Central Madagascar gallery

Photogallery Central madagascar 

Analamazaotra

This special reserve lies along the road from the capital Antananarivo to the east coast. It provides an impression of the mountain rain forests

The area encompasses 800 Ha. The altitude is about 800 m. The annual rainfall is 2500-3000 mm. The vegetation consists of mountaneous rainforest.

Some target species are: Indri (Imdri indri), Eastern bamboo lemur (Hapalemus griseus ), Brown mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus), Tailless tenrec (Tenrec ecaudatus), Tree boa (Sanzinia madagascariensis madagascariensis), Giant chameleon (Calumma parsonii), Brown chameleon (Furcifer brevicornis), Lined day gecko (Phelsuma lineata), Golden froglet (Mantella aurantiaca).

There are plenty hotels in the vicinity.

Mantadia Lodge

MANTADIA LODGE ****

Situated in a new area in the village of Andasibe. There are 25 bungalows, a restaurant and a swimmingpool.

ANDASIBE HOTEL ***

Situated near the entrance of the park.

GRACE LODGE ***

Located in a beautiful garden in the village of Andasibe. There are 12 bungalows, a restaurant and a swimmmingpool.

FEON ‘NYALA **

Located close to the entrance of the park. There are 44 simple bungalows with a view on the forest, and a restaurant.

The reserve can be reached by car via the Rn 2 from the capital Antananarivo to the east coast. This trip may last from 4 hours to many more, depending on traffic jams. The village of Andasibe lies 28 km from the larger village of Moramanga.

 

Mantadia

This national park is adjacent to the Analamazaotra special reserve.
It encompasses 15.500 Ha. The altitude is 900 en 1250 m.

Some target species are: Black and white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata variegata), Diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema), Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis), Collared nightjar (Caprimulgus enarratus), Slender-billed flufftail (Sarothrura watersi),Blue pigeon (Alectroenas madagascariensis), Pitta ground-roller (Atelornis pittoides), Madagascar crested ibis (Lophotibis cristata).
Visitors from Analamazaotra or the village of Andasibe require a car to reach its entrance.

Ranomafana

 The Ranomafana national park is located in south-east Madagascar, 65 km to the north-east of the city of Fianarantsoa.
It consists of 41.700 Ha. The altitude is 600-1400 m. The annual rainfall is about 2088 mm. There are many streams, rivers and waterfalls . The vegetation consists of humid forest and bamboo tickets.

Some target species are: Golden bamboo lemur (Hapalemur aureus), Broad-nosed bamboo lemur (Prolemur simus), Diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema), Milne-edward’s sifaka (Propithecus edwardsi), Sportive lemur (Lepilemur microdon), Rufous mous lemur (Microcebus rufus), Madagascar striped civet (Fossa fossana), Common tenrec (Tenrec ecaudatus), Madagascar hawk (Accipiter henstii), Gray emutail (Amphilais seebohmi), Pollens vanga (Xenopirostris polleni), the rare trees Weinmania bojeriana and W. proxima, and the Bird nest fern (Asplenium nidus).

There is lodging in the village of Ranomafana, but there are also camping facilities within the reserve

SETAM LODGE ****

Situated on a hill with a view on the park, and close to its entrance. There are 10 comfortable rooms with a private bathroom, and a restaurant.

CENTREST SEJOUR HOTEL ***

Situated between the village and the mountaneous forest of the park, about 15 min. walking from the entrance of the park. There are 18 modern rooms.

LE GRENAT ***

Situated in the center of the village of Ranomafana, about 15 min. of the entrance of the park. There are 20 simple roomds with a private bathroom.

THERMAL HOTEL***

Situated near the park. There are 21 modern and comfortable rooms in a kolonial-style hotel, a restaurant, and a swimmingpool (hot springs in the vicinity).

CHEZ GASPARD **

Situated in a nice garden near the church in the village. There are 14 rooms, and a restaurant.

MANJA **

Situated along the main road on a hill. There are simple rooms, and a well-known restaurant.

The entrance of the Ranomafana park is near the village of Ambodiamontana, about 6.5 km from the village of Ranomafana.

 Notes: The Biodiversity center Valbio is located near the entrance of the park.

Andringitra

The national park of Andringitra is located in the centre of the island, south of the city of Ambalavao.
It encompasses 31.160 Ha with valleys, hills and mountains. The altitude is 600- 2658 m. The vegetation consists of rain forest and high-altitude shrubs and plants.

Some target species are: Ringtail lemur (Lemur catta), Southern bamboo lemur (Hapalemur meridionalis), Small-toothed sportive lemur (Lepilemur microdon), Andringitra chameleon (Calumma andringitraense), Majestic palm (Ravenea rivularis), and many species of orchids.

TSIENIMPARIHY LODGE ***

Situated in a nice garden in the village of Ambalavao. There are 20 small traditionally-looking bungalows.

BETSILEO COUNTRY LODGE ***

Situated 8 km outside the village of Ambalavao. There are 15 rooms, a restaurant, and a small swimmingpool.

TSARA CAMP *

Situated in the valley of Andringitra. There are15 comfortable safari tensts with a bathroom, and a restaurant.

CAMP CATTA *

Situated in the foothills on the western side of the massif, near the village of Tsaranoro. There are 12 safari tents with a bathroom, and a restaurant.

Andringitra is reached by four-wheel drive car from Ambalavao to Antanifotsy or from Ambalavao to Tanambao (the road to Vohitsaoka).

Notes: This is a mountain reserve and going there implies a lot of struggling on steep lanes. The Imarivolanitra (Pic Boby) mountain can be climbed and even for people not reaching the summit, the panorama is breath-taking.

