Daraina – to experience the last marvels of nature
Daraina - Protected area Loky Manambato is a wildlife location, it is ideal for Wildlife photography. Ideal for viewing: aye-aye, daraina sportive lemur, golden-crowned sifaka, Sanford’s brown lemur, greater hedgehog tenrec.
Location: Sava Region.
Less well-known but equally as spectacular as some of the more popular locations in Madagascar, Daraina is home to the golden-crowned sifaka. One of the world’s rarest primates, this lemur is found here and nowhere else. Undulating hills covered with deciduous and semi-evergreen forest make Daraina one of richest and most ecologically sensitive areas in the north of the island.
In the same forest, you can perhaps also see an yet undescribed species of fork marked lemurs, which has been discovered in 2010. And there’s another third, very rare lemur inside this protection area: The endemic Daraina sportive lemur (Lepilemur milanoi).
You like reptiles? Then you can find chameleons (Furcifer petteri), various geckos (Paroedura spp., Uroplatus henkeli) and other lizards. In total, there occur 10 lemur species, about 130 different birds, almost 75 reptile species and even more than 35 amphibians.
Due to its bad accessibility and only rudimentary protection efforts, there is no touristic infrastructure at all around or inside Daraina. There is either hotels nor lodges or a fixed campground, no water tap, no electricity and of course no sanitary facilities. Daraina village offers some rudimentary accommodations, but it is recommended to bring your tent and set up your camp right in front of the forest of lemurs.
Shortly: Everyone who wants to experience the last marvels of nature, should hurry up to come to Daraina! In some years, the forest including its lemurs could be gone completely, without anyone taking notice of it.
Watch more photos about Daraina - Protected area Loky Manambato here.