“Welcome to one of Madagascar’s last wild sanctuaries: the Andranomena Special Reserve, where the dry forest defies the dust of Menabe and life reinvents itself with every sunrise.”

Nestled in the heart of the Menabe region, Andranomena covers 6,420 hectares of dense dry forests, giant baobab trees, and golden savannas, providing the ultimate refuge for a unique biodiversity found nowhere else in the world.

This natural mosaic protects one of the core areas of Madagascar’s western landscape: a continuous forest massif that is home to the last remaining representatives of species that have become legendary, from turtles to lemurs, from miniature microcebus to the majestic Grandidier’s baobabs.

The dry season shapes life here, in a constant struggle against fire, deforestation, and pressure from surrounding villages. Despite everything, Andranomena remains a bastion of resilience and a living laboratory for the conservation of the natural heritage of the West.

The Reserve protects many strictly endemic and endangered species: the famous Kapidolo turtle (Pyxis planicauda), Verreaux’s sifaka, the world’s smallest lemur (Microcebus berthae), as well as giants of the flora such as Hazomalania voyroni and the iconic baobab trees.

Key figures :

🗺️ Andranomena covers 8,170.8 hectares within the Menabe region.

🌳 80% of the local biodiversity is endemic: 113 woody species have been recorded, including three iconic baobab species (Grandidier, rubrostipa, zà) and Hazomalania voyroni.

🐒 Seven species of lemurs, including two diurnal (Propithecus verreauxi, Eulemur fulvus rufus) and five nocturnal (Microcebus berthae, Lepilemur ruficaudatus, Microcebus murinus, Phaner furcifer, Mirza coquereli).

🐢 Remarkable local endemics: Hypogeomys antimena (Vositse), Pyxis planicauda (Kapidolo), Microcebus berthae (Tilitilivahy).

🌿 Threatened species: Hazomalania voyroni (CR), Propithecus verreauxi (CR), Pyxis planicauda (CR), numerous baobabs and endangered or vulnerable woody species.

📅 The Andranomena Special Reserve has existed since 1958.

🚗 Access to the Reserve is possible all year round via the RN 45 Morondava–Belo/Tsiribihina road, by bush taxi or rental car.

Landscapes / Habitats

🌄 Hills, plateaus, valleys, dry forests
🌳 Dense dry deciduous forest (continuous forest massif)
🌾 Natural savannas, shrublands, swamps
💧 Several streams and wetlands on the outskirts
🪨 Red sandy soils, rocky outcrops

Fauna

🐒 7 species of lemurs: Propithecus verreauxi (sifaka), Eulemur fulvus rufus, Microcebus berthae, Lepilemur ruficaudatus, Microcebus murinus, Phaner furcifer, Mirza coquereli
🐢 Kapidolo tortoise (Pyxis planicauda), Hypogeomys antimena (Vositse)
🦎 Various reptiles, including snakes and lizards
🦜 Western forest birds
🦇 Bats, tenrecs, rodents

Flora

🌳 113 woody species inventoried, 3 species of baobabs (Adansonia grandidieri, A. rubrostipa, A. za)
🌿 Hazomalania voyronii (CR), precious wood, Euphorbia, xerophytic shrubs
🌾 Grasslands, secondary grasslands
🍀 80% plant endemism