Things to see and do Côte Du Capricorne

The largest collection of precious stones in southern Madagascar. A real Ali Baba cave! André and his wife offer you a very special trip (and without obligation to buy) to the land of precious and semi-precious stones. In their secure shop, you can find morganite, pyrope, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, tourmalines, demantoids, aquamarines and green beryls and a variety of garnets typical of Mada "Imperial Malaïa"... more than 1,000 fine and precious stones from all over Madagascar, permanently cut and all guaranteed, in a clear and pleasant conditioned space. Sales with invoices of course. Jewellery mounted in 18-carat white gold, yellow gold and silver.

This arboretum, which covers nearly 4 hectares, is a real museum of the flora of the dry deciduous forest. It gathers about 900 plant species from the southwest of Madagascar, 90% of which are endemic. The local fauna is mainly composed of Lemur microcebus, lizards, radiated tortoises, and bands of nomadic makis. You can stay on site (seven comfortable bungalows) or take a pleasant half-day getaway that can begin or end with a meal at the restaurant L'Auberge de la Table.

Nosy Satrana is a small, almost deserted island, populated by herons. At low tide, it's possible to cross from the mainland to the island, where herdsmen drive their herds of zebus. In many places, the ground is strewn with limestone debris resembling broken eggs, fossilized pieces of eggshells from aepyornis, the ancestor of the ostrich! To the north, a tamarind tree provides welcome shade for a picnic. The northeastern beaches are a pleasant place to stop and take a dip. The lagoon here is of great beauty.

Located 800 meters from the sea, in a forest of baobabs and didieréacées, at the exit of the village of Mangily, the natural reserve of Reniala, founded by a nature lover, includes a botanical path and an ornithological reserve. It covers 60 hectares and includes about 1,000 different xerophilous plant species (adapted to the dry climate). The pretty path winds through the southern flora, where each plant is identified by a plaque: Delonix, Pachypodium, multiple baobabs - one of which is giant and particularly impressive, nicknamed the teapot by visitors, with a circumference of about 13 meters and said to be 1,200 years old -, Givota... Birdwatchers will also be delighted here: there are about sixty endemic species of birds, including the Tolohoranto, Uratelornis chimaera and the Naka, Monias benschi (especially in October), a special "bird" tour is also possible, with prior reservation with an early morning or late evening departure (count 50 000 Ar per person). This private reserve ensures the preservation of more than a thousand baobabs since 2001 (an eden for these trees so threatened in the region!). The reserve also hosts the "Lemur Rescue Center", a conservation center for Mali Catta lemurs. They are in cages, because they have been extracted from animal trafficking networks and are being rehabilitated in the wild. Really, the natural reserve of Reniala deserves to be known!

Located 3 kilometers off Anakao, the long, flat island of Nosy Ve is lined with sandy beaches and is now deserted. Vezo fishermen stop off here for a break or a bivouac. Exploring the island offers many points of interest. Of course, there's the beach, always inviting for lounging and swimming, but there are also a number of pleasant places to visit. One of the main reasons for visiting Nosy Ve is to catch a glimpse of the red-tailed tropicbird. This endemic species also nests on Reunion Island. It digs its nest in the sand, under trees, to lay eggs and hatch. The island is also sacred ground. Numerous fady (taboos) are associated with it, and the densest masses of vegetation on the northeastern slopes are home to the huts of the tromba, the representative of the cult of reincarnation and possession. Last but not least, this is a historic site. The island of Nosy Ve was a maritime base for slave traders, merchants and pirates for several centuries. Among other notable events, at the end of the ^19th century, France delegated its Resident there, as King Lahimiriza refused to sign slave trade regulations with French naval commander Faberty. From these tumultuous times, a few vestiges remain, which you can discover during your visit to the island: the stone basins of the Residence, an impressively large anchor, the tombs of the French... We recommend a visit to Nosy Ve.

Near the temple stands the house of the tromba, a wooden building where the objects of worship are kept. It is possible to have access to it (with the agreement of the authorities).

You can ask for an audience with the king's descendant. If he agrees to receive you, you will have to go barefoot, put on a lambaoany, make offerings - only then will you be admitted into the sacred enclosure where the relics of the kings are kept, the last one having died in 1904. The bathing of the royal relics takes place at irregular intervals, depending on the oracles.

The main street ("rue des Arcades"), in the center of the city, is ideal for strolling. It is lined with arcades under which are sheltered many shops. There is the largest bookstore in the city, jewelry stores, hardware stores, and a pharmacy. This street leads to a square where a very imposing tamarind tree is enthroned, facing the big market and the rickshaw station.

In the city center, very close to the market, the ^25th Anniversary Square of the OAU is a large crossroads where the arteries leading to the different neighborhoods converge. Nearby, one can see a stele commemorating the 1947 insurrection for independence.

Tulear is specialized in stone and shells, what to bring back beautiful souvenirs. We will then go to the shellfish market, where we will find shellfish from all over the Indian Ocean. Be careful: some of them are forbidden to be exported.

Colonial buildings. Near the university museum, on the rue de France, along the waterfront and in the streets that converge towards the market place, you can admire beautiful buildings from the colonial period.

Mosques. Toliara has several mosques. The most beautiful one is located close to the market (by turning right after the Independence Square). Its two white minarets rise up into an azure sky. On Fridays, the Muslim community's attendance is at its peak.

