A massif of sharply-eroded karst limestone pinnacles (called tsingy locally) with sunken patches of dry deciduous forest containing a high density of primates, Ankarana National Park boasts beautiful lakes, underground rivers, sinkholes (cenotes) and caves with evidence of ancient civilisations, and the world’s only cave-dwelling crocodiles.
Ankarana, accessed through Diego Suarez (Antsiranana), combines well with Montagne d’Ambre and Eden Lodge or Nosy Be. It is a park for the adventurous who are happy to accept camping or simple rustic accommodation and enjoy hiking through varied scenery encountering wildlife like crowned lemur, Sanford’s brown lemur, northern sportive lemur, big headed gecko and two species of leaf tailed gecko. At least 14 species of bat roost within Ankarana’s caves and forests including some enormous colonies of straw-coloured fruit bats. Access can be difficult in wetter months, although wildlife viewing can be rewarding at such times.
