The Masoala national park in Madagascar

THE NATIONAL PARK OF MASOALA

The National park of Masoala on the peninsula of the same name is a complex of protected areas made up of 2.300 km ² terrestrial reserves, and of 100 km ²marine reserves. The park is made of seven units of protected areas and it is even regarded as the largest of the Great Island. It is spread out over a surface of almost 250.000 ha. The national park of Masoala is located on bay of Antongil on the north-eastern coast of Madagascar. The zone over which the park is spread out is the turning point between North and the Eastern part of Madagascar. In other words, the national park is situated between two regions, namely Sava and Analanjirofo. The national park of Masoala comprises a very eloquent name. This name consists of two Malagasy words: “maso” and “ala”; the latter literally mean “eye and forest”, which means eye of the forest and they evoke well the size and the value of this forest. Located in the Eastern coast of Madagascar, the national park of Masoala profits from a very wet tropical climate generalized in this part of the island. Swept constantly by the trade winds, responsible for moisture which is added to very hot temperature (23, 9°C of annual average), this zone records rains almost every day. One even says that it is the most sprinkled zone of Madagascar. In general, this zone records a total annual rain fall which seldom goes down in lower part from 3000mm. This zone is also known as a privileged passage for cyclones which are formed in the Indian Ocean between April and December. The national park of Masoala is spread on a broken relief with a very variable altitude which goes from sea level up to 1311m high with a specific granitic rock base.

The national park of Masoala has a large tourist interests with its important historical richness, an exceptional and a much diversified biodiversity of fauna and flora with a strong rate of endemicity. In addition to the terrestrial environment, Masoala presents an also very attractive marine ecosystem which is raise up as the most important marine environments which remain in the Eastern part of Madagascar. As regards the flora, various types of forests which go from luxuriant evergreen primary forest to the marshy forest on the bottom part while passing through the mangroves forests testify a great diversity and an abundance of species. These various vegetation formations are formed by very varied vegetation species. A great majority of the species of existing plants in the Great Island is found in this region of the island. In the relatively virgin forests, the most remarkable species are formed by precious essences such as the ebony, rose woods and palissander ….

With the Madagascar image of the richness as regards palm tree, the extent forest of the park of Masoala shouldn’t be ignored. It shelters about fifty rare species of palm trees of which some are endemic like the confusing cornered palm. The trunks of these many palm trees are decorated various species of orchids of a singular beauty. In the periphery of the primary forests, the more open formations are dominated by the traveler’s tree of or ravinala which is itself the national tree of the Great Island. On the feet of these ravinala, one notes at some places the presence of Nepenthes, the pitcher plant of Madagascar. Identically with terrestrial species, the marine vegetation species which compose the three marine parks are also very rich. While trying to dive in these marine parks, the meeting with an impressing set of marine species forming the coral reefs surely will amaze you.

These various vegetation formations which cover the park of Masoala constitute a perfect shelter for many animal species present in this peninsula. Among the most notable groups of this park, are lemurs made up of ten species, birds and reptiles… In Masoala, you can above all, during the night, contemplate the astonishing aye-aye. This specie threatened of extinction only some very limited numbers currently exists. This park shelters species of lemur which only exist there and is recognizable by it glistening red Rufus furs, the red ruffed lemurs. This species like the aye-aye and two other species are classified as very threatened of extinction by international conservation society. To supplement the number of the lemur species, the existence of the smallest primate of the world to known as the russet-red mouse lemur is also noted. As regards reptile, Masoala posts a considerable endemicity. Among the endemic species of this park, one can quote the confusing endemic species known as the leaf tailed gecko or Uroplatus. The chameleons, very representative of Madagascar, are also well represented there with various species of Brookesia and Furcifer. These species are of variable size that goes from smallest to largest. These species which move with nonchalance are quite easily seen with their very variegated bodies and ready to change colors at any time. With the chameleons, other species full with color, like the Phelsuma gecko, are also visible in Masoala. The birds of the national park of Masoala are as attaching as the other animal groups. They are quite spectacular. The most important species of bird are the vangas, the red owl, and the serpent eagle. This last is a very rare species of bird and currently only some couples remain there.

In addition to these groups of animal, Amphibians and insects also occupy an important place in the Masoala ecosystem. The tomato frog is the most typical of the Amphibians whereas the Urania ripheus is the most representative of butterfly of this park. To observe these flora and fauna species, some trails in places like Nosy Mangabe, Tampolo, Ambodiforaha, Ambatoledama… were created within the park. These trails make a visit possible for daily to several day excursions; camp-sites are also available in order to make it possible for tourists to pitch their tents. For those that are more interested in marine resources than the heart of forest, snorkeling and some diving are available. Besides meeting an exceptional nature of the park of Masoala, you will also meet the very accessible Betsimisaraka (the inseparable ones) tribe. In edge of the park, this tribe is more precisely known by the name of Antemaroa which constitutes the majority of the population. These populations of the spices coast line live of agriculture such as vanilla and clove cultivations, especially intended to be exported