Marojejy National Park
Overview
Madagascar Parks
Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many guidebooks to African destinations, including the Insight guide to Madagascar.
Marojejy National Park (Parc National de Marojejy) protects the rugged wilderness of the Marojejy mountain range, which rises about 2000m/6560ft above the surrounding plains. It is known for its floral diversity, which is especially rich in fern and palm species. The mountain offers excellent hiking opportunities in pristine rainforest, including a climb up to Mt Marojejy peak.
Pros & Cons
Wildlife
Marojejy will mostly appeal to keen hikers, but there is plenty of wildlife to be seen if you’re prepared to work for it. Of the 11 lemur species recorded, the most exciting is the critically endangered silky sifaka – only about 1000 individuals are left in the wild. Other lemur species to spot include the white-fronted brown lemur and the red-bellied lemur.
Scenery
The scenery of Marojejy NP is nothing short of spectacular. The main trail to the summit covers a good variety of habitats as the altitude changes. Lowland rainforest gives way to cloud forest, with forested streams running in the valleys and waterfalls tumbling down the steep slopes.
Weather & Climate
The park has a very wet climate. It rains throughout the year, but the Wet season months from December to April see very high rainfall. The possibility of cyclones and torrential rains is high from January to March. In the Wet season, temperatures reach up to 28°C/82°F. The cooler Dry season months from May to October see daytime temperatures of 25°C/77°F.
Best Time To Visit
The period from August to November is mostly recommended as it rains less and torrential downpours are rare. At this time animals are active, reptiles are colorful and birding is at its best. As Marojejy is a hiking destination, it makes sense to avoid the worst of the rains between January and March.