Ankarana (North)
It covers an area of 18000 ha, a group of caves, underground rivers, canyons, “Tsingy”, dry or green forests within150 km from the city of Antisarana. These caves were used by Antakarana people, the ethnic group of the region, as a shelter or burying place during the wars against King Radama in 19th century. Nowadays they have become natural sanctuaries of ancestral beliefs.
The massif of Ankarana is the second place of Madagascar, after the reserve of Bemaraha ( north of Morondova), where you can admire the Tsingy, these karst formations providing a breathtaking vision of hundreds of limestone aigles and peaks stretching to the sky.
Besides this natural “cathedral”, underground erosion due to water caused the creationof hundreds of caves where the King and Antakarana people took refuge during inter-ethnicconflicts. Some of them still lodge royal tombs and the massif is still the subject of many ceremonies and Fady (taboo).
The park is located on a pleasant area and its endemic wildlife is very peculiar .
AMBER MOUNTAIN (North)
Situaed 45 km from the city of Antisarana, this parc consists of a green forest and rain forest , covering a volcanic massif 1475 mt .The parc is easily accessible from Diego Suarez and Nosy Be. It contains 7 species of lemurs, including the famous Eulemur Coronatus, more than 75 species of birds such as the the famous Crested Ibis and nearly 25 species of amphibians live there.
Attracions: waterfalls, exotic species, lakes, volcanic craters..
Situated at an altitude between 850 and 1475mt, this park was created in 1958. It is a source of water for the northern region of Madagascar. The park has always been considered a sacred place by the population of Diego Suarez. The Amber Mountain can be compared to eastern island forests.
With its thousand species of olants, the botanical garden of over 1 km long, its 5 crater lakes waterfalls and the delicate play of sunlight in its tree ferns, the Amber Mountain is almost comparable to “the Emerald forest” in the North.
ANALAMERA (North)
In the south parc of Amber Mountain, this reserve still contains the last traces of the black lemur family of Sifaka Perries. Visits on request can be arranged. The reserve includes different species of rare birds.
ANKARAFANTSIKA (North-East)
Located Noth-East of Madagascar, 450 km from Antananarivo and 114 Km from Mahajanga along RN4 crossing it from side to side. It covers an area of 130000 ha. This parc contains several species of animals and plants at high endemic rate, including different species of birds. Attractions: ease of observation of the original flora and fauna, including baobab trees, lemurs and crocodiles. At present, five ecoturistic circuits run through the park with also two campsites.
AMPIJOROA (North-West)
This reserve belongs to a wider area of 135000 ha within Ankarafantsika national park. It is especially known by researchers. It has recently been damaged by fires, maybe of fraudulent nature.Possibilty of excursions on circuits out of fthe forest station of Ampijoroa are possible, extending to the national park.
MASOALA (North-East)
The parc lies about 3o km from Maroantsetra. The use of canoes or boats is the means of transportation to reach the island.
The Masoala park is covered with a primary forest on an area of 230000 ha and it stretches from the ocean to 1311 mt height. It was created in 1997 to meet conservation objectives of one of the largest massif forest remaining in Madagascar. Probably Masoala is the most biological national park in Madagascar,consisting of rainforest, coastal forest, flooded and mangrovian forests.
Three marine parks of coral reefs abound with multicolured fish: Tampolo in the West, Ambodilaitry in the South and Ifaho in the East. These are the best places to explore underwater rich sealife and to go diving. Masoala is particularly a suitable place for observing the wildlife of the great island.
Ten species of lemurs live in the park , among them the Aye Aye, some species of green lizards, the tomato frog and the snake eagle.
