BUZZOYO November 2019

COVER STORY
BUZZOYO NOV 2019
TULEAR (TOLIARA)
Toliara (or Tulear) is often
called “the White” as
opposition to the “Red Tana”.
This nickname comes from
the exceptional luminosity
of the sky. Today Toliara, the
capital of the same named
region is a lively and young city
with an important university,
which was founded in 1970
as the second institution of
tertiary education behind the
University of Tana.
The University of Toliara cares
for the maintenance of the
main two museums of the city,
which are also two of the most
important attractions.
•The Municipal Museum
offers remarkable exhibits
like Sakalava erotic tomb
sculptures and several masks
of the Mikea tribe.
•The Sea Museum will
fascinate marine enthusiasts.
The main attraction is a not so
well preserved coelacanth, a
pre-historic fish.
•The third main attraction of
Toliara is its market, which is
lively and interesting, as well as
one of the best places to buy
lambas (pareos).
Traditional wooden fishing boats, Tulear, Madagascar
WHAT TO SEE IN THE
SURROUNDING AREA
Arboretum d’Antsokay
Antsokay is a botanical garden
specialised in the flora and fauna of
Southwest Madagascar that should
not be missed by anyone.
Tombs
The most spectacular tombs within
reach are those of the Masikoro,
a subgroup of the Sakalava. The
tombs are off RN7, a little over an
hour of Toliara.
On the outskirts of town beyond
the university there is the Tomb
of King Baba, descendant of the
Masikoro kings of Baba, who died
about 100 years ago. The tomb
is set in a grove of Didierea trees
and is interesting more for the
somewhat bizarre funerary objects
displayed than for any aesthetic
value.
ANTSIRANANA (Diego Suarez)
This historic town was
once coveted by French and
British military powers for
its strategic importance.
Presently, Antsiranana has
grown into an eclectic holiday
destination with a diverse mix
of architecture and cultural
HIGHLIGHTS
French Mountain
(Montagne des Francias)
influences that include Creole,
Indian, Colonial, and Arab.
With its secluded beaches,
bustling nightlife and extensive
list of adventure activities such
as surfing, kite-surfing, and trail
running, Antsiranana offers
something for everyone.
Windsurfers in the lagoon of Emerald
Sea, Antsiranana bay.
The trail is well-maintained and set inside a protected area home to
lemurs and baobabs. On clear days you can see the island of Nosy
Lonjo from the summit.
Bays
Amber Mountain National Park:
(Montagne D’Ambre)
Ankarana National Park:
There are several fantastic bays around the east coast of
Antsiranana and the conditions in Madagascar’s north are perfect
for surfing, especially kite-surfing. Sakalava Bay and Andovokonko
Bay are two notable examples. Surfer-friendly facilities have started
to garner attention from the international surfing community.
This park is home to some of the most pristine mountain rainforest
in the world.
This unusual park is also home to more than 100km of underground
caves that wind their way beneath the limestone tsingy (rock
pinnacles shaped by the wind). Many have their own small
ecosystems and some feature underground lakes containing cavedwelling
crocodiles.
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