sense Very expensive place for basic jobs
9. Phare de Katsepy
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Philbec92 - Clamart, France
Après avoir pris une embarcation au port de Majunga pour aller à Katsepy, nous avons pris un taxi "local" pour aller jusqu'au phare construit par G. Eiffel en 1901. Du haut du phare, il y a une superbe vue sur la baie de Bombetoka.
Si vous voulez poursuivre la visite, vous pouvez demander au fils du gardien de phare de vous guider sur la plage en contre-bas du phare et de vous emmener jusqu'au canyon où vous pourrez découvrir un étrange paysage multicolore fait de concrétions
10. Soma Beach
Overall Ratings
3 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Jack R - Lausanne, Switzerland
Quand on arrive sur le site, la vue de cette immense plage et route surprend le visiteur, par rapport au reste du pays. Le projet est superbe, mais la fréquentation par la population est faible la majorité du temps. De plus, peu de gens se baignent ici, car des Fady et rumeurs disent que c'est dangereux dans ces eaux...
Une jetée (pont) est construit, mais interdit au public ?
Il faut y aller dès la fin de journée surtout le week-end. Petites gargottes et grillades pour calmer la faim.
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