City: Madagascar
Top Things to do in Madagascar
10 Nature & Parks in Madagascar That You Shouldn't Miss
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Restaurants in Madagascar
1. Masoala National Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 95 reviews
Reviewed By marleensera
During our trip to Madagascar last year, my husband and I visited some of the National Parks. Although it is off-the-beaten-track (or maybe exactly for that reason), we decided to go to Masoala, a patch of primary forest with amazing biodiversity and very few tourists. We contacted Lauriot from Visit Masoala, who organised the tour for us with professionalism and kindness. They have multitude of options (including hikes, etc.) and they all seem to be interesting but due to our schedule, we chose to stay 3 nights in Masoala and 1 night in Nosy Mangabe. It was one of our best experiences in the trip. In Masoala our lodge was just a couple of meters away from a beach that belonged to the lodge. You could listen to the waves from our room, it was mind blowing. We did day excursions and saw lots of animals thanks to our very knowledgeable guide. There was also time for relaxing and to swim and snorkel. Food was delicious. Nosy Mangabe is a tiny island covered by primary forests. The accommodation is very basic (tent) but they provide everything you need, so it is really easy. So, if you want to visit Madagascar, Masoala is one of the must see places and you can contact Lauriot on [email protected] if you need help with the organisation.
2. Ambaro Ranch
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 51 reviews
Reviewed By Sanastazja - Warsaw, Poland
Good place, happy people and lovely horses. 3 hours ride was an amazing expirience worth any money. Highly recommended ????
3. Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 256 reviews
The amazing landscapes of limestone pinnacles, gorges and pristine forests protect many rare birds, lemurs and reptiles.
Reviewed By AndrejM973 - Bratislava, Slovakia
Amazing national park, totally worth the bad road that you have to take to get there, great views from Grand Tsingy, you are literally climbing to the top, passing caves, the hike itself is fun, using ferrata. Small Tsingy are also nice, it is possible to do both in one day.
4. Isalo National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 647 reviews
Distinguished by a canyon and beautiful, rolling plains, the Parc National de Isalo is an attractive reserve of Madagascar's land and wildlife.
Reviewed By PeterE5 - Sydney, Australia
I spent 3 days in Isalo National Park and loved it. Although it's rainy season here this area is relatively dry and a good place to go at this time of year. It is difficult to get to sites and trailheads without transport, and the access roads are poor, but I managed to join another traveller with a vehicle, making things much easier. I am sure my experience was made much better by my guide Sandra. Sandra is a local Ranohira woman, has 3 years experience as a guide, has recently completed her tourism degree and speaks excellent English, as well as French and Malagasy. There are over 100 guides for the park, but only 5 females. So just in the interests of advancing women in Madagascar I would recommend hiring a woman, but Sandra was excellent. The guide rates are set at 120,000 ariary for full day, or 80,000 for half day. You can hire a guide at the guides office, across from the National Parks office, or they may approach you first. The Fenetre (Window) of Isalo is a unusual rock formation and great place for sunset - you need a vehicle to get there. My first hike was to the Piscine Naturelle, then we crossed within a wide canyon to Namaza camp site where there were lemurs and many birds, and then up the gorge to Piscine Bleu and Piscine Noire with waterfalls and beautiful natural swimming pools. Beautiful! My second hike was to Canyon des Makis and Canyon de Rates (but no rats!). They are two beautiful gorges. We were the only ones hiking there that day. I thoroughly recommend the Park and these hikes.
5. Lokobe Nature Special Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,121 reviews
Reviewed By tjfc66 - Kenya, null
We went via canoe with Jean Robert’s team and had a fascinating time as we saw several rare and endemic creatures, such as two different Pygmy chameleons (I think) on the two hour forest walk, along with several snakes, several lemurs quite close up. The lunch at the end was also splendid and very well prepared. Highly recommended.
6. Avenue of the Baobabs
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 752 reviews
Reviewed By Mikiduta - Bucharest, Romania
We have been to The Avenue twice, both at sunset and sunrise. Being low season not too many tourists were around at sunset (around 40-50) while at sunrise which was happening at 5 am we were just a few (around 10 probably). The baobabs are amazing trees that can survive without water for a long period of time. During December they had a lot of leaves because one week before it rained. The weather was great when we visited the avenue so both sunset and sunrise were spectacular. During sunset there were plenty of mosquitos around while during sunrise the flies took the places of mosquitos. Sunset was really great and we have stayed also after the sunset to take pictures during the blue hour. The sunrise was also spectacular but totally different mainly before the appearance of the sun when a mix of orange, red and dark blue was taking our pictures to another level. I am really happy that we have visited Madagascar during December because we had good weather and almost no tourists around us. Special thanks to Cactus Madagascar which organized very professionally our tour!
7. Antsokay Arboretum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 153 reviews
The Antsokay arboretum is a botanic garden with a collection of over 900 plant species from the southwest of Madagascar, 90% are endemic to the region and 80% have medicinal properties. Among these many succulent species are recognized as endangered.Visit also include opportunity to see creatures you can see no where else in the world. Not just chameleons, boas, tenrecs or birds but also other endemics such as the mouse lemurs which are the main night visit attraction of the arboretum.
Reviewed By marcdejong99 - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Great garden with 900 species of endemic trees and plants! Beautiful and very warm;-)! Great guide which explains all varieties of different species like baobab and elephant trees and more. Also saw small snake, several geckoes, birds, small and large lizards. Nice small pool and restaurant at site.
8. Lemurs' Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 860 reviews
Reviewed By hnemcic - Makarska, Croatia
Perfect place to see various spices of lemurs in one place. When i have arrived on Madagascar i was thinking that lemurs will jump all around. It’s not like that. So if you want to see them in something that’s most close to natural environment, this is place to go. And guides are very good and helpful. Without explanation it will be just half of experience.
9. Anja Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 328 reviews
Reviewed By PaulAndGijs - Den Bosch, The Netherlands
Must visit community run reserve. 6 communities decided to change their ways of making a living dramatically with great results. From hunting ringtail maki’s and cutting trees to make a bit of money to full-fill basic subsistence needs, they decided to create the nature reserve. The number of ring tails increased from 20 to over 400 now in their best fit habitat. During the 2 hour hike you’ll meet maki’s, cameleons snd more. The landscape is gorgeous.
10. Ankarana Special Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 275 reviews
Reviewed By huys25 - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The limestone Tsingy from Madagascar are without exception one of the most spectacular features of the country, all worth visiting. Here only a short walk and two bridges over the Tsingy are the basic route. Behind the bridge you can walk another circuit, we did not do. The large cave is interesting. The underground river that disappears is more interesting. Pity that you cannot go down and explore the tunnel for some distance. In the park, near the entrance we had a nice pick-nick lunch supplied by the hotel Chez Laurent, in the company of a few curious lemurs.
