National Park

The national parks are places where the jewels of Malagasy biodiversity are preserved. Each  parks presented here expresses the uniqueness of Malagasy biodiversity.

Ankarafantsika National Park

Over its 136.515 ha Ankarafantsika National Park is home to three types of ecosystems: dense dry forests, wooded savannahs and lake environments.

It is indeed known for its lakes which are refuges of the majestic Madagascar fish eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides) and crocodil.

Lemurs are represented by 8 species including coquerel’s sifaka (Propithecus coquereli) and golden-brown mouse lemur (Microcebus ravelobensis). 129 species of birds have been recorded in this Park and 64 reptiles.

There are more than 520 species of woody plants, of which 6 species are local endemics.

Localisation :

  • North west of Madagascar
  • Region Boeny
  • 450 Km from the capital Antananarivo

Climat :

  • Cold season : June to August
  • Hot season : December to February
  • Rainy season : Between Novemeber to April

Andasibe National Park

The Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is a protected area consisting mainly of primary forests in the eastern part of Madagascar. This park is the natural habitat of the largest lemur living nowaday, the legendary Indri indri.

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is rich in term of biodiversity, with its 15,480 ha, a forest generally dense wet evergreen, which known to be home of a large variety of lemur species such as the famous black and white drawft lemur (varecia variegata) and the magnificient Diademed sifaka, 57 species of reptiles, 84 species of amphibians, 72 species of mammals and 117 species of birds.

Flora lovers will be delighted, with its r green vegetation, this protected area contains a whole collection of evergreen vegetation : epiphytic plants, mosses, ferns, bamboo, palm trees, precious wood, pandanus and creepers. This park is also famous for its orchids with 120 species inventoried with an endemicity rate of 100%.

Localisation :

  • East part of Antananarivo the capital
  • 135 km from Antananarivo
  • Region Alaotra-Mangoro

Climat :

  • Best time to visit : April to November

Ranomafana National Park

Ranomafana National Park is a Malagasy park located in the province of Fianarantsoa. Created in 1911, it was included in 2007 in the World Heritage Site of the Atsinanana rainforests.

The park covers just over 41,600 ha of steep hills at an altitude of between 600 and 1400m. The tropical rainforests of the park are home to extraordinary biodiversity, including a large number of endemic animal and plant species from Madagascar. It large space and green vegetation make without no doubt Ranomafana National Park one the richest park of Madagascar in terms of biodiversity, indeed 12 species of lemurs including the golden bamboo lemur (Hapalemur aureus)  which made the classification of the park, 7 species of carnivorous mammals and 20 species of insectivores, 7 species of bats including Myzopoda aurita, a monogenus which only exists in Madagascar. There are also 13 species of rodents. As the second biggest rainforest of Madagascar after Masoala National Park, There are Apocynaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Rubiaceae, Dypsis sp and Phloga sp of the Palmae family, Asplenium nidus, orchids of the Bulbophyllum and Eulophiella genera.

Localisation :

  • 400 km from Antananarivo
  • South-east of Madagascar
  • Region Vatovavy-fitovinany

Climat :

  • Best time to visit : April to November

Isalo National Park

A unique ecological representation within the Madagascar National, a ruiniform massif of continental sandstone dating from the Jurassic with its typical geomorphology and its endemic rupicolous vegetation, made Isalo National Park one of most visited National park of Madagascar.

14 species of lemur exist in the park, including the ring-tailed lemur and sifaka which are easily observable on the picnic place. 77 avifauna species including an endemic species from Madagascar, the Benson’s Blackbird (Pseudocosyphus benson).

another that makes the Isalo National Park famous are the natural swimming pools surrounded by green vegetation, as being oases in the middle of a desert landscape.

Localisation :

  • 414 Km from Antananarivo
  • South of Madagascar
  • Region Ihorombe

Best time for visit : April-November

Tsingy of Bemaraha National Park

The national park centers on two geological formations: the Great Tsingy and the Little Tsingy. Together with the adjacent Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve, the National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The tsingy found there offer one of the most impressive landscapes in Madagascar with their crevices, and limestone blocks sculpted into sharp blades.

the lower level of the tsingy is decorated by a dense dry forest sheltering a number of wildlife populations.

Localisation :

  • Center-west of Madagascar
  • Region Melaky

Best time for visit : May-October

Baie de baly National Park

Located in the North-West of the Big Island, 150 km from Majunga, the park has an area of ​​57,162 ha between rivers, mangroves, coastal dunes and lakes, you will make beautiful discoveries while enjoying the superb beaches and marine park coral reefs. A whole ecosystem to discover during your stay in western Madagascar.

Baie de Baly is the only habitat of the endemic turtle « Angonoka », a turtle that does not leave the borders of Soalala, also called Astrochelys yniphora. It is a rare turtle in its own natural habitat, the thicket of Perrierbambos madagascariensis, it also endemic to Soalala. Baie de Baly is also the natural refuge of 13 species of mammals, 37 species of reptiles, 122 birds and 8 species of amphibians. Composed of several lakes, this National Park is home to an extraordinary flora, rich in 129 plant species.

Localisation :

  • North-west of Madagascar
  • 150 Km from the city of Mahajanga
  • Region Boeny

Best time to visit : April to October

Zombitse National Park

Zombitse Vohibasia is renowned for its richness in rare bird species, endemic to Madagascar or the area. The park is home to 8 species of lemurs, 47% of Madagascar’s endemic birds and one endemic local bird species the Phylastrephus Apperti.

Localisation :

  • South-west of Madagascar
  • 135 Km Norht-East of Toliara
  • Region Atsimo-Andrefana