Ranomafana National Park was established as Madagascar’s fourth national park in 1991, and further established as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. Today it protects over 43,550 hectares of mountainous rainforest and is considered one of the island's most important conservation sites for its treasure trove of endemic flora and fauna. It is the fourth most visited national park in Madagascar by international tourists, and for good reason! Along Ranomafana’s numerous hiking circuits visitors can find 13 different species of lemurs including the famous Golden bamboo lemur, Greater bamboo lemur, and Milne-Edwards sifaka. Visitors can also anticipate seeing any of the 118 species of unique birds, 30 of which are endemic to Ranomafana, such as the forest ibis, ground rollers, and blue vangas. The park contains as well a host of well-camouflaged and incredibly cool reptiles like the satanic leaf-tailed gecko, the mossy leaf-tailed gecko, and the Madagascar boa.
The park’s main circuit is the Talatakely (or Aureus) trail. When choosing this path, one can reasonably expect a 2-4 hour hike walking on a mix of clearly delineated paths and much more ambiguous cuts through the brush of secondary forest. This path takes you into bamboo forests, home of some Golden and Greater bamboo lemur groups, and up to the lookout, where Red-bellied and Red-fronted lemurs enjoy hanging out. Other paths in Talatakely can take you to a waterfall called Sakaroa, where on a hot day one might enjoy a dip. Generally, this circuit is considered easy to moderately challenging with some steep climbs and descents.
Other circuits available include Vatoharanana, Valohoaka, Sahamalaotra. Each of these circuits give you a unique glimpse into Ranomafana, and each has varying degrees of difficulty. It is important to note that whichever circuit you choose, expressing your physical ability and concerns to guides is always welcome, and they are more than capable of adjusting the route they take you on to fit your goals.
Overall pricing depends largely on the circuit and guide chosen, and what you're hoping to get out of Ranomafana National Park. Each visitor must purchase a ticket to enter, and pay for the guide fees of the local guide who will show you around the forest.
Tickets are priced as such:
Groups of 1-4 people should expect to take one guide, and groups 6+ people should take at least two guides.
Guide pricing is based on circuits and their length as follows:
Specialist guides can also be requested. These are experts in finding and describing birds, plants, and amphibians/reptiles.
Because of their expertise, they are priced (regardless of circuit) accordingly:
Guides can be arranged through your hotel, or you can arrive at the park and choose from the guides available that day for tours. The park is open from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, and the best time to head in is generally the mid-morning, as lemurs are awake and settling in for breakfast.
To get to the park, pick up a taxi brousse heading towards Fianarantsoa from the station in the center of town and let them know you are getting off at the park entrance; it will take about 20-25 minutes on the road, and cost you 1-2,000 MGA per person. If you have a car, simply head up the road 7km from the center of town! Getting back to your hotel is the same, but in reverse. You might also want to try walking down to town, weather permitting, as it is a beautiful 1 hour downhill journey (and lemurs have been known to hang out near the road)!
Here is a comprehensive list of lemurs found in Ranomafana National Park: Golden bamboo lemur, Greater bamboo lemur, Ranomafana grey bamboo lemur, Milne-Edwards sifaka, Southern black and white ruffed lemur, Red-bellied lemur, Red-fronted brown lemur, Aye-aye, Brown mouse lemur, Crossley’s dwarf lemur, Small-toothed sportive lemur, Sibree’s darf lemur, and Peyrieras’s woolly lemur.
Night hikes can be arranged through your daytime park guide or through your hotel. They take place along the National Road 25, as the park itself is closed from 5:00 pm onward. You can expect to see Brown mouse lemurs and many kinds of chameleons on the walk, which takes around 1 hour. You do need a private car to go on a night hike, as brousses stop running regularly after dusk and it is generally not considered safe to walk down the road at night.
