Andringitra National Park

Andringitra National Park is located in south-central Madagascar and has been managed by WWF since 1993. It was declared a national park in 1999. Over an area of 31160 hectars it is characterised by mountains, including Pic Boby, which at 2658m is Madagascar's highest accessible peak.

The park is subdivided into three ecosystems: low altitude rainforest, montane mountain forest and high altitude vegetation. Andringitra National Park is an important central link in the longest unbroken chain of rainforest remaining in Madagascar. It stretches 180km from Ranomafana National Park in the north connecting to Peak Ivohibe in the south.

Climates range from humid tropical in the eastern lowland rainforests to extreme temperatures at higher elevations, which can descend to -8°C.

Andringitra has possibly the highest biodiversity of any park in Madagascar. The complex mixture of lifestyles, methods of cultivation and lifestock raising left its mark on the landscape. Much of lowland humid forests surrounding the park have been cleared for farming methods such as paddy rice and slash-and-burn agriculture. WWF as well as other organisations work closely together with local residents to conserve the forest.

From the Tsara Camp it is approximately a 50-minute walk to the entrance of the National Park behind the village of Andasy, where the local WWF office is also located.