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An update from Evaneos
Madagascar

The Andasibe-Mantadia National park, a paradise for lemurs

The Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is divided into two distinct protected areas - the Analamazoatra Special Reserve (pronounced "Analamazotch") and the Mantadia National Park. Located 140 kilometres east of Antananarivo, the park houses a huge rainforest which is home to numerous animal and plant species. The climate in the park and the surrounding area is relatively cool. the average temperature is around 20°C and it rains for much of the year.

Incredibly rich, virgin forest

it is estimated that 80% of the forest that makes up the park is virgin forest, untouched by human activity. It is home to a multitude of species of lemurs, chameleons and birds as well as an incredible array of orchids, pandanus and giant ferns through which you have to find your way.

The largest of the lemurs

The Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is famous for being home to the world's largest species of lemur, the indri. Indris are about 80 centimetres in height and look like real-life teddy bears. They spend most of their lives in the trees and eat the leaves. They watch you with their big, round eyes as they cling to the tree trunks 3 metres above you. With their beautiful black and white coats, indris are probably one of the most amazing species of lemur. If you're travelling with children, they will be particularly delighted.

In the morning you can hear the indris' cries echo throughout the forest. Their long cries are used to show their presence and mark their territory and can be heard several kilometres away. You can even hear different groups responding to each other.

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Practical info

If you want to visit the park during your stay in Madagascar, remember that the park can be reached from the capital in about 3 hours. If you want to get there by bush taxi, get a ticket to the city of Moraminga which is 26 kilometres from Andasibe. From there you can take another bush taxi to Andasibe, near the entrance to the park. You have to hire a guide when visiting the park.

There is a wide range of accommodation to choose from in the town of Andasibe and the area around the park, from small hotels for backpackers to bungalows with swimming pools. You can also camp within the Analamazoatra Special Reserve.

My advice would be to use some sort anti-mosquito protection and wear long clothing, because the mosquitoes in the park are particularly voracious!

Exploring the park

The Andasibe National Park has 5 different trails and the Analamazoatra Special Reserve has 4, all with different levels of difficulty. The trails allow visitors to explore the forest and see the species that live there, plus the added attraction of gorgeous natural pools and waterfalls.

En route, you may see groups of lemurs walking along the ground, chameleons hiding in the branches of the trees and more than 100 species of birds. If you want to see the indris, it's best to visit the park early in the morning, which is the time of day when you're most likely to spot them.

I would also advise a visit to the park at night. You'll see other animal species and the atmosphere is completely different!

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