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Write a User ReviewExceptional Biodiversity in Ranomafana National Park
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a treat as night walks were no longer allowed in the park and it was very rare to see these shy creatures during the day. Getting back to our starting point, I noticed Bertrant checking out some roadside plants. Five minutes later, he came back with a big grin on his face, happy to be able to show us one more animal before we left, the endemic giraffe-necked weevil. These bizarre looking bugs have elongated necks with which males fight off their opponents during the mating season. Speaking of a needle in a haystack…Bertrant and the other guides will find it for you!
Top Lemur Viewing and Hiking
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hiking tracks through the forest interior. Here we had a wonderful sighting of a Madagascar cuckoo-roller calling loudly in flight, and also had our first look at a velvet asity and tylas vanga. We also enjoyed the small Arboretum Ranomafana, the only known wild specimen of the world’s rarest tree, a small palm named Dypsis robusta in 2005 based on a tree cultivated from seed in Hawaii. Several other Critically Endangered species are represented, most notably Tahina spectabilis, the tallest of the island’s 170 indigenous palms.Lemurs and Fady
Hike through Ranomafana’s rainforest and you will be surrounded by the sounds of countless water droplets sliding off moisture-laden leaves, bird calls echoing from the forest canopy and the chattering of lemurs coming from high up amid towering stands of bamboo. It makes for a wonderful and totally unique wildlife experience. The park, which is part of the Rainforests of the Atsinanana Unesco World Heritage Site, is home to an array of chameleons and at least a dozen lemur species, including the critically endangered greater bamboo and golden bamboo lemurs. It is easy to reach via public transport from Antananarivo and Fianarantsoa. Once here, the best way to explore is on foot, accompanied by a guide, with the best hikes being the longer ones that take you into areas of primary forest. Be prepared for wet, muddy and sometimes steep trails and for rain. Parts of the forest are considered sacred by locals, with fady (taboos) that must be respected, and learning about this adds a fascinating cultural aspect to a visit.