Ankarafantsika National Park
🇲🇬 Madagascar
🐒 Coquerel's Sifakas Leaping Through Dry ForestsAnkarafantsika National Park is a protected area of tropical dry forest situated in northwestern Madagascar. Visitors walk along sandy tracks beneath towering deciduous trees and past scattered savanna pockets, experiencing a landscape markedly different from the eastern rainforests.
-16.137° S 47.120° E
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
Coquerel's Sifaka
Propithecus coquereli
★ 
Oustalet's Giant Chameleon
Furcifer oustaleti
★ 
Henkel's Leaf-tailed Gecko
Uroplatus henkeli
📊 Most Spotted
Crested Drongo
Dicrurus forficatus
Cuvier's Madagascar Swift
Oplurus cuvieri
Madagascar Paradise-Flycatcher
Terpsiphone mutata
Western Girdled Lizard
Zonosaurus laticaudatus
Koch's Giant Day Gecko
Phelsuma kochi
Madagascar Bulbul
Hypsipetes madagascariensis
Souimanga Sunbird
Cinnyris sovimanga
Giant Madagascan Hognose Snake
Leioheterodon madagascariensis
Rhinoceros Chameleon
Furcifer rhinoceratus
Madagascar Magpie-Robin
Copsychus albospecularis
Common Newtonia
Newtonia brunneicauda
Milne-Edwards' Sportive Lemur
Lepilemur edwardsi
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Milne-Edwards' Sportive Lemur
Lepilemur edwardsi
Lorenz Von Liburnau’s Woolly Lemur
Avahi occidentalis
Common Brown Lemur
Eulemur fulvus
Grey Mouse-lemur
Microcebus murinus
Mongoose Lemur
Eulemur mongoz
Western Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur
Cheirogaleus medius
Golden-brown Mouse Lemur
Microcebus ravelobensis
Mauritian Tomb Bat
Taphozous mauritianus
dormouse tufted-tailed rat
Eliurus myoxinus
Commerson's Roundleaf Bat
Macronycteris commersonii
Western sucker-footed bat
Myzopoda schliemanni
Greater Hedgehog Tenrec
Setifer setosus
📊 Most Spotted
Crested Drongo
Dicrurus forficatus
Madagascar Paradise-Flycatcher
Terpsiphone mutata
Madagascar Bulbul
Hypsipetes madagascariensis
Souimanga Sunbird
Cinnyris sovimanga
Madagascar Magpie-Robin
Copsychus albospecularis
Common Newtonia
Newtonia brunneicauda
Crested Coua
Coua cristata
Long-billed Bernieria
Bernieria madagascariensis
Lesser Vasa-Parrot
Coracopsis nigra
Broad-billed Roller
Eurystomus glaucurus
Madagascar Bee-eater
Merops superciliosus
Squacco Heron
Ardeola ralloides
⭐ Iconic Species
★ Oustalet's Giant Chameleon
Furcifer oustaleti
★ Henkel's Leaf-tailed Gecko
Uroplatus henkeli
📊 Most Spotted
Cuvier's Madagascar Swift
Oplurus cuvieri
Western Girdled Lizard
Zonosaurus laticaudatus
Koch's Giant Day Gecko
Phelsuma kochi
Giant Madagascan Hognose Snake
Leioheterodon madagascariensis
Rhinoceros Chameleon
Furcifer rhinoceratus
Nosy Komba ground boa
Sanzinia volontany
Madagascar Ground Boa
Acrantophis madagascariensis
Madagascar Cat-eyed Snake
Madagascarophis colubrinus
Blonde Hognose Snake
Leioheterodon modestus
Elegant Mabuya
Trachylepis elegans
Northern Pencil Snake
Mimophis occultus
Gunther's Flat-tail Gecko
Uroplatus guentheri
📊 Most Spotted
Madagascar Bullfrog
Laliostoma labrosum
Mascarene Ridged Frog
Ptychadena mascareniensis
Western Bright-eyed Frog
Boophis doulioti
Three-color Reed Frog
Heterixalus tricolor
Moquard's Burrowing Frog
Scaphiophryne calcarata
Antsouhy tomato frog
Dyscophus insularis
Witte's Madagascar Frog
Blommersia wittei
Recent sightings in Ankarafantsika National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Coquerel's Sifaka Mating Season
During the rainy season, Coquerel's Sifaka engage in energetic mating displays with vocalizations, leaping between trees and performing acrobatic jumps to attract mates. This period coincides with increased food availability, making it a prime time for observing social behaviors.
2Reptile Nesting Boom
As temperatures rise and humidity peaks, reptiles such as the Giant Madagascan Hognose Snake and Western Girdled Lizard emerge to nest, with females laying eggs in sandy or leaf-littered soil. This coincides with increased hatchling activity, offering unique opportunities to observe juvenile reptiles.
3Nocturnal Lemur Foraging Peak
During the dry season, nocturnal lemurs like the Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur and Gray Mouse Lemur increase their foraging activity to build fat reserves for hibernation. This period offers exceptional nighttime wildlife viewing, with lemurs actively searching for fruits and insects.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Coquerel's Sifaka Mating Season
- 2Reptile Nesting Boom
- 3Nocturnal Lemur Foraging Peak
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Ankarafantsika National Park?
The most likely sightings are Oustalet's Giant Chameleon (seen by about 90% of wildlife watchers), Crested Drongo (seen by about 90% of wildlife watchers), Coquerel's Sifaka (seen by about 90% of wildlife watchers), Cuvier's Madagascar Swift (seen by about 90% of wildlife watchers), Madagascar Paradise-Flycatcher (seen by about 90% of wildlife watchers) — among 438 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Ankarafantsika National Park for wildlife?
October has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see Coquerel's Sifaka in Ankarafantsika National Park?
Yes — about 90% of wildlife watchers report a Coquerel's Sifaka sighting in Ankarafantsika National Park, based on 86 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Oustalet's Giant Chameleon in Ankarafantsika National Park?
Yes — about 90% of wildlife watchers report a Oustalet's Giant Chameleon sighting in Ankarafantsika National Park, based on 109 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Henkel's Leaf-tailed Gecko in Ankarafantsika National Park?
Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Henkel's Leaf-tailed Gecko sighting in Ankarafantsika National Park, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
GoodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
ExcellentHow likely to see animals?
Experience
ExcellentHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
