Backpacking In Madagascar🇲🇬: Touring The Lemurs’ Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

“We’re all carried along by the river of dreams” – Billy Joel.

Backpacking In Madagascar🇲🇬: Touring The Lemurs’ Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

Lemurs are native to Madagascar 🇲🇬 and an endangered species, so I put a visit to the famous Lemurs’ Park at Katsaoko on my itinerary when backpacking on this huge island. It’s Africa. It’s Indian Ocean. It’s island magic. It’s tropical. It’s full of incredible places not seen elsewhere on planet earth. This is a golden dream and probably I’m guilty of not giving enough time on this jaunt to the madness of Madagascar – I also fired Malawi, Mozambique, Mauritius and Reunion Island into my 2023 Africa To Indian Ocean spring jaunts…but Madagascar got the ball rolling and I got my Madagascar visa on arrival at Antananarivo and set about planning my trip. I titled it my MMM Hat-trick tour.

My Madagascar Visa for 10 US Dollars

My Madagascar Visa for 10 US Dollars

A THB - Three Horses Beer - my first ever Madagascar Beer was consumed here

A THB – Three Horses Beer – my first ever Madagascar Beer

On arrival, I was met by my pre-arranged driver and taken to the quirky perky Hotel Sakamanga in “Tana” (Antananarivo).

Arrival in Madagascar – heading to Hotel Sakamanga

Getting To The Lemurs’ Park At Katsaoka

You can book a tour or book a driver to get here to the Lemurs’ Park. There’s actually a tour that runs daily from Antananarivo and is recommended but I was going alone and you need a minimum of two, plus I wanted to see other things too. That tour lasts from 9 a.m. until 14.00 in the afternoon and costs 185,000 Malagasy Ariary (42 US Dollars). I didn’t book this tour, but here are the details of it…

Getting To The Lemurs’ Park At Katsaoka

The Lemurs’ Park is a private, 12 acre botanical park situated next to the muddy brown Katsaoka River and between the villages of Fenoarivo and Imerintsiatosika, 22 kilometres (14 miles) southwest of Antananarivo along Route Nationale 1 (The RN1) in the direction of Ampefy. Here it is on the map.

The Lemurs’ Park On The Map from Tana

The Lemurs’ Park from above

Other ways to get to The Lemurs’ Park At Katsaoka:

  • Taxi-brousse (Tanà – Imerintsiatosika):
    – Price: from Ariary 1,500 to Ariary 2,000 per person
    – Departure point: Anosibe (at the bottom of the flower market, opposite COLAS)
  • City taxi:
    – Price: from 80,000 Ariary (round trip) depending on the quality of the car and the length of the wait
  • Rental car:
    – Price: from Ariary 100,000 (round trip) depending on the quality of the car and the length of the wait
  • (when I was there, 1 US Dollar was 4,399 Malagasy Ariary).

I hired a driver for a full day of travelling which included market stops, bar/cafe stops, football stadium, countryside stops, a few other things and a trip to Ambohimanga. The Royal Hill of Ambohimanga is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a breath thefter at a lofty height and I visited it later the same day, pre-sunsink. I actually had two different drivers during my time in Madagascar, Nolavy and Tojo. Tojo was the driver who took me to The Lemurs’ Park.

Touring Madagascar with Tojo

Touring Madagascar

Touring Madagascar with Nolavy

Traffic in Antananarivo – Touring Madagascar

Backpacking in Antananarivo

Firstly though, my driver took me to The Lemurs Park as it was a nice idea to do this one in the morning. I was sleeping in Antananarivo, where I stayed at the Hotel Sakamanga firstly, then I stayed at Hotel Le Riad. The Lemurs’ Park is in wild countryside, next to the Katsaoka River, itself gorgeous…as was the drive here.

The drive to The Lemurs’ Park, Madagascar

The drive to The Lemurs’ Park, Madagascar

History of The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka

The Lemurs Park (also known locally as Parc de lémuriens à Madagascar) is a small botanical garden and lemur reserve covering 5 hectares (12 acres), and is located 22 kilometres (14 miles) southwest of Antananarivo, Madagascar. It was founded around the year 2000 and it has a website and Facebook page too – listed at the bottom of this article.

Lemurs’ Park official site

Most of its nine lemur species are free-ranging within the park, which also contains more than 70 of Madagascar’s endemic plant species. The park is open to the public, offering guided tours as well as standard amenities, a gift shop, and a restaurant.

Arrival at The Lemurs’ Park At Katsaoka

On arrival, I head to reception to pay the entrance fee which includes a guide and I’m delighted to have an expert to show me around here. The tour lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes and costs 70,000 Ariary for an adult – this is around 16 US Dollars or £12.78 Northern Irish pounds.

Arrival at The Lemurs’ Park

There are some rules and regulations and then I meet my guide. I was lucky to have such an amazing guide! My guide was Princia.

Arrival at The Lemurs’ Park

Arrival at The Lemurs’ Park and meeting my truly excellent guide, Princia!

Meet Princia, My Excellent Guide

I’m biased here but my guide is the best guide, her name is Princia. If you get an option to have Princia as your guide – take her. Welcoming, open, informative, fun and happy – not to mention her expert camera skills since I was travelling alone, Princia was able to take photos for me.

Arrival at The Lemurs’ Park and meeting my truly excellent guide, Princia!

Arrival at The Lemurs’ Park and meeting my truly excellent guide, Princia!

Here are some of the highlights of the tour…

The Lemurs

For me, the Lemurs were the undoubted highlight. Obviously – this is why we are here. The 9 lemur species are free to roam here – it’s their lair and they don’t harm us and we don’t harm them. We admire and they are beautiful creatures. I see a few of the different species and the colours are different. I’m not an animal geek but I decide to do some research on lemurs, sadly MOST lemurs are endangered species.

