
The Best New African Safari Lodges in 2017
These six beautiful lodges are finally opening their doors to guests
Fort Dauphin, Taolagnaro, Tolanaro – however you know it, this south-easterly port-town-turned-holiday-destination is a welcome sight, especially if you’ve braved the roads to reach it (if you can, take a flight – trust us!). Located right at the most southerly tip of Madagascar’s eastern rainforests, the town itself is mostly based on a tiny, spindly outcrop and surrounded by dazzling beaches on one side and an impressive shoulder of mountains on the other. Accommodation in the centre is pretty good and a stroll along the seafront will have you whiling away the hours watching surfers catching breaks and munching on absurdly good seafood. Not bad for a town that’s only on most radars due to its handy stopover nature!
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This coastal haven unfolds with remarkable diversity – white-sand beaches lapped by azure waters on one side, verdant rainforests teeming with wildlife on the other. Days here might begin with a private lemur encounter at Berenty Reserve, where sifakas perform their comical sideways dance across open ground, followed by an afternoon kitesurfing at Libanona Beach with expert instructors at your disposal. For something truly extraordinary, helicopter safaris provide magnificent aerial perspectives of this ecological wonderland, culminating with champagne on a secluded island that you'll have entirely to yourself. Between marine adventures in crystal-clear Lokaro Bay and cultural immersions with the welcoming Antanosy people, Fort Dauphin offers that rare combination – untamed wilderness paired with moments of exquisite luxury, all while remaining wonderfully under the radar of Madagascar's more frequented destinations.
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