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.
Contents
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 | Malagasy 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 |
| Upupa epops | Hoopoe | Tsakodara |
| Motacilla flaviventris | Madagascar Wagtail | Triotrio |
| Coracina cinerea | Madagascar cuckooshrike | Vorondavenoky |
| Hypsipetes madagascariensis | Malagasy bulbul or Madagascar bulbul | Menasony |
| Copsychus albospecularis | Madagascar magpie-robin | Fitatsy |
| Pseudocossyphus bensoni | Benson's rock thrush | Menatretraky |
| Cisticola cherina | Madagascar cisticola | Tity |
| Neomixis tenella | Common jery | Kininitsy |
| Neomixix striagulla | Stripe-throated jery | Kininitsy |
| Terpsiphone mutata | Madagascar paradise-flycatcher | Singetretry |
| Nectarinia souimanga | Souimanga sunbird | Sobita |
| Nectarinia notata | Malagasy green sunbird | Siangavola |
| Zosterops maderaspatanus | Malagasy white-eye | Tsiparimaso |
| Leptopterus chabert | Chabert's vanga | Fotsytretraky |
| Leptopterus viridis | White-headed vanga | Vorondaja |
| Vanga curvirostris | Hook-billed vanga | Bekapoaky |
| Dicrurus forficatus | Crested drongo | Ndovy |
| Corvus albus | Pied crow | Gaga |
| Foudia madagascariensis | Red fody | Fody |
| Lonchura nana | Madagascar munia or Madagascar mannikin | Tsipiny |
| Newtonia brunneicauda | Common newtonia | Katekateky |
| Tachybaptus pelzelnii | Madagascar grebe | Vivy |
| Ardeola idae | Madagascan pond heron | Malemylava |
| Ardeola ralloides | Squacco heron | Malemylava |
| Circus maillardi | Réunion harrier | Fitsindraky |
| Milvus migrans | Black kite | Tsimalaho |
| Accipiter Henstii | Henst's goshawk | Fandrasabe |
| Accipiter Francesii | Frances's goshawk or France's sparrowhawk | Fihiaky |
| Bulbulcus ibis | Cattle egret | Sikotry |
| Ardea purpurea | Purple heron | Dangoro |
| Lophotibis cristata | Madagascar crested ibis or Madagascar ibis | Akohoala |
| Dendrocygna viduata | White-faced whistling duck | Vivy |
| Sarkidiornis melanotos | Knob-billed duck | Angongo |
| Anas erythrorhyncha | Red-billed teal | Sadaelatsy |
| Macheiramphus alcinus | Bat hawk | Hila |
| Falco eleonorae | Eleonora's falcon | Firasambalala |
| Falco concolor | Sooty falcon | Firasambalala |
| Falco Peregrinus | Peregrine falcon | Fitsindrinky |
| Margaroperdix madagascariensis | Madagascar partridge | Traotrao |
| Turnix nigricollis | Madagascar buttonquail | Kibo |
| Dryolimnas cuvieri | White-throated rail or Cuvier's Rail | Tsikoza |
| Gallinula chloropus | Common moorhen | Akohondrano |
| Porphyrio porphyrio | Purple swamphen | Vatry |
| Charadrius tricollaris | Three-banded plover or Three-banded sandplover | Kalipa |
| Tringa nebularia | Common greenshank | Sakalo |
| Actitis hypoleucos | Common sandpiper | Bohaky |
| Pterocles personatus | Madagascar sandgrouse | Hatrakatraky |
| Agapornis cana | Grey-headed lovebird or Madagascar lovebird | Kitrehoky |
| Coua gigas | Giant coua | Aliotsy |
| Tyto alba | Barn owl | Vorondolo |
| Otus rutilus | Madagascar scops owl | Torotoroky |
| Ninox Superciliaris | White-browed hawk-owl | Tovotovoky |
| Asio capensis | Marsh owl | Hanka |
| Caprimulgus madagascariensis | Madagascar nightjar | Fatoriandro |
| Zoonavena grandidieri | Madagascar spinetail | Firihitsandro |
| Cypsiurus parvus | African palm swift | Firihitsandro |
| Apus melba | Alpine swift | Firihitsandro |
| Apus barbatus | African black swift | Firihitsandro |
| Ispidina madagascariensis | Madagascar pygmy-kingfisher | Litotsy |
| Mirafra hova | Madagascar lark | Boria |
| Phedina borbonica | Mascarene martin | Firihitsandro |
| Saxicola torquata | African stonechat | Fitaboly |
| Nesillas typica | Malagasy brush warbler or Madagascar brush warbler | Vorombaratra |
Reptiles and Amphibians
39 species of reptiles can be found in the park. The snake Typhlops arenarius and the skink Mabuya vato are endemic.
The main families are:
- Pelomedusidae - fresh water turtles
- Geckonidae - geckos
- Opluridae - Madagascan iguanas
- Chamaeleonidae - chameleons
- Scincidae - skinks
- Cordylidae - lizards
- Typhlopidae - blind snakes
- Colubridae - snakes
Amongst the amphibians living in the park are 2 endemic frog species: Mantidactylus corvus and the Malagasy rainbow frog (Scaphiophryne gottlebei).
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. |