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Ankarana Special Reserve

Andranomena Special Reserve

Analamazoatra Special Reserve

Nosy Mangabe Special Reserve

The Natural Reserves

Andringitra Natural Reserve

Andohahela Natural Reserve

Ankarafantsika Natural Reserve

Bemaraha Natural Reservea

Lokobe Natural Reserve

Marojejy Natural Reserve

Tsimanampetsotsa Natural Reserve

The National Parks

Isalo National Park

Kirindy National Park

Mananara National Park

Mantadia National Park

Montagne d'Ambre National Park

Ranomafana National Park

Zombitse National Park

Andringitra Natural Reserve

The reserve is situated on a very high crystalline plateau with an area of 31160 ha and comprises series of gigantic rocky domes and a chain of rocks with narrow ridges forming many pinnacles. The Mountain , deeply jagged by narrow valleys and gorges is divided in three sectors by the two tributaries of the river Menarahaka, and the main peaks are :Boby (2658 m), Bory (2 630 m), Soaindra ( The reserve is situated at the limit of the eastern and western slope basins of Madagascar. Antanifotsy, situated at 1430 meters of altitude is connected to Ambalavao by a good path , this village constitutes the terminal of the road and is close to the National Park. The Andringitra offers among the most beautiful panoramas of Madagascar, with great zones opened on plateau of altitude, at the foot of great powerful summits and dominating pluvial forest parcels , rich in plants and animals. The main portion to the National Park comprises a flank of altitude mountains that includes the central plateau and the oriental escarpment that descends to the Indian ocean. The diversity is met everywhere since the great continuous evergreen forest area to the east (the Andringitra is always connected by forest corridors to the north with Ranomafana national park and to the south to the reserve of the Peak of Ivohibe), dry deciduous forests westward, beautiful rare areas in which rivers wind and the escarpment on the high plateau .


The annual pluviometry is about 1500 – 2000 mm , eastern slopes being more watered than western slopes. From april –mai , the dry season lasts at least 3-4 month . The mountain heights undergo the most rigorous climate of Madagascar with frosts at the superior altitudes as well as snow that can remain during several days above 2500 meters of altitude.


Several types of vegetation can be found in the reserve : subhumid evergreen forests , mountains thicketsas and grassy areas. Forests change with the altitude, trees become smaller, more branchy , show more epiphyt plants , ferns and lichens. The canopy does not reach 10 meters high at 2000 meters of altitude. Orchids are numerous in altitude that in the plateau grassy areas where several species of aloés can also be seen . Plants communities are different the dry western slopes and some areas are dominated by the tapias.


This reserve shelters the greatest number of lemurs ,at least 14 species, and mammals : on western slopes , the Maki , the most known lemur at the south of Madagascar lives together with other lemurs of the west .. Nine species and under species are met on the eastern slope against five species on the western slopes . The Andringitra site protects the greatest number of small mammals including rodents and insectivores of the Tenrec family. Carnivores are represented by five Malagasy species among them the Fosa. Birds have been studied only on eastern slopes where 99 species have been counted : four species of land Rollers and nine of Vangas can be found in the forest community. Many reptiles and amphibians are known from eastern slopes but they are more numerous at low altitudes. Among them, there is at least six amphibians and four reptiles that are particular to the mountain.