Mahajanga, with a population of over 250,000, is the capital of the Mahajanga Province. Located on Bombetoka Bay, an inlet of the Mozambique Channel at the mouth of the Betsiboka River it is the regional road terminus and the export centre of all major Malagasy products being its port the third largest of the country. Traditionally this city, founded by the Arabs in 1700s, traded with weapons, slaves, precious gems, spices, fabrics. Nowadays, it trades with mostly Africa, Middle-east, Asia and Europe. Apart from Malagasy peoples (Sakalava, Tsimihety, Merina), the city counts important Arab, Comorian, Chinese, Indian-Pakistanese natives' communities, that makes it the most cosmopolitan region in Madagascar. As in all port cities, watch your pockets! Thieves are very common.

Its surroundings are not less attractive: Mahajanga’s baobabs, scattered islands, forest reserves, lakes and caves have turned it into a major escape away for capital’s inhabitants. Despite the many and obvious advantages this region, international tourists are still reluctant to visit it and tend to move further north to Nosy Be or Antsiranana (Diego Suarez).

What to see, the old city which is delimitated by boulevard Poincaré, Avenue de France, Quai Orsini and rue du Marechal Joffre, is best sight seen on foot. The photographic motifs are extraordinarily plentiful: trading posts, sculpted wooden doors, all remnants of the Arabic origins of the city, old colonial houses with ochre facades show some relics of a gone glory, narrow streets with small gardens planted with bugambilia plants… At the seaside, wooden boats are up and downloaded  goods,  rice, fish, cotton. At night, you cannot miss walking on the sea promenade, mixing with locals seating seafront, who entertain themselves with guitar serenades and eating kebabs. From here the view on the ships’ cemetery with its old wrecks is fascinating.

When walking around just take following precaution: avoid the midday hours!