Our long full-day journey from Toliara to Fianarantsoa — a 520-kilometre drive taking around 11.5 hours — began with a memorable stop at Arboretum d’Antsokay, a remarkable 40-hectare botanical garden located just 12 kilometres outside Toliara, near the Tropic of Capricorn.
Before setting off on the bumpy road again, we enjoyed breakfast at Auberge de la Table, the charming lodge located within the grounds. Afterwards, we joined a one-hour guided tour of the garden (🎟️30,000 MGA), led by an exceptionally knowledgeable and professional guide who introduced us to the medicinal uses and cultural significance of many of the plants found in the reserve.
Founded in 1980 by Swiss amateur botanist Hermann Petignat, the arboretum was created to protect the fragile and threatened flora of southwestern Madagascar. Built on the site of a former limestone quarry with the support of Professor Werner Rauh, it has since become an important sanctuary for the region’s unique biodiversity. Today, the site is managed by Petignat’s son, Andry Petignat.
The arboretum is home to more than 900 plant species, over 90% of which are endemic to the region. Towering baobabs, rare succulents, and striking euphorbias thrive in this arid landscape, creating an almost otherworldly atmosphere. The reserve also shelters fascinating wildlife, including mouse lemurs and chameleons.
