- Address: Réserve Naturelle Intégrale de Lokobe, Diana, Antsiranana Province, Madagascar
- Phone: +261 20 86 925 31
- Area: 7,4 square meters. km
- Date of creation: 1913.
Lukube is a nature reserve in the south-east of Nosy-Be Island (Nozi-Be), located near the northern coast of Madagascar . The park itself is small - slightly less than 7.5 sq. M. km. However, it is the most important nature conservation zone due to the virgin tropical forests of Sambirano, preserved here since ancient times, which once covered the entire island, but to date have survived only in the territory of Lucas.
The territory received the status of a protected area in 1913. In the near future, Lukoube should get the status of the National Park .
Fauna and flora of the reserve
The Lukoube reserve is the home of the black lemur, which is endemic to the park and plays an important role in the restoration of the forest, as it is a seed distributor.
In addition, there live playful serospin lemurs, claire mouse lemurs, chameleons - furcifer and minimal broccia (the latter is one of the smallest chameleons in the world). Here live birds, including the Madagascar eared owl, and the Madagascar forest kingfisher. In total there are 17 species of birds in the reserve. In the coastal waters there are dugongs.
However, the main wealth of the reserve is its flora - the forest of Sambirano, which is a transition between dry western and moist eastern forests. Sambrano are on the verge of extinction - at one time the massive felling of trees on the archipelago and Madagascar itself began precisely from the forests of Sambirano due to the fact that due to their greater dryness it was easier to clear them with fire. Today, only small forest tracts are preserved here.
In the reserve you can see many varieties of palm trees, including endemic, and one of the varieties of mango tree.
Tourist routes
At the moment there are no official tourist routes in the reserve, moreover, not all the territory of Lukoube is opened for visiting, but only some parts: in the west - near the village of Ambanoro, and in the east - near the villages Ambatozavavy and Ampasipohy. Hiking in the reserve takes from 1 to 4 hours. It is best to go to the reserve with an excursion , which is organized by all the hotels of the island of Nosy-Be. Some also offer a walk in a cake along the coast of the reserve.
How to get to the reserve?
On the island is located Fasen airport , which accepts domestic flights, and most tourists choose the air way to get to Nosy Be. However, you can get here by sea from Ankifi on one of the boats that regularly go here. From the airport and from the city of Nusi-Be to the reserve you can come by land - by car, or take a motor boat on the water.