Ankarafantsika National Park

Managed By Madagascar National Parks. Dry Deciduous Forest On A Plateau Of Red Erosion Canyons (Lavaka) Around Lake Ravelobe, The Most Reliable Place To See The Coquerel'S Sifaka And A Rich Bird List · Ampijoroa, Boeny

Ankarafantsika is a dry deciduous forest park on a plateau in the north-west, about 115 km from Mahajanga along the main road to the capital. It is the most reliable place to see Coquerel's sifaka, a white lemur that moves across the ground in side-hops, and it has one of the richest bird lists in the country. Lake Ravelobe, beside the park camp, is a good place for the Madagascar fish eagle at dawn and for crocodiles. Trails run through dry forest to the Grand Lavaka, a huge red erosion canyon, and there are night walks for mouse lemurs, nightjars and geckos. The park lies on the main road, so access is easy, but the heat is severe and the forest is bare in the dry season. The Tsingy Rouge and its eroded lavaka are a separate site, listed separately. Facilities are basic, the camp can be crowded with school and tour groups at weekends, and the walks can feel tiring rather than scenic. All prices here are unconfirmed, so ask before you commit.

Ampijoroa on Route Nationale 4 about 115 km south-east of Mahajanga, the nearest wildlife park to the north-west coast, Ampijoroa, Boeny, Madagascar

Usually open daily from early morning to late afternoon, with night walks arranged separately after dark. Exact times are unconfirmed, so ask at the Ampijoroa office. There is no free day and no formal closure, but heavy rains in the wet season, roughly December to March, can make tracks and trails slippery or closed, and the forest is in leaf but hot and humid. The park is best reached by private car or a bus along the main highway from Mahajanga, which takes about 2 to 3 hours.

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