Tolagnaro (Fort Dauphin), Madagascar

Nature Like Nowhere Else on Earth

At Azamara^® we believe the most memorable destinations are found off the beaten path—and with only dirt roads connecting it to the rest of the country, Tolagnaro certainly fits the bill. Jutting out into the Indian Ocean, surrounded by crescent-shaped beaches on three sides, this secluded port on the southeast coast is your gateway to otherworldly natural wonder when you cruise to Madagascar.

It’s the first French settlement and oldest town on the island, with a tropical rainforest climate that’s often drier than other Madagascar destinations—so you’ll have more time to savor the catch of the day at an open-air restaurant on Ankoba beach, or grab a crunchy French baguette at a local market where the sounds of live animals for sale mingle with the shouts of fisherman offering up freshly caught seafood.

Nearly all of the flora and fauna found on Madagascar are endemic to the island and can’t be found anywhere else on Earth. Don’t miss an opportunity to take an excursion to a national park or nature reserve to experience cheeky lemurs bounding across branches, stout yet spindly baobab trees, and three-cornered palm trees that look like the flourishing tail of a peacock.