Ambohitantely

The Ambohitantely special nature reserve is located in Central Madagascar near the village of Analamanga in the Ankazobe district, 140 km north-west of the capital Antananarivo.
The area encompasses 5600 Ha. The altitude is 1300-1650 m. The vegetation consists of the last remains of highland rainforest, but also grassland and exotic woodland. There are waterfalls, rock formations and caves.

Some target species are: Eastern woolly lemur (Avahi laniger), Brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus), Rufous mouse lemur (Microcebus rufus), Bathawk (Macliaeramphus alcinus), Madagascar pratincole (Glareola ocularis), Madagascar blue pigeon (Alectroenas madagascariensis), Madagascar pygmy kingfisher (Ispidina madagascariensis), Pitta-like ground-roller (Aterlornis pittoides), Anodonthyla vallani, a frog only found here, the critically endangered dinosaur tree Vanola (Asteropeia amblyocarpa), the critically endangered Schizolaena tampoketsana with a remarkable twisted and fissured trunk, Sihara palm (Dypsis onilahensis), the huge Manambe palm (Dypsis decipiens),the endangered rosewood Dalbergia monticola, the beautiful tree Weinmannia ssp., and Screwpalms (Pandanus ssp.).

 There is basic hotel accomodation in Ankazobe.

The reserve can be reached along Rn 4 from Antananarivo to the village of Arazana.

Mangerivola

The Mangerivola special reserve is located in central-east Madagascar, 140 km to the east of the capital Antananarivo, 200 km west of the city of toamasina (Tamatave), south of the village of Fito, and 15 km north of the village of Andasibe.
The area encompasses 11.900 Ha. The altitude is 315-1484 m. The annual rainfall is 1700-2600 mm. The reserve has hills, streams and waterfalls. The vegetation consists of lowland and somewhat mountaneous rainforest, but also open degraded land and secondary forest.

Some target species are: Indri (Indri indri), Diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema), Red-bellied lemur (Eulemur rubriventer), Eastern bamboo lemur (Hapalemur griseus), Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis), Black vanga (Oriolia bernieri), Madagascar grass owl (Tyto soumagnei), Madagascar serpent eagle (Eutriorchis astur), Madagascar tree boa (Sanzinia madagascariensis), Lance-nosed chameleon (the rare chameleon Calumma gallus, Travellor plant (Ravenala madagascariensis).

There is no hotel accomodation in the vicinity.

The reserve is very difficult to reach. From the tiny village of Anjahamana it is another 20 km by foot to the entrance in the village of Andratambazaha. After rain a visit is impossible.

Pic d’Ivohibe

The Pic d’Ivohibe special nature reserve is located in central-south-east Madagascar, 110 km of the town of Ihosy.
The area encompasses 3453 Ha. The reserve is situated in the southern part of the Andringitra massif. The vegetation consists of mountaneous woodland and forest.

Some target species are: Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), Southern bamboo lemur (Hapalemur meridionalis), Red-fronted lemur (Eulemur rufifrons), Red-bellied lemur (Eulemur rubriventer), Greater dwarf lemur (cheirogalus major), Greater painted snipe (Rostratula benghalensis), Madagascar snipe (Gallinago macrodactyla), Rand’s warbler (Randia pseudozosterops), Madagascar grey iguana (Oplurus quadrimaculatus), the large tree frog Boophis albilabris, the tiny froglet Mantella baroni.

There is no hotel accomodation in the vicinity, but several hotels in Ambalavao.

Kalambatritra

The Kalambatritra special nature reserve is located in the Anosi region in central-south Madagascar, 55 km east of Betroka, north of the Andohahela national park, west of the Midongy befotaka national park, and south-west of the Manombo national park.
The area encompasses 28.255 Ha. The altitude is 850-1600 m. The annual rainfall is 1300-4000 mm. It has hills and steep cliffs and is part of the Antaivondro-Kalambatritra mountain range. There are numerous streams feeding Ionaivo, Mananara and Mandrare rivers. The vegetation consists of dry deciduous forest, savanna, and rainforest (along the streams and on the higher altitude).

Some target species are: Ring-tailed lemur (lemur catta), Southern bamboo lemur (Hapalemur meridionalis), Collared lemur (Eulemur collaris), right’s sportive lemur (Lepilemur wrightae), which occurrs only in this area, Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis), Madagascar red owl (Tyto soumagnei), Wedge-tailed jery (Neomixis flavoviridis), Madagascan yellow brow (Crossleyia xanthophrys), Grey-crowned tetraka (Bernieria cinereiceps), Pollen’s vanga (Xenopirostris polleni), Rufous-headed ground roller (Atelornis crossleyi), Meller’s duck (Anas melleri), Madagascar dotted girdlet lizard (Zonosaurus aeneus), Madagascar Ridged froglet (Gephyromantis spinifer), the Melanophylla alnifolia tree, only occurring in this area, and the endangered tree Leptolaena pauciflora.

There is no hotel accomodation in the vicinity of the reserve, but basic lodging in Betroka.

The reserve can be reached in the dry season (May to September) with a four-wheel drive car from Betroka and the village of Ivahona.

Midongy du Sud / Befotaka

The Midongy du Sud / Befotaka national park is located in central-south-east Madagascar and the nearest city is Farafangana.
The area encompasses 19219.800 Ha. The altitude is 689-1679 m. It has hills, mountains and rivers. The vegetation consists of humid forests and swamps.

Some target species are: Collared brown lemur (Eulemur collaris), Western ring-tailed mongoose (Galidia elegans ), Meller’s duck (Anas melleri), Gold-dust day gecko (Phelsuma laticauda),, Fern tree (Cyathea boivini), Feather palm (Dypsis intermedia), many orchids (Aerangis citrata e.a.).

The park can be reached from Befotaka (42 km)with a four-wheel drive car and a visit requires much time and efford and is possible only between June and December