Baie des Pigeons

Baie des Pigeons (Pigeon Bay) is a deserted, yet still easily accessible bay located near Diego Suarez in northern Madagascar. From the village of Ramena it is only an about four kilometres walk along an unpaved, sandy road.

Starting in Ramena, the road passes the military base ORANGEA where soldiers will charge a 5,000 Ariary entry fee per person (November 2011). After some old ruins of former military buildings, the road sneaks up a small hill towards the Cap Miné Lighthouse. Near the lighthouse are some canons and other remains of defense constructions built by the French. From there it is only a short walk to the Baie des Dunes. A stroll along the beach leads to a rocky half-island, which separates the Baie des Dunes from the Baie des Pigeons.

Baie des Pigeons is completely isolated. At high tide the turquoise water invites for a swim. On the south side of the bay are high dunes visible, from which one has a wonderful view over the bays and the Indian Ocean. Below the dunes a path leads to Sakalava Bay, passing two more beaches of which the first one is the most beautiful one. The walk from Ramena to Sakalava Bay takes between 2,5 and three hours.

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