Not to be confused with the private forest reserve of Kirindy fairly close by, Kirindy Mitea (sometimes written Kirindy-Mitea) is a national park right in the heart of the ancient kingdom of Menabe, virtually on the border of the western and southern ecosystems of Madagascar. Kirindy Mitea is roughly 50 kilometres from Morondava, north of the avenue of baobabs. It is home to one of the largest continuous tracts of dry forest on the island and claims the greatest density of primates in the world.

As a result you can hope to see up to eight species of lemur, including the world’s smallest primate, the little pygmy mouse lemur, and 23 species of mammals that include the fosa, the lemur’s major predator. Around 90 species of butterfly should keep visitors on holiday here fairly entranced, and the many endangered birds, reptiles and the spear-nosed snake add up to a fairly long list of sights and sounds in the park.

Kirindy Mitea is the only place in Madagascar where large areas of dry forest are actually regenerating, due in no small part to its remoteness - it lies 100 kilometres from the nearest paved road, and is virtually only accessible by truck during the dry season (for the rest of the year you get into Kirindy Mitea by ox cart, foot or boat from Morondava). Incorporating the beautiful national park on any leg of your safari or vacation is a special journey into a particularly eco-sensitive transition zone for three ecosystems – spiny desert, dry forest and mangroves – and well worth the effort.

Close by, the pretty fishing villages of Belo-sur-Mer and Ankevo-sur-Mer provide scenic relaxing holiday options.