The fauna

Bemaraha is a high spot of endemism and diversity. The scientists estimate that the general endemism of this park is 86,7% and the ecoregional one is 47%. 11 species of lemurs are listed from there, five families of Bats, 103 species of birds species.  The index of the reptiles and amphibians is as large as Bemaraha possesses 34 species that are all endemic. These are just a first taste of your discoveries.

The best fauna of Bemaraha

1. The Cheirogalus medius or Kelilbohoho and the Microcebus murinus or Tilitiliva. Two endemic lemurs of Madagascar.

2. The Avahi cleesei or Dadintsifaka, the family of the Indriidaes is a local endemic lemur.

3. The Hapalemur occidentalis or Bekolà is a regional endemic lemur of the family of the Hapalemuridaes.

4. The Pteropus rufus or Fanihy of the family of the Pteropopidaes is one endemic bat.

5. Among the carnivores, the Eupleres goudotii or Kary of the family of the Viveridaes is also a national endemic species.

6. The Galidia elegans occidentalis or Vontsira is a local endemic carnivorous species of the family of the Herpestidaes.

The Madagascar wood rails Canirallus kioloides is represented by one subspecies at Tsingy of Bemaraha.

The Madagascar fish-eagle Haliaeetus vociferoides is very easy lo localize along the Manambolo river.

Three species of coua such as the giant coua Coua gigas, the rufous headed coua Coua ruficeps and Coquerel’s coua Coua coquereli.

The Madagascar crested ibis Lophotibis cristata is also present at this site.

7. Among the reptiles, the Mabuya tandrefana of the family of the scincidae is an endemic species to the Melaky.

8. The hatsakatsaka, or chalarodon madagascariensis is an endemic iguana to Bemaraha.

9. Among the amphibians, the Heterixalus carbonei is a local endemic frog

10. The Amaruis nossima antsingy, a butterfly of the family of the Nymphalidaes is endemic to Bemaraha.

The flora

The park of Bemaraha has a vegetation as original as endemic. It has a caducious dense dry forest   essentially tropophile - typical of the ecoregion of the West, interrupted by the savannas in the East. Its vegetation is dry on the calcerous flagstone and humid in the canyons. 86% of the 650 plant species listed in Bemarahaha are endemic.  They are adapted to an arid climate. For  some, the leaves turned into thorn to keep water, it is the phenomenon of the Spinescence. For the other, the trunks enlarge themselves to store water; the Pachycaulie. Some plants dry their vegetative device and live in slow-motion before the rainy season; it is the reviviscence. Finally, other plants simply chose to reduce their size and became dwarf bushes. How Shrewd ! isn't it?

The best of the flora of Bemaraha

1. The Sakoambanditsy or Poupartia Sprague gummifera ie Jum of the family of the Anacardiaceae

2. The Sakoanala or Poupartia minor (Bojer) L. Merchant of the family of the Anacardiaceaes

3. The Vontaky Pachypodium sofiense of the family of the Apocynaceaes

4. The Vahitsindy or Plectaneia Jum rhomboidalis. And Perr of the family of the Apocynaceaes

5. The Mafaipoty Pleiokirkia leandrii Cape. of the family of the Kirkiaceaests a local endemic plant
 

The history of the Park

The biologic, geological and archaeological qualities whose Antsingy was worth him, in 1927, the title reserve Natural Integral n°9. He/it is declared site of the World Heritage of the Unesco in 1990 and National Cultural Heritage in 1991. In 1997, a part of the Reserve became a national park. The Tsingies of Bemaraha have two categories, I and II, if one refers to the ordering of the International Union for the Conservation of the Nature (UICN). It is therefore an area protected from I category, managed mainly to ends of scientific research and/or continuous surveillance of the environment. It is also an area protected from II category, to protect the ecological integrity of the ecosystems and to give the possibilities of traditional or spiritual, scientific, educational, entertaining and tourist visits, in the respect of the natural habitat and the culture of the local communities.

The Sakalava live in the region of Bemaraha. Traditional and conservative, this tribe protects the area protected by the law of the fady and taboos.

