 Toliara, which came into existence in 1895 and is also known as Tuléar, is Madagascar’s most recently established provincial capital. It is a regionally significant port and south-western Madagascar’s major town.
Most commerce in the area is controlled by Indo-Pakistani traders who bore the brunt of Malagasy violence in 1987 rioting. On one street, a Chinese store escaped untouched to continue business while the Indian premises on either side, along with most of the central area, were gutted.
Apart from several interesting churches, most of Toliar’s remaining buildings are fairly nondescript, as is its setting against a backdrop of mangroves and mudflats. The surrounding area, however, offers numerous attractions including good beaches, diving and snorkelling, surfing, kite surfing and wild surfing at Ifaty to the north and Anakao to the south; intriguing topography; interesting flora and fauna; and remote villages. In addition to the beach at Ifaty, popular travel destinations nearby include Sarondrano, Miary, Lake Tsimanampetsotsa and the Réserve Spéciale de Beza-Mahafaly. The Tropic of Capricorn crosses Madagascar just south of Toliara.
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