One of Madagascar’s larger cities, Mahajanga (formerly known as Majunga) lies on the north-west coast and serves as a seaport for the Boeny region of the island from where it exports sugar, coffee, spices, cassava and vanilla beans, amongst others. It’s a favourite vacation destination for both Malagasy tourists and international voyagers and has some of the most beautiful beaches, over eight months of indisputably gorgeous weather, and a coconut-lined boardwalk that seems to effortlessly transport one into the island holiday mood.

Despite the allure of the beaches in Mahajanga, if sun worshipping is the intent of your holiday then skip the main beach (you will have trouble accessing it as swimming is generally not allowed) and head off to Village Touristique or Amborovy where the water is blue and almost always still. Mahajanga lies on the Betsiboka River and because of this the immediate beach spots tend to be an ochre or red colour – not very inviting. Just north of the city though, the beaches and the sunsets are incredible.

Mahajanga is a strange blend of old, new and a certain mystical oriental air that the city’s name seems to reinforce. There are some beautiful colonial-style buildings worth viewing, and an immense baobab that serves as something of an emblem for the city – known simply as ‘le baobab’ it is one of the largest specimens on the island.

Tailor-made safaris in the northern parts of Madagascar generally start in Mahajanga and can include Anjajavy, just north of Mahajanga and Ankarafantsika national park, or Kirindy Reserve en route south of Madagascar.