Benavony *
The village of Benavony is located 5 km from Ambanja and 31 km from Ankify in northwestern Madagascar.
In the “Where to See It” section for each species account, we have provided recommendations as to the best sites for seeing each lemur species and subspecies in the wild. In this appendix, we describe the majority of these sites in a little more detail. This is intended to give the reader information on how to reach a specific destination, the variety of lemurs that he or she might expect to see, and what facilities, accommodations, and services are likely to be available. For more information related to government national parks, strict nature reserves, and special reserves, we recommend you consult the Madagascar National Parks website (
In this section, we also indicate priority sites for visitors to Madagascar. Those with three asterisks (***) are considered a must for the first-time lemur-watcher. Those with two asterisks (**) are also appropriate for those newcomers to Madagascar who have a bit more time, and who want to quickly increase the size of their lemur life-lists. Those sites with a single asterisk (*) are important for particular, very restricted-range species, but are more difficult to reach. Those sites without any asterisks are for the hardy adventurer who may already have a long lemur life-list, and who wants to get way off the beaten track to see new and rarely-visited places.
Sites are listed here in alphabetical order.
The village of Benavony is located 5 km from Ambanja and 31 km from Ankify in northwestern Madagascar.
The Berenty Private Reserve is one of the best known tourist destinations in Madagascar. Established in 1936 as a reserve on a sisal plantation, it opened for tourism in 1980 and is still operated by the de Heaulme family, the original owners.
This small reserve, located 60 km northeast of Toamasina (= Tamatave), protects a region of low-altitude rain forest that is rich in biodiversity.
The Beza-Mahafaly Special Reserve, like the Berenty Private Reserve, is made up of small patches of gallery forest (100 ha) and spiny forest (480 ha), and has been a key research site for the last quarter century.
Located in northwestern Madagascar near Port Berge, this is the only relatively large forest fragment left between the Mahajamba and Sofia Rivers and currently the only place where one can see the Bongolava mouse lemur (Microcebus bongolavensis).
This small 4,800-ha patch of transitional forest between the Eastern and Western Domains is about 35 km from the town of Antsohihy in the northwest.
Croc Farm is a private park owned by Reptel, a company that farms Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) for leather production.
The town of Daraina is in northeastern Madagascar, two to five hours north of Vohémar depending on weather and road conditions.
Located in central-eastern Madagascar, Fandriana is home to a population of the Critically Endangered southern black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata editorum), and is at present the only known place to see the Betsileo sportive lemur (Le
Isalo National Park is in south-central Madagascar, and can be reached by vehicle from Toliara (= Tuléar) in about three hours using RN7.