What are the top national parks in Madagascar?

Madagascar’s best national parks are wildly varied in landscape, from Ankarana’s tsingy formations to Isalo’s canyons and natural pools to Andasibe’s lemurs.

Panoramic view of rolling green hills, a large tree in the foreground, and a lake under a colorful sunset sky—scenery reminiscent of the best parks Madagascar has to offer.

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The Top National Parks in Madagascar

The Ultimate Guide to Madagascar’s Best National Parks and Nature Reserves

Expect to be spellbound by the weird and wonderful creatures of this island-nation, where more than 80% of wildlife are endemic. That includes more than 100 species of lemur, the engaging treetop acrobats found only here. Even Madagascar’s chameleons are unique, from the huge, multi-colored Parson’s chameleon to the inch-long Brookesia micra. In this natural history paradise, WT offers four adventures that not only bring you to its coastal preserves but also into the island’s far reaches.

best parks in Madagascar

Andasibe National Park

A misty rainforest with towering trees and orchids, Andasibe is home to the iconic indri and the Parson’s chameleon, the largest and perhaps most impressive of their respective species. Common brown, grey bamboo, and woolly lemurs are also found here. Birdwatchers and nature lovers will be enchanted by the park’s biodiversity, which comprises butterflies and more than 100 species of frogs.

When to Go

April to January

Reasons to Visit Andasibe National Park

Experience the world’s lemur capital. These enigmatic primates are endemic to the island, and seeing lemurs is a highlight of any Madagascar tour. Andasibe was created to protect its 100-plus species, including nearly 300 of the famous “singing” indri lemur, whose haunting songs carry for miles over the treetops as troops call to one another.
Discover rich plant diversity, including orchids. While we consider April through November the best months to visit Madagascar, from September to January, nearly 100 species of orchids bloom in Andasibe, making this already spectacular national park even more striking. Orchids make up close to 10 percent of the island’s flora, and these dazzling flowers can be spotted in every habitat, from the mountains to the coast.
See abundant small wildlife like butterflies and frogs. The park teems with a vibrant collection of butterflies, birds, orchids, and ferns. It’s also known as the world’s capital of frogs, with more than 100 species.

Which Trip Should I Book?

Madagascar: Off the Beaten Path | Magical Madagascar | Madagascar Private Journey

A ring-tailed lemur hangs from a tree branch surrounded by green leaves and purple flowers, looking directly at the camera—an iconic sight in the best parks Madagascar has to offer.

best parks in Madagascar

Isalo National Park

Isalo’s sandstone canyons, natural swimming pools, and bizarre rock formations create a surreal desert-like landscape. This dramatic park is ideal for hiking and adventure. The park also features various lemurs, from ring-tailed and red-fronted brown to Verreaux’s sifaka, as well as endemic plants and sacred Bara burial sites in the high cliffs.

When to Go

April to October

Reasons to Visit Isalo National Park

Hike through sandstone canyons and rock formations. One hundred fifty million years of elemental exposure have shaped Isalo’s barren sandstone landscape into a surreal collection of stalagmite pinnacles, stunning gorges, canyons, and caves.
Swim in stunning natural pools. Hidden throughout the desert landscape are dreamlike natural pools, offering oases for explorers. On WT’s adventure, enjoy an optional hike to a hidden waterfall cascading into a natural emerald-green pool fringed by old-world pandanus trees.
Spot lemurs and birds. In the park’s dry, deciduous forest, watch for ring-tailed lemurs, red-fronted brown lemurs, and Verreaux’s sifaka. Nearly 80 species of birds call this park home, too, including the rare and colorful Benson’s rock-thrush.

Which Trip Should I Book?

Madagascar: Off the Beaten Path

A person with a blue backpack stands on a narrow rope bridge over sharp limestone formations in one of the best parks Madagascar has to offer, beneath a partly cloudy sky.

best parks in Madagascar

Ankarana National Park

In northern Madagascar, Ankarana National Park is renowned for its jagged limestone formations, known as tsingy, as well as underground caves and wildlife. The park’s unique geology, lemur sightings, and huge array of reptiles and frogs add to its dynamism and make it a favorite among hikers. Bird-watching is excellent here, too—seeing a mixed-species flock of passerines moving slowly by as they forage is unforgettable.

