Pic d'Ivohibe Special Reserve
 |
Pic
d´Ivohibe Special Reserve lies 20 km south of Andringitra NP,
on the southeast
of Madagascar.
It was created in 1964 and covers an area of 34,5 km². The
climate differs
depending on the altitude, which varies between 750 m and 2060 on the
top of Ivohive
Peak.
The vegetation is formed by
tropical humid rainforest on the eastern side, mountain dense forest on
the
highlands and grassy savannas on the western part of the Reserve. Pic
d´Ivohibe
represents an important water source for the local populations of
Betsileo and
Bara people, who use the numerous rivers crossing the Reserve for the
rice
paddies and grapevine growing. They are also zebu holders and farmers,
and
still practice slash and burn agriculture |
Due
to its
difficult access and the lack of infrastructure, this pretty isolated
Reserve
is still very few visited and little known. It is a place for real
adventures
and true nature-fans.
The park
offers a habitat to seven different mammals: lemur, mongooses, tenrecs,
as well
as 18 reptiles and 77 birds species, such as Rand’s
warbler or grey-crowned tetraka. Among the lemurs visitors can spot
brown mouse
lemur, eastern woolly lemur, ring-tailed lemur, weasel sportive lemur
and
eastern grey bamboo lemur.
Ring-tailed
lemur © Gail Johnson |
Brown mouse
lemur © Antony |
The rainy season starts on
October and lasts until March. During the dry season
temperatures can be very low in the highlands.
Pic d´Ivohibe Special Reserve is
accessible by road during the most part of the
year. Starting from Tana, take the main road RN7 until Ihosy and here
change to a
very bad secondary road for 110 km until the village of Ivohibe.
Once here visitors have to walk for some more km until the Reserve.
There is a
taxi-brousse connection until Ivohibe several times a week from Ihosy.
There are
currently no circuits established and not touristic infrastructures
available. Camping
is allowed at some points but you must bring your own equipment and
tent.
There
is a
small local Office located at the Reserve entrance.
If
you are
planning to visit Pic d´Ivohibe, we strongly advice you to
contact first a main
ANGAP Office to get further information. The nearest one is in
Fianarantsoa:
Direction
de
Madagascar National Parks à Fianarantsoa
BP 1363 Antsorokavo, Fianarantsoa
Phone. : + (261 20) 75 512 74 / (261 32) 02 450 25
Email : angapfnr@mel.moov.mg
angapfnr@yahoo.fr
fnr.parks@gmail.com
