Anja Community Reserve
Overview
Madagascar Parks
Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many guidebooks to African destinations, including the Insight guide to Madagascar.
The tiny Anja Community Reserve (Réserve d’Anja) protects a population of at least 300 ring-tailed lemurs. This is one of the best places to observe and photograph these charismatic creatures. To see lemur interaction, early mornings and late afternoons are best. A standard visit takes about 1½ hours and is mostly done on the way to or from the artisan town of Ambalavo. Anja is Madagascar’s most popular community-managed ecotourism site, so don’t expect to have it to yourself.
Pros & Cons
Wildlife
The main attraction at Anja is the ring-tailed lemurs. When they are active, they are a delight to watch and with big numbers present, there is never a dull moment. The reserve is also home to many reptiles and you may spot a chameleon or lizard on your hike. Species present include Madagascar tree boa, Oustalet’s chameleon, jewel chameleon, Madagascar plated lizard and Barbour's day gecko.
Scenery
The reserve consists of a forest and reservoir at the base of an imposing granite dome called Iandrambaky. This isolated outcrop of bald rock rises almost 500m/1,640ft above the surrounding farmland to a summit of 1,434m/4,705ft. Some of the cliffs contain caves, which offer refuge to owls and bats.
Activities
Visitors to Anja have the choice of two guided trails. The short trail focuses mainly on lemur watching, but it also visits two traditional tombs made by the local Betsileo people. It usually takes about 1½ hours. The long trail leads to a panoramic viewpoint at the summit of Iandrambaky dome. This is a steep ascent and the round hike takes up to 6 hours.
Weather & Climate
Anja Community Reserve is in the highlands of Madagascar and has a mild climate. Temperatures are quite consistent throughout the year, but there is a defined Wet season (summer) and Dry season (winter). The Dry season months from April to October offer the best travel conditions overall. The coldest month is July with an average maximum daytime temperature of 18°C/64°F. The warmest months are January and February with temperatures reaching up to 24°C/75°F.
Best Time To Visit
Anja can be visited at any time. The reserve is very small and can be reached on a good tar road not far from Ambalavo town. The habituated ring-tailed lemurs can be found at any time. However, the wettest months, from December to February, are not recommended for travel as the rain can interfere with activities.
Getting There
The reserve is 12km/7mi from Ambalavo town on the Route Nationale 7 (RN7). Ambalavo is located on a popular tourism route in southern Madagascar, and Anja Community Reserve is a great stopover for anybody traveling this way. There are scheduled flights to Fianarantsoa, which is 66km/41mi north of Anja with a driving time of up to 2 hours*.
*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.
Health & Safety
Please read our malaria and vaccinations page for Madagascar, and our general ‘Wildlife Viewing Safety Precautions’ below for more info:
