The Southern Region

From Mgias

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Features of the Southern Region 2.1 Landscapes and Geological Formations 2.2 Other Indigenous Creatures 2.3 Cultural History 2.4 Plant Life 3 Trip Planner

Introduction

The Southern Region runs southward from Morombe in the north to Fort-Dauphin in the south, and from sea level to an altitude of 800m. This region is part of the Sahalian region. It has a semi-desert climate with a scarce and unpredictable rainfall ranging from 350mm to 800mm, and a long dry season lasting about 9 months. The western part is very dry with an annual rainfall of only around 350mm. Yet the height of the canopy still reaches about 12m. In the eastern part of the region, the rainfall increases to 800mm with the canopy averaging from 12m to 15m tall.

The main city port is called Toliara, which is also the name given to the 250 kilometer great barrier reef, one of the largest areas for beaches and marine life in the world.

Features of the Southern Region

Landscapes and Geological Formations

These include the following

1. The 'Table Mountains' or flat-topped plateaux composed of sand and limestone, rise from coastal plains.
2. The coastline on the western part of the region which has giant sand dunes which protects the large coral reef. Here you can find some fossils of the egg shells of the extinct elephant bird.
3. The barren southern region of the island which has a number of untouched beaches and beautiful lagoons containing seashells. The reefs of the Nosy Ve marine reserve are not to be missed by nature lovers.
4. The south-west coast with the 250 kilometer great barrier reef of Toliara, offers a breathtaking underwater wonderland of water creatures. Anakao and Ifaty in the south-west have wonderful remote beaches with warm crystal-clear turquoise waters. These are excellent sites for snorkelling and scuba diving.

Other Indigenous Creatures

The Southern Region is rich with wild life. In particular

• Radiated endemic tortoises inhabit the barren part of the southern region.
• The coral reef of Toliara houses the following
• Migrating Humpback whales can be ssen along the Southern Coast during the breeding season from June to November. Faux-Cap in the extreme south and Fort-Dauphin in the south-east coast are one of the best site for whale watching.

Additionally, the coral reef of Toliara contains:

1. More than 250 species of brightly colored living corals,
2. Starfish,
3. Sea urchins,
4. Shells
5. Around 750 colorful fish species
6. The loggerhead turtle,
7. Marine mammals such as dolphins,
8. A prehistoric deep sea fish called the COELACANTHE (LATIMERIA chalumna), which was considered extinct 70 million years ago yet still inhabits the Mozambic Channel.

Cultural History

The people of the Southern Region is extremely interesting. There are three distictly different cultures:

1. The Vezo people living in the coast-dwelling tribe are called the Sakalava of the south
2. The Mahafaly people of the south
3. The Antandroy people of the south

The Vezo people occupy the main city port of Toliara. They sail up and down the coast in their outrigger canoe which is is a remnant of their Indonesian heritage. The Vezo are skilled fishermen and excellent boatmen. Their colorfull outrigger canoes differ from the ordinary canoes in that they are related to the Malayo-Polynesian canoe.

Vezo people bury their dead on the sand in a hidden place that is sacred. So, permission from a chief of village and small ceremony is required for those who want to visit Vezo tombs. These are similar to those of the Sakalava people with wooden fence erected round the grave, with 4 posts being decorated with carved wooden figures of human men or women, flamingo, heron, guinea-fowl birds, houses, canoes or other things.

For the Mahafaly and Antandroy people of the south, the funeral ceremony has great significance and these tribes don’t conduct a second burial. The building of the individual tombs is very important and require great care. Antandroy and Mahafaly tombs are reputed to be the most impressive of all Malagasy tombs. The Antandroy tombs are large and brightly painted which relate to life story and wishes of deceased, and it are topped with several zebu skulls sacrified during the long funeral. The Mahafaly tombs are characterised by the worthy carved wooden posts called "Aloalo” which relate the life of the deceased and his rank in the clan. They can be observed in the south near Toliara on road number 7 and particularly in the far south on the game drive of the southern off-beaten track between Toliara and Fort-dauphin.

Plant Life

The plant life of the Southern Region is characterised by a striking dry thorny thicket forest or spiny forest which has a capacity to survive in drought conditions. This is composed mainly of Didiereacae, an endemic plant family with various Euphorbia species, which live in an area below 400m altitude, 50km inland from the coast. However, situated along permanent rivers the dry deciduous vegetation or gallery forest reaches an altitude of 800m, composed of large trees such as rosewood, wild fig and tamarind trees.

For those who wish to experience unique desert game drive with an abundance of spiny forests of varieties of Didiera plants growing among 2 baobab species, we recommend:

1. Berenty private reserve(near Fort-dauphin)
2. Ifaty forest(north of Toliara)
3. Anakao forest(south of Toliara)
4. Beza Mahafaly reserve(south)

Trip Planner

SUGGESTED ITINERARIES IN THE SOUTHERN REGION

Anakao and Ifaty southwestern remote beaches and marine life with their warm crystal-clear turquoise waters are the most wonderful sites for water sports especially for snorkelling and scuba diving. Diving in recommended in these areas: Ifaty, Anakao, Faux-cap, Andavadoaka, Belo Sur Mer.

1. Deep south:(safari trip and bush camping) Antananarivo fly to Toliara, drive from Toliara to Isalo, Betioky, Bezaha Mahafaly reserve, Anakao, Lac Tsimanmpetsotsa, Itampolo, Lavanono, Cap Sainte –Marie Special reserve, Faux–Cap, Beraketa, Ihosy, Fianarantsoa , Ranomafana National Park, Antsirabe ,Antananarivo:18 days
2. From Toliara (safari trip and bush camping), Betioky, Anakao, Lac Tsimanmpetsotsa, Itampolo, Lavanono , Cap Sainte–Marie Special reserve, Faux–Cap, Berenty, Fort-Dauphin, fly back to Antananarivo:11 days
3. From Toliara to Morondava (safari trip and bush camping):Ifaty, Morombe, Belo sur Mer, Morondava , alley of Baobab, fly back to Antananarivo: 5 to 6 days

EXTENSION Excursion to Lokaro Bay (beach north of Fort-dauphin) +1 day