Enjoy the Colours of Mahajanga Cirque Rouge

Enjoy the different colours of Mahajanga Cirque Rouge
 
The mesmerizing cirque rouge is truly a wonder of nature. It is situated at the heart of a former English military camp, more specifically, a former shooting range where bullets have been found. Traces of British soldiers’ tombs have also been discovered. Legend has it that dinosaurs used to live in the cirque, which would explain the shape of the excavation, retaining the contours of a dinosaur that sought refuge there. A sedimentary formation from the quaternary era, the cirque rouge was a river mouth of approximately 40 hectares. It is a source of raw materials for the craftsmen of Majunga, who use it to make bottles from sand, that they decorate with extraordinary patterns. Since 2000, the site has had more and more visitors and in 2010 was listed as a protected national heritage.
Enjoy the different colours of Mahajanga Cirque Rouge
 
Located 12km to the north of Amborovy airport in Mahajanga, it is one of the essential tourist sites of the Boeny region. It can be accessed on foot or by car, and is situated near the ‘Grand Pavois’ beach.
 
This article was featured in Prime Magazine August 2019

Useful Information

When to go

The climate being hot and dry, with an annual temperature of 26°C, it is advised to visit Majunga between April and October. To protect you from the sun you can use local products such as Masonjoany or various essential oils.

How to get there

Air Madagascar local flights can take you from the capital to the ‘town of flowers’ in a short time. However, for the more adventurous, you can try travelling by land, driving along the RN4 highway: a seven-hour journey. You can then take local transport into the cirque rouge.

Where to stay

You can book rooms at the Hotel Anjajavy Lodge or at the Baobab Tree Hotel. The Coco Lodge, the Hotel Zahamotel and the Saara Hotel offers a warm welcome along the Amborovy road. It is also possible to stay at the Antsanitia Resort or at The Red Rocks.

Where to eat

Papi Râleur (which means ‘grumpy grandpa’) or Karon offer typical meals of the region. Less formal, there are snack-bars or small restaurants to try some typical local meals in a typical context.

What to see

Visit the national park of Ankarafantsika on the RN4 to see the Sifaka lemurs and enjoy the biodiversity of the site. You can also enjoy the beautiful beaches of Majunga or Amborovy and the Grand Pavois.