Discover Madagascar in 18 natural parks

Madagascar, nature destination

If there is a destination synonymous with nature, it is Madagascar!
The country, bathed by the Indian Ocean, is indeed very rich in exceptional natural areas since it is home to 18 national parks and about thirty land or marine reserves. Moreover, since 2007, six sites (Andohahela, Andringitra, Marojejy, Masoala, Ranomafana and Zahamena) are even classified as World Heritage by UNESCO under the label “Wet forests of the Atsinanana.
The whole, except some private parks like Berenty, is managed by Madagascar National Park.

The most beautiful parks and reserves in the north of Madagascar

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
Close to Tana, this beautiful forest park receives many visitors because of its location. It shelters a very abundant flora and fauna of which many species of lemurs.

National park of Ankarafantsika
Next to Majunga, this is a park of forests and lakes where many birds, crocodiles and lemurs live.

Baly Bay National Park
This small park near Majunga is both terrestrial and maritime. It shelters several species of turtles.

Mananara Nord National Park
This is a small park on both the land and the sea of the northeast coast. One comes there in particular for hiking, beaches and diving.

Marojejy National Park
Opened to visitors relatively recently, this mountainous area near the sea offers beautiful forest landscapes and great biodiversity. It is one of the parks classified by UNESCO as the rainforests of the Atsinanana. One can hike there.

Masoala National Park
In the peninsula of the same name, this terrestrial and marine park offers superb landscapes with a very rich fauna and flora among which to hike. One can also enjoy the beaches and diving in this peninsula.

Amber Mountain National Park
Close to Diego Suarez and especially to the ex Joffreville which is the entry point, this park is made up of waterfalls and humid forest in which live many species of lemurs. You can hike there.

Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park
These are incredible karst reliefs classified as world heritage by Unesco. They are located not far from the coast, in the biggest park of Madagascar in which one can hike but which remains however rather difficult of access.

National park of Tsingy of Namoroka
This beautiful place, south-west of Majunga, offers landscapes made of impressive karst reliefs, caves and canyons. You can see many birds, reptiles and lemurs.

Reserve of Ankarana
It is a very beautiful reserve at 100 km south of Diego Suarez known for its fauna (lemurs, reptiles, crocodiles, birds) and especially its magnificent karst formations (tsingy).

The most beautiful parks and reserves in southern Madagascar

Andohahela National Park
This mountain forest park, near Tolanaro, has a rich fauna and flora, as well as beautiful waterfalls. It is one of the six parks classified by Unesco as rainforests of Atsinanana.

Andringitra National Park
In the south of the island, this park with high mountains and deep valleys in wooded parts among which one can trekking shelters a rich fauna and flora. It is one of the six parks classified by Unesco as rainforests of Atsinanana.

National Park of Isalo
It is a superb park of mountains and deep valleys known for its landscapes, its vegetation and its lemurs. You can make beautiful treks there.

Kirindy Mitea National Park
Right next to Morondova (and separate from Kirindy Forest Reserve), this is a beautiful park consisting of forests, savannahs and mangroves, as well as lakes and beaches. You can see baobabs, lemurs and birds.

Ranomafana National Park
This site near Fianarantsoa is one of the six parks classified by UNESCO as rainforests of Atsinanana. It is known for its landscapes, its flora (including orchids) and its fauna which includes many lemurs and birds.

Zombitse Vohibasia National Park
Between Toliary and Isalo, this small park shelters many species of birds. One can hike there.

Reserve of Berenty
This very small private reserve between Tolanaro and Ambovombe shelters many species of birds and lemurs. As such, it is one of the most visited of Madagascar.

Reserve of Tsimanampesotse
Around the salt lake of the same name, this park in the south of Toliara allows to observe many birds among which colonies of pink flamingos.

When to visit Madagascar ?

It is the humidity and the rainfall more than the temperatures that define the best period to visit the Red Island. This is during the dry season, from April to October, and more particularly in September-October, which are the two months that are really favourable to discover the whole of Madagascar.