Lokobe Strict Reserve, Madagascar

Lokobe Strict Reserve

& National Park is located on the southeastern portion of the island Nosy Be in the Diana Region of northwestern Madagascar, on the continent of Africa. The island of Nosy Be is only 5 miles (8 km) from the northwestern shore of mainland Madagascar, located in the Indian Ocean. Nosy Be has a population of a little over 100,000. Local industries include trade and shipping, fishing, and tourism. The market in the larger town of HellVille is bustling with people bartering, and vibrant with local produce. Lokobe Strict Reserve is just east of Hell-Ville, and the village of Ambanoro borders the park directly to the west. The national park encompasses an area of 5.88 mi2 (15.23 km2). This preserve is a lowland rainforest with a tropical savanna climate. The island of Nosy Be is volcanic in origin, and the coastline is covered with scoria cones and some more recent basaltic lava flows. These volcanics overlie Mesozoic limestone, as well as other sedimentary rock types. The highest point in the landscape, Mont Lokobe, is 1,476 ft (450 m) above sea level, while the lowest points in the area meet the sea at the shore. The highest points are in the south-central portion of the reserve and consist of three hills ranging from 1,115 to 1,467 ft (340 to 450 m). The park is home to three native lemur species, the endangered black lemur (displayed in the photo at the top right), the Nosy Be mouse lemur, and the Nosy Be sportive lemur, as well as the unique Nosy Be panther chameleon. The endangered black lemur’s colors vary due to gender. Femal black lemurs are actually brown to reddish-brown in color, while male black lemurs are black. The black lemur became endangered as mass deforestation has taken its reigns on the country to support agriculture and logging. All-in-all, this park hosts 370 species of wildlife, including 11 species of primates, 16 species of bats, 84 species of reptiles, and over 100 species of birds, making it a wildlife viewing destination. When traveling to Lokobe Strict Reserve, there are a few ways to get there. However, the easiest way, avoiding 20 hours on a boat, would most likely be flying into Fascène Airport in Nosy Be then do the rest of the traveling via car. Most of the park is still completely undeveloped and can only be accessed by piroques (displayed in the photo below), a traditional dugout canoe, lending to the idea that this park is still generally untouched. The Ambanoro Office, in the village of Ambanoro (displayed on the map) just west of the park boundary, is where the entrance fee is paid to enter the park. Visitors can travel to Ambanoro by road from Hell-Ville, but there are no roads into the park. Once in the protected area, there are only three trails. It is advised to hire a guide when visiting. The national park in its present boundaries is one of the only remaining forests in the Diana region of Madagascar. Most forested land in surrounding areas have been victim to slash and burn. Lokobe Strict Reserve was elevated to the status of nature reserve in 1966, and in 2011 this area was officially designated as a National Park, permanently protecting the land.