Ranomafana National Park
A rainforest clinging to the mountains, twelve lemur species including one of the world's rarest: Ranomafana is the first deep dive into wild Madagascar.
Suggested stay — 1 to 2 nights
An hour off the RN7 down a switchback road that plunges into the mist, Ranomafana protects 41,600 hectares of montane rainforest — and a scientific star: the golden bamboo lemur, discovered here in 1986, which justified the park's creation. You walk steep, slippery trails behind a guide and his spotter, who conjure up red-bellied lemurs, Milne-Edwards' sifakas, chameleons slotted into branches and fluorescent frogs under the leaves.
The visit is won early: lemurs are active in the cool hours, and the mist supplies the rest of the scenery. Come evening, the night walk along the park road (the interior trails are closed after dark) reveals ember-eyed mouse lemurs and chameleons asleep at the tips of twigs. The thermal village of Ranomafana, its hot springs and simple hotels make a perfect stage between Antsirabe and Fianarantsoa.
Don't miss
- The Varibolomena circuit at opening: the park's heart and the best odds of golden bamboo lemur
- The roadside night walk: mouse lemurs, chameleons and tree frogs
- The lookout above the canopy, morning mist guaranteed
- The village hot springs, a thermal legacy of the 1930s
Our tips on the ground
- Take the first morning slot and brief your guide on your priorities the evening before: the spotters go ahead to locate the lemur groups before you arrive.
- It rains in Ranomafana even in the dry season — a rainforest that lives up to its name: rain cape, grippy shoes and a waterproof cover for the camera.
- The leeches are harmless but enterprising after rain: high socks and mutual calf inspections are part of the folklore.
Our flagship guide — €29
Guide available“Madagascar on Your Own Terms”, the complete edition, is out
10 chapters: day-by-day itineraries, driving and transport, a costed budget and checklists — the same method as our Namibia guide.
The guide is currently written in French — an English edition is in the works.
Before you go
Readers' questions about Ranomafana National Park
Will you definitely see lemurs at Ranomafana?
Red-bellied lemurs and bamboo lemurs show up on nearly every morning visit, thanks to the spotters locating them ahead of the group. The golden bamboo lemur remains a privilege (a few dozen individuals in the park): reckon on a one-in-two chance, with a sumptuous forest as the consolation prize.
How much does the park visit cost?
Entry is 65,000 Ar (~€13) per person per day, plus the compulsory guide: 60,000 to 120,000 Ar per group depending on circuit length, and a customary tip for the spotter. The night walk is arranged separately (~20,000-30,000 Ar per person). Bring cash: there is no card terminal at the park.