Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PARC NATIONAL MONTAGNE D'AMBRE
Best time to visit
Year-round.
Key highlights
Beautiful waterfalls and streams, the world's smallest chamele-
on (if you manage to see it!).
Wildlife
Lemurs, amphibians, birds, wild orchids.
Habitats
Humid forest.
Gateway towns
Joffreville.
Transport options
4km from Joffreville by foot or private vehicle.
Things you should know
It rains almost every day at Montagne d'Ambre, and
temperatures can drop to a nippy 3°C at night and just 10°C or 15°C on winter
days (June to September), so take some warm clothes and a waterproof jacket.
Park Fees & Guides
The park's
headquarters
( 82 213 20;
www.parcs-madagascar.com
; 7.30am-4pm),
at the park entrance, 4km southwest of Joffreville, can help with information,
permits
(per
day Ar25,000) and
guides
(Ar25,000-50,000 for up to five people, depending on the cir-
cuit), which are compulsory. Most guides speak French and English.
Wildlife
Of the seven species of lemurs found in the park, the most notable are the crowned lemur
and Sanford's lemur. Others include the rufous mouse lemur, the dwarf and northern sport-
ive lemurs, the aye-aye (rarely seen) and the local Montagne d'Ambre fork-marked lemur.
Among other mammals, the ring-tailed mongoose is probably the most frequently ob-
served.
Reptile and amphibian life thrives in the park's humid conditions, and Montagne
d'Ambre is where you'll find the diminutive Brookesia chameleon, the world's smallest. It
lives in leaf litter and you'll need your guide's well-trained eyes to find it.
ACTIVITIES
TherearesixhikingtrailsinMontagned'Ambrerangingfromeasyone-hourwalkstomore
strenuous eight-hour treks. Many can be combined to tailor your own circuit: ask your
guide to recommend the best itinerary.
Highlights include the
Voie des Mille Arbres
('Path of A Thousand Trees'), a majestic
alley planted with tall exotic species (Montagne d'Ambre was an important research centre
for forestry and tree plantations during the 20th century), the
Petit Lac
, a small crater lake
