Andohahela National Park

This national park has a great wealth of biodiversity thanks to the three types of ecosystems that coexist in it, becoming in fact a “natural corridor” between the south and east of Madagascar with a dense humid forest of low, medium and high altitude in the east (a unique case on the planet and for which this park is recognized worldwide), a xerophilous forest (dry thorny) in the south characterized by the presence of large alluaudias, baobias, baobab trees, and a xerophilous forest (dry thorny) in the south characterized by the presence of large alluaudias , This type of habitat does not exist below the Tropic of Capricorn), a xerophytic (dry thorny) forest to the south characterized by the presence of large alluaudias, baobabs and madagascar didiereas madagascariensis and a semi-humid and semi-arid transition forest.

It is one of the most important national parks in the country in terms of floristic biodiversity and herpetofauna although it is not a park where we can easily see wildlife.

There are several large rivers that originate in this national park such as the Mangoky, Mandrare, Manambovo, Mananara, Mangatsiake, Isoanala… and several peaks of the Anosyenne mountain range that exceed 1500 meters of altitude such as Mount Trafonomby (1806m) and Mount Andohaela (1972m). We will find a multitude of waterfalls that flow into streams and rivers that provide the entire region with the water necessary for the survival of species within the national park as well as the adjacent rural populations inhabited by the Anosy and Antandroy ethnic groups.

Andohaela is flora and fauna; mountains, rivers, waterfalls: nature in its purest form. More than 1300 plant species such as baobabs, pachypodiums, triangular palms(Dypsis Decaryi), carnivorous plants, medicinal trees such as the endemic Jabihy(Operculicarya Decaryi) also called elephant tree, a thick-stemmed succulent plant with antibacterial properties or the Katrafray(Cedrelopsis Grevei). 207 species of ferns (in the eastern zone), 5 of the 11 species of didieraceae are present in the southern zone of this park, including the Alluaudia Humbertii which exists only in Andohaela, specifically in the valley of the Mandrare River.

It is also a sanctuary for 14 species of lemurs, (Eulemur fulvus collaris, hapalemur griseus meridionalis, lemur Catta, Propithecus verreauxi, Cheirogaleus medius, Microcebus murinus , Avahi meridionalis , Cheirogaleus major , Daubentonia madagascariensis….); 108 species of birds (Neomixis viridis, Coua ruficeps, Lophotibis cristata, polyboroides radiatus…), 48 species of amphibians (boophis periegetes, Chonomantis melanopleura, Heterixalus boettgeri….) 65 species of reptiles (Phelsuma malamakibo, Furcifer verrucosus, Calumma tsycorne, Calumma capuroni …), 31 species of mammals including 7 species of bats (Pteropus rufus or flying fox, Rousettus madagascariensis Macronycteris commersoni, Miniopterus majori, Myotis goudoti), rodents, tenrecs, the Phosa (Cryptoprocta ferox), Galidictis grandidieri, Eupleres goudot or small-toothed mongoose, Galidia elegans or ring-tailed mongoose, etc. …

Source ©Indigo Be Magazine