Nosy Komba and Nosy Tanikely ***
The small island of Nosy Komba, near Nosy Be in northwestern Madagascar, is a good place to see the black lemur (Eulemur macaco).
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 small island of Nosy Komba, near Nosy Be in northwestern Madagascar, is a good place to see the black lemur (Eulemur macaco).
The island of Nosy Mangabe is located in the Bay of Antongil along Madagascar’s northeastern coast, about 5 km offshore from Maroantsetra. The island can be reached by boat, a ride that takes only 20–30 minutes.
Madagascar’s national zoo, the Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza (PBZT) was originally founded in 1925 by the French colonial government.
This small reserve of 3,450 ha is located south of Andringitra National Park in southeastern Madagascar.
Ranomafana is located in southeastern Madagascar, and is one of the premier lemur-watching sites in the country. It also has one of Madagascar’s most sophisticated research stations.
The newly-created Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park in northwestern Madagascar is the best place to see the blue-eyed black lemur (Eulemur flavifrons), as well as the recently-described Sahamalaza sportive lemur (Lepilemur sahamalazensis).
The Sainte-Luce Private Reserve is in southeastern Madagascar north of Tolagnaro (= Fort-Dauphin).
This large, isolated reserve in northwestern Madagascar provides protection for an important altitudinal gradient of rain forest that culminates at 2,876 m, the highest point in the country.
Tsimanampetsotsa National Park is in southwestern Madagascar, about a two-hour drive from Anakao (a coastal tourist location with good seaside hotels) or a 45-minute boat ride south of Toliara (= Tuléar).
The Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park and adjoining Strict Nature Reserve are in southwestern Madagascar, and are best known for their amazing knife-like karst outcrops, or tsingys. This park was also Madagascar’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.