Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If you're staying in Diego, a cheaper way of doing it is to charter a taxi for the day
(Ar80,000), have it drop you off at Baie de Sakalava and then pick you up in Ramena (or
vice versa). It's also recommended you take a guide (Ar50,000; ask at your hotel or the
tourist office), as the route is not always obvious and there have been muggings in the area.
Between December and March, when the wind has died down,
swimming
in the three
bays is blissful: beaches are deserted and the sea is calm, with a translucent, pale turquoise
colour that contrasts with the dark blue of the depths. There is good
snorkelling
too. Baie
des Dunes is the most sheltered of the three main bays.
Around the lighthouse at
Cap Miné
, you'll come across rusting military installations
(cannons, bunkers, buildings in ruins) dating back to WWII. The cape dominates La
Grande Passe, the entrance of the bay of Diego Suarez, and waves crash below the cliffs
with thunderous might.
The area between Cap Miné and Ramena is a military base and you'll need to pay an
admission fee (Ar5000) at the main gate.
Kitesurfing
EXTREME SPORTS
From April to November, when the winds blow so strong you'll struggle to retain owner-
ship of your hat, the Baie de Sakalava is a prime kitesurfing spot. The two hotels based in
the bay offer equipment rental and courses.
SLEEPING & EATING
The only accommodation in the area is on Baie de Sakalava, right by the beach.
Sakalava Lodge
BUNGALOW €€€
( 82 921 52;
www.sakalava.com
;
Baie de Sakalava; bungalow full board €75-95) There
are two types of bungalows at the Sakalava Lodge:
the garden bungalows are 'hard' structures, with whitewashed walls and colourful soft fur-
nishings. The seaside bungalows, however, are completely different - made of local mater-
ials and with lots of polished wood, pebbles and stone for decoration. Both have bags of
charm, and the whole place has a languid beach feel to it. With regards to activities, kite-
surfing rules (equipment and lessons are available); excursions can also be organised.
Royal Sakalava
BUNGALOW €€€
( 82 926 36;
www.royalsakalava.com
; Baie de Sakalava; r with half/full board €96/
108) The concrete bungalows at Royal Sakalava are functional but devoid of charm, which
shouldn'tmatter toomuch ifyou'rehere tomake the best ofthe windandsurf.Royal Saka-
lava's French kitesurfing instructor is IKO-affiliated (International Kiteboarding Organisa-
tion), and the hotel offers courses from beginners to advanced (€35 per hour). If you know
