Ranomafana National Park

Ranomafana is a small village built in the Namorona valley. It is located between the Betsileo and Tanala region. The village Ranomafana which means “hot water”, took its name after the thermal springs with its admitted beneficial effects which in the past raised the region famous and attracted visitors to the place. Nowadays, the main attraction of the region is the medium altitude moist evergreen forest national park.

Highlights

Wide 41,601 ha, Ranomafana national park is home to 12 species of lemurs, the most sought after mammals of the region. It is an exceptional place to observe three species of bamboo lemur which live sympatrically, the golden bamboo-lemur, Hapalemur aureus, the greater bamboo-lemur, Prolemur simus and the Ranomafana bamboo lemur, Hapalemur griseus ranomafanensis. The discovery of the golden bamboo lemur, Hapalemur aureus, in 1986 played a predominant role in the creation of the national park of Ranomafana. The greater bamboo lemur, Hapalemur simus, which has long been considered to have completely vanished found refuge in the forest but many other lemurs are notable, Milne-Edwars’ sifaka, red-bellied lemur, red-fronted brown lemur and brown mouse lemur. The national park is also shelter to 6 species of carnivores, 11 species of insectivores, 8 species of chiropters, 6 species of rodents, birds are well represented with 114 species out of the 257 species living in Madagascar. Each of the 5 endemic families of birds is well represented, making the site a wonder for bird watchers. One shall certainly not forget the less known reptiles (10 species of lizard, 12 species of chameleon and 14 species of snakes), the 41 species of frogs, 6 species of fish among which eel, 74 species of insects, 350 species of spiders of which 8 families are newly registered into the list of fauna that counts Madagascar. The forest totally covers the entirety of the park.