Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
La Table
MOUNTAIN
ThistablemountainisunmissableasyouapproachTuléardowntheRN7,about10kmfrom
town. There's a relatively easy trail to the top, which takes about 15 minutes to climb, and
is a great place to watch the sunset. Go early or late in summer. For Ar25,000 you can hire
a taxi in town to take you here and the nearby Arboretum.
Musée Cedratom
MUSEUM
(admission Ar2300; 8-11.30am &2.30-5.30pmMon-Fri)Features exhibits onlocal cul-
ture, an elephant bird egg
,
and other oddities including an ancient mask with real human
teeth. Cedratom is the name for the local university.
BAKUBA
Tuléar's great anomaly is
Bakuba
( 034 64 927 82;
www.bakubaconcept.com
;
r €80, ste €120) a new guest house on the sea 14km
southeast of the city centre and only 7km from the airport. The creation of
Bruno Decorte, who has lived much of his life throughout Africa, it would be
more accurate to describe it as a work of art that you stay in, with creative geni-
us on display throughout. The house is anchored by large towers reminiscent of
baobab trees. One serves as a hidden water tower, another as a hammam and
conversation room. The interior contains a vast hall inspired by Mauritanian
temples. Doorways are lined by real palm trunks; lamps are constructed from
gourds. There are three unique guest rooms, one with a wall of water that also
feeds an underground cooling system. The decor includes a fetching statue of a
West African chief - Bakuba himself. The highlight is the external suite, a
massive 200 sq metre bungalow, which contains a dugout canoe as a bathtub,
and a shower room open to the sky. If any of this sounds like kitsch, guess
again. Decorte has managed to integrate everything with a strong sense of natur-
alism, in the manner of Gaudí.
The hotel also has some more run-of-the-mill benefits, like 100m of beach-
front, catamarans and canoes, and quads for hire. So if you want to spend a few
days, you can. But if you only have one night in Tuléar before taking your
flight, we recommend spending it here. The hotel was nearing completion dur-
ing research. See the website for more.
