Bemaraha Park

Specificity of the Park

National Terrestrial Reserve classified as World Heritage in the Tsingy landscape of different shapes where lemurs, land and water birds, bats, amphibians, reptiles, endemic mammals and a flora of more than 650 species of plants are listed. It constitutes a water tower for the entire downstream part of the Bemaraha plateau, especially at the level of the Manambolomaty complex, which is one of the three RAMSAR sites in Madagascar, and at the level of the rice granary of the region.

The landscapes of Bemaraha National Park

Limestone rocks formed by a deposit of fossils and dead shells under the sea 200 million years ago, and subsequently shaped by rainwater 5 million years ago, the Tsingy offer one of the most spectacular landscapes on the Big Island.

The Fauna of Bemaraha Park

376 species including 3 species of insectivores, 5 species of Rodents, 16 species of Bats, 4 species of carnivores, 11 species of primates, 1 species of Ungulates, 103 species of birds, 84 species of reptiles, 34 species of amphibians and 112 species of Rhopalocera.

The Flores of Bemaraha Park

833 species including 817 species of Angiosperms and 16 species of Pteridophytes.

How to get there

• Antananarivo – Morondava: 600km. Then Morondava – Belo on Tsiribihina – Bekopaka (South entrance to the park): 200km in dirt track, accessible from May to November. 4X4s are recommended for this 8-hour stretch of road with at least 1 hour of crossing by ferry on the Tsiribihina river (100 km north of Morondava).
• Antsalova – Bekopaka: secondary road of 100km, accessible from May to November for 4 hours of driving in 4X4.

Location of the Park

GPS: between 44°34’ to 44°57’ of longitude East and 18°12’ to 19°09’ of latitude South. The Bemaraha National Park is located in the Center – West of Madagascar, in the Melaky Region. Area: 157,710 ha with 100 km long from North to South and 10 to 40 km wide from East to West Region: Melaky

Geography

Lake Bemamba, obtained by the ecological function of the Antsingy forest, which re-reads rainwater and filters it little by little throughout the year, constitutes the largest source of water in the region. Rivers and streams are also fed by this forest cover on a limestone plateau. The watercourses that drain the Antsingy are permanent watercourses.

Ideal period for the visit

May to November Opening hours: Visiting hours: 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Park ticket sales points: Andadoany reception office – Wearing a harness is mandatory for any visit to the Tsingy

History

In 1927, thanks to the biological, geological, and archaeological characteristics of the Antsingy, it was classified as Integral Nature Reserve No. 9. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990 and a National Cultural Heritage Site in 1991, a part of the Reserve was changed status to a National Park in August 1997.

Population

Heterogeneous but with a Sakalava majority, which is an ethnic group with a nature conservation character through regulations on the rational use of biodiversity and through the "Fady".