Lemurs’ Park

Lemurs’ Park is a private, 5-ha site located 22 km southwest of Antananarivo along the RN1 (towards Ampefy), between the villages of Fenoarivo and Imerintsiatosika. It was founded about 10 years ago by Laurent Amouric and Maxime Allorge (grandson of Pierre Boiteau, Founding Director of the Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza in Antananarivo), with the goal of showing lemurs to the public and eventually reintroducing captive-born lemurs back into the wild. The park, bordered on one side by the Katsaoka River, is currently home to nine species of lemur, most of which are free-ranging in the pine forest and bamboo vegetation of the site. Notable species include two groups of Coquerel’s sifakas (Propithecus coquereli), crowned sifaka (Propithecus coronatus), a single diademed sifaka (P. diadema), and a group of variegated black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata variegata). In addition, there are radiated tortoises, chameleons, and other reptiles. The park is successfully breeding Coquerel’s sifakas, with several having been born since 2007. Lemurs’ Park is open year-round from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. (last entry at 4:30 p.m.), and can be visited without prior booking. However, if you would like a full meal in the park’s restaurant, this needs to be booked 48 hours in advance. Note that the restaurant and gift shop are closed on Mondays between January and April. The entrance fee of 15,000 ariary or about US$7.50 (8,000 for children 4-12; under 4 is free) includes a compulsory guided tour. The easiest way to get to Lemurs’ Park is by using the park’s own minibus (“navette”), which needs to be reserved (+261 (0)33 11 252 59, , ). It departs twice daily, at 9.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m., from outside the Glacier restaurant in the center of Antananarivo (Analakely). The price of 25,000 ariary, or about US$12.50, per person includes transportation and entry to the park. More information can be found at .