Major city · Madagascar
TaolagnaroFort Dauphin
2–3 nights for the beaches, Berenty lemurs and colonial history; fly in and out — the road from Toliara is rough.
Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin) is the southern gateway to Madagascar's south-east coast. The town itself has a small museum in Fort Flacourt and a relaxed waterfront, but the main draw is Berenty Reserve, 86 km west, with six lemur species and the south's largest fruit bat colony. Most visitors fly from Antananarivo or Toliara and stay 2–3 nights.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- MGA
- Best months
- Apr–Nov
- avoid Dec–Mar (cyclone season, heavy rain)
- Airport
- FTU
- Nights
- 2–3
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 8Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- African islands ↗Sleep on the island you fly home from the night before your long-haul departure; inter-island flights and ferries in this region are cancelled or rescheduled often enough to break a same-day connection.
- African islands ↗In the Indian Ocean islands book flexible rates for December to March: a cyclone warning can shut airports, ferries and roads for two or three days.
- Madagascar ↗Check visa and e-visa rules for your passport on Madagascar's official e-visa portal before booking.
- Madagascar ↗Book a travel-clinic visit several weeks ahead; ask about malaria prevention and whether a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for your route.
- Madagascar ↗Hire a car with a driver for road trips; self-drive is rarely practical and driving after dark is unsafe.
- Madagascar ↗Do not buy or export wildlife, tortoise shell, precious stones without a certificate, or protected plants; enforcement at the airport is strict.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Taolagnaro117 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Taolagnaro, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Malagasy ariary (MGA).Madagascar-wide
- SIM or eSIMTelma, Orange and Airtel (Yas) sell SIMs at Ivato and in towns with passport registration; data bundles are cheap.Madagascar-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Madagascar-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Round up or 5–10%.Madagascar-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/E. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Madagascar-wide
- SafetyTaolagnaro is generally safe, but avoid walking alone at night on unlit streets.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels; long-drop or squat toilets at many park gates and roadside stops.Madagascar-wide
- Emergency numbers117 police · 118 fire · 124 Medical (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops shut Sunday afternoons in towns; national parks open daily; banks close at weekends.Madagascar-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportFTU Tolagnaro Airport (Marillac) (Madagascar Airlines daily from Antananarivo, weekly from Toliara; Air Austral from Réunion).
- Getting aroundTown is walkable; for Berenty Reserve, arrange a driver or join a tour from your hotel.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeMGA 3,000–5,000
- BeerBeer (THB)MGA 4,000–6,000
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi within townMGA 10,000–20,000
- Budget bedBudget guesthouse room, a night, per roomMGA 60,000
- Mid-range bedBudget guesthouse room, a night, per roomMGA 100,000
- High-end bedBudget guesthouse room, a night, per roomMGA 150,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget MGA 100,000 · Mid MGA 200,000 · High MGA 350,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- FTU Tolagnaro Airport (Marillac) (Madagascar Airlines daily from Antananarivo, weekly from Toliara; Air Austral from Réunion)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Feb
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Mar
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Apr
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
May
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jun
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Jul
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Aug
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Sep
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Oct
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Nov
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Dec
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Best: Apr–Nov. Avoid: Dec–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)), coolest Jul (16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C) low), wettest Jan (16 rain days), driest Jun (8). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Taolagnaro: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
16 rd
Feb
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
15 rd
Mar
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
14 rd
Apr
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
11 rd
May
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
9 rd
Jun
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
8 rd
Jul
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
8 rd
Aug
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
8 rd
Sep
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
8 rd
Oct
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
9 rd
Nov
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
11 rd
Dec
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
14 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Town is walkable; for Berenty Reserve, arrange a driver or join a tour from your hotel. Taxis are available but negotiate the fare first.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Berenty Reserve
goDoor to door: About 2 h each way
86 km (53 mi) west by 4x4 (about 2 h); arrange through your hotel or a tour operator.53 mi (86 km) west by 4x4 (about 2 h); arrange through your hotel or a tour operator.
Book the lodge and entry ahead; six lemur species, fruit bats, 103 bird species.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Town centre (near Boulevard Joffre)
Hotels like La Croix du Sud and Le Dauphin; close to restaurants and the waterfront.
Berenty Reserve
Single lodge, must book ahead; often full months in advance.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- MGA 80,000–120,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- MGA 150,000–250,000 excl. bed
- High
- MGA 300,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range hotel room (e.g. Le Dauphin)1 × 2 nights × MGA 200,000 | MGA 400,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × MGA 200,000 | MGA 800,000 |
| Berenty Reserve entry and guide2 × MGA 120,000 · check | MGA 240,000 |
| 4x4 transfer to Berenty (return)1 × MGA 300,000 · check | MGA 300,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | MGA 174,000 |
| Trip total≈ MGA 479,000 per person per day, bed included | MGA 1,914,000 |
2026 estimate in MGA; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | MGA 3,000–5,000 |
| Local meal (rice, meat, vegetables) | MGA 10,000–20,000 |
| Beer (THB) | MGA 4,000–6,000 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | MGA 2,000–3,000 |
| Taxi within town | MGA 10,000–20,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Road from Toliara is very poor: fly or hire a 4x4 with driver.
- Berenty Reserve requires advance booking; the lodge fills up quickly.
- Cyclone season (Dec–Mar) can disrupt flights and road access.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 117
- Fire
- 118
- Medical
- 124
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
TaolagnaroFort Dauphin
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Mankany amin'ity adiresy ity azafadyTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police117
- Fire118
- Medical124
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Flight TNR → FTU: about MGA 400,000–600,000 one way (check)
- Taxi from airport to town: MGA 15,000–25,000
Say or show
- Salama — Hello (sah-lah-mah)
- Misaotra — Thank you (mee-sow-trah)
- Ohatrinona? — How much? (oo-ha-tree-noo-nah)
- Eny / Tsia — Yes / No (eh-nee / tsee-ah)
French is widely spoken in hotels and restaurants.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Taolagnaro. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Nov · avoid Dec–Mar (cyclone season, heavy rain) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 1 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place pages for Fort Flacourt and Berenty Reserve with opening hours and ticket prices.
- Eat pages with last orders and dish tags.
- Airport-to-bed contract for FTU: flight schedules, taxi fallback.
Sources
Ask about Taolagnaro
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