Ranomafana National Park Is A Calm Nature Slip In Madagascar You Must Visit
‘Ranomafana’ translates to ‘hot springs’ in Malagasy, which refers to its hot springs which you’ll find plenty of in the national park. Ranomafana National Park with all its eccentricities is one of the most picturesque national parks found in Madagascar. Plan your next trip to Madagascar and don’t forget to add Ranomafana National Park to your list. The park covers a mountainous region that extends for 415 kilometres. The altitude of the park ranges between 800 and 1,200 meters and the expanse is vast. This entire area is surrounded by dense rainforest.
There was a rare golden bamboo lemur which was discovered here by Dr. Patricia Wright in 1986. Due to this incident this area got the status of national park. The park has now become a sanctuary of flora and fauna providing a protected environment to these endangered wildlife and rare flora of the rainforest. The park is also the most accessible stop on the island and is an attractive addition to any itinerary.
entrance fees: Records from November 2017 show that the entry fee for each adult foreign visitor is 55,000 Ar per day and the fee for children is 25,000 Ar per day. This has to be paid after a “community fee” of Ar 2,000 per person per day. You can pay your dues at the booth near the park checkpoint.
Best time to visit Ranomafana National Park
The best time to visit Ranomafana National Park is during the dry season, from April to December. Even if you choose a dry period, not a week goes by in Madagascar without rain. The climate of Ranomafana National Park is generally humid. But you can stay safe and visit during the less rainy months, from May and September to November.
How to reach Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar
by train: To travel by train for Mankara tour, opt for RN7 (National Road No. 7).
In this journey you can experience traveling by train from Fianarantsoa to Manakara. You can also catch a train from Manakara and travel to Fianarantsoa, this route offers beautiful views of vast landscapes and plantations. The national park is listed on this tour and you can stop here and enjoy the Madagascar wildlife in their natural habitat.
By air: Fly to Ivato International Airport, about 23 km from Antananarivo, Madagascar (TNR/FMMI). Take a bus from Antananarivo Airport (TNR) to Ranomafana National Park and it will take about six and a half hours. You can also take a shuttle which will take you to your destination in 10 and a half hours.
by road: Ranomafana National Park is located in a very easily accessible location approximately 60 km north of Fianarantsoa and approximately 400 km south of Tana. Choose one of the two roads that cross the park: Ambohimahasoa, extending from the RN25, and the RN45, coming from Alkamisi. You can commute from any of these throughout the year. You can also opt for the taxi-bruce connection that drops you off at Antananarivo and Fianarantsoa to the village of Ranomafana.
Flora and fauna of Ranomafana National Park
flora
Animals of Ranomafana National Park include twelve lemur species. Here is the famous Golden Bamboo Lemur and apart from this you can easily spot Eastern Woolly Lemur, Eastern Gray Bamboo Lemur, Red Bellied Lemur, Greater Bamboo Lemur, Black and White, Red-fronted Brown Lemur, Ruffed Lemur, Small Toothed Lemur. Can. sportive lemur, Milne-Edwards sifaka, brown mouse lemur and greater dwarf lemur, and the very rare aye-aye.
Then there are other mammal species which include 8 species of bats, 7 species of tenrecs and 6 carnivore species, including the Malagasy striped civet as well as some mongooses. Ranomafana is home to a wide variety of birds. At least 115 species have been listed, of which 30 are endemic exclusively to this part of the geography.
It has species such as the Henst Goshawk, Rufous-headed Ground-roller, Velvet Asty, Mesites or the endangered Crested Ibis. Then there are reptiles to fill the void of Madagascar wildlife, which are abundant. There are 62 species of reptiles (chameleons, snakes and the fringed and devilish leaf-tailed geckos are quite common), 98 frogs, 90 butterflies, 350 spiders and numerous fish and crayfish.
fauna
The national park is proud of its lush rainforest and the plant species growing in these parts are heavily used in medicines. The Tanala and Betsilio use different plant species for medical purposes. You can’t possibly forget the precious woods and palm trees. You can also find many orchids and if you are lucky, even carnivorous plants.
This part of the densely forested hills is protected and characterized by many small streams that pass nearby and merge into the beautiful Namorona River.
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Things to do in Ranomafana National Park
i) Identify Golden Lemurs
You can spend your time tracking the famous Golden Lemur First found in the south-east of Madagascar, this Golden Bamboo Lemur earned the region the status of a national park and is now a tourist destination for its flora and fauna. Serves as a protected sanctuary. There are different types of lemurs: red-bellied lemur, black and white ruffed lemur and golden bamboo lemur.
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ii) go on a hike
You can make your way through the mountainous part of the national park with rugged rocks and the twists and turns of tremendous rivers. And this is probably one of the best Ranomafana National Park activities for those who want to add some adventure to their trip.
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iii) Explore the ecosystem
If you hike to the edge of the Malagasy jungle you can finally understand the ecosystem of the land and get a first glimpse of this incredible flora where the most dangerous inhabitants are tiny ones like deadly leeches and scorpions.
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iv) go camping
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The ultimate way to enjoy the national park at its best is to spend a night here. Explore the beauty of the area by taking an overnight camping trip; There are several designated camping sites within the park.
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Ranomafana National Park Accommodation
i) Zomatel Hotel – 79.2 km from Ranomafana National Park
Place du Zoma BP 1367, Fianarantsoa 301, Madagascar
ii) Hotel Cotsoyannis – 79.7 km from Ranomafana National Park
1229 4 Rue du Prince Ramaharo – Ampasambajaha – BP, Fianarantsoa 301, Madagascar
iii) Ox Bougainvilleas – 35.2 km from Ranomafana National Park
6 Lot II G | Face Gare Routiere Antsinamanda, Ambalavao 303, Madagascar
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The best of Madagascar can be seen and experienced in Ranomafana National Park. So, do you want to delve deeper into the vastness of the beautiful country, try visiting this place and make your plans Traveling to Africa with TourTravelHotels Today!
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