Antsiranana is more commonly known as Diego Suarez, named after a Portuguese sailor who arrived in 1543. This is Madagascar's fifth largest town and is of increasing interest to visitors for its diverse attractions.

This cosmopolitan town is set on one of the world's largest and finest natural harbours in the Indian Ocean, and until 1973 served as a French naval base. The bay is approximately 250sq/km (100sq/miles) with an entrance of only 1200m (0.75 miles) wide.

Antsiranana is a provincial capital, an important port, and northern Madagascar's main town. One of the attractions is Sugar Loaf Mountain, appropriately known as Pain de Sucre, just offshore. Diego's population comprises predominantly of the Antakarana clan, and there is a large Moslem community.

Antsiranana Points of Interest: