If the animated film “Madagascar” shows off the island country like a colorful nation with its stunning blue waters, white sand, lively green forests with bustling wildlife, that’s because that is what the nation exactly like. Despite the people of Madagascar being among the unhappiest people on earth, the natural resources and wildlife in this land of 592,800 square kilometers (146 million acres) are lively and bright.
Madagascar is the world’s second-largest island country. It comprises the island of Madagascar, the fourth largest island in the world, and some peripheral islands. The country is among the last ones to be inhabited by humans. The theory was that humans didn’t arrive in the nation until the year 250, which is why the natural resources on the island remain largely undisturbed.
The nation is home to plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. There are close to 15,000 plant species recorded in Madagascar and 80% of them are endemic. For example, there are 860 orchid species in Madagascar. Of this, only one-fourth could be found in the rest of the world.
There are also over 300 species of birds documented to be in the country; more than half of them are endemic. Lemurs are considered the nation’s most popular and important animals. It has since diversified into various subspecies, most of them considered rare. The cat-like fossa is also endemic to Madagascar as well as various species of chameleon.
With this much significant wildlife, it was necessary to protect them. Madagascar has several protected areas divided into natural reserves, national parks, and wildlife reserves. Here are the top 10 largely undisturbed national parks in Madagascar:
1. Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
This park is one of the elevated ones in Madagascar. Located in the Alaotra-Mangoro region, the area is typically rainforest with extremely high biodiversity. The park is known to be the home of Madagascar’s largest lemur, the indri. This park had to be established in 1989 because its surrounding areas have been the subject of heavy logging. Habitats were heavily disturbed because of human activities.
In 2006, the Analamazaotra Reintroduction / Translocation program was implemented to reintroduce two endangered species of lemurs to the park: diademed sifaka and black-and-white ruffled lemur. Other animals in the park are the chameleons, geckos and various species of birds.
Aside from lemurs, the park is also home to the refreshing Sacred Waterfall. This body of water is also the centerpiece of many hiking trails—each hiking trail leads to routes that will allow tourists to see the common park residents: lemurs.
2. Baie de Baly National Park
Situated in the District of Soalala, this park is a mostly dry forest with swamps and lakes. Sparse vegetation consists of bamboo shrub and mangroves.
The park is the only place where angonoka tortoises are found. These are endangered tortoises with a high dome characterized by prominent growth rings on every scute. Male species can grow as much as 17 inches. There is a need to protect this species because it has been the subject of many poaching activities. Other rare animals found in the park are dugongs, Madagascar fish eagle, and Madagascan side neck turtles. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Madagascar park without the lemurs—eight species of lemurs live in the park.
The park is also considered an Important Bird Area in 1999, despite its sparse vegetation. There are also different landscapes in the park, which also has some mangroves and dunes. The beaches have white sand and impressive coral reefs.
3. Kirindy Mitea National Park
This park is said to have the highest density of primates in the world—most of the lemurs, of course. This 720-square-kilometer (178,000 acres) protected area is also home to a lot of endemic plants and animals. It comprises seven small islands. The park changes color according to the season—it is brown and dry during the hot season and lush green during the rainy season.
The park supports different ecosystems: dry deciduous forest, spiny forest, tropical dry forest as well as mangroves, dunes, beaches, and coral reefs. It is one of the youngest protected areas in Madagascar, having only been established in 1997 but opened to the public only in 2006.
The park is also home to a lot of endemic species like the fossa, jumping rats, narrow-striped mongooses and Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur, the smallest primate in the world. There are at least eight species of lemurs in this park.
Tourists can hike in the park, which is also the best way to commune with Madagascan nature, as well as appreciate what the park offers. There are at least a couple of trails in the park that will lead tourists to different landscapes present in the area: dunes, Ambondro and Sirave lakes and forests with large baobabs, which are among the most abundant trees in the country.
With several lakes and a mangrove area, tourists can also canoe their way to the park to spot some waterbirds.
4. Lokobe National Park
Originally a nature reserve, the area was designated as a national park in 2011. It is located on the island of Nosy Be. It is named after the highest mountain in the area, which has an elevation of 450 meters. The park is a volcanic origin, which is why it is home to several crater lakes.
The park is largely undeveloped but authorities created a path that will lead to a viewpoint for tourists to have a panoramic vista of beautiful natural resources. Among the more prominent trees in the park are the imposing Ramy trees. There are also rare species of palms. Since the park was mostly undisturbed until recent years, there are overgrown ferns and lichens in the park. With thriving vegetation, some 42 species of birds have called this park their home.
The wildlife comprises various species of chameleons, geckos, snakes, frogs, and lemurs. Most of the animals in the park are small and are harder to spot. Tourists might want to hire a guide to help them spot and identify animal residents.
