Madagascar > Les Trois Baies

It was very warm in the room last night. There is an air conditioner, but it only switches on above 28 degrees. There is no way to adjust it manually. I heard it turn on repeatedly throughout the night, which says a lot about the temperature. I walk to the main street of Diego Suarez for breakfast. On the terrace of the Grand Hotel, by far the most luxurious hotel in the city, I order a breakfast menu. Back at the hotel, the 4x4 vehicles are ready again. Bruno welcomes me once more. He accompanies me to the Trois Baies—a walk along the azure sand bays on the ocean coast. Bruno explains that during World War II, a heavy battle took place in this area between the French-German alliance and the English, who wanted to prevent northern Madagascar from becoming a Japanese base. The English succeeded. I step onto the beach at Baie des Sakalava. I see the white sand and the beautiful blue water. Kite surfers are taking advantage of the very strong wind.

Madagascar - The Baie des Sakalava in northern Madagascar

I feel the sand blowing along my legs. Fortunately, I am walking with the wind. The seawater feels wonderfully warm. At the second bay, Baie des Pigeons, there is a beautiful rock formation. These are the foothills of the Tsingy-Tsingy mountains, Bruno explains. However, they are not related to the Tsingy rock formations I visited yesterday. The seawater has carved beautiful patterns into the rocks. I carefully walk over the sharp points. The third and final bay is Baie des Dunes. The white sand, blue water, and a few palm trees give it a paradisiacal appearance, especially since there is slightly less wind here. It’s wonderful to spend a few hours walking along the beach through these beautiful bays. Ga-bi is already waiting to take me to the lunch spot. Along the way, I pass the remnants of the old French barracks at the entrance to the bay of Diego. From here, access to Diego Bay could be well guarded. Diego Suarez Bay, at 156 square kilometers, is the second largest bay in the world. The largest is in Rio de Janeiro. After lunch, I dive into the sea. The water is crystal clear and wonderfully warm. I let myself drift along in the water. In the afternoon, I am back in Diego Suarez. I walk through the center. Unfortunately, the circular walking tour from the Tourist Info is only in French, so I decide to explore on my own. The city center is not very large. I walk along the main street, observing the old and often decaying colonial houses.

Madagascar - The rock formations in Baie des Pigeons

I visit the building of the Alliance Française, a kind of community center. The exterior is more interesting than the interior. At the courthouse and town hall, I turn left and come across the ruins of the Hôtel de la Marine. This was once home to the French navy, later taken over by the Malagasy navy. In 1984, this colonial building was severely damaged during a cyclone. Since then, it has stood as a ruin in the city. It’s a real shame for such a remarkable building. At the edge of the bay, at the luxury Melville Hotel, I order a drink. From the terrace, I watch two boys trying to push a fishing boat against the waves. In the evening, I look for a restaurant on the main street and end up in an Italian restaurant. I order lasagna.

Madagascar - The former naval headquarters lies abandoned after several earthquakes