#10 Mananara-Nord
The Mananara Nord national park is located along the Indian Ocean in north-east Madagascar, north of the city of Mananara.
The park encompasses 24.000 Ha within the 140.000 Ha Biosphere Reserve of Mananara Nord, which includes 70 km of coastline and the Verezanantsoro forest, many small islands, and coral reefs. The altitude is 0-400 m. The annual rainfall is 4000 mm. The vegetation consists of rainforest.
Some target species are: Indri (Indri indri), Diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema), Broad-nosed bamboo lemur (Hapalemur simus), Hairy-eared dwarf lemur (Allocebus trichotis), East mongoose (Eupleres goudotii goudotii), Streaked tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus), Madagascar serpent eagle (Eutriorchis astur), Madagascar tree boa (Sanzinia madagascariensis), Branched feather palm (Dypsis antanambensis), Beentje dwarf palm (Dypsis beentjei), and Hoza palm (Ravenea albicans).
The nearest hotel accomodation is in Mananara.
The entrance is located north of Mananara, near the village of Antanamabe.
Interesting things in the Mananara Nord area: The island of Nosy Atafana, 3 small islands south-east of Mananara with coastal forest, and a marine park.
#11 Manombo
The Manombo special reserve is located along the Indian Ocean in central-east Madagascar, south of the town of Farafangana and south-east of the city of Fianarantsoa. The reserve comprises one part of 2800 Ha of forests AROUND THE Manampatrana AND Mananara rivers, and one part of 2280 Ha along 5 km of coastline. The altitude is 0-50 m.
The annual rainfall is 2500 mm. The vegetation consists of humid scrubland, woodland, and forest.
Some target species are: White-collared brown lemur (Eulemur cinereiceps), Black and white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata editorium), James’ sportive lemur (Lepilemur jamesi), Madagascar snipe (Gallinago macrodactyla), Subantarctic skua (Catharacta antarctica), Chabert’s vanga (Leptopterus chabert), the endangered tree Micronychia danguyana with pink to red flowers, and the dwarf and small feather palms Dypsis digitata, D. integra, D. laevis, D. intermedia, D. mahia, D. simianensis, and D. singularis.
The nearest hotel accomodation is in the towns of Farafangana and Manombo. The entrance is located along the road from Fianarantsoa to Manombo, 26 km south of Farafangana.
#12 Ambatovaky
The Ambatovaky special nature reserve is located in east Madagascar, close to the village of Soanierana Ivongo along the Indian Ocean. The area encompasses about 60.000 Ha. The altitude is 400-1185 m. The annual rainfall is about 4000 mm. The reserve lies between the river Marimbona in the South and the river Simianona in the North. The vegetation consists of lowland and mountaneous rainforest.
Some target species are: Indri (Indri indri), Diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema), Black and white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata sp.), Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis), Madagascar cuckoo-falcon (Aviceda madagascariensis), Madagascar cuckooshrike (Coracina cinerea), Madagascar serpent eagle (Eutriorchis astur), Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus), Madagascar tree boa (Sanzinia madagascariensis), Giant day gecko (Phelsuma madagascariensis), Sand palm (Dypsis arenarum).
There is basic hotel accomodation in the village of Soanierana Ivongo.
The reserve can be reached by boat from Soanierana Ivongo over the Marimbona river to Fotsialana or Ambodiriana.
#13 Zahamena
The Zahamena national park is located in north-east Madagascar, about 40 km North of the town of Ambatondrazaka, 25 km East of the Analaotra lake, 50 km of the Indian Ocean, and 70 km north-west of the city of Toamasina (Tamatave). The area encompasses 4.200 Ha. The annual rainfall is 3000-4000 mm. It lies near the shallow Alaotra lake which is an ecological tragedy because of habitat destruction for rice culture. The vegetation consists of humid lowland and mountaneous forest. The park is divided into an Eastern and a Western part, separated by a populated area. The vegetation consists of savanna, degraded areas, secondary forest, humid lowland and mountaneous forest.
Target species are: Indri (Indri indri), Black and white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata variegata), Simmon’s mouse lemur (Microcebus simmonsi), Hairy-eared dwarf lemur (Allocebus trichotis), Crossley’s dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus crossleyi), Masoala fork-marked lemur (Phaner furcifer), Weasel sportive lemur (Lepilemur mustelinus), Eastern bamboo lemur (Hapalemur griseus), Brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus), Red-bellied lemur (Eulemur rubriventer), Eastern woolly lemur (Avahi laniger), Diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema), Madagascar owl (Paroedura masobe), Madagascar red owl (Tyto soumagnei), Madagascar serpent eagle (Eutriorchis astur), Red-tailed newtonia (Newtonia fanovanae), Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus), Katsatsaka gecko (Paroedura masobe).
There are several tracks for experienced hikers, by foot or zebu-cart, but bring your own camping equipment. There is hotel accomodation in Ambatondrazaka.
Zahamena is reached from the Rn 2 between the capital Antananarivo to the east coast, turn North at the village of Moramanga and drive to the city of Ambatondrazaka. From there it takes a few hours by foot to reach the entrance.
#14 Betampona
The Betampona special nature reserve is located in East Madagascar, 40 km to the north-west of Toamasina (Tamatave). It encompasses 2.228 Ha. The altitude is 92-571 m. The annual rainfall is about 3500 mm. There are numerous streams withing the reserve. The vegetation consists of lowland rainforest and degraded land .
Some target species are:
The nearest hotel accomodation is in Toamasina (Tamatave).
The Betampona reserve is difficult to reach by means of a four-wheel drive car from Toamasina (Tamatave).