Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Manja
(10bungalows&4rooms)OnRN26toMananjary,5minwalkeastalongriver.
Excellent food. €€
Ravenala
(9 rooms) Located opposite the museum. Basic, funky, very friendly, beauti-
ful views & good food. €
Rian'ala
(24dormbeds)Dormitoryaccommodation(8beds/room)nearparkentrance.
€
Varibolo
Nearparkentrance,withniceviewsoverlookingforest.Anidealplacetohave
lunch after hiking in the forest. B/fast available.
Chez Tantely & Claire
A nice welcoming little restaurant in the village.
Out of town
For those with their own transport these hotels on the way to Mananjary are
recommended.
TropicVillage
(14 rooms) 22 695 76;
f
22 695 76;
e
tropic.r@moov.mg
. An upmar-
kethotelinMahatsinjorano,about9kmfromRanomafana.Spaciousroomswithniceview.
Good restaurant.
Relax
Situated 5km from Ranomafana. Recommended with its restaurant Le Terrace.
Lovely setting, away from the bustle of Ranomafana. €€
Camping
There is a campsite at the park entrance. There are six tent pitches, with open-
sided A-frame thatched shelters giving shade as well as protection from the rain, and one
centrally located covered picnic table. There are basic toilets and showers, a tap for drink-
ingwaterandabungalowwithkitchenfacilities.Nofoodisavailableherebutthe
Varibolo
restaurant is nearby.
RANOMAFANA AND CONSERVATION
The Ranomafana National Park Project, set
upbyDrPatriciaWright,isengagedinnumerousactivities,fromeducationandhealthcare
for the villagers on the periphery of the park to an ecological monitoring team that works
at several sites within the park. The national park is now one of the country's flagship con-
servation projects, with the involvement of local communities playing an important role.
Much scientific research takes place here and there have been some clashes between re-
searchers and tourists. Tourists have been known to push researchers aside in order to get
a better photo, and to encourage guides to shake or bang on trees to persuade a lemur to
move. It goes without saying that this is irresponsible behaviour and is counter-productive
since some researchers withhold information on the whereabouts of the rarer lemurs for
fear of being disturbed in their work.
A world-class research station near the park entrance (Centre Valbio) was completed in
2003undertheinitiative ofaninternational consortium,bringinggreatpossibilities forsci-
entific research in the area.
