Ranomafana National Park

Ranomafana National Park

Extending over 41,600 hectares, the Ranomafana National Park is one of most famous and best Malagasy parks.

This park marks the transition between the Central Highlands and the eastern coast of Madagascar. It is surrounded by hills, cliffs and mountains, covered with dense rainforest and crossed by several rivers. All these elements provide an idyllic and green landscape, a perfect home for innumerable animal species. In addition, its mountains shelter thermal springs, hence the name Ranomafana, literally translated as "hot water".

History

The park was created in 1991 thanks to the collaboration of several researchers, ethnologists and anthropologists from American and European universities and the Malagasy Government. To this day, the park still arouses the interest of researchers, which is the reason why the Valbio Research Centre was created.

Since 2007, the park has been classified with some protected areas forming the Antsinanana rainforests as World Heritage.

Discovering the park

The Ranomafana National Park contains a unique biodiversity with rare and endemic fauna and flora species. Covered by a dense humid forest of low and medium altitude, its vegetation is very rich and abundant. It contains orchids, apocynaceae, rubiaceae, euphorbiaceae, epiphytic plants, carnivorous plants, palm trees, hard and precious woods and tree ferns. This abundance is also due to the humid climate and the several tributaries of the Namorona River.

Concerning the fauna, 12 species of lemurs have found refuge in this lush vegetation, including the Hapalemur Griseus Ranomafanensis, a very rare species, endemic to the park, classified as critically endangered by IUCN, as well as the great hapalemur or Prolemur simus, the park's flagship species dependent on its bamboo forest just as the hapalemur aureus. In addition, 74 insect species, 90 butterfly species, 350 spider species, 58 reptile species, 98 amphibian species are inventoried.

It should be noted that the Park is one of the best birdwatching sites in the country, with 115 bird species inventoried, including nearly 30 endemic species, such as the Anas melleri, Lophotibis cristata, Gactornis enarratus, Accipiter henstii…

During the day or at night, several tours have been arranged by the Madagascar National Parc in order to bring you as close as possible to the remarkable fauna and flora without disturbing. You will encounter several endemic animals and plants that will make your trip a unique adventure.

To prepare yourself for the visits, it is recommended to bring walking shoes and rain gear.

The Climate

The park enjoys a humid and rainy tropical climate, reaching up to about 4,000 mm of average precipitation per year, with temperatures ranging from 14 to 20°C.