Ranomafana National Park, National park in District de Ifanadiana, Madagascar.
Ranomafana National Park is a rainforest reserve in southeastern Madagascar covering approximately 41,600 hectares across elevations from 800 to 1,200 meters. The landscape consists of dense forest interspersed with waterways and streams that create a layered ecosystem.
The park gained protected status in 1991 following discoveries of the golden bamboo lemur and the rediscovery of the greater bamboo lemur. These findings highlighted the forest's biological importance and led to its establishment as a national park.
The park's name comes from the Malagasy rano mafana, "hot water", after the hot springs in Ranomafana town. Around the reserve, roughly 26,000 people lived in over a hundred villages when it was created in 1991, rising to 54,000 in 137 villages by 2008. The west side lies in Betsileo country above 800 m, the east in Tanala country between 600 and 800 m.
The park features seven marked trails ranging from 10 to 20 kilometers in length that visitors can explore with a certified local guide. A guide is necessary for safe navigation and wildlife observation throughout the forest.
The forest is home to 14 lemur species, including four critically endangered ones, along with more than 100 bird species. This concentration of rare animals makes it one of Madagascar's most important sanctuaries for threatened primates.
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