Kirindy Forest

Wildlife & Animals

Expert

Philip is the author of the Insight Guide to Madagascar.

Kirindy Forest (Réserve Forestière de Kirindy) offers excellent wildlife viewing and its biggest draw is the chance to see Madagascar’s most sought-after predator, the fossa. Species to look for at night include the giant jumping rat, red-tailed sportive lemur, grey mouse lemur, pale fork-marked lemur and the smallest of all, the Madame Berthe's mouse lemur.

Fossa Common

Berthe's
mouse lemur Occasional

Verreaux's sifaka Common

Giant
jumping rat Common

Northern
bokiboky Common

Oustalet's
chameleon Occasional

Grey
mouse lemur Common

Red-fronted
brown lemur Common

Red-tailed
sportive lemur Common

Pale
fork-marked lemur Occasional

Fat-tailed
dwarf lemur Occasional

Coquerel's giant
mouse lemur Rare

Common tenrec Rare

Madagascar
ground boa Rare

Wildlife Highlights

The ultimate highlight in Kirindy Forest is coming eye to eye with a fossa. If at all possible, it pays to come here between October and November when there is a chance to witness their elaborate mating ritual. There are two lemur species active in the daytime, the Verreaux's sifaka and the red-fronted brown lemur.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Kirindy Forest offers great wildlife viewing throughout the year. The main draw is the fossa and sightings are almost guaranteed at any time. However, the fossa become more active from October onwards, and from late October to late November you might find them mating. Reptiles, tenrecs and some dwarf and mouse lemurs are easier to see after rain. This is also true for the localized giant hunting rat, which hibernates during the Dry season.