Southern Madagascar
Hotel La Croix Du Sud
Situated centrally in Fort Dauphin, the Hotel La Croix du Sud boasts 32 ensuite bedrooms located centrally around an inner courtyard garden, offering a peaceful tranquillity. Located in the historic centre, only a short walk from the harbour and Encouba Beach, this is a great base from which to explore the area. Breakfast and drinks are served in the bar area, and guests can explore the culinary offerings in the town for daily meals.
The Fort-Dauphin peninsula and its surrounding areas are often hailed as one of the most preserved and beautiful regions in Madagascar. The city hosts breath-taking views of the Anosy Mountains, and large stretches of white sand beach. Built in the 17tyh century under instruction from the King of France who wanted a port on the lucrative yet dangerous route of the Indies, Fort Dauphin is the oldest fortified city in Madagascar.
Around 80 km from the hotel is Berenty wildlife reserve, a specialist location for the preservation of lemurs in particular. Founded by the Heaulme family in 1936, the reserve aims to protect lemurs and their natural environment of dense gallery forest dominated by tamarind trees, and spiny dry forest. Since its public opening in 1981, the reserve has gained international notoriety and is a popular reference site for travellers and scientists alike, offering vast biodiversity within its more than 1000 hectares of protected land. Over 2,000 lemurs live freely here, making it a fabulous place to seek out and observe species including the brown lemur; the sifaka and the lemur catta. There is also a whole host of other fauna and flora apparent, as well as the Arembelo museum on-site, presenting a unique collection of artefacts and traditions from the Antandroy culture – the original people of the land of thorns.
Facilities
Free Wi-Fi, satellite TV, ensuite bathrooms, conference room, massage service, air conditioning, laundry service and bar.
Local Wildlife
A visit to Berenty Reserve can offer sightings of sifaka; brown lemur; lemur catta; 102 bird species; many reptiles; turtles; bats and both natural and floristic varieties including forests, red sands and bush.
Optional Activities
From Fort Dauphin guests can easily explore a variety of exceptional landscape and wildlife attractions. The Bay of Lokaro – an authentic pirate bay – can be reached on a day trip including a boat trip along the lake mirror of Lanirano, a short hike from a traditional fishing village and finally plunging into the clear waters off the sandy beached of the bay.
Saiadi botanical park is just 7km from the town, and guests can either walk or canoe through the park, likely to find crocodiles, lemurs, turtles, and a whole host of endemic flora and fauna.
A canoe trip through the mangroves takes you to the preserved creek of Saint-Luce, a true little paradise and the site where the first French adventurers arrived in Madagascar.
25km from Berenty Reserve is Anony Lake, located behind huge sand dunes and a magical sight when colonies of flamingos occupy it (between September and March every year).
Its location between the ocean and the Anosy mountains makes Fort Dauphin also a perfect base from which to enjoy many hiking trails. Suiting a range of abilities, the hotel offers free trial guides for the surrounding area.
Alan Godwin
Area Specialist
If you have any questions regarding our Madagascar tours, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
Large variety of lemurs, indri and sifakas in different surroundings. Watching families leaping from tree to tree was enthralling. Chameleons, from a two day old hatchling to larger ones displaying their unusual movements was captivating. Beautiful and unusual birds in a variety of habitats. Watching a kingfisher wait, catch and then consume a large crab was a highlight.