- Year of foundation: 1927
- Area: 42 hectares
- Contact phone: +261 20 57 300 24
- Website: www.parcs-madagascar.com
Zahamena National Park on the island of Madagascar is an amazing place where you can see noisy rivers , picturesque lakes , waterfalls , as well as rare and endangered birds, fish, mammals and rich flora.
Location:
Zahamen's reserve is located in the eastern part of the island, 40 km northeast of Ambatondrazaki and 70 km north-west of Tuamasina . It covers an area of about 42 hectares in tropical forests, more than half of which are a closed zone.
History of the park
Zakhamena was created with the purpose of preserving nature that is disappearing from the nature of certain species of plants, animals and birds, some of which are endemic. On the part of farmers living on the border with the park, there was a threat of deforestation, poaching and encroachment on the agricultural areas of the reserve. Therefore, it was decided to establish a national park and protect local flora and fauna at the state level. So in 1927 in these parts appeared the reserved corner of Zahamen. In 2007, together with five other national parks in Madagascar, it was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the name of the Tropical Rainforests of Acinanana.
Flora and fauna of Zahamena reserve
In the Zakhamena National Park you can see several rare species of birds, fish, reptiles and flora, many of which are listed in the Red Book. Some pets live exclusively in the territory of Madagascar. Speaking about the vegetation of Zahamena, we note that 99% of it is represented by tropical forests, which are divided into several groups, growing depending on the altitude above sea level. So, at a small and medium height, the main mass is made up of moist evergreen forests, many ferns, a bit higher you can see already hard-leaved mountain forests, on the slopes there are small bushes and grasses, including begonia and balsam. In general, 60 species of orchids, 20 varieties of palm trees and more than 500 species of trees grow on the territory of Zakhamena.
The fauna of the park is also quite diverse and is represented by 112 names of birds, 62 amphibians, 46 reptiles and 45 mammal species (among them 13 lemurs). The most famous representatives of the fauna in Zahamen are indri, black lemur and a red owl.
Rest in the park
On the territory of Zahamena Park there are several interwoven and rather noisy rivers, some of them flow into the very picturesque Alaotra Lake. Several trails and routes are laid along the reserve, after which you can enjoy the beauty of the rainforests and virgin nature.
How to get there?
In the city of Tuamasina (the second name is Tamatave) you can get from the capital of Madagascar - Antananarivo . You can take advantage of domestic airlines (there is a small airport in Tamatave where flights from the international capital airport Antananarivo - Ivato International Airport arrive ), motorways or the railway. Further from the city it will be necessary already by car to reach the reserve. You have to drive about 70 km northwest of Tuamasina, and you are at the target.