Marojejy National Park
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Marojejy (or Marojevy) National Park, a rugged and untamed mountainous area of 600 km² and 75-2.200 m altitude, is one of the most strikingly beautiful wild areas of the country. The magic of this beauty lies on its Jurassic park character: 90% of Marojejy national park is covered with original primary forests. Voluptuous hillsides, completely carpeted by a lush green rainforests, where shrubs, ferns, feathery mosses and lichens hang from the tree branches in the search of light, extend onto the horizon. The inaccessibility of the area has created a natural laboratory that hosts a unique flora and fauna. For a long time the park, created in 1952, was reserved exclusively for scientists until it finally opened to the general public. |
In
June 2007, it was officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in
recognition of its unparalleled biodiversity and stunning landscapes.
The list of plants and animals (most of which
are endemic to the area) is truly impressive.
At least 275 species of ferns and more than 50
species of palms have been catalogued in the different types of forest
depending on the altitude: low altitude rainforest dominated by palm
tress up
to 800 m, montane forest from 800 to 1500 m where 300 epiphytes species
grow
together with bamboo, mosses and lichens, sclerophyllous forest up to
1800 m
where the lichens and mosses are most common, and moorland mountain
vegetation
from 1800 upwards.
And yet, the park still remains considerably
unknown. Virtually every expedition up the slippery slopes and the
roaring
streams succeeds with the discovery of new species, mainly
invertebrates.
Concerning the fauna, 150 species of amphibians
and reptiles live in Marojejy, including 60 frogs such as the green
climbing
mantilla, leaf-tailed geckos, brookesia chameleons and lot of leeches.
There
are 45 mammal species, among the 11 lemurs. The most representative is
the critically
endangered silky sifaka (which only occurs here and in Anjanaharibe-Sud
Reserve). Another lemurs found here are Indri, red-bellied lemur,
Eastern
woolly lemur, aye-aye, bamboo lemur or Weasel sportive lemur. Birds are
also
very well represented: 118 species have been observed so far, such as
helmet
vanga,
The best source of information
on this
wonderful park is provided by the site www.marojejy.com,
developed by Paul Atkinson and
maintained by Eric Mathieu,
a French man settled in Andapa, who will be delighted in helping you
organizing
your trip here. When planning your trip to Marojejy be aware that this
is one
of the wettest regions in
 The views over the
forest are amazing© Muzzanese |
There are three camps being operated within the camps boundaries. From the park’s entry there are four kilometres left for Camp 1. Camp 2 is another 1,5 hour away and is located much higher. The last 900 meters of the trail have 450 meters of firm climb uphill elevation, which makes it a sweating effort. If the almost permanently present clouds clear up, a breathtaking view over the towering Marojejy summit and the surrounding fabulous forests will make you surely forget all painful feet, soaring blisters, leeches’ bites and soaked clothes. |
A rewarding three day expedition would look like following: Day one Andapa to Mandena and hike from here to Camp 2. Day two: silky sifaka tracking early in the morning and hike back to Camp 1. After lunch hike one kilometre to the nearby Humbert waterfall, followed by a short night walk. On day three you hike back to the park’s entrance and from there get onto you jeep back to Andapa.
You can get further information at the ANGAP Office in Atsiranana or at the local office in Andapa. In Andapa there are a couple of more comfortable hotels you can consult on the section of the very close located Anjanaharibe Sud Reserve
Direction de Madagascar National
Parks Antsiranana
Route de
l’Aéroport BP 475 201 ANTSIRANANA
Tél: (261 20) 82 213 20
Email : angapdie@yahoo.fr angapdie@gmail.com
Parc
National Marojejy
BP 19 - ANDAPA 205
Tel: + (261 20) 88 070 27
