Making the most of Mahajanga
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Limited water depth beside the wharf means only small vessels can use the terminal. Ships with a deeper draft anchor offshore and tender passengers into the town centre.
Mahajanga is both a city and district on Madagascar's north-western coast. This important seaport stands on the Betsiboka River, which flows into Bombetoka Bay.
Visitors to Mahajanga will find attractive natural surroundings, a bustling port quarter and a picturesque seafront promenade. Colourful markets and mosques sit alongside several elegant colonial buildings.
Getting around
Beautiful beaches surround the area.
1. A taxi costs MGA3,000.00 for journeys to or from anywhere within town.
2. A tuk-tuk charges MGA1,000 per person and carries a maximum of 3 people at once.
3. A Pousse Pousse is man-powered and costs MGA1,000~2,000 according to the distance.
4. Taxi B follows fixed routes, offers good coverage and costs from MGA300.00.
Money
The ariary is the unit of currency and predates French rule. Malagasy franc notes also displayed their value in ariary (50000 francs = iray alina ariary = one million ariary). One ariary is worth roughly half a U.S. cent.