The Garden of the sea. The sea front has been completely redeveloped, with about fifty kiosks selling handicrafts and an exhibition area.

The British NGO Blue Ventures is the best reef database in the Western Indian Ocean region. Collecting data since 2004, it attests the state of the reef and develops aquaculture projects in the south. Sea trips are possible every day with volunteers. In partnership with Blue Ventures, the fishermen organize activities: lodging with local people, whale watching in season, trips to the baobab forest, snorkeling with a guide, mangrove tours on foot, gasy cooking classes, etc.

Managed by the Belgian association HONKO, the English NGO Reef Doctors and the village communities, this site allows the discovery of a very rich ecosystem: the mangrove (coastal forest made up of several varieties of mangrove trees). 3 itineraries allow you to visit it, on trails or off-road through the channels. You can observe a lot of birds. The protection of the mangrove is of paramount ecological importance for the survival of this very rich ecosystem. It is therefore both an interesting visit and a very good action.

This protected area is located about fifteen kilometers from Tulear. Several guided tours have been traced including the one of "The mountain of the table" which offers a 360° panoramic view on the coast and the hinterland. The other circuits, "The caves" or "The peninsula of Sarodrano", allow you to discover an exceptional avifauna or to discover the activities related to seaweed farming. Superb panorama with the circuit " The Bay of Saint Augustin ".

Although it is separated from the sea by only 10 meters of rocks, the water that flows in the cave is fresh. It comes from seven sacred lakes, at the end of an underground journey of 70 kilometers. Freshwater fish have found refuge there. In principle, it is fady to bathe, but tourists have rights that the Malagasy do not have, and you can take a dip. Don't forget to give at least 1,000 Ar per person to the guard (maybe more with inflation).

A legend is linked to this sacred place. "Once, there was a great fisherman... And every time he came back from the sea, a tromba came to see him at night to tell him : "You agree with me, I will do something..." And each time the fisherman refused. But the tromba came back every night to repeat his request. This went on for a long time. One day, the great fisherman said, "Okay! Then the tromba said to him, "Go to the cave with all the people of the village, celebrate the tromba, bring rum, sing, offer sacrifices, dance...I will do something." The fisherman did everything the tromba had asked. And as the festive music resounded in the night, suddenly, an all-white cow with a black head and a little white calf with a black head appeared at the bottom of the cave. These two magical animals left with the great fisherman who became master of the tromba and won love, fortune, health and happiness

Since then, the villagers come here to make wishes and throw food and coins to the fish..

Known and recognized site for diving off Mangily, the Massif des Roses has unfortunately lost its superbness. The tourist development that the seaside area of Ifaty has known these last decades has amply contributed to its deterioration, so much so that divers and scientists today find it difficult to recognize the coral massif that they used to admire so much. Several non-governmental organizations, such as the Bel Avenir Organization or Reef Doctor, are actively working for its preservation. Since 2007, the Massif des Roses is officially protected (even if the guard will surely be surprised during his nap when you get there!). Today, you can still see the beautiful rose-shaped corals that gave their name to the place, but many corals are damaged or dead. A few paddles away, Korandava is another site where you can observe corals, don't hesitate to ask your guide to take you there if he doesn't do it spontaneously. The corals here are multicolored and of various shapes. The aquatic fauna is numerous and the corals are sometimes damaged, but much less than in the neighboring Massif des Roses. Here and anywhere else in the sea, each tourist must have a very responsible attitude: you should not touch these natural beauties under any circumstances, not even with your eyes. If your guide was not aware of this, do not hesitate to talk to him, it will be a great action for the protection of these precious ecosystems.

Vezo and piroguier from father to son, Tintin is a very reliable sailor. He will take you for any sea trip, around Mangily for half a day or a whole day. He also organizes sea trips of several days and can take you to Morondava. It is a (very nice) family affair: he sails with his son and his uncle. They are all as adorable, helpful and respectful as Tintin. Moreover, he is a fine cook - we recommend him 200%!

Despite the lack of means, this museum offers a good overview of the regional marine fauna. Among the rarities is a coelacanth fished in 1995 in Toliara and perfectly preserved. This specimen is by far the most impressive, but since then a female was also discovered in 1997 (exhibited at the town hall of Fort-Dauphin), two other females in 2001 and a last one with a fetus in 2011. This museum also exhibits multiple specimens of the flora and fauna of the reef, about 760 different species (algae, corals, crustaceans, mammals, fish and reptiles).

New team, new communication media, the Regional Office of Tourism of Tulear seeks to modernize and move the region. Just like their website, which you can consult to get a lot of information, a short visit to their offices, when arriving in Tulear, can be very useful. ORTU works with a village association and organizes activities and excursions to help the local communities.

This 600-hectare reserve is one of the smallest in the country, and can be explored via five circuits, ranging from 1 to 4 hours' walk. It is home to 102 species of birds (including the endangered Madagascar sparrowhawk) and 39 species of mammals. It is now a scientific research center. It can be hot. Further on, you reach the Seven Sacred Lakes, whose waters are said to lead via an underground route to the Sarodrano cave, 70 km away.

A small (but no less interesting) space devoted to mahafaly funeral art, crafts and the customs and customs of the South.