How to live in a cathedral?

Bemaraha is a very accidentaly calcerous massif. The underground cave and throats have been dug by the Manambolo stream in its sawing. The west is a very jagged relief, covered of a dense dry forest. It is a monument of limestones that makes it one of the most spectacular natural landscapes in the world.

From dense dry forest to a bushy xérophytique vegetation , from the humid forest of Tsingy to the savanna, Bemaraha is synonymous of natural habitats for many and different ecosystems. It makes this park, a center of endemism for fauna and flora. It is  one of richest in biodiversity of the protected areas  in the world, especially in a karstique ecosystem . Furthermore these animals and these plants live in a natural cathedral!

The Antsingy, the waterfall!

The complex of the Tsingy is also an ecological mission. It is the waterfall that supplies the whole plateau of Bemaraha and the attic of rice of the Melaky. The rivers that drain the Antsingy are not permanent. It's ot not these rivers that take sources from the Antsingy which water the low parts of the region but the forest of the calcerous plateau. The forest keeps the waters from the rains, to let it infiltrate all along the year while nourishing the sources. And the whole region thus depends on the Antsingy! Here, the dry tropical climate has two very contrasted seasons, rainy from November till  April, and dry between May and October

• • Aménagement terrain de Foot ball
    Bénéficiaire : Commune Rurale Antsalova
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée
     
  • Ameublement d’un bureau Fokontany
    Bénéficiaire : Commune Rurale Bekopaka (Ankilitelo)
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée
     
  • Construction de 2 Centres Sanitaires de Base niveau II
    Bénéficiaire : Communes Rurales Bekopaka (1) et Antsalova (Tsiandro(1))
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée, FID
     
  • Construction de 2 logements d’instituteurs
    Bénéficiaire : Commune Rurale Antsalova (Bearano (1) ; Tsiandro(1))
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée
     
  • Construction de 2 ronds points
    Bénéficiaire : Commune Rurale Antsalova
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée
     
  • Construction de 2 WC public
    Bénéficiaire : Commune Rurale Antsalova
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée
     
  • Construction de 4 logements bureau pour les postes avancés de la Gendarmerie
    Bénéficiaire : Commune Rurale Antsalova (Tsiandro(1) ; Bevovo (1) ; Ambondro (1) ; Mahadengy (1))
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée
     
  • Construction de 2 bureaux Fokontany
    Bénéficiaire : Commune Rurale Bekopaka (Bekopaka et Ankilitelo)
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée
     
  • Construction de 5 Kizo
    Bénéficiaire : Commune Rurale Antsalova
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée
     
  • Construction d’un couloir de vaccination
    Bénéficiaire : Commune Rurale Antsalova (Antsalovabe)
    Financement : PSDR
     
  • Construction d’un barrage de retention d’eau
    Bénéficiaire : Commune Rurale Bekopaka (Ambalakazaha)
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée
     
  • Construction de 3 lavoirs
    Bénéficiaire : Commune Rurale Bekopaka (Ankilitelo(2)) et Antsalova (Ambolatera (1))
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée
     
  • Construction de 2 ponts pédestres
    Bénéficiaire : Commune Rurale Antsalova (Antsalovabe et Bearano)
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée
     
  • Construction de pont pédestre
    Bénéficiaire : Commune Rurale Bekopaka (Mijamoa)
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée, ANAE
     
  • Construction d’une salle de classe
    Bénéficiaire : Commune Rurale Antsalova (Mahadengy)
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée
     
  • Construction de 2 Ecoles
    Bénéficiaire : Commune Rurale Antsalova (Ambondro et Berano)
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée
     
  • Construction de 14 puits
    Bénéficiaire : Communes Rurales Antsalova (Antsalova (1), Antsalovabe(2), Ankilitelo (5), Ambalakazaha (1), Ambolatera (1)) et Bekopaka (Beampinga (1) et Bekopaka(3))
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée
     
  • Réhabilitation de 2 puits
    Bénéficiaire : Communes Rurales Antsalova (Ambalakazaha, Ambolatera)
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée
     
