Toliara, Madagascar

Capital City

This port city in southern Madagascar is hardly the tropical paradise it's cracked up to be. With a population of 168,758 as of 2018, Toliara has seen a population boom in recent decades driven by rural-to-urban migration. While the city boasts a thriving import/export trade, the industrial sector has declined, and bureaucracy is a persistent headache. The climate is brutally hot and arid, with less than 400 mm of annual rainfall. Despite the lure of the nearby barrier reef and natural attractions, Toliara is best suited for those with a strong stomach for stifling heat, relentless winds, and the challenges of urban life in a developing nation.