Ankarafantsika National Park

🇲🇬 Madagascar

🐒 Coquerel's Sifakas Leaping Through Dry Forests

🌍 #108 Global · 4.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #38 in Africa #51 in Tropical Forest

Madagascar, Madagascar 438 spp. recorded

Ankarafantsika 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

80–90% · Very likely

Oustalet's Giant Chameleon

Furcifer oustaleti

80–90% · Very likely

Henkel's Leaf-tailed Gecko

Uroplatus henkeli

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Crested Drongo

Dicrurus forficatus

80–90% · Very likely

Madagascar Paradise-Flycatcher

Terpsiphone mutata

80–90% · Very likely

Cuvier's Madagascar Swift

Oplurus cuvieri

80–90% · Very likely

Western Girdled Lizard

Zonosaurus laticaudatus

80–90% · Very likely

Koch's Giant Day Gecko

Phelsuma kochi

80–90% · Very likely

Madagascar Bulbul

Hypsipetes madagascariensis

80–90% · Very likely

Souimanga Sunbird

Cinnyris sovimanga

80–90% · Very likely

Giant Madagascan Hognose Snake

Leioheterodon madagascariensis

70–80% · Very likely

Rhinoceros Chameleon

Furcifer rhinoceratus

70–80% · Very likely

Madagascar Magpie-Robin

Copsychus albospecularis

70–80% · Very likely

Common Newtonia

Newtonia brunneicauda

70–80% · Very likely

Milne-Edwards' Sportive Lemur

Lepilemur edwardsi

70–80% · Very likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Coquerel's Sifaka

Propithecus coquereli

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Milne-Edwards' Sportive Lemur

Lepilemur edwardsi

70–80% · Very likely

Lorenz Von Liburnau’s Woolly Lemur

Avahi occidentalis

60–70% · Likely

Common Brown Lemur

Eulemur fulvus

50–60% · Likely

Grey Mouse-lemur

Microcebus murinus

40–50% · Likely

Mongoose Lemur

Eulemur mongoz

40–50% · Likely

Western Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur

Cheirogaleus medius

30–40% · Possible

Golden-brown Mouse Lemur

Microcebus ravelobensis

30–40% · Possible

Mauritian Tomb Bat

Taphozous mauritianus

30–40% · Possible

dormouse tufted-tailed rat

Eliurus myoxinus

Insufficient data

Commerson's Roundleaf Bat

Macronycteris commersonii

Insufficient data

Greater Hedgehog Tenrec

Setifer setosus

Insufficient data

Tail-less Tenrec

Tenrec ecaudatus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Crested Drongo

Dicrurus forficatus

80–90% · Very likely

Madagascar Paradise-Flycatcher

Terpsiphone mutata

80–90% · Very likely

Madagascar Bulbul

Hypsipetes madagascariensis

80–90% · Very likely

Souimanga Sunbird

Cinnyris sovimanga

80–90% · Very likely

Madagascar Magpie-Robin

Copsychus albospecularis

70–80% · Very likely

Common Newtonia

Newtonia brunneicauda

70–80% · Very likely

Crested Coua

Coua cristata

70–80% · Very likely

Long-billed Bernieria

Bernieria madagascariensis

60–70% · Likely

Lesser Vasa-Parrot

Coracopsis nigra

60–70% · Likely

Broad-billed Roller

Eurystomus glaucurus

60–70% · Likely

Madagascar Bee-eater

Merops superciliosus

60–70% · Likely

Squacco Heron

Ardeola ralloides

60–70% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Oustalet's Giant Chameleon

