Kirindy Forest

Wildlife & Animals

Expert

Anthony is the author of the Lonely Planet guide to Madagascar.

Kirindy Forest offers excellent wildlife viewing. In particular, it is the best place to see Madagascar’s most sought-after predator, the fossa. By day, Verreaux’s sifaka and red-fronted brown lemur are commonly sighted. Species to look for at night include the Malagasy giant rat and some of Kirindy’s six nocturnal lemur species.

Fossa Common

Madame Berthe's
mouse lemur Occasional

Verreaux's sifaka Common

Malagasy
giant rat Common

Northern
bokiboky Common

Oustalet's
chameleon Occasional

Grey
mouse lemur Common

Red-fronted
brown lemur Common

Red-tailed
sportive lemur Common

Pale
fork-marked lemur Occasional

Fat-tailed
dwarf lemur Occasional

Coquerel's giant
mouse lemur Rare

Common tenrec Rare

Madagascar
ground boa Rare

Wildlife Highlights

The ultimate highlight in Kirindy Forest is coming eye to eye with a fossa. Look for them around the Ecolodge and reserve headquarters. If possible, visit in October or November when they play out their elaborate mating ritual. Nocturnal lemur species include the red-tailed sportive lemur, grey mouse lemur, pale fork-marked lemur, fat-tailed dwarf lemur, Coquerel's giant mouse lemur and Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur, one of the world’s smallest primate species.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Kirindy Forest offers great wildlife viewing throughout the year. The main draw is the fossa and sightings are almost guaranteed at any time. However, the fossa become more active from October onward, and from late October to late November you might find them mating. Reptiles, tenrecs and some dwarf and mouse lemurs are easier to see after rain. This is also true for the localized giant jumping rat, which hibernates during the Dry season (April to October).