The Tsingy de Bemaraha Reserve comprises of karstic landscapes and highly dissected limestone peaks cut into impressive 'tsingy' extrusions. This massif is delimited to the east by abrupt cliffs, the Bemaraha Cliffs, which rise some 300 to 400m above the Manambolo River valley and extend several kilometres from north to south. Both seasonal and permanent rivers flow, and numerous permanent springs arise at the base of the Tsingy on both sides. The Tsingy is an important water catchment for surrounding lands, and these undisturbed lakes and mangrove swamps are the habitat for rare and endangered lemurs  and birds.

The Tsingy area was first established as a strict nature reserve on 31 December 1927, and is now protected and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List of 1990. Since then, the southern part of the protected area of Tsingy has been turned into a national park that covers over 660 square kilometres.

While the species diversity is not as high as in the moist eastern forests, the levels of endemism in Tsingy are higher. The Tsingy de Bemaraha Reserve is an important habitat for 131 of the 186 resident terrestrial bird species listed for Madagascar. Several of these species are associated with lakes and rivers of the region, such as the manambolo, betsiboka, mahajamba, and their satellite lakes. These species include Bernier’s teal, the Madagascar fish eagle, Humblot’s heron, and the sakalava rail.

Endemic mammal species to the Tsingy de Bemaraha Reserve include:

-         the golden-crowned sifaka
-         mongoose lemur
-         western forest rat
-         golden-brown mouse lemur
-         northern rufous mouse lemur
-         western rufous mouse lemur
-         Perrier's sifaka
-         various geckos
-         snakes
-         crocodiles
-         parrots
-         pachypodium

Madagascar Tsingy

Jenman Island Safaris offers a Madagascar Tsingy holiday, join us on our Tsingy Madagascar Adventure!

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