National Parks of Madagascar

Many people of the older generation Madagascar once seemed some unattainable world. A huge number of documentaries praised the diversity of his nature in all colors. Over time, this dream became more and more real, and today the journey to the island seems not so unattainable, but still a grandiose event. And they come here for the sake of exceptional species of flora and fauna, you can get acquainted with them in numerous national parks and reserves of the island of Madagascar.

General information on the nature protection territories of the island

The area of ​​the island is about 580 thousand square meters. km, of which about 18 thousand square meters. km are under the status of specially protected natural areas. Roughly speaking, they are withdrawn from agricultural use and carry one goal - preservation of the natural environment and landscapes. In total, there are about 5 nature reserves and 21 national parks in Madagascar. The nature here is presented in its original form, the cutting of trees is strictly forbidden and punishable by law.

Speaking about the merits of Madagascar, it is worth mentioning the fact that since 2007, UNESCO has added to its protected lists 6 national parks, combining them under the same name "Wet tropical forests of Acinanana." These included: Masuala , Ranomafana, Marudziezi , Anduhahela , Zahamena and Andringritra.

Reserves of the island of Madagascar

Perhaps the most famous and popular reserves in Madagascar are:

  1. Tsing-du-Bemaraha . It densely adjoins the homonymous national park, forming a huge space of untouched natural lands. The reserve covers about 1500 thousand square meters. km. This area is also called "stone forest" due to karst landscapes. Since 1990 it is under the protection of UNESCO. Rare tropical plants sprout here, and you can meet 11 varieties of lemurs, about 150 species of birds and 45 rare representatives of the reptilian family.
  2. Berenti . It is quite modest in size, but not suffering from a lack of tourist attention reserve. It stretched along the Mandara River , and this fact influenced the creation of a special ecosystem that connects the needle forest and the evergreen tropical trees. The peculiarity of Berenti is also that it is the only private reserve in the open spaces of the island.
  3. Zahamena . Its area is about 42 hectares of tropical forests. The territory of the reserve is crossed by several stormy rivers, and the height differences saturate the nature of Zahamen with a variety and flora of uniqueness.

National parks of the island

Among the total number of National parks in Madagascar, tourists enjoy special popularity and interest:

  1. Forest of Kirindi. Its area is about 100 square meters. km. The peculiarity of this park is a unique ecosystem, which is a biocenosis of dry deciduous forest. In addition, here you can get acquainted with a rare predator, which lives only in these parts - Fossa.
  2. Ranomafan. The park is located in a mountainous area at an altitude of 800-1200 m above sea level, and its area is 415 square meters. km. This area enjoys extreme popularity among the guests of the island, because it has a convenient location and a developed transport infrastructure . In addition, in this park there are about 12 varieties of lemurs, among which the rarest representative is the Golden Lemur.
  3. Andasibe. As a matter of fact, this park has united in itself two nature protection zones. Its area is slightly more than 150 square meters. km. It is located in the vicinity of the capital , so there are a lot of visitors here. However, it does not hurt to enjoy the main asset of Andasibe - the presence of lemurs indri.
  4. Isalo. This is almost the largest park on the island - its area is 815 square meters. km. It is known, in addition to the rainforests, also with its landscapes - here you are dominated by huge limestone cliffs that have taken on various bizarre forms due to the constant impact of rain and wind. The main attraction of the park is Piscine Naturelle, a green oasis in the space of a stone cave and a crystal clear waterfall located here.
  5. Montan d'Ambr. This park united in itself both the nature protection zone and the sacred place for the local population. There are a number of prohibitions, which are warned even at the entrance to the park area. But there is something to admire here. In the space of Mount Amber, there are 6 lakes, several rivers and waterfalls. In addition, the park itself is located on the slopes of an extinct volcano. Its area covers only 24 hectares, and the height of hiking trails ranges from 850 to 1450 m above sea level.
  6. Ankaran. Another "precious stone" among the national parks of Madagascar. Its area is slightly more than 180 square meters. km. The main space here is occupied by limestone rocks, polished by rain and winds, deep canyons and dense tropical forests. The main advantages of the park are a variety of tourist routes and wonderful landscapes.

In general, the nature of Madagascar is multifaceted, and each of the reserves and national parks of the island has its own unique atmosphere. In order to feel it, it is necessary to explore these territories thoughtfully, enjoying every detail, every small animal or bug. After all, who knows - perhaps this is almost the last representative of its kind.