Manakara, Madagascar

Capital City

Living in this coastal city requires some hardy resilience. Manakara has an average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius, with highs of 32 and lows of 10. While it has a small port, the city's infrastructure is shaky - a bridge over the Manakara River partially collapsed in 2012, and there are no commercial flights, only a railway that crosses the runway of the local airport. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as Manakara serves as the capital of both the Fitovinany Region and the Manakara Atsimo district. This rugged outpost on Madagascar's east coast is best suited for those seeking an off-the-beaten-path adventure, not a turnkey expat experience.