A unique geography in the south of Madagascar
As Madagascar is a tropical country, the geography of its southern part is different from the other provinces of the island. Indeed, the south generally has a semi-arid or semi-desert climate as the trade wind blows from the southeast. Nicknamed the “City of the Sun”, Tulear has an average temperature of 25°C and offers an average of 3600 hours of sunshine per year with little rainfall, between 300 and 400 mm. Its relief is characterised by the deltaic plain of Fiherenana and the dunes, which are lively or adorned by vegetation.
The south-eastern climate also remains semi-desert, but leans a little towards the humid climate of the east, especially in the Haute-Matsiatra region (Ambalavao, Fianarantsoa, etc.). The Ihorombe plateau shows you this desert aspect. You will find spectacular rocky mountains such as the “Gates of the South” on the RN7, bordered by dry savannahs and acrid scrub. The Isalo National Park will give you more details of the scenery in south-east Madagascar.
The extent of southern Madagascar
The province of Tulear has four (4) regions. The Androy region is located in the southernmost part of the country with the Tsiombe district at the southern tip of the island. Next to it on the south-eastern flank is the region of Anosy which has three (3) districts, among them Tolagnaro or Fort-Dauphin. Going up towards the south-west, you will pass by the region of Atsimo-Andrefana where you will be able to visit the quarry of Sakaraha and the city of Tuléar (Tuléar I and II). Still following the south-west coast, the Menabe region offers you the beaches of Morondava and the “Allée des baobabs” on the road to Belon’i Tsiribihina. This region ends with the district of Miandrivavo towards the west bordering the territories of Majunga.
For its part, the south-east, represented by Fianarantsoa, begins with the region of Ihorombe dominated by the district of Ihosy in the central south-east. On the way to the coast, you will pass through the Atsimo-Atsinanana region which means “south-east” with districts such as Befotaka, Midongy-Sud and Vondrozo. The southeast coast is bordered by the Vatovavy Fitovinany region with the districts of Nosy Varika, Manakara, Mananjary and some districts of the previous region, including Farafangana and Vangahindrano. The coastline offers you its varied beaches as well as the exotic fruits of the country.
