Characteristics in the Ranomafana National Park in the southeast of Madagascar include the tropical rainforest and a variety of thermal baths and waterfalls. The Malagasy words Rano Mafana are called warm water. With this name the National Park is highlighted on the thermal springs in the mountainous park. The Ranomafana National Park was founded in 1991 and has since been managed by the ANGAP, the Association Nationale pour la Gestion des Aires Protégées. Since 2007, with its many endemic plants and animals, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 420 km² park is located about 400 kilometers south of Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. About 90 percent of the entire park area is rainforest and dense. The climate is tropical and humid. Due to its location at up to 1,000 meters above sea level, the temperatures between mountain and valley vary considerably during the night . For the park visit sturdy shoes and weatherproof, rain-protective clothing are essential.
At the center of animal life in the Ranomafana National Park are ten dozen bird and five dozen different types of reptiles and about a hundred amphibians. Many of these animal species as well as numerous plant species are not only rare, but also endemic; they live and grow exclusively in this region. These include lemur species and chameleons such as the earth chameleon or the leaf-tailed gecko. Among the insects you can admire especially rare butterflies such as the comet or the giraffe beetle. Flowering orchids, lichens and tree ferns offer the park visitors interested in botany a variety of flowers, plants and shrubs, to tall, rare rainforest trees.
Through the national park hiking and trekking trails are possible for both multi-day and multi-day trips. Due to the valley of the park, climbing stairs are often a challenge for the fit visitor. The nearest big city is Fianarantsoa, to english where you get to know the good. With 170,000 inhabitants, the city founded in the 1830s is the capital of the Betsileo ethnic groups. The drive to the national park takes several hours by car car. In the village Ranomafana a few kilometers before the park entrance the formalities for the park visit are done in the park office. There is a centrally located campsite on the park grounds. Outside the park, close to the Park Office, hotels and lodges offer accommodation in different categories. In the months of July and August is high season for visiting the country’s third largest national park Ranomafana.
Highlights
– Golden bamboo lemur and mouse lemur
– Giraffe beetle
– Fan palms
– different chameleons and snakes
Equipment
– Hiking shoes or trekking shoes
– enough liquid
– Sunscreen
Time Duration
Day Tour (3-6 hours)