Furcifer oustaleti

80–90% · Very likely

Henkel's Leaf-tailed Gecko

Uroplatus henkeli

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Cuvier's Madagascar Swift

Oplurus cuvieri

80–90% · Very likely

Western Girdled Lizard

Zonosaurus laticaudatus

80–90% · Very likely

Koch's Giant Day Gecko

Phelsuma kochi

80–90% · Very likely

Giant Madagascan Hognose Snake

Leioheterodon madagascariensis

70–80% · Very likely

Rhinoceros Chameleon

Furcifer rhinoceratus

70–80% · Very likely

Nosy Komba ground boa

Sanzinia volontany

50–60% · Likely

Madagascar Ground Boa

Acrantophis madagascariensis

40–50% · Likely

Madagascar Cat-eyed Snake

Madagascarophis colubrinus

40–50% · Likely

Elegant Mabuya

Trachylepis elegans

40–50% · Likely

Blonde Hognose Snake

Leioheterodon modestus

40–50% · Likely

Northern Pencil Snake

Mimophis occultus

40–50% · Likely

Gunther's Flat-tail Gecko

Uroplatus guentheri

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Madagascar Bullfrog

Laliostoma labrosum

30–40% · Possible

Mascarene Ridged Frog

Ptychadena mascareniensis

30–40% · Possible

Western Bright-eyed Frog

Boophis doulioti

30–40% · Possible

Antsouhy tomato frog

Dyscophus insularis

Insufficient data

Moquard's Burrowing Frog

Scaphiophryne calcarata

Insufficient data

Three-color Reed Frog

Heterixalus tricolor

Insufficient data

Blommersia wittei

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Coquerel's Sifaka Mating Season

JanFebNovDec

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.

Coquerel's Sifaka

Propithecus coquereli

80–90% · Very likely

🦎

Reptile Nesting Boom

AprNov

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.

Giant Madagascan Hognose Snake

Leioheterodon madagascariensis

70–80% · Very likely

Western Girdled Lizard

Zonosaurus laticaudatus

80–90% · Very likely

🦌

Nocturnal Lemur Foraging Peak

MayAugOct

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.

Grey Mouse-lemur

Microcebus murinus

40–50% · Likely

Western Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur

Cheirogaleus medius

30–40% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

70–80

70–80

Coquerel's Sifaka

80–90

70–80

70–80

80–90

80–90

70–80

80–90

90–100

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

Oustalet's Giant Chameleon

80–90

80–90

70–80

90–100

70–80

80–90

90–100

80–90

90–100

80–90

80–90

80–90

Henkel's Leaf-tailed Gecko

50–60

20–30

20–30

10–20

20–30

10–20

10–20

10–20

40–50

30–40

40–50

10–20

80–90

90–100

80–90

80–90

80–90

90–100

90–100

80–90

80–90

90–100

80–90

80–90

Madagascar Paradise-Flycatcher

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

90–100

80–90

80–90

70–80

90–100

80–90

80–90

Cuvier's Madagascar Swift

80–90

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

60–70

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

Western Girdled Lizard

70–80

70–80

80–90

90–100

60–70

50–60

70–80

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

Koch's Giant Day Gecko

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

60–70

50–60

80–90

90–100

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

Madagascar Bulbul

80–90

70–80

80–90

70–80

80–90

70–80

80–90

80–90

90–100

80–90

80–90

80–90

Souimanga Sunbird

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

80–90

70–80

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

80–90

Giant Madagascan Hognose Snake

70–80

60–70

80–90

80–90

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

30–40

50–60

80–90

80–90

Rhinoceros Chameleon

60–70

80–90

50–60

80–90

70–80

40–50

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

60–70

Madagascar Magpie-Robin

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

Common Newtonia

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

80–90

70–80

70–80

Milne-Edwards' Sportive Lemur

40–50

50–60

50–60

30–40

80–90

60–70

60–70

80–90

60–70

80–90

70–80

50–60

Animal Events

🦎 Reptile Nesting Boom

🦌 Nocturnal Lemur Foraging Peak

🦌 Coquerel's Sifaka Mating Season

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent

🐒 Coquerel's Sifakas Leaping Through Dry Forests

🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

2.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

222

🐒 Mammals

95

🦎 Reptiles

103

🐸 Amphibians

18

438 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

75 Threatened 2 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

83%

📊

Coverage (131 species at ≥5% of 438 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

30%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (6 reptile, 5 bird, 1 mammal)

47% Global avg

76%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

80

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

13

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

53

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