5. Mananara Nord National Park
This is Madagascar’s first marine park comprising three islands. However, it is still largely undiscovered. Only a few tourists visit this park every year. It was established in 1989 in the Analanjirofo region. It has also been designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
The centerpiece of the park is, of course, the marine resources, which is home to some 132 species of corals. Divers and snorkelers will also enjoy the colorful variety of fishes numbering 180 species, as well as varieties of mollusks and echinoderms. Aside from the marine park, the park also has valleys, rock formations, and waterfalls. There are so many different layers to this park that will surely provide various types of activities and enjoyment to tourists.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Madagascar natural park without the wildlife. There are at least 13 species of lemurs in the park including the completely black indris, which are also the biggest type of lemur. Other species of lemurs found here are the aye-aye, eastern woolly lemur and brown mouse lemur. There are also 17 species of rodents, 77 kinds of birds, 21 types of reptiles and eight species of amphibians.
There are over 1,200 species of plants including 47 species of palms in the park—some of them are endemic. There are also several species of flowers including some endemic orchids.
6. Marolambo National Park
The park is mostly savannah and a secondary forest. Some 95% of the species of plants in the forest are endemic to the country. This is one of the newest parks created in the country, which has fallen victim to deforestation. The park was established to revitalize the forest landscape in Madagascar. The park protects 950 square kilometers (234,905 acres) of the forest with the help of the World Wildlife Fund through its forest landscape restoration program.
While the park is not the original virginal forest that it once was, it doesn’t diminish the natural beauty that tourists can enjoy in the park. With the revitalization program, visitors can now see at least 13 lemur species as their habitat is back to what it once was. There are also endemic amphibians and reptiles in the park.
7. Montagne d’Ambre National Park
This park has everything tourists want in a park: beautiful bodies of water, lush forest, and interesting wildlife. The park is located in the Diana Region. It is an isolated volcanic massif with the Amber Mountain as the centerpiece.
The waterfall in the park is stunning as the cascades brush off plants and trees rather than the usual rocky terrain. It is a great subject for photography. As a volcanic landform, the park is also home to some crater lakes. There are also some rivers and streams in the park.
The park is considered to be one of the most biologically diverse places in Madagascar. The lush rainforest is the major reason for that. Plants thrive and so birds and wildlife thrive. At least 75 species of birds live in the park along with 59 species of reptiles and 25 mammalian species. Plantlife comprises over 1,000 species.
Among the animals that tourists will see in the park are endemic Amber Mountain leaf chameleon, Amber Mountain rock thrush, Malagasy civets, ring-tailed mongooses, and lemurs, including eight species of them.
8. Nosy Hara National Park
This park is home to the world’s smallest chameleon, Brookesia Micra. It is also among the smallest reptiles in the world. The largest adult can only grow as much as 1.1 inches. This species was only found some time in 2003. This chameleon is also largely responsible for the establishment of the Nosy Hara National Park in 2012, as researchers believe it will become extinct if their natural habitat is disturbed. But the chameleons are hardly the only interesting thing in the park, the name of which is translated to “mountainous island.” The park comprises beautiful beach, stunning rock formations called the tsingy, and lush forest.
The marine resources are virginal with beautiful coral reefs. It is home to 80 species of fish, 50 species of mollusks and crustaceans. There are also at least five species of turtles documented in the park’s waters.
9. Tsingy de Namoraka National Park
Previously a nature reserve was designated as a national park in 2002. It was a great opportunity to open the area’s great and unique landscapes to the public. As the name suggests, the area has imposing tsingy that is unique and stunning in its way. Tsingy de Namoraka is the park’s centerpiece. Only seasoned adventurers, though, should try trekking the tsingy as it has some challenging climbs. Although, the view from up above is worth it.
Aside from tsingy, other attractions in the park are canyons, caves, natural pools, marshes, and rice paddies. Tourists can camp within the park. Some could also enjoy some cultural experience by living with the Sakavala people, some of whom are willing to host tourists.
It wouldn’t be a Madagascar park without some wildlife. Of course, the common residents include several species of lemurs. The park is also home to birds and reptiles, including the endemic black-and-yellow striped snake, and big-headed turtle.
10. Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park
This park is a combination of two areas: the Zombitse forest and Vohibasia savannah. As such, it also provides different kinds of ecosystems. While both areas were already considered protected areas, it wasn’t until 2002 that the two were combined as a national park.
As early as 2001, BirdLife International already saw its potential in terms of birding opportunities. The park was distinguished as an endemic bird area by the organization. Eventually, the status was elevated to the Important Bird Area. The birds are mostly confined in the Zombitse part. According to reports, almost have of Madagascar’s endemic birds are found in this park. Birders can spot as many as 90 species of birds in one day.
Tourists will also enjoy the lemur species Verreaux’s sifakas because they are not ignorant to human presence and will not run away when tourists are around. Seven other species of lemurs can be spotted in the park.