The fervor has faded in Mahajanga. The holiday season is over, and the city is returning to its normal daily rhythm. The last vacationers left a few days ago, as the school year begins.
The seaside, usually packed with people late into the night, has become quiet again. Leisure equipment, such as bumper cars and an inflatable slide, still awaits customers in the middle of Boulevard Poincaré, near the former Alliance Française headquarters. The deadline for clearing these leisure activities is set for September 15th.
“The city of Mahajanga has never been so invaded by thousands of vacationers this year. We estimated more than 50,000 visitors who arrived and stayed for at least three days, with some staying for over two weeks. Numerous cultural, sporting, and tourist activities enlivened the holiday period in Mahajanga this year,” said a local tourism operator. It is a true success for the nation’s top destination. Mahajanga benefited greatly from the cyclonic damage in other regions, including Atsinanana, as everyone rushed to the west and northwest.
Weekends in Mahajanga are now returning to their monotonous pace. The warm climate and sunny weather encourage residents to enjoy the sea. Seaside resorts in Amborovy, Petite Plage, or Grand Pavois have become more accessible and less crowded. Groups of families and friends meet on Saturdays and Sundays to enjoy the coast.
The Cirque Rouge, a tourist spot and a natural masterpiece sculpted by erosion, is one of the sites worth visiting in Mahajanga. This amphitheater-shaped canyon reveals sediments with spectacular shades, ranging from brilliant white to ocher red, as well as pink and purple. The ideal time to visit is in the late afternoon, when the setting sun ignites the rocks, offering a striking spectacle. Local artisans ingeniously use these colored sands to create miniature drawings inside bottles, a typical souvenir to bring back.
In Mahajanga, a weekend is incomplete without a stop at the seaside, on the famous esplanade along the coast. As the sun sets and the heat softens, families, couples, and groups of friends gather there. The typical activity in Mahajanga is the ritual of skewers by the sea. The must-do activity is to sit at tables facing the Mozambique Channel to enjoy “masikita” (zebu skewers) grilled over charcoal.
During this period, a very attractive and interesting tourist activity can be enjoyed near Boanamary, where one can observe pink flamingos. “A few kilometers from the city, near Boanamary, these magnificent birds offer a fascinating spectacle, particularly during the dry season, and especially from August to October. It is a truly rare and surprising sight,” said Sidine Kaëd, head of the Boeny Regional Tourism Office. Unlike the hustle and bustle of the capital, time stretches in Mahajanga. The atmosphere can be summed up in two words: conviviality and gentleness (mora-mora). The next rendezvous is set for December for more excitement.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-12 06:08:58 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/mahajanga-la-cite-des-fleurs-retrouve.html