Andohahela National Park

Park Dry-to-rainforest national park with striking biodiversity transitions

Andohahela National Park spans rainforest to spiny forest in southeastern Madagascar; visitors choose guided hikes to see distinct plant communities, lemurs and species adapted to dry, thorny environments.

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Andohahela National Park in southeastern Madagascar protects an unusually wide range of habitats, from humid eastern rainforest on its eastern flank to dry spiny forest in the south. This ecological gradient makes the park important for conserving species from distinct biomes within a single protected area.

Visitors experience diverse landscapes including dense rainforest, dry deciduous and spiny scrub, and wildlife ranges accordingly from forest-dwelling lemurs and reptiles to species adapted to drier habitats. The park contains trails and camps used for scientific work and regulated tourism.

The park was established to conserve the unique juxtaposition of forest types and their endemic species and is managed within Madagascar’s national protected-area system.

Andohahela lies in the far southeast of Madagascar near the city of Tolagnaro (Fort Dauphin) and covers remote terrain that is accessed via regional roads and organized field logistics.

  • Habitat transition: The park uniquely protects a transition from humid eastern rainforest to the dry spiny forest of southern Madagascar, offering a wide range of habitats in one protected area.
  • Access: Access is commonly organised from the coastal town of Tolagnaro (Fort Dauphin) and requires road or boat travel depending on the chosen sector of the park.

What to See #

  • Eastern rainforest and southern spiny forest zones: Lowland rainforest in the eastern sector and drier spiny forest in southern sectors, providing a rare transition between major vegetation types.
  • Trails and camps: A series of named trails and camps used for biodiversity surveys and visitor access that cross the park's varied habitats.
Andohahela National Park
Andohahela National Park, Atsimo‑Andrefana / Anosy, Madagascar
-24.6008, 46.6994

Tips for Visiting Andohahela National Park #

  • Access Andohahela most easily from Tôlanaro (Fort Dauphin) - use it as your base and arrange park transfers there, since the park spans both humid eastern forest and dry southern spiny forest sectors.
  • Plan visits in the dry season (roughly April-November) to avoid rivers rising and track closures; exploring both the eastern and western park sectors reveals the sharp ecosystem transitions most visitors miss.
  • Book park guides and transport from Fort Dauphin and allow extra time for single-track roads and vehicle transfers; staying at a nearby lodge reduces rushed day returns and gives better dawn/dusk wildlife opportunities.

Best Time to Visit Andohahela National Park #

Visit in the dry season (May-October) for the most reliable hiking and access across the park's differing ecosystems.

Dry season
May-October · 20-30°C
Drier, cooler conditions across the park's varied habitats make hiking and transfers easier; eastern rainforest sections are less waterlogged.
Wet season
November-April · 22-32°C
Heavy rain on the humid eastern side and seasonal storms can make trails slippery and some routes impassable.

Weather & Climate near Andohahela National Park #

Climate

Andohahela National Park's climate is classified as Subtropical Highland (Dry Winter) - Subtropical Highland (Dry Winter) climate with mild summers (peaking in January) and cool winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 7°C to 23°C. Abundant rainfall (1156 mm/year), wettest in December.

Best Time to Visit
AprilSeptemberAugust
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
36°
Warmest Month
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the warmest month with highs of 23°C and lows of 14°C. Significant rainfall (200 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

68 Good

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Mild
18°C
Temperature
14° 23°
83%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

200 mm
Rainfall
3.5 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
2.9
UV Index
Extreme
13.3h daylight

February

February is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 13°C. Significant rainfall (181 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

70 Very Good

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Mild
18°C
Temperature
13° 23°
84%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

181 mm
Rainfall
3.3 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
2.7
UV Index
Extreme
12.8h daylight

March

March is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 13°C. Significant rainfall (136 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

76 Very Good

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Cool
18°C
Temperature
13° 23°
86%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

136 mm
Rainfall
3.5 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
2.3
UV Index
Extreme
12.1h daylight

April

April is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

82 Excellent

Comfort

16°
Feels Like Cool
16°C
Temperature
11° 22°
86%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

60 mm
Rainfall
3.4 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.7
UV Index
Very High
11.4h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (40 mm).

78 Very Good

Comfort

14°
Feels Like Cool
14°C
Temperature
20°
86%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

40 mm
Rainfall
3.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.2
UV Index
High
10.8h daylight

June

June is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (40 mm).

78 Very Good

Comfort

13°
Feels Like Cool
13°C
Temperature
18°
86%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

40 mm
Rainfall
3.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.9
UV Index
Moderate
10.5h daylight

July

July is the coolest month with highs of 16°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (45 mm).

76 Very Good

Comfort

12°
Feels Like Cool
12°C
Temperature
17°
84%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

45 mm
Rainfall
3.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.0
UV Index
Moderate
10.7h daylight

August

August is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (38 mm) and mostly sunny skies.

80 Excellent

Comfort

13°
Feels Like Cool
13°C
Temperature
18°
82%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

38 mm
Rainfall
3.6 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.3
UV Index
High
11.2h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 8°C. The driest month with just 28 mm and mostly sunny skies.

82 Excellent

Comfort

14°
Feels Like Cool
14°C
Temperature
20°
79%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

28 mm
Rainfall
4.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.8
UV Index
Very High
11.8h daylight

October

October is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm).

78 Very Good

Comfort

16°
Feels Like Cool
16°C
Temperature
10° 22°
76%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

57 mm
Rainfall
3.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
2.1
UV Index
Extreme
12.5h daylight

November

November is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 11°C. Significant rainfall (120 mm).

80 Excellent

Comfort

17°
Feels Like Cool
17°C
Temperature
11° 23°
76%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

120 mm
Rainfall
3.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
2.6
UV Index
Extreme
13.2h daylight

December

December is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 13°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (211 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

72 Very Good

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Cool
18°C
Temperature
13° 23°
79%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

211 mm
Rainfall
3.5 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
2.9
UV Index
Extreme
13.5h daylight

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