Isalo National Park
 |
Established in 1962, the Isalo National Park is located approximately 700 km southwest of Antananarivo and protects 815 km² of sandstone massif wildly eroded by wind and rain into bizarre ridges (known as “runiformes”) featuring wild forms, impressive gorges and canyons and tiny stalagmite pinnacles. The far Wild West reminiscent of the landscape, dominated by rugged massive that rises up from the flat surrounding grassy plain, attracts hikers from the whole world that gather here to admire the sweeping colours of this Jurassic scenery. The climate is dry tropical with warm temperatures all year around. |
Though wildlife is
here not as prominent as in other
parks of the country, there are still a couple of species worth to
look out: Ring-tailed lemurs, brown lemurs, sifakas and 14
nocturnal lemurs hide in dense vegetation
along the streams.
The park homes also approximately 80 species of birds (including the
rare Benson’s rock-thrush, the
knob-billed duck
or the crested ibis), 35 of reptiles and several endemic frogs.
The flora is indeed more interesting than the fauna. There are several
local endemic plants among the 500 species which are found within
Isalo, such as the elephant´s foot and some rare palms and
aloe
species.
 Spectacular sunset © Gail
Johson
|
Here
you
find a description of the most popular trails:
- The piscine
naturelle
A natural
stone cave overlooks a crystal-clear waterfall, which tumbles into a
deep green
pool surrounded by overhanging pandanus trees. The piscine is a true
oasis in
the heat of the canyons. This tour is ideally combined with the canyon
des
Singes, as the piscine offers a very welcome refreshment after a
exhausting
hike.
Prices:
Ar
16,000 with a car and Ar 20,000 on foot (guide excluded)
- The
Canyon des Singes
The Canyon des Singes ('
The canyon and the piscine
naturelle costs Ar
36,000 or Ar 45,000.
- Namaza
circuit
A
rather
uneven canyon through luxuriant vegetation, a water fall and a deep
swimming
pool.
Ar
16,000
with a car, Ar 20,000 on foot. Combining this trip with the priscine
naturelle
it would cost 32,000 and 36,000 respectively. If we include the maki
canyon
price will be Ar 36,000 / Ar 40,000.
 Piscine naturelle © Gail Johson |
Those equipped for trekking and camping can spend several days or longer wandering around the Isalo Massif, which is undoubtedly the most rewarding but time consuming way to explore this place. A guide would charge about Ar 25,000 per day and a porter Ar 10,000. A recommendable two day trip would be visiting the piscine naturelle and the Nymphes waterfalls with an overnight at the waterfalls campsite and making the Maki canyon on the second day. If you add a third day, you can visit the Rats canyon too. |
A big challenge, only reserve for the very fit,
is the Portuguese cave. The cave is at the northern
end of the park and
getting there involves 4 days back and forth through the beautiful
Sahanafa forest
with natural springs and a lot of lemurs.
Isalo is accesible during all the year. It lies just next to the RN7, the highway connecting Tana with Tulear. The road is one of the best of Madagascar, so the journey is quite comfortable. From Tana it takes around 15 hours (700 km), from Tulear 4 hours (250 km).There are several daily taxi-brousse connections between Tana and Tulear. You just have to ask the driver to drop you out at Ranohira.
For
accommodation visit Ranohira
There are a pair of nice campsites inside the Park with shared
facilities and showers.
The Park Office is great: a lot of information, many excellent guides who speak fluently English and an interesting museum about the geology, fauna and flora of the region.
Parc National Isalo
BP. 6 Ranohira – 313 Ihosy
Phone :+ (261 32) 44 261 16 / 032 44 440 75 / 033 13 172 58
Email : parc.isalo@yahoo.fr
aronyaina@yaho
