Nosy Mangabe Special Reserve

Wildlife & Animals

Expert

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

Several lemur species can be seen in Nosy Mangabe Special Reserve, including the charismatic black-and-white ruffed lemur and the white-fronted brown lemur. However, it is the wealth of reptiles and amphibians that makes the reserve really special. The tiny Antongil leaf chameleon and the large colorful panther chameleon are both present, and this is the best place in Madagascar to see leaf-tailed geckos.

Black-and-white
ruffed lemur Common

Humpback whale Common

White-fronted
brown lemur Common

Leaf-tailed
geckos Common

Greater
hedgehog tenrec Occasional

Panther
chameleon Occasional

Climbing
mantella Occasional

Webb's
bridge frog Occasional

Madagascar
tree boa Occasional

Green
sea turtle Occasional

Antongil
leaf chameleon Occasional

Speckled
day gecko Occasional

Aye-aye Rare

Hawksbill
sea turtle Rare

Wildlife Highlights

If you visit from July to late September, you might see an amazing display of whale activity when thousands of humpback whales come to Antongil Bay to have their young. Humpback whales are known for their frequent breaching, which involves the spectacular behavior of leaping into the air. There are lots of dolphins and sea turtles in the bay throughout the year.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Nosy Mangabe can be visited year-round. However, you can only get there by motorized boat from Maroantsetra, so visits are weather dependent (especially during the cyclone season, which can begin in January, but most often runs from February to March). Lemurs have their young in October and November, and reptiles are most active from September to February. Between July and the end of September, the humpback whales stay in Antongil Bay to calve.