Isalo National Park – Overview

Isalo National Park (Parc National de l’Isalo) protects mountains with spectacular red sandstone formations that rise from arid, grassy plains. Superb hiking trails take you among the canyons and up onto the high plateau, allowing for incredible experiences and views of the park. Animating this special landscape are several lemur species, and bird-watchers will enjoy checking off some dry-country specials.

Best Time To Go

April to October (Best hiking conditions)

High Season

July, August and December holidays (The park is busy)

Size More info

866km² / 334mi²

Altitude More info

392-1,199m / 1,286-3,934ft

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Pros & Cons

• Dramatic sandstone formations and a photogenic environment
• Many hiking trails to choose from
• Expect good sightings of common lemur species
• Good accommodations on the park border and in the nearby town of Ranohira
• The heat can be challenging on longer hikes
• The park is popular and some of the more accessible trails get very busy

Wildlife

For once in Madagascar, the scenery in Isalo outshines the wildlife. That said, there may be only three lemur species active in the day here, but two are particularly charismatic: the ring-tailed lemur and Verreaux’s sifaka, known for its dance-like movement when running on the ground. The lemurs can mostly be found in the canyons, such as Maki Canyon and Rat Canyon.

Scenery

The park is a photographer’s dream. The evening and early morning light usually plays its magic over the sandstone formations that have eroded into amazing rockscapes, canyons and gorges across the park. A popular scenic highlight at sunset is ‘la fenêtre de l’Isalo’ (the Isalo window). Capture the setting sun as it filters through this natural window carved from the rocks and set in a landscape of balancing boulders and jagged peaks.

Activities

Guided hiking is the main activity in Isalo, which has an extensive network of trails that take you into the park’s most beautiful areas. Exploring on foot is also the best way to see the park’s wildlife, including lemurs and birds that are active during the day. Exploration of some sections of the park may be possible in a 4WD vehicle.

Weather & Climate

Isalo has a dry tropical climate. Annual rainfall figures are low, but there is a Wet season from November to March. The middle of this period, from December to February, is very hot and humid. The coolest months are June to August with an average daytime temperature of 25°C/77°F. During this time, nights are quite cold, with July having the lowest average at 11°C/52°F.

Best Time To Visit

Isalo can be visited throughout the year. However, most people will prefer the Dry season (April to October), when hiking conditions are perfect. The magnificent scenery of the park is enhanced by beautiful light. In the Dry season it is always sunny and bright, and most days start and finish with a photogenic sunrise and sunset.

Want To Visit Isalo NP?

• Isalo Safaris & Tours
• Tour Operators for Isalo