Ankarana Special Reserve

Managed By Madagascar National Parks. Limestone Massif Of Sharp Tsingy Pinnacles, Deep Canyons, Caves And An Underground River With Crowned Lemurs And A Cave Rich In Bats; The Northern Sister Of Bemaraha · Ambilobe, Diana

Ankarana is a limestone massif in the far north of Madagascar, about 100 km south of Antsiranana, cut by canyons, caves and an underground river. Its surface is tsingy, razor-sharp grey pinnacles that are slow to cross and hard on boots and hands. The reserve is best known for the Anilotra and Andrafiabe cave systems, a cave with Nile crocodiles living in dark pools, huge bat colonies, and a dry forest where crowned lemurs and Sanford's brown lemurs live. It is a Special Reserve run by Madagascar National Parks, so a guide is compulsory and the trails are organised into set circuits from half a day to several days. Facilities are basic and the heat is real. It is not as polished as Bemaraha, and some visitors find the walking hot, dusty and demanding. The reward is wild limestone scenery with far fewer visitors. Treat all prices and road details here as unconfirmed, and expect rough tracks in the wet months.

Northern Madagascar, about 100 km south of Antsiranana via Route Nationale 6, with the main entrance near Mahamasina, Ambilobe, Diana, Madagascar

Usually open daily from early morning to late afternoon, but exact times are unconfirmed, so ask at the park office. There is no admission-free day and no official closure, but the wet season roughly December to March can cut the access tracks and make the tsingy and cave floors dangerous, so many operators stop going then. Caves can flood when it rains hard. Night walks are arranged separately with a guide. Ask in Antsiranana or Ambilobe about the current state of the track to the entrance before you set off.

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