10 reasons to visit Madagascar
1 Tsingy de Bemaraha
Masoala is the largest
complex of protected areas
in Madagascar, comprising
four plots of land and
three marine sites around
the Masoala Peninsula.
Masoala National Park and
Nosy Mangabe Special
Reserve – dedicated to
protecting the rare AyeAye
lemur – are the major
attractions.
Masoala is a 90-minute
flight from Antananarivo
and a 45-minute flight
or 12-hour cruise from
Toamasina.
2 Mananara-Nord Biosphere
This area includes a national
park and a marine park.
There are 12 lemur, 16
rodent, 77 forest bird, 85
amphibian and 59 reptile
species, and 1 200 endemic
vascular plants and palm
trees.
In the marine park, there
are seven species of
mangroves, 32 algae, 132
cnidarians, 64 mollusc,
16 arthropod, 32
echinoderm, 179 fish, three
marine mammal, three
aquatic reptile and
11 bird species.
Air Madagascar flies
from Antananarivo (a
90-minute flight) and
Toamasina (45 minutes),
and the area can also be
accessed by boat from
Toamasina (12 hours).
3 Zahamena
This park is home to
112 species of birds, 29
fish, 62 amphibian, 46
reptile and 48 mammal
species, including the
Indri (a large lemur). The
Ankosy-Bemoara and
Bemoara-Cascade tours are
informative ways to explore
the park.
The park is 70km
north-east of
Ambatondrazaka and east
of Lake Alaotra. Guests
travel to the village of
Antanandava and then
walk 8km to the park
entrance.
4 Ranomafana
Blanketed in an evergreen
rainforest, Ranomafana also
features an extinct volcano
that produces hot springs
(good for rheumatism). The
golden bamboo lemur is the
park's main attraction.
Ranomafana is 412km
southeast of Antananarivo,
65km northeast of
Fianarantsoa and 139km from
Mananjary. The RN45 highway
and its extension, the RN25,
run through the park, allowing
access on good paved roads.
5 Sahamalaza
Comprising three major
ecosystems – marine,
coastal and forest – this
park has 220 plant species,
nine lemur, 41 bird, 20
reptile and 14 amphibian
species. In the marine area,
there are 218 types of coral
and invertebrates and 168
species of fish.
The RN6 road to
Antsiranana is paved as
far as Maromandia
(750km from Antananarivo).
By boat, the reserve can be
reached from Analalava and
Nosy Be (both three-hour
crossings).
6 Ankarana
Features include huge
limestone rock formations.
The Tsingy Rary, Bat Cave,
or Green Lake tours, from
one to several days’ walk,
let hikers discover one
of Madagascar’s richest
natural treasures. Ankarana
National Park is 80km
from Diego Suarez (a twohour
drive) and 20km from
Ambilobe (a 45-minute drive)
on the RN6. The park is
accessible all year round.
7 Nosy Tanikely
This small island,
surrounded by a marine
reserve, is covered
in secondary forest
vegetation. There are
11 reptile and 13 bird
species, seven of which
are endemic. The park is
surrounded by reefs and
sandy beaches.
Access is by boat from
the island of Nosy Be only.
8 Andringitra
This national park has the
highest accessible peak in
Madagascar – Body Peak
(2 658m). It has a rich wildlife
offering: 54 mammal species,
14 lemur, 50 reptile and more
than 100 birds. There are also
over a thousand plant species,
including orchids and a palm
tree endemic to the region.
From Antananarivo to
Andringitra, take the RN7 as
far as Ambalavao (462km,
a 12- to 14-hour drive) and
then take a 50km track (two
hours) from Ambalavao to
Ambalamanandray, the village
closest to the park entrance.
9 Tsingy de Namoroka
Visitors can enjoy this park
via a guided tour or by light
aircraft. Namoroka is rich in
flora and fauna and has 218
plant species. Animals include
the rare Angonoky tortoise.
Namoroka is difficult to
access by land. A ferry across
Bombetoka Bay to Katsepy is
a better option.
10 Masoala
One of the first places in
Madagascar to be listed
as a World Heritage Site,
this park offers a number
of varied habitats and a
wealth of wildlife and flora,
including 11 lemur species,
50 reptile and 430 plant
species.
Tsingy de Bemaraha
is 180km north of
Morondava, an eight- to
ten-hour journey that
includes Baobab Avenue
and a ferry across the
Tsiribihina River.
For more information on
Madagascar Tourism, visit
Travelinfo