  • Réhabilitation d’un bureau de Fokontany
    Bénéficiaire : Communes Rurales Antsalova (Ambalakazaha)
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée
     
  • Réhabilitation de 5 Ecoles
    Bénéficiaire : Communes Rurales Antsalova (Tsiandro (2) ; Ambondro (1) ; Mahadengy (1)) et Bekopaka (Ankilitelo (1))
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée
     
  • Réhabilitation d’un marché
    Bénéficiaire : Commune Rurale Bekopaka
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée
     
  • Réhabilitation de 3 pistes d’accès
    Bénéficiaire : Communes Rurales Antsalova (axes Antsalova-Berano ; Mangarivotra-Antsalova) et Bekopaka (axe Tsiandro-Berano)
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée
     
  • Renforcement KIZO
    Bénéficiaire : Commune Rurale Antsalova (Berano)
    Financement : Recettes sur les Droits d’Entrée
     

Itinerary :

The  Bemaraha park is very difficult for access. Its opening depends however on the accessibility of the track that joins Morondava and Bekopaka, it is only  practicable from April to November. We can go there by car, on a secondary road of which a portion is under repairing and a second road in very bad state, or taking the plane or a…canoe!

Indications :

By road :

The itinerary Antananarivo – Morondava- Beloha of Tsiribihina
- Antananarivo - Morondava is a journey of 600km, of which 100km of a secondary road under rehabilitation.  
- From Morondava to Belo of Tsiribihina and Bekopaka that is the southern entry of the park, the track is in earth, accessible from May to November. It is a journey of 200km that's 8h of road by 4X4. Book with at least 1h to cross the Tsiribihana by ferry, at 100 km to the North of Morondava.

The itinerary Antananarivo – Antsalova- Bekopaka
- Antananarivo - Antsalova is a road of 700 km. The road is tarred until Tsiroanomandidy on 200km. The Beravina section - Morafeno is in a very bad state on 80 Km.  
- Antsalova - Bekopaka is only a secondary, accessible road from May to November. It is 100 km done in 4h by 4X4

By Taxi brousse :

Antananarivo – Morondava 
Bus Station : « Fasan’ny karana », route digue : everyday.
12 hours of road

Morondava – Belo sur Tsiribihina – Bekopaka (South entrance of the park)
Gare routière à destination d’Antsalova, mais très irrégulier

Antananarivo – Antsalova
1- Antananarivo – Tsiroanomandidy
2- Tsiroanomandidy – Maintirano, but very irregular

By canoe :

- To row down the stream since Ankavandra: It is a road that is made for the adventurers! It is necessary for you to join Ankavandra, to row along the Manambolo stream, first. But, Akavandra is only accessible by plane! Once in there, take down the Manambolo stream while leaving from Ankavandra. After three to four days on board of a dugout, you will reach the southern entry of Bemaraha; Bekopaka.
- To descend the stream via Miandrivazo:  Antananarivo - Miandrivazo is a tarred road of 390 Km. In Miandrivazo, to take down the Tsiribihina stream. It is a journey of three days in motor-driven dugout to arrive in Belo of Tsiribihina. From Belo of Tsiribihana, join the Southern entry  of Bemaraha, Bekopaka in 4h on board of a 4x4.

By plane :

Antananarivo – Morondava :
The Air Madagascar airline company  assures a regular flight  Antananarivo - Morondava.   Your landing runway is in Antsalova, where you will be transferred by car until Bekopaka, Southern entry  of the park, via Belo of Tsiribihina. The track in earth is only open from May to November. It is 200km long in 8h of road and need a 4X4. Book at least 1h of the crossing by ferry on the stream of Tsiribihina (to 100 km to the North of Morondava).

Antananarivo - Antsalova:
By flight of the airline company Air Madagascar, the frequency is irregular.  You will be transferred by car from Antsalova to Bekopaka (Southern of the Park). It is a secondary road of 100 Km, which is 4h of road, accessible from May to November. 

The park of Bemaraha counts seven circuits with each of the strong points that will seduce you.

