Ankarana National Park
A Jurassic limestone plateau in northern Madagascar, with needle-sharp limestone pinnacles, suspension bridges, caves, underground rivers and lemurs; the eastern gate village of Mahamasina has lodges and camps.
Ankarana National Park lies in Diana Region of northern Madagascar, along the RN6 highway about 110 kilometers south of Diego Suarez (Antsiranana) and about 30 kilometers north of Ambilobe. It is a roughly 18,000-hectare plateau of Jurassic limestone. Rainwater has dissolved the rock into knife-edged grey needle pinnacles known as tsingy, while underground, caves and streams totaling more than 100 kilometers have formed. Rainforest grows in the collapsed sinkholes, which are home to crowned sifakas, Sanford's brown lemurs, Ankarana sportive lemurs, many species of bats and chameleons. For the local Ankarana people, the area is also an ancestral refuge and a sacred site. The best season is the dry season, from May to November. In the rainy season, roads turn to mud, and the western sector and some caves are closed.
Most visitors stay in lodges or camps in Mahamasina village at the eastern gate and set out from there. A half day covers Lily Tsingy, the suspension bridge, Bat Cave and Small Tsingy, while a full-day hike reaches the Lost River and Green Lake. The western sector's Andrafiabe Caves and the Big Tsingy require a 4x4 vehicle and camping in the dry season. All routes must be booked with a park guide, and entry tickets are charged per day.
Getting there: From Diego Suarez, a hired car takes about 2–3 hours, or you can take a taxi toward Ambilobe and get off at Mahamasina. Plan 1-2 days. The stone surfaces are sharp and the weather is hot, so wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of drinking water and sun protection. The Red Tsingy and Amber Mountain National Park are usually visited from Diego Suarez.
Top sights
- Tsingy Rary & Ankarana Suspension Bridge – The classic route in Ankarana: walk across a suspension bridge strung between knife-edge limestone pinnacles and look down on a sea of grey…
- Petit Tsingy – A short stone forest trail near the east gate, with low physical demands and close views of needle-sharp limestone and lemurs.
- Bat Cave (Grotte des Chauves-souris) – A large cave near the east gate, with hundreds of Madagascar fruit bats hanging from the ceiling and forests of stalagmites and columns.
- Perte des Rivières – Three rivers flow into a huge sinkhole here and disappear underground, marking the entrance to Ankarana's underground river system.
- Lac Vert – A small emerald lake hidden deep in the stone forest. The return route of about 20 km is the longest one-day hike in the eastern section of…
- Andrafiabe Caves & Western Grand Tsingy – Long caves and a vast stone forest in the northwest of Ankarana, rarely visited, suited to adventurous overnight trips from a campsite.
Where to eat
- Le Relais de l'Ankarana – A family guesthouse restaurant beside the east gate of the park, serving two dinner sets each day based on the freshest…
- Chez Laurent – A budget backpacker eatery and bungalow guesthouse opposite the east gate of Ankarana, a common choice for a meal after…