Andasibe-Mantadia

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is the ideal introduction to Madagascar's extraordinary biodiversity. Just three hours from the capital, the park's montane rainforest protects some of the island's most iconic wildlife, including the indri — Madagascar's largest lemur, whose powerful, haunting territorial calls carry for kilometres through the misty forest canopy.

The park is divided into two sections. The smaller Analamazaotra Special Reserve (often called Perinet) is where most visitors encounter the indri families, which are habituated and relatively easy to locate with experienced guides. The larger Mantadia section offers more challenging terrain with sightings of the beautiful diademed sifaka and black-and-white ruffed lemur.

Night walks along the park boundaries reveal Madagascar's nocturnal world: tiny mouse lemurs with enormous eyes, leaf-tailed geckos perfectly camouflaged against tree bark, and a parade of chameleons from the minute Brookesia to the imposing Parson's chameleon.