Zahamena National Park, National park in eastern Alaotra-Mangoro region, Madagascar
The national park spans 423 square kilometers of mountainous terrain with dense forests, waterfalls, and elevations ranging from 254 to 1,560 meters.
Initially established as a natural reserve in 1927, Zahamena gained national park status in 1997 and became part of UNESCO World Heritage in 2007.
The Betsimisaraka and Sihanaka communities maintain traditional practices near the park boundaries while participating in local conservation initiatives.
Visitors require a four-wheel drive vehicle to access the park, which lies 320 kilometers east of Antananarivo with an estimated travel time of 12 hours.
The park contains 13 lemur species, 112 bird species, and 700 plant species with a 90 percent endemicity rate in its varied ecosystems.
Inception: 1997
Part of: Rainforests of the Atsinanana
Website: http://parcs-madagascar.com/aire-prot%C3%A9g%C3%A9e/parc-national-zahamena
GPS coordinates: -17.61220,48.77920
Latest update: May 9, 2025 10:45
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.
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Andafiavaratra Palace
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Temple FJKM de Faravohitra
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Pont de la Kamoro
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Réserve Peyrieras
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