Isalo National Park

The Isalo National Park is part of the Ranohira municipality in the Ihorombe region. The park is located 279 kilometres south of Fianarantsoa and 80 kilometres ... of Ihosy. The park is the most visited protected area in Madagascar and a popular highlight when discovering the Great South.

Isalo National Park was founded in 1962 and is administrated by Madagascar National Parks since 1997. The park is situated along the RN7, a tarred road connecting the capital of Antananarivo with Tulear. The road is in very good condition and accessible all year round. The route from Antananarivo to Ranohira, also known as the door to Isalo, takes about 15 hours by car (701km). From Tulear to Ranohira is a 4-hour drive (250km). It is also possible to travel by taxi-brousse, which leave daily from Fasan’ny Karana station in Antananarivo, Antsimo station in Fianarantsoa and Sanfily station in Tulear.

The park spreads over an area of 81,540 hectares, with an average length of 59 kilometres and an average width of 22 kilometres. The perimeter of the park is 164 kilometres. The altitude varies between 514 metres and 1,268 metres and some of the canyons are up to 200 metres deep.

The Isalo massif is a continental sandstone plateau, dating back to the Jurassic times. The park features various sandy valleys and narrow canyons. Strongly attacked by erosion, the rocks vary in shape and composition. The soil in the park is rich in iron and aluminium.

In the eastern part of the park, the following rivers flow from north to south: Marandra, Tsiombivoly, Andriamanero, Andranonkova and Namaza Ianakandrarezo, all small tributary rivers of the Menamaty, a tributary river of Mangoky. In the western part, the following rivers stream from north to south: Sambay, Amboloando, Ankademoky, Sakamalio, Hoanga, Vohibasia, Andranomena and Sambalahitsara Analakira, all of which are small tributary rivers of Malio, another tributary of the river Mangoky.

The climate is tropical dry, with an annual rainfall of 800-1000mm in the months of December to March and an average temperature of 17°C in June and 25°C in February.

Since centuries the Bara people dominate the Isalo region. Their main activities are livestock, especially zebu, and agriculture.

Fauna

Birds

There are 77 bird species living in the Isalo National Park, of which one is endemic to Madagascar, the Pseudocosyphus bensoni - Benson's rock thrush. The following species can be observed in the reserve:

Scientific name	English name	Malgasy name
Polyboroides radiatus	Madagascar harrier-hawk	Fihiaky
Buteo brachypterus	Madagascar buzzard	Bobaky
Falco newtoni	Madagascan kestrel	Hitikitiky
Numida meleagris	Helmeted guineafowl	Akanga
Streptopelia picturata	Malagasy turtle dove	Dehoky
Oena capensis	Namaqua dove	Tsakatoto
Treron australis	Madagascar green pigeon	Voronadabo
Coracopsis vasa	Greater vasa parrot	Sihotsy
Coracopsis nigra	Lesser vasa parrot or Black parrot	Sihotsy
Coua cristata	Crested coua	Tokambolo
Cuculus rochii	Madagascar cuckoo or Madagascar lesser cuckoo	Taotaokafa
Centropus toulou	Malagasy coucal or Madagascan coucal	Toloho
Corythornis vintsioides	Malagasy kingfisher or Madagascar kingfisher	Litotsy
Merops superciliosus	Olive bee-eater or Madagascar bee-eater	Kiriokirioky
Eurystomus glaucurus	Broad-billed roller	Tsararahaky
Leptosomus discolor	Cuckoo roller or Courol	Vorondreo

The best fauna most visible to tourists

Scientific name	English name	Description	Where to find	When to find
Mantella expectata	Blue-legged Mantella	Blue legs, yellow back, black and white dotted chest.	Natural swimming pool circuit.	Rainy season.
Mabouya sp		Long-tailed skink, reptile. Six species of this genus are only known in Madagascar, all are endemic. Brown colour, neck with white dots.	Natural swimming pool circuit.	All year round.
Boophis albilabris occidentalis	White-lipped bright-eyed frog	Frog, endemic to Isalo and Bemaraha.	Cascade of the Nymphs circuit.	Rainy season.
Pseudocossyphus bensoni	Benson's rock thrush	Songbird, endemic to Madagascar.	All circuits.	All year round.
Brookesia		Chameleon	Canyon of the rats.	Rainy season.
Buteo brachypterus	Madagascar buzzard	Bird of prey, endemic to Madagascar. Can be found throughout the island.	Canyon.	Dry season.
Polyboroides radiatus	Madagascar harrier-hawk	Bird of prey, endemic to Madagascar. Fairly common.	Canyon.	Dry season.
Upupa epops	Hoopoe	Colourful bird with an distinctive orange crown of feathers.
Terpsiphone mutata	Madagascar paradise-flycatcher	Bird that can be found on Madagascar and the Comoros.	Namaza circuit.	Rainy season.
Acrantophis dumerili	Dumeril's boa	Snake that can be found mostly in the southern and southwestern Madagascar, especially in Andranolava near Mahajanga.	Namaza circuit.	Rainy season.
Ithycyphus perineti	Perinet night snake	Snake that lives in the rainforest.	Namaza circuit.	Rainy season.
	Scorpion		Natural swimming pool circuit.	All year round.
Phromnia rosea	Flatid leaf bug	Insect. At a distance it can be mistaken for a flower.	All circuits in the forest.	Rainy season.