First sighting of a Lemur

Lemurs are the most famous animals of MadagascarThey are considered to be the ancestors of the monkeys, more exactly as distant cousins. The lemur family includes 36 species, the vast majority of which are found only on Red Island. Here at The Lemurs’ Park we can see these species:

1.Eulemur Fulvus
2.Verecia Variegata
3.Hapalemur Griseus
4.Cockroach Sifaka
5.Mongoz Eulemur
6.Lemur Catta/Lemur Maki
7.Crowned Sifaka
8.Sifaka Births

Backpacking In Madagascar: Touring The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

Unlike mainland Africa where lemurs have disappeared in the face of competition with other primates, those of Madagascar have been able to evolve in peace on this large remote island. That’s the magic. It is believed that the first lemurs arrived in Madagascar on floating trunks, following natural disasters. These lemurs that colonized the island were very primitive animals. They were similar to the smallest lemurs today: the mouse-sized mouse lemurs. Gaze and admire their beauty.

Up close to the Lemurs

Watching Lemurs in Madagascar

Lemurs up in the trees – their natural habitat

My guide was Princia of course although there were a few park rangers we met on the Lemurs walk. We also met a Chinese couple and watched the lemurs together – they were climbing in the trees.

Meeting a Chinese couple and watching Lemurs with them

Backpacking In Madagascar: Touring The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

Backpacking In Madagascar: Touring The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

I also drank a Booster Apple Cider that day as I was really hot in the sun. This was refreshing and I sank it next to some black and white lemurs, the Varecia Variegata species.

Backpacking In Madagascar: Touring The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

Backpacking In Madagascar: Touring The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

Backpacking In Madagascar: Touring The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

Tortoises

Before the tour, I didn’t realise I’d also be seeing some tortoises so this was a bonus. I sat and chilled out, admiring these slow creatures. On my travels, I have so many incredible animal experiences and I’d now want to add tortoises and lemurs to my post on my favourite animal experiences.

Backpacking In Madagascar: Tortoises at The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

Backpacking In Madagascar: Tortoises at The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

Backpacking In Madagascar: Tortoises at The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

Backpacking In Madagascar: Tortoises at The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

Katsaoka River

Our walk at the Lemurs’ Park takes us by the gorgeous muddy, chocolately brown Katsaoka River.

Backpacking In Madagascar: The Katsaoka River at The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

Backpacking In Madagascar: The Katsaoka River at The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

Backpacking In Madagascar: The Katsaoka River at The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

Backpacking In Madagascar: The Katsaoka River at The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

Backpacking In Madagascar: The Katsaoka River at The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

Backpacking In Madagascar: The Katsaoka River at The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

Backpacking In Madagascar: The Katsaoka River at The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

Backpacking In Madagascar: The Katsaoka River at The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

Backpacking In Madagascar: My Northern Ireland flag at The Katsaoka River at The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

Backpacking In Madagascar: My Northern Ireland flag at The Katsaoka River at The Lemurs Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

Post-walk beer and Souvenir Shop

After seeing the lemurs, the river and the tortoises, we walk back up the hill and the tour is over. I decided to chill out with a beer here – there is a restaurant and a souvenir shop.

Post-walk beer and Souvenir Shop at The Lemurs’ Park, Katsoaka, Madagascar

Post-walk beer and Souvenir Shop at The Lemurs’ Park, Katsoaka, Madagascar

Post-walk beer and Souvenir Shop at The Lemurs’ Park, Katsoaka, Madagascar

Post-walk beer and Souvenir Shop at The Lemurs' Park, Katsoaka, Madagascar

Post-walk beer and Souvenir Shop at The Lemurs’ Park, Katsoaka, Madagascar

Post-walk beer and Souvenir Shop at The Lemurs' Park, Katsoaka, Madagascar

Post-walk beer and Souvenir Shop at The Lemurs’ Park, Katsoaka, Madagascar

This was a splendid morning adventure on life’s corridor. My eternal thanks to Princia my guide for such an insightful tour here and the other staff I met too. Please go and see the lemurs!

Thanks to Princia my guide at The Lemurs' Park in Katsaoka, Madagascar

Thanks to Princia my guide at The Lemurs’ Park in Katsaoka, Madagascar

Thanks to Princia my guide at The Lemurs' Park in Katsaoka, Madagascar

Thanks to Princia my guide and the staff at The Lemurs’ Park in Katsaoka, Madagascar

Here are some useful links about The Lemurs’ Park At Katsaoka:

Lemurs’ Park à 22 km d’Antananarivo – soyez sûr de voir 7 espèces de lémuriens en liberté ! Conservat
Page · Park
RN1 – PK 22- Katsoaka, Antananarivo, Madagascar
+261 33 11 252 59
lemurspark.com

Here are some videos I made at The Lemurs’ Park in Katsaoka, Madagascar:

4 thoughts on “Backpacking In Madagascar🇲🇬: Touring The Lemurs’ Park At Katsaoka, Near Antananarivo

  • Hi Trevor, yes it sounds like a good plan. There are loads of places to see the Lemurs in Madagascar but this one was the handiest for me. Safe travels. Jonny

  • Just got back from Tana, I wish I had read this before visiting Tana. Princea eas my guide there also.
    I got cheated with the price of the taxi for the trip to the Lemurs Park.

  • Hi Jatin, Thanks for the comment. Princea was superb. Sorry to hear about the cheating. It has happened to me in countries before too. Sometimes I really get angry bargaining when it is often racist. Safe travels. Jonny

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