The small island of Nosy Lonja, in the middle of the Baie des Français, is known in French as Pain de Sucre (Sugar Loaf), as it resembles the much larger Sugar Loaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro harbour in Brazil. It’s off limits to foreigners and considered sacred by the Malagasy, who use it for fijoroana (ceremonies invoking the ancestors).
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Parc National Montagne d’Ambre
17.16 MILES
This wonderful national park is literally a breath of fresh air from the arid northern plains: at 1000m, it is generally 10°C cooler than Diego or…
25.72 MILES
One of Madagascar’s most awesome natural wonders, these scraggly pinnacles – erosion’s work of art – are made of laterite, an iron oxide–rich soil with an…
2.69 MILES
Set in a cyclone-ravaged Creole house in the French residential quarter, the Jardin Tropical provides a welcome, leafy green space in the centre of town…
2.83 MILES
'Here died two brave Japanese sailors on 3 June 1942' reads the inscription on the memorial erected by the Japanese Embassy 30 years later. The sailors,…
3.02 MILES
Once a magnificent hotel overlooking the sea, the Hôtel des Mines is now in ruins. Built in the early 1900s by Frenchman Alphonse Mortages who made his…
2.99 MILES
The former Governer's residence, now administrative offices, was first built in 1897. Overlooking the sea, it was often battered by cyclones and parts…
2.66 MILES
In 1898 the Cassam Chenaï family of Gujerat arrived in Diego Suarez. Mamodaly opened his ever popular shop 10 years later. Members of the family are still…
2.94 MILES
A fine example of colonial architecture, the Tribunal is an imposing building that still operates as the courthouse. It was built in 1907.
Nearby Northern Madagascar attractions
2.17 MILES
During French colonial times, areas of Diego Suarez south of Pl Foch were less inhabited by the French and much more Malagasy. The Tsena is the largest of…
2.63 MILES
Diego Suarez's Roman Catholic cathedral was built in 1909 to replace the previous wooden church destroyed by the terrible cyclone of 1894. The bell tower…
2.66 MILES
In 1898 the Cassam Chenaï family of Gujerat arrived in Diego Suarez. Mamodaly opened his ever popular shop 10 years later. Members of the family are still…
2.69 MILES
Set in a cyclone-ravaged Creole house in the French residential quarter, the Jardin Tropical provides a welcome, leafy green space in the centre of town…
2.83 MILES
'Here died two brave Japanese sailors on 3 June 1942' reads the inscription on the memorial erected by the Japanese Embassy 30 years later. The sailors,…
2.94 MILES
A fine example of colonial architecture, the Tribunal is an imposing building that still operates as the courthouse. It was built in 1907.
2.99 MILES
The former Governer's residence, now administrative offices, was first built in 1897. Overlooking the sea, it was often battered by cyclones and parts…
3.02 MILES
Once a magnificent hotel overlooking the sea, the Hôtel des Mines is now in ruins. Built in the early 1900s by Frenchman Alphonse Mortages who made his…