Things to see and do Tuléar – Toliara

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.

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.

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 ".

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.

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