Explore the Alaotra-Mangoro Region
(Alaotra Lake, Zahamena, Ambatodranzaka, Andasibe)
The Alaotra Rice Basin
The RN 44 and a railway line connect Moramanga with the Alaotra Basin located 160 km to the north. This 1800 km² basin is surrounded by the Alaotra Lake, the largest lake in Madagascar. The domestication of the waters of this “sea” of 182 km² has made the region one of the largest rice granaries on the island.
The main cities in the basin are Ambatondrazaka to the south of the lake, Amparafaravola to the west, Andilamena to the north, and Imerimandroso in the.
Seventy-four bird species nest at this lake, which is protected as a biological reserve. Two of them, the Aythya innotata and the Delacour Grebe (Tachybaptus rufolavatus), would only breed there.
The Sihanaka Tribe
The Sihanaka tribe (“those of the lake”) have long practiced a policy of raids at the expense of their neighbors – the Betsimisaraka in the east, the Sakalava in the west, and the Merina in the south – before being pushed back to the shores of Lake Alaotra in the early nineteenth century by Andrianampoinimerina.
The Alaotra Basin, long dedicated to irrigated rice cultivation, experienced a resurgence with the construction of the railway line in 1922. The massive immigration of settlers from Reunion in the 1950s brought a significant boost to the region.
The Zahamena National Park
The Zahamena National Park is a national park in Madagascar, located 50 km northwest of the city of Toamasina, near Lake Alaotra, in the regions of Alaotra-Mangoro and Analanjirofo.
The Zahamena Protected Area Complex consists of the park and a nature reserve. Zahamena is part of the eastern forests of Madagascar, classified as World Heritage Sites. It is located at an altitude between 400 and 1600 meters.
The Zahamena protected areas complex covers 64,370 ha, with 42,300 ha designated for the national park and 22,100 ha for the reserve. A large part of the integral nature reserve is the central core of the protected area complex.
It is intended solely for conservation purposes, so tourists do not have access.
The park is home to 112 bird species, 62 amphibian species, 29 fish species, 46 reptile species, and 48 mammal species, including 13 lemur species.
Zahamena is known for its 151 pteridophyte species, 60 orchid species, 22 palm species, 10 pandanus species, and 511 woody plant species. Inventories of trees conducted since 1995 show an average of 1,450 trees per hectare with a height of 20 m.
The park can be reached via National Road 2 Antananarivo – Toamasina. In Moramanga, you must then turn onto RN 44, a secondary road, towards Ambatondrazaka until the village of Antanandava.
From there, it is necessary to drive a difficult 8 km track to the entrance of the park in Ankosy, this route is only passable in the dry season.
In Antanandava, there is a park office that organizes tours.
Bandro Camp at Alaotra Lake
This community-based tourism project located on the edge of the village of Andreba on the shores of Alaotra Lake was initiated by the Madagascar Wildlife Conservation (MWC) Association.
The camp consists of typical Sihanaka houses. Currently, there are four rooms and a camping area available. Local meals are prepared at the camp.
Recommended activities.
Canoe tours at dawn with local MWC guides in the swamps of Lake Alaotra. An exploration along the water where you may spot an endemic lemur species called the Bandro Lemur (Hapalemur alaotrensis).
The guides will suggest further excursions around the lake to discover the fauna (very rich birdlife around the lake) and the local flora.
The best time for observation. The fauna is most active from December to April, at dusk and sunset.
In order to minimize the negative impact on the ecosystem caused by a high influx of tourists, the MWK Association has established several rules: The traditional Sihanaka house can only accommodate 8 tourists, a maximum of 2 pirogues with a total of 4 tourists are allowed for excursions, excursions are time-limited to avoid disturbing the wildlife in their natural habitat.
Camp Bandro is entirely run by local members of the association.
Tourists are welcomed by the MWC Andreba association, which consists exclusively of members of the local community. is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including the famous Indri lemurs. The profits from ecotourism are used to finance micro-projects within the village, such as providing clean drinking water and public toilets.
The Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
The Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is located in the Toamasina province in the Alaotra-Mangoro region. It is situated 1.5 km from Andasibe, 140 km from Antananarivo, and 200 km from Tamatave.
It covers an area of 16,310 ha (Analamazaotra Special Reserve 810 ha, Mantandia National Park 15,500 ha), with a very humid climate, an average annual temperature of 18°C, and an average annual rainfall of 1,700 mm spread over 210 days.
The park is composed of 80% primary forest and is known for its rich biodiversity, making it a popular destination for ecotourism activities.
13% of the reserve consists of secondary forest exposed to the effects of human activities.
The special reserve is dedicated to protecting the largest lemur in Madagascar: the Indri indri. There is also an orchid park accessible to the public.
This dense forest protects a wide range of biodiversity, including very rare endemic species and endangered species. 77% of the flora, over 80% of the fauna, and 58% of the birds are endemic.
The national park is home to 108 bird species, 72 mammal species including 14 lemur species, 51 reptile species, 84 amphibian species, and 350 species of insects.
The endemism rate is about 82%.
However, this ecosystem is threatened by bushfires and other human activities.
Brandrodung, illegal logging, poaching, and the collection of protected plants are threatening the environment. This situation can be partly explained by the demographic and social pressure observed in one of the poorest countries in the world.
