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Overview – Ankarana SR

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many guidebooks to African destinations, including the Insight guide to Madagascar.
Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Insight Guide to Madagascar.
Philip is the author of the Insight Guide to Madagascar.
Ankarana Special Reserve (Réserve Spéciale Ankarana) is a 150-million-year-old plateau composed of limestone, which has eroded to form the tsingy. It is known for a large network of underground rivers more than 100km/62mi long and considered the largest in Africa, as well as for its canyons and caves.
Pros & Cons
- Unique dramatic landscape
- Mysterious bat caves
- Boardwalks over the tsingy
- Several hiking circuits, from easy to difficult
- Good accommodation options near the entrance gate
- Very hot, which can be challenging on longer hikes
- No accommodation inside the park, only camping
Ankarana SR Safari Reviews
- Expert Rating
- Wildlife
- Scenery
- Bush Vibe
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- Wildlife
- Scenery
- Bush Vibe
- Birding
Wildlife
The park has a large variety of lemurs including Sanford's brown lemur and crowned lemur. Lucky visitors might spot a ring-tailed mongoose, and Ankarana is one of the few parks where the sought-after fossa is regularly seen. Reptiles are well represented as well. Some species to look out for are the panther chameleon, giant day gecko, the well-camouflaged leaf-tailed gecko and the Madagascar ground boa.
Scenery
The park protects the Ankarana Massif, a limestone plateau formed millions of years ago. The formation of limestone pinnacle karst is a unique phenomenon, and has been made very accessible with boardwalks and bridges crossing the plateau. Viewing platforms offer a bird’s eye perspective over this natural wonder.
Weather & Climate
Ankarana is located at low altitude and has a hot, tropical climate. Temperatures are quite even through the year and easily peak over 30°C/86°F. Rainfall however is very seasonal and torrential downpours can be expected from December to March.
Best Time To Visit
Ankarana can be visited throughout the year, but as the park is primarily a hiking destination, the months from May to November offer the best conditions. These months are also slightly less hot. In October and November many lemurs have babies.
Want To Visit Ankarana SR?
Ankarana SR Safari Reviews
- Expert Rating
- Wildlife
- Scenery
- Bush Vibe
- Birding
- User Rating – 0 Reviews
- Wildlife
- Scenery
- Bush Vibe
- Birding
Most Helpful Expert Review

Philip is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many guidebooks, including the Bradt guides to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa.
Mountains of pins
Bypassed by the main road between the popular resort island on Nosy Be and the port of Diego Suarez, Ankarana is of greatest interest for protecting a massive ‘tsingy’ eroded limestone formation less impressive but far more accessible...