Mid-way between Nosy Be and Mahajanga, after Narindra Bay, Moramba Bay is a magical place. It is somehow similar to the Along Bay in Vietnam, dotted as it is with strange limestone peaks. It shelters a unique fauna and flora. You can watch the fishing eagle, and the big lemur “propithèque de Verreaux” among different kinds of baobabs and pachypodiums. When the tide is low, one discovers the feet of the limestone islets looking like huge mushroom legs. When the tide is high, the coral labyrinth is ideal for scuba diving or snorkelling.
The inland landscape, typical of  Mahajanga area, is rather arid and dotted with satrana palm trees which are used as roofs for the houses. Farther north, in the estuary of the Loza River, Analalava is a big village which used to house important shipyards where local people learnt the art of making schooners. Those schooners are still used to transport goods along the coast, together with Arab dows. Starting from Analalava, a rather poor track leads to Antsohihy city and to the national road number 6 but it is quicker to sail trough the mangrove labyrinth which makes up the Loza River estuary.