Tanala

Tanala literally means People of the forest. Almost 4% of the population of Madagascar are Tanala. They are a small tribe of forest dwellers living inland, separating the east coast from the central highlands. The Ranomafana National Park is located in the area of the Tanala.

The Tanala tribe is divided into two subgroups: the Menabe in the mountainous north and the Ikongo in the more accessible south. Their houses are usually built on stilts. The Tanala people are skilled woodsmen, food gatherers, and hunters. Beside slash-and-burn agriculture, the grow rice, corn, yams and coffee.

The traditional dance of the Tanala is the Dombolo.