When to Go

May to October

Reasons to Visit Ankarana National Park

Explore tsingy limestone formations. In Malagasy, the word tsingy means “where one cannot walk barefoot,” a well-suited name for these jagged geological formations you have to see to believe. These sharp pinnacles can reach as high as 330 feet in the Great Tsingy, and are filled with trails and suspension bridges that make for a wondrous hiking experience.
Discover underground caves and rivers. The western section of Ankarana National Park is home to massive bat-filled caves, crocodile-dotted underground rivers, and impressive canyons.
See wildlife like birds, lemurs, and chameleons. The reserve holds one of the largest and least disturbed populations of crowned lemurs, and you’ll also find ring-tailed mongooses, fossa, and Madagascar civets. Ankarana is also outstanding for reptiles, with 50 species including panther chameleons, some endemic and threatened snakes and geckos, and 10 species of frogs.

Which Trip Should I Book?

Magical Madagascar | Ankarana Extension

A sifaka lemur leaps upright through a patch of cacti, with a baby clinging to its belly, in a sunlit forest setting found in one of the best parks Madagascar has to offer.

best parks in Madagascar

Berenty Reserve

A small private park that preserves a third of Madagascar’s remaining tamarind forest, Berenty is a superb place to see a variety of wildlife. This is also an especially good place to photograph lemurs dancing in the forest, because there are wide open spaces between the trees—unlike other parks where the trees are closer together and the sifakas prefer to jump from tree to tree.

When to Go

April to October

Reasons to Visit Berenty Reserve

See incredible “dancing” lemurs. Be ready for surprise encounters with beautiful sifaka lemurs as they “dance” across our path. We’ll also see ring-tailed lemurs (they’re everywhere!) and red-fronted brown lemurs during the day. And since they’ve been habituated for 70 years, it’s easy to get spectacular photographs—sifaka come right into the front of our lodge, dancing on the breakfast terrace!
Catch some great birding, too. The bird life here includes grey-headed lovebirds, vasa parrots, crested and giant couas, Madagascar bulbuls, paradise flycatchers, Madagascar white-eyes, Madagascar cuckoo shrikes, and the bright red and yellow sparrow-like fodys. We’ll also watch for roosting Madagascar fruit bats, flying foxes, huge multi-colored chameleons, and radiated tortoises.
Experience a rare tamarind gallery forest. Tamarind (yes, that kind of edible tamarind) grows natively in tropical Africa. Berenty Reserve preserves a third of Madagascar’s tamarind forest, and you can walk among the forest trails in this relatively small reserve without a guide.

Which Trip Should I Book?

Magical Madagascar

Two blue and orange kingfishers perch on a large leaf, surrounded by green and yellow foliage bathed in natural sunlight—evoking the vibrant wildlife found in the best parks Madagascar has to offer.

best parks in Madagascar

Ranomafana National Park

Home to many species of lemurs, this lush rainforest is also home to countless bird and reptile species. The terrain is sometimes steep and the trails can be slippery, but the rewards of seeing exotic wildlife make it worth the effort. There is also a botanical garden in Ranomafana—with lots of chameleons—for those who want to take it easy.

When to Go

April to November

Reasons to Visit Ranomafana National Park

See rare birdlife (and other wildlife). When birding here, you might be lucky enough to spot the slender-billed flufftail, once believed extinct but re-discovered here in the park, and considered by some to be the holy grail of Madagascar birding. The park is also home to the rare and critically-endangered golden bamboo lemur, which was discovered here by renowned primatologist Dr. Patricia Wright.
Go on epic hikes. You’ll have plenty of hiking options throughout Ranomafana National Park’s lush rainforest from slow to challenging, and from one- or two-hour route to all-day treks. There are plenty of guided walking tour options here, too.
Kayak or drive to see wildlife. You’ll have other wildlife-viewing options here, too — head on a kayak trip on the Namorona River to spot birds and other river wildlife, or take a guided night drive for sightings of nocturnal animals like chameleons and frogs.

Which Trip Should I Book?

Madagascar: Off the Beaten Path

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