Kirindy Forest, Nature reserve in western Madagascar
The Kirindy Forest extends across 120 square kilometers of dry deciduous forest, containing three distinct species of baobab trees and numerous endemic plants.
The forest transformed from a Swiss forestry training station in the 1970s into a German primate research center focused on wildlife protection.
Local communities near Kirindy Forest maintain traditions of agriculture while researchers study eight lemur species including the Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur.
Visitors can access the reserve through guided day walks and night tours, with accommodations available at basic bungalows equipped with mosquito nets.
The reserve houses 31 mammal species, including the fossa predator, along with 50 reptile species and 40 bird varieties in its protected environment.
GPS coordinates: -20.07391,44.63071
Latest update: March 4, 2025 07:55
Madagascar features natural landscapes ranging from the baobab avenues near Morondava to the limestone formations of the Tsingy and coastal areas with coral reefs. The country's national parks protect tropical rainforests inhabited by lemurs, along with geological features including crater lakes and sandstone formations. The highest peaks rise in the northern mountain ranges, while the southern regions are characterized by dry landscapes. Photogenic locations include the Isalo Massif with its eroded sandstone canyons, the Masoala Peninsula with its rainforests along the Indian Ocean, and the island of Nosy Be off the northwest coast. The beaches at Ifaty and Anakao attract visitors for their reefs, while Sainte-Marie Island is known for whale watching between July and September. The Kirindy forests in the west are home to nocturnal lemurs and fossas. Historic sites include the royal hill of Ambohimanga, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Rova palace in Antananarivo. The geysers at Ampefy and the crater lake Tritriva showcase the volcanic history of the highlands. The red Tsingy near Sadjoavato formed through erosion of iron-rich sandstone and contrast with the gray limestone Tsingy in the west.
Avenue of the Baobabs
29.6 km
Rova of Antananarivo
330.3 km
Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve
157.2 km
Isalo National Park
270.5 km
Ranomafana National Park
320.6 km
Iavoloha Palace
326.5 km
Mahamasina Municipal Stadium
329.9 km
Ambohitsorohitra Palace
330.1 km
Andringitra National Park
338.2 km
Andafiavaratra Palace
330.5 km
Lemurs' Park
312.2 km
Kirindy Mitea National Park
96.5 km
Botanical and Zoological Garden of Tsimbazaza
329.4 km
Anja Community Reserve
303.4 km
Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Antananarivo
330.4 km
Zoma
330.2 km
Our Lady of La Salette Cathedral, Antsirabé
252.6 km
Lycée Andohalo Antananarivo
330.4 km
Saint Laurent's Cathedral, Ambohimanoro
330.6 km
Andriamamovoka Falls
319 km
FJKM Rasalama Maritiora Ambohipotsy
329.9 km
Cathédrale du Saint-Nom-de-Jésus
297.5 km
EKAR Faravohitra
331.1 km
Croc Farm Ivato
330.3 km
Temple FJKM de Faravohitra
330.8 km
Tranompokonolona Analakely
330.5 km
Andranomandroatra Analavory Geysers
246.6 km
Ville haute d'Antananarivo
330.4 kmReviews
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