Major city · Madagascar
Mahajanga
Spend 2 days in Mahajanga to see the waterfront, markets and nearby nature reserves; longer only if you plan multiple day hikes.
Mahajanga sits on Madagascar’s west coast, offering a relaxed town vibe, a beach promenade, and easy access to Reniala Reserve, Ankarafantsika National Park and the Cirque Rouge. A short stay covers the main sights; extra days are needed for full park visits.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- MGA
- Best months
- Apr–Nov (dry season)
- avoid Jan–Mar (rainy, road N4 often muddy)
- Airport
- Mahajanga (MJN)
- Nights
- 2
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 8Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- African islands ↗Sleep on the island you fly home from the night before your long-haul departure; inter-island flights and ferries in this region are cancelled or rescheduled often enough to break a same-day connection.
- African islands ↗In the Indian Ocean islands book flexible rates for December to March: a cyclone warning can shut airports, ferries and roads for two or three days.
- Madagascar ↗Check visa and e-visa rules for your passport on Madagascar's official e-visa portal before booking.
- Madagascar ↗Book a travel-clinic visit several weeks ahead; ask about malaria prevention and whether a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for your route.
- Madagascar ↗Hire a car with a driver for road trips; self-drive is rarely practical and driving after dark is unsafe.
- Madagascar ↗Do not buy or export wildlife, tortoise shell, precious stones without a certificate, or protected plants; enforcement at the airport is strict.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Mahajanga117 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Mahajanga, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Malagasy ariary (MGA).Madagascar-wide
- SIM or eSIMTelma, Orange and Airtel (Yas) sell SIMs at Ivato and in towns with passport registration; data bundles are cheap.Madagascar-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Madagascar-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Round up or 5–10%.Madagascar-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/E. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Madagascar-wide
- SafetyMahajanga is calmer than Antananarivo, but keep to the centre after dark and take bajaj rather than walking unlit streets.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels; long-drop or squat toilets at many park gates and roadside stops.Madagascar-wide
- Emergency numbers117 police · 118 fire · 124 Medical (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops shut Sunday afternoons in towns; national parks open daily; banks close at weekends.Madagascar-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportMJN Mahajanga Airport (Domestic flights to Antananarivo, Nosy Be, Antsiranana; EWA Air also from Mayotte.).
- Getting aroundTown centre is walkable; bajaj (tuk‑tuk) rides cost ~2,000 Ar.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Budget bedBasic guesthouse double, a night, per roomMGA 32,000
- Mid-range bedBasic guesthouse double, a night, per roomMGA 45,000
- High-end bedBasic guesthouse double, a night, per roomMGA 60,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget MGA 30,000 · Mid MGA 60,000 · High MGA 90,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- MJN Mahajanga Airport (Domestic flights to Antananarivo, Nosy Be, Antsiranana; EWA Air also from Mayotte.)
Map of Mahajanga
Where it is, and the guides within about 120 km.
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Feb
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Mar
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Apr
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
May
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Jun
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jul
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Aug
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Sep
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Oct
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Nov
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Dec
not flagged
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Best: Apr–Nov. Avoid: Jan–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)), coolest Jun (18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C) low), wettest Jan (15 rain days), driest Jul (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Mahajanga: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
15 rd
Feb
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
14 rd
Mar
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
12 rd
Apr
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
6 rd
May
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
4 rd
Jun
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
2 rd
Jul
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
1 rd
Aug
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
1 rd
Sep
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
3 rd
Oct
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
5 rd
Nov
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
8 rd
Dec
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Town centre is walkable; bajaj (tuk‑tuk) rides cost ~2,000 Ar. Main road N4 links to Antananarivo (≈11 h, narrow, partly winding).
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Reniala Reserve
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Bajaj or hired car south of town
Dry forest with baobabs and endemic birds; go early, the site is exposed.
Ankarafantsika National Park
cautionDoor to door: About 3 h
Taxi-brousse north on the N4, then a park guide at the gate
Lakes, lemurs and birdwatching; a return day is tight, so sleep one night near the park.
Cirque Rouge
cautionDoor to door: About 3 h
Hired car or a local operator, about 1 h each way
Red rock amphitheatre; the last stretch is rough in the rainy season.
Katsepy peninsula
goDoor to door: About 2 h
Bajaj to the jetty, then the ferry across the bay
Quiet beaches and a lighthouse; check ferry times at the jetty on the day.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Hôtel Anjary
Near city centre, basic 3‑star style; ~70,000 Ar double.
Hôtel Coco Lodge
European comfort, central; ~180,000 Ar double.
Hôtel du Phare
Old building undergoing renovation in Oct 2017, small pool, friendly staff; ~80,000 Ar double.
Chez Tranquille
Corniche, pool, free Wi‑Fi; 45,000 Ar double.
Patel Hotel
Simple double rooms; from 32,000 Ar.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ≈30,000–45,000 Ar excl. bed
- Mid
- ≈45,000–80,000 Ar excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range hotel double1 × 2 nights × MGA 80,000 | MGA 160,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × MGA 60,000 | MGA 240,000 |
| Cotisse transport minibus, Antananarivo to Mahajanga2 × MGA 55,000 · one-way, seat reservation in advance | MGA 110,000 |
| Bajaj ride in town, per trip2 × MGA 2,000 | MGA 4,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × MGA 25,000 · check | MGA 50,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | MGA 56,400 |
| Trip total≈ MGA 155,100 per person per day, bed included | MGA 620,400 |
2026 estimate in ariary; flights and long-distance tickets excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Bajaj ride within town | about 2,000 Ar |
| Main dish at a budget Malagasy-Muslim buvette | about 7,000 Ar |
| Main dish at a mid-range restaurant | about 20,000 Ar |
| Double room, simple hotel with bathroom | 32,000–45,000 Ar |
| Cotisse minibus seat to Antananarivo | from 55,000 Ar |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Road N4 can be damaged north of Maevatanana; allow extra travel time.
- Taxi‑brousse departs early from Avenue du 14 Octobre 1960; be at the station 45 min before departure.
- Check bus ticket reservation with Cotisse transport (price from 55,000 Ar per person).
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 117
- Fire
- 118
- Medical
- 124
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
MahajangaMahajanga
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Azafady, ity adiresy ityTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police117
- Fire118
- Medical124
Embassy
US embassy is in Antananarivo; check whether Mahajanga has an honorary consulate.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bajaj ride in town: about 2,000 Ar per trip
- Cotisse minibus Mahajanga to Antananarivo: from 55,000 Ar per person, about 11 h; be at the station 45 min before departure
- Mahajanga airport to the centre: check the fare at the desk before you get in
Say or show
- Azafady — Excuse me / Sorry (azafady)
- Misaotra — Thank you (misaotra)
- Ohatrinona? — How much is it? (ohatrinona)
- Aiza ny trano fidiovana? — Where is the bathroom? (aiza ny trano fidiovana)
Emergency numbers are national; response outside Antananarivo is slow.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Mahajanga. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Nov (dry season) · avoid Jan–Mar (rainy, road N4 often muddy) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 5 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 2 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Mahajanga
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