Ankarana Special Reserve

Pros & Cons

• Unique dramatic landscape
• Mysterious bat caves
• Boardwalks over the tsingy
• Several hiking circuits, from easy to difficult
• Good accommodation options near the entrance gate
• Very hot, which can be challenging on longer hikes
• No accommodations inside the park, only camping

Wildlife

Ankarana hosts a large variety of lemurs including Sanford’s brown lemur and crowned lemur. It is one of the few parks where the sought-after fossa is regularly seen, and lucky visitors might also spot a ring-tailed mongoose. Reptiles are well represented. Species to look out for include panther chameleon, giant day gecko, Madagascar ground boa and the well-camouflaged leaf-tailed gecko.

• More about Ankarana’s wildlife

Scenery

The reserve protects the Ankarana massif, a limestone plateau that originally formed around 150 million years ago. Erosion has gradually transformed this ancient plateau into a spectacular pinnacle karst formation of a type known locally as tsingy (literally ‘to walk on tiptoes’). At Ankarana, the tsingy formation can be explored along a network of boardwalk, bridges and viewing platforms. These offer a thrilling bird’s-eye perspective over the maze of razor-edge ridges and steep gorges.

Activities

Several guided day walks are available. The most popular short trail, around 6km/4mi in either direction, includes a visit to the tsingy as well as to the aptly named Grotte des Chauves-Souris (literally ‘bat cave’). For fit and energetic travelers, the more demanding Moyen Circuit is a 20km/12.5mi hike that leads to Ankarana’s most spectacular tsingy formation via a pair of suspension bridges. All the trails offer fair lemur spotting and bird watching.

Weather & Climate

Ankarana is located at low altitude and has a hot, tropical climate. Temperatures are quite even throughout the year and easily peak over 30°C/86°F. Rainfall, however, is very seasonal and torrential downpours can be expected from December to March.

• More about the weather and climate

Best Time To Visit

Ankarana can be visited throughout the year, but as the park is primarily a hiking destination, the months from May to November offer the best conditions. These months are also slightly less hot. In October and November many lemurs have babies.

• More about the best time to visit

Want To Visit Ankarana SR?

Ankarana Tours

• Ankarana Safaris & Tours
• Tour Operators for Ankarana