Fort Dauphin, or Taolanaro, is a city on the southeast coast of Madagascar. It is the country’s oldest town and a port of local importance. Built on a small peninsula, the town is bordered on three sides by beaches with a backdrop of high green mountains.
The town offers beautiful beaches and interesting trips into the surrounding area. Plenty of local color can be observed at Fort Dauphin's lively market and there are a few good viewpoints around town offering fine panoramas of the bay and the mountains.
A drive into the hinterland offers a look at some of Madagascar's unusual species of flora, such as the rosy periwinkle, the carnivorous pitcher plant and the triangular rubber palm. The Spiny Forest, beginning several miles west of Fort Dauphin, is another unique and characteristic feature of this region. The cactus-like didierea plant and the unique baobab tree grow here. Some 57 miles from Fort Dauphin is the Berenty Reserve which is the area's major attraction.
Things to See & Do
* Libanona beach
* Market
* Berenty Reserve
* View of the bay and mountains
* The Spiny Forest
General Information
Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
Currency – Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
Language – Malagasy, French
Population – 20,000 approx
Land Area – 155 km²
Electricity – 2 round pins European style or with a round pin below
Time – GMT plus three hours
International Country Telephone Code – + 261
Travel Links – There are two means of reaching Fort Dauphin. You can go there directly by plane, or by taking the national route 13 from Ihosy.