Fort Dauphin

Lakes, nature reserves and beaches are the main attractions of a visit to Fort Dauphin and its surrounding areas, however, there is a lot more to see and do. The town itself is also quite interesting, and was one of the main strongholds of French influence within Madagascar. As such, there is some old colonial architecture around town, as well as forts worth visiting. Taking a tour in Fort Dauphin is a great way to see the wonderful sights it has to offer.

There are a number of interesting places to stay in Fort Dauphin. If you'd prefer to choose your hotel in Fort Dauphin based upon the hotel's location, click on our Fort Dauphin map first. And while in Madagascar, why not visit some other fascinating destinations, such as Nosy Bé or Antananarivo? Or you could visit some other great African places like Tanzania, Kenya, Swaziland, or South Africa.

Fort Dauphin was a town of much strategic importance due to its location. The town is dominated by the St. Louis Peak and the spectacular Anosy mountain chain. It is built on a headland that is surrounded on three sides by the Indian Ocean. The whole area offers diverse landscapes, from the beaches to the mountains to the lakes. The countryside around Fort Dauphin offers several nature reserves, which contain the various contrasting and endemic ecosystems of southern Madagascar.

The villages of Antanosy, Antandroy and Antesaka are all wonderful places to experience the local lifestyle. Large markets are typical of these villages, with bustling activity, people, cows, chickens and mounds of fruit and vegetables all jostling for space. The friendliness of the local people and authentic Fort Dauphin hotels will ensure that your stay is both pleasant and unforgettable.

The colonial history of Fort Dauphin began in 1642, when 14 colonists left Dieppe, with the aim of establishing a trading port in southern Madagascar for the French East India Company. The building of the fort began at the end of 1643. From 1643 until 1674, the Fort was continuously occupied, despite facing a number of hardships, including disagreements between the colonists and fighting with the local Anosy population, as well as discovering the fact that the results of their trade was considerably less than had been expected. The Antanosy tribe were thus able to drive the colonists out in 1674.

It was not until 1766 that the French attempted to control Fort Dauphin once again. This time they found relations with the local population to be more cordial, and were able to establish a commercial base on the site. Although the French navy decided in 1770 to withdraw from the town, it remained an important commercial port for many of the fleets of ships that were trading in the Indian Ocean. This gradually declined, leading to its eventual position as a regional outpost of modern day Madagascar.

This Fort Dauphin Hotel Booking Service is locally owned and operated by the team at Evasion Sans Frontière. We can tell you which are the best lakes and lagoons to visit, when the ideal times to visit the beaches are and organise transport and Fort Dauphin tours to the National Reserves and Fort. For all the best local information, please contact us, and we'll be happy to answer and queries you may have.