Madagaskar for a sensational holiday!

Madagascar is different from all other countries in the world. Even experienced globetrotters will be astonished! This fascinating island is the fourth biggest in the world, measuring about 1500 x 450 kn. Some 80 million years ago, Madagascar was separated from Africa and India and followed a different evolutionary path. The result is many weird flora and fauna representatives, such as the huge baobab tree, the smallest primate in the world, Madame Berthe mous lemur, the creepy finger Ayeaye, and the giant chameleon. It’s all highly unusual and worth visiting! The Malagasy people are a mixture of Asian influences plus a touch of 18 th Century European piracy, reflected in 20 different etnic groups.

Come to Madagascar and travel around. Tourist specialists agree: this continent-like island with its unique difference in landscapes is made for travelling around. Within days of travelling distance, you’ll be in a northern rainforest, on an up to 2500 m high mountain peak in the central highlands, a beach along the Indian Ocean, the desert-like south, the deciduous forest of the west. The scenery is often breath-taking!

Zazamalala is a forest reserve and reforestation project in the west. While hiking or dining, up to 11 different lemur species might be following you from the trees. Here you can enjoy the richness of the forest, the variety of trees, mammals, birds. And you may learn about the traditional lifestyle of the Sakalava tribe, e.g. their cooking habits, music, dead rituals with voodoo (grigri). Or you can learn about reforestation and actively take part in planting of trees. And certainly you can just relax on the Morondava beach.

Zazamalala is situated along the National route 35 between the capital Antananarivo and

the Morondava beach. It is easily accessible and only 45 minutes from the Morondava airport.

Since 2000 the Zazamalala forest and botanical garden are an oasis of original forest in between small villages and ponds. Once this was dense deciduous forest, an eco-system of which only 3% remains, the most threatened habitat in the world. Rare and endangered animals include: Verreaux’s sifaka

, Greater bamboo lemur, Red-fronted lemur, White- fronted lemur, Ringtail lemur, Western fork-crowned lemur, Fossa, Narrow-striped mongoose, Henst’s goshawk, Greater vasa parrot, Humblodt’s heron, Nile crocodile, Flat-tail tortoise, Madagascar big-headed turtle, Dumeril’s boa, Labord’s chameleon, Gunther’s leaf-tailed gecko, Kirindy jumping frog.

Zazamalala has a botanical garden with more than 300 endemic tree species, and many palms and flowering shrubs. Quite unique is the collection of plants from the so-called spiny forest of the south of Madagascar.

Zazamalala is also a breeding center for endangered turtles and tortoises, such as the beautiful Radiated tortoise. Zazamalala is working on a green corridor to combine nature reserves. In 2023 and 2024 the Zazamalala forest will be doubled in size. Abandoned eroded land is changed into new forest by planting a 100 different endemic tree species per ha. The Zazamalala nursery has more than 150.000 tree seedlings and 30 people are working here in reforestation.
Zazamalala is active in social projects to support the local community. Schools are repaired and supported. Latrines and water pumps are placed in adjacent villages. Solar cookers are distributed to make local families independent of fuel wood from the forest.
Excursions within one day of driving include the nature reserves of Andranomena and Kirindy, the Belo sur Mer beach resort, the Kirindy Mitea national park, and the Unesco heritage Tsingy de Bemaraha. And in just one hour you can experience the astonishing view of the Baobab alley with its enormous baobab trees.

Excursions

Andranomena

The Andranomena special nature reserve is located in the Menabe region of west

Madagascar, about 30 km north of the city of Morondava, and on a 2 hour driving

distance from Zazamalala. The altitude is 100-200 m. The annual rainfall is 700-1000

mm. The vegetation consists of dry deciduous forest.

Some target species are: Red-fronted lemur, Red-tailed sportive lemur, Frances sparrowhawk, Darter, Glossy ibis, Fony baobab, Madagascar palmyra palm.

Kirindy

The Kirindy private reserve is located in the Menabe region of west Madagascar, about 50

km north of the city of Morondava, and on a 4-5 hour driving distance from Zazamalala.

The altitude is 200-300 m. The annual rainfall is 700-1000 mm. Some target species are:

Verraux’s sifaka, Madame Berthe mouse lemur, Fossa, Madagascar giant jumping rat,

Madagascar buzzard, Ebony tree, the critically endangered Camphor tree, Madagascar vanilla,

Spiny bottle tree, Givotia madagascariensis, formerly excessively logged to make dug-out boats, Za baobab.

The Kirindy Mitea national park is located in south-west Madagascar, along the Mozambique Channel, near the Belo sur Mer beach resort, about 70 km south of Morondava, and half a day driving distance from Zazamalala.

The altitude is 0-300 m. The annual rainfall is 700-1000 mm. It has hills and coastline. The vegetation consists of dry scrubland, woodland, and dry deciduous forest. Some target species are: Verreaux’s sifaka, Ring-tailed lemur, Coquerel’s dwarf lemur, Western mongoose, Grandidier’s striped mongoose, Mikea shrew tenrec, Bat hawk, Bangs black parrot , Crab plover, Running coua, Loggerhead turtle, Madagascar mahogany.

The Tsingy de Bemaraha national park is located in west Madagascar, near the village of Bekopaka, 185 km north of Morondava, on a one day driving distance from Zazamalala (partly piste; 2 rivers have to be crossed). It comprises a southern part, divided into the small tsingy and the large tsingy, and a northern part, which is a strict reserve, closed to the public. Together they encompass 83.430 Ha, a limestone massif between the Betsiboka and the Mahajamba rivers. There are high limestone tops and ridges, caves, ravines, hills, a lake, and the Manambola river. The altitude is 95-741 m. The annual rainfall is 1000-1500 mm. The vegetation consists of dry scrubland with succulents, woodland, and dry deciduous forest. Some target species are: Cleese’s woolly lemur, Decken’s sifaka, Randrianasolo’s sportive lemur, Western ring-tailed mongoose, Madagascar fish-eagle, Yellow-banded black tree snake, Monky ladder liana, Madagascar spiny palm, Honey tree. Note that the Tsingy de Bemaraha is closed to the public during the rainy season (December-April).

Prices ZAZAMALALA 2023

Entry fee: 50.000 Ar (11 euro)Children under 12 years of age and Malagasy people free of charge.

Lodging in a double room on the first floor of a villa in the botanical garden with 8×4 m swimmingpool, a bathroom, large terrace with a wonderful panorama. Including continental breakfast: 190.000 Ar (42 euro), which is considered a gift to the nonprofit Association Zazabe.
During the summer months, at Zazamalala you can communicate in English, Dutch, French, German, Spanish, Malagasy language.
Zazamalala is financially supported by the nonprofit Zazamalala foundation, registered in the Netherlands. The new forest is owned and managed by the Malagasy nonprofit association Zazabe.

visit the Zazamalala nature reserve

Welcome to Madagaskar

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Madagaskar for a sensational holiday!

Excursions

visit the Zazamalala nature reserve