The protected area of Bemaraha belonging to category I of the International Classification of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), so a Complete Natural Reserve is managed primarily for protection of wilderness or scientific study. It is forbidden to enter, to travel and camping.

Two welcome offices of Madagascar National Park are in Bekopaka, the Southern entry of the park is in Antsalova The agents of the office will help you in the organization of your visit. All payment is done at the unique ticket desk of Madagascar National Park. 23 independent guides and eight agents of the Park, French-speaking and English-speaking work within the Bemaraha.

The site is well equipped, you will have no worry as well  for your lodging as the materials of camping.  Two areas of camping have been arranged in Manambolo and Masoarivo, for the lovers of the beautiful star.  
 
On the Manambolo campground:

- Site of the tents: Ar 4.000 by night
- Site, tent of 2 places with covers: Ar 10.000 /night

Several hotels are built around Bemaraha, from a rudimentary comfort to the luxurious rooms.  Also benefit from the inhabitant's warm welcome: a local, simple gastronomy but luscious; a stay in community among the natives. In short, a bath of culture!

Contact :

Madagascar National Parks MAHAJANGA
14 Rue Philibert Tsiranana,
MAHAJANGA
MADAGASCAR

Tél / Fax : + (261 20) 62 226 56
GSM : + (261 32) 52 349 00       
           + (261 33) 09 866 56

Email : angapmjg@yahoo.fr
           mjg.parks@gmail.com

Parc National Bemaraha
BP 7 – 406 Antsalova

RAVELOMANANTSOA Hery Lala
Directeur du Parc
Tél. 034 49 401 30
hl.ravelomanantsoa@yahoo.fr
bmr.parks@gmail.com

Bemaraha is the ideal site of the trekking and the birdwatching. Soon a center of interpretation will be open in the park. This center will give you a tour of horizon in Bemaraha. But, several ecotouristiques sites will be seen in the surrounding. These visits can be organized in the welcome center of Bekopaka, the inhabitant will guide you.

The RAMSAR site of the complex of Manambolomaty, complex is formed with the lakes of Befotaka, of Soamalipo or Andranobe and of Ankerika that is surrounded by the classified forest of Tsimembo. Row on board of a canoe, close to the birds of water of this part of the Melaky,: the humblot’s heron Ardea humbloti, the Malagasy pond heron Ardeola idea, both species are classified endangered (EN), the knob-billed duck Sarkidiornis melanotos or Angogo,the best site for Madagascar fish-eagle Haliaeetus vociferoides, the colonies of water birds breeding site, and a roosting sites of millions of bats population, that coast the Crocodiles of the Nile or Voay. It is an ideal opportunity to go there and meet the fishers!

Le lac Antsamaka qui fera le bonheur des birdwatchers. Ce lac est un point d'observation des oiseaux puisque c’est là que vont migrer les flamants roses ou Samaka. Découvrez aussi certaines espèces vivant en colonie comme les Hérons ou Lombokoma, les Aigrettes ou Vano, la Sarcelle de Bernier ou Mireha et les Erismatures à dos blanc ou Maheriloha.

Go and stroll in the forest of Tsimembo, in the lake shores of Andranobe. It is the kingdom of the dry forest typical of the west with its 251 plant species and its 80 species of birds. This forest also shelters 8 species of lemurs.

The Bemamba lake, that is another opportunity of rowing in dugout. White beaches, villages of fishers, labyrinths of reeds, waterlilies and hyacinths of water and the numerous birds of water: you will be right in the middle of a possible card. But while taking the loaded estuaries of Masoarivo of mangrove swamps, discover as well the world of the humid plants as the pneumatophores and the stilts roots, viviparity of the seeds. If you want it, the inhabitant can prepare you fish and shrimps freshly fished: what a treat!  
 
Finally, don't miss the market days of Soatanà, Wednesday and Sunday. This village is the last of the region where the day of market exists again. Vegetables and cool and exotic fruits and local handicraft will be provided. Don't lose the opportunity to stroll and to get acquainted with the Zanatanies and attend the Malagasy traditional boxing, the moraingy.