Sainte Luce Reserve

Sainte Luce Reserve is a nature reserve along southeastern Madagascar's coast with rainforest, mangrove areas, and beaches. It spans approximately one kilometer along the shoreline and protects several different habitats in a small concentrated area.

The reserve was established in 2009 to protect one of Madagascar's remaining coastal rainforests. This action came as conservation efforts increased to stop the loss of these rare forest areas.

Local guides from neighboring communities share traditional forest knowledge as they walk through the reserve with visitors. The way people here interact with the forest shows deep respect for nature that has developed over generations.

Visitors reach the reserve by boat across a lagoon, and this crossing is part of the experience when arriving. Those interested can stay for extended periods ranging from two weeks to ten weeks to join conservation work.

Five lemur species live here, including the Sainte Luce mouse lemur which exists nowhere else on Earth. This isolated population makes the location scientifically important for understanding how species adapt in separate areas.