Isalo National Park tour and safari

Isalo National Park is one of the best Madagascar parks and reserves. It was established in 1962. It protects more than 190,000 acres. The most popular activity in the park is hiking.  This is a great opportunity to enjoy the sightings of many species of animals, birds, and plants.

Things to do in Isalo National Park

• Hiking

Most tourists target hiking while on an Isalo National Park tour and safari. It is the main activity in the park. A local guide helps tourists to explore the park on foot. There are several hiking routes. Your tour operator can help choose the best trail. Some routes are short and require less energy. Others are longer and need you to be physically fit.

Hiking trails

• Portuguese Cave trail. This is a more challenging route compared to others. You need a high level of physical fitness. It takes about 4 days to complete it. It is great for spotting many species of animals and plants.
• Namaza Circuit and the Cascades des Nymphes. This route is easier than the Portuguese Cave trail. It takes you to natural swimming holes. You also get to experience the cultural heritage along the way.
• Piscine Naturelle. This is the most popular trail in the park. It takes you to Piscine Naturelle. A crystalline waterhole feeds this limpid pool. Pandanus trees surround the beautiful pool. The route is great for spotting sifaka and lemur species.

 

• Wildlife viewing

Isalo is not the best Madagascar parks and reserves for wildlife viewing. It does not have many species of animals. But it is home to some rare species. Here are some of the interesting Isalo National Park animals.

• Lemur species. Isalo is home to some species of lemur. Some of these species are the ring-tailed lemur, Verreaux’s sifaka, the red-tailed sportive lemur, and Coquerel’s giant mouse lemur. These are common at the Rat Canyon and Maki Canyon.
• Amphibians and reptiles. You can see species such as the Madagascar boa, the Malagasy rainbow frog, and the bright-eyed frog.

 

• Bird watching

You can enjoy bird watching during the Isalo National Park tour and safari. Apart from Isalo National Park animals, the park has recorded more than 77 bird species. Most of these species are common during the dry season. But migratory birds are present during the wet season, that is, November to April.

FAQs

• Where is Isalo National Park located?

Isalo National Park is located on the southwestern side of Madagascar. This is about 15 minutes from Antananarivo, the capital city. It is about 273 km to the northeast of Fianarantosa. Its coordinates are 22.4656° S and 45.2618° E. It is easily accessible by road or air.

• When is the best time to visit Isalo National Park?

You can go for an Isalo National Park tour and safari at any time of the year. But the best time to visit is during the dry season. This is between May and October. The weather is usually great for hiking and other activities. But you are more likely to spot migratory birds during the wet season. This is between November and April.

• How to get to Isalo National Park

It is easy to get to the park. You can get there via Ranohira town. This is the getaway to the park. You can get there via Fianarantsoa city (about 273 km) or Toliara city (about 241 km). The road from these cities is in good condition making it easier to reach the park. But you can choose to fly to Toliara. From here, you enjoy a short drive to the park. Normally, tour operators take care of transfers from the airport to the park.