Ranomafana National Park

Ranomafana National Park is one of the most picturesque national parks in Madagascar. Covering a mountainous area of 435km2, the park is set at altitudes that range between 500 and 1200m in a vast tract, comprised mainly of dense rainforest. The rare golden bamboo lemur was discovered here in 1986 by Dr. Patricia Wright, which led to the area gaining National Park status. It now provides a protected environment for these endangered animals and is one of the island’s most accessible and appealing stops on any itinerary.

Sprawled across the ridges and valleys of the upper Namorona River basin its thick tangle of trees and plants is bathed by a constant flow of moist air drifting up from the Indian Ocean, helping to make this park one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. More than 1025 species of trees and other plants have been recorded here to date, spread across several distinct domains from lowland rainforest, through mid-altitude to highland rainforest. The forests are interspersed with tree ferns and lichens and offer – mostly in November – blooming orchids. These fantastic rainforests gives you a maximum of endemism, and every year new plant and animal species are discovered.

There are four main districts at Ranomafana, with trails of varying lengths cut through them: on the north side the districts of Vohiparara and the much larger Soarano; and on the south side the popular Varibolo area and further south the much bigger Varijatsy. There are many kilometers of trails here, ranging from slightly arduous to quite hard-core – but such is the richness and diversity of the wildlife around you that as long as you’re reasonably fit and have suitable footwear, you’re not likely to notice how strenuous the experience is until the next day.