Antsokay
Antsokay is a botanical garden specialised in the flora and fauna of Southwest Madagascar that should not be missed by anyone. The Arboretum was created around 1980, on the initiative of a Swiss amateur botanist, Hermann Pétignat, who died in 2000, and is located 12 km south-east of Toliara town. On a surface of 40 hectares, there are almost 900 species of plants, 90% endemic to the region.
A trained English-speaking guide takes you on a two-hour tour of the improved area, where visitors see around a hundred species of Euphorbia and 60 species of Kalanchoe, as well as an abundance of reptiles and birds. Try to arrive as early as possible in the morning to miss the heat of the day.
Excellent meals à la carte are served at the restaurant Dry Forest, situated in the heart of the reserve. Long-time visitors can overnight in Antsokay.
