Reached by boat via a branch of the Antainambalana River, Farankaraina Forest is a relatively unexplored area that offers perhaps the best opportunity in Madagascar to spot the elusive nocturnal aye-aye in the wild.
The forest teems with other rainforest wildlife too, including Northern bamboo lemurs and white-fronted brown lemurs, alongside a variety of other nocturnal species. It also supports a large population of giant leaf-tailed geckos (Uroplatus fimbriatus) and is a promising spot to see lowland streaked tenrecs, ring-tailed vontsiras, and forest-dwelling crabs. Birdlife is equally rich, with sightings of blue and red-fronted couas, the Henst’s goshawk, and an impressive diversity of frogs.
