Parc National de Mananara-nord

Introducing Parc National de Mananara-nord

The very remote Parc National de Mananara-Nord (23, 000 hectares) encompasses some of the last remaining lowland rainforest in Madagascar. An additional 1000 hectares of offshore islets and their surrounding reefs are protected as a marine national park. The largest of these islets is Nosy Atafana, southeast of Mananara town.

Mananara-Nord is the only known habitat of the hairy-eared dwarf lemur, but lemurs are not the main attraction in the park, and are not always seen by visitors. The park also protects indris, diademed sifakas, brown lemurs, ruffed lemurs and aye-ayes, as well as a variety of geckos (including the endemic uroplatus and day geckos), and dugong, whales and offshore reef life. The area’s primary appeal – apart from its forest – is the opportunity to get to know a remote area of Madagascar and experience rural Malagasy life. The park is still in an early stage of development, so the staff ask that travellers give them advanced warning of their visit via the Angap offices in Antananarivo, Maroantsetra or Mananara. Turning up in the park unannounced is not encouraged.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009