Northern Madagascar - Madagascar - page 280

what you're doing, you can rent equipment. The hotel has a nice communal area/dining
room, with sofas, a pool table and a TV, where you can relax in the evenings.
La Mer d'Emeraude
On the northern side of the entrance to the Baie de Diego Suarez lies the gorgeous Mer
d'Emeraude (Emerald Sea), a sheltered bay of the Indian Ocean the colour and translu-
cence of a rare gemstone. The shelter is provided by a series of small islets, which make
ideal picnic stops and have good swimming and snorkelling.
Thanks to this idyllic setting, the Mer d'Emeraude has become a popular day trip from
Diego Suarez for some R&R. Standard packages include transport to Ramena, the sailing
from Ramena to Mer d'Emeraude (generally in a local sailing boat), three hours on an islet
to sunbathe, swim and snorkel (equipment is normally included) and a lunch that includes
alcoholic drinks. It's worth knowing that the package from Ramena onwards normally only
costs about Ar60,000 per person, yet many agencies charge around Ar250,000 for two be-
cause of the 4WD transfer from Diego to Ramena; so if you're on a budget, tell the tour
operator you'll arrange transport to Ramena yourself (and take a taxi-brousse or charter a
taxi for the day).
The sailing from Ramena to the Mer d'Emeraude can be very rough between May and
November when trade winds are strong, and you're pretty much guaranteed to get wet.
Make sure you arrange this excursion with a reputable agency ( Click here ) .
WINDSOR CASTLE & BAIE DU COURRIER
Windsor Castle is a 391m-high rock formation about three hours' drive (about
50km) northwest of Diego Suarez. The mountaintop is flat and served as a
French fort and lookout, which was taken by the occupying British in 1942;
you'll understand why it was fought over when you get to the summit: the
360-degree views, including Diego and the Bay of Diego Suarez to the east,
Baie du Courrier to the west, the archipelago of Nosy Hara to the southwest and
Cap d'Ambre to the north, are breathtaking.
Although Windsor Castle is impressive, what really makes the trip worth-
while is the journey there. The site is remote and can only be accessed by 4WD;
you'll pass beautiful and varied scenery along the way and get a fascinating in-
sight into the local economy and what life is like in remote areas.
After driving through Diego's industrial estate, you'll reach the salt marshes
run by the Compagnie Salinière de Madagascar. This is one of Madagascar's
most important salt-producing areas, with an annual production of 80,000 tons