Nature of Madagascar - national parks and reserves for active recreation

Tourists, who prefer wild nature and adventures to glamorous parties and luxurious hotels, will be genuinely excited to visit Madagascar. Indeed, the country is incredibly rich in national parks and reserves. There are reserves virtually everywhere on the island, and this is not an exaggeration. Famous Ankaratra Volcano is located only 50 kilometers away from the capital. Just like other volcanos on the island, Ankaratra is not active. An interesting fact – it was a popular hiding area for criminals several centuries ago. Sometimes, there are small earth shocks in the area that are a reminder of the volcano activity in the past. Many tourists come to see hot springs.

The Ranomafana National Park is one more important object in Madagascar. It is located in the center of the country, close to the settlement with the same name. The local terrain is a combination of valleys and hills covered with tropical jungles. Lemurs, all kinds of exotic birds, butterflies – tourists can see local flora and fauna from special trails. Kirindi Forest, which is located to the north of Morondava, is a no less gorgeous place. In this forest, visitors will find three different types of baobabs and various lemur species. It is possible to see rare mouse lemurs, the weight of some of which is only 30 grams! This area is also home to one more endemic species – fossa that looks like a small puma.

Sainte Marie Island or Nosy Boraha deserves a separate mention. This is a narrow strip of land that is 60 kilometers long. Sainte Marie is located close to the eastern coast of Madagascar. During the flibustier times, this island was the place where pirates lived. Nowadays, this island is considered the best place to see migrating whales. To see the grandiose animals, tourists need to visit Madagascar from July to September. During the rest of the year, tourists can explore the unique flora and fauna of the island. There are many hiking trails that end at the coast. Tourists can also make a boat ride and reach the nearby island of Île aux Nattes. Beautiful beaches of the island are a perfect final destination of tourist routes. This way, vacationers can enjoy the beauty of local nature and relax. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Even though Mahajanga is a city, it is not deprived of natural landmarks. First of all, there are two sacred lakes, Mangatsa Lake and Ravelobe Lake, that are located not far from Mahajanga. Second, there are as many as six natural reserves in the area, and tourists can reach any of them from the city. Vacationers interested in hiking can easily make numerous interesting routes from Mahajanga. For example, it is comfortable to visit Anjohibe grottos and the beautiful cascade of the Mahafanina Waterfalls from this city.

Dead Lake is an interesting landmark that many tourists may want to include in their exclusion plans. Even though the temperature of water is suitable for fish and plants, the lake is completely dead. There are several legends about this unusual lake. In accordance with one of them, no human could ever swim across the lake despite the fact that its length is only one hundred meters! Why? Visit this area and ask locals yourself. The lake is located around the mountains not far from Antsirabe.

And, finally, Montagne d'Ambre concludes our list of the most interesting destinations for camping. This doesn’t mean that this national park is worse than the destinations mentioned above. Quite the opposite, this is one of the most visited national parks in Madagascar. The 18-thousand-hectare area is home to rare species of animals, including short tail geckos. The park is a treasure for everyone who likes bird watching as there are more than 70 species of birds in total. When describing local flora, it is important to mention lianas, orchids, and various palm trees. Explore local trails, look at fabulous crater lakes like Lac de la Coupe Verte and La Grande Lac, and visit local waterfalls. It is easy to reach Montagne d'Ambre from Antsiranana.