Andasibe-Mantadia National Park | |
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Location | Eastern Madagascar |
Nearest city | Moramanga, Andasibe (Périnet) |
Coordinates | 18°49′36″S 48°26′52″E / 18.82667°S 48.44778°E |
Area | 155 km2 |
Established | 1989 |
Visitors | 26,054 (in 2011)[1] |
Governing body | Madagascar National Parks Association (PNM-ANGAP) |
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is a 155 square kilometre protected area, located about 150 km east of Antananarivo, consisting principally of primary growth forest in Alaotra-Mangoro Region in eastern Madagascar. The park's elevation ranges from 800 to 1260 meters, with a humid climate. Average annual precipitation is 1700 mm, with rainfall on 210 days of each year. This rainforest is habitat to a vast species biodiversity, including many endemic rare species and endangered species, including 11 lemur species. The park's two component parts are Mantadia National Park and Analamazoatra Reserve, which is best known for its population of Madagascar's largest lemur, the indri.[2]
The national park was nominated in 2007 to become part of the World Heritage Site of Rainforests of the Atsinanana. [3] However, its forests were not selected for the final list.[4]
This is one of the easiest parks in Madagascar to visit from the capital city, Antananarivo, with a 3-hour drive east on a paved road, Route Nationale 2 (RN 2). While Analamazaotra and park headquarters are short walks from Antsapanana on the RN 2, special transport must be arranged or hired from local hotels to reach Mantadia. Hikes ranging from 1–6 hours are typically available in both parts of the park. A local guide is required for visitors entering either part of the park.[5]