Ranomafana National Park was created in 1991, due to the discovery of the golden bamboo lemur in the area in 1986. Located 445 kilometres south of Antananarivo and 65 km east of Fianarantsoa, this beautiful reserve protects a humid rainforest that is teeming with a vast array of wildlife. Ranomafana’s protected montane rainforest covers an area of 41,600ha at altitudes between 800m and 1,200m. The area is dominated by the Namorona River which is fed by many streams flowing from the hills, and plunges from the eastern escarpment close to the park entrance. It has a lovely climate and the waterfalls are stunningly beautiful.

In addition to the golden bamboo lemur, other lemur species include:

-         greater bamboo lemur
-         red-bellied lemur
-         grey bamboo lemur
-         Milne-Edwards sifaka
-         Red-fronted brown lemur
-         sportive lemur
-         black-and-white ruffed lemur
-         greater dwarf lemur
-         brown mouse lemur

Ranomafana also hosts the fanaloka, the eastern ring-tailed mongoose, the red forest rat, the eastern avahi and ring-tailed mongoose. Present but hard to see are fosa and the aquatic tenrec.

Reptile and frog species include:

-         Parson’s chameleon
-         O’Shaughnessy’s chameleon
-         short-horned chameleon (caluma brevicornis)
-         Madagascar tree boa
-         three species of leaf-tailed geckos: uroplatus fimbriatus, U. Sikorae and U. Phantasticus
-         common day gecko (phelsuma quadriocellata)
-         numerous frogs belonging to the genera boophis and mantidactylus

The National Park of Ranomafana is arguably the best Malagasy rainforest for bird-watching. Some species that can be found in this rainforest are:

-         blue coua
-         pollen’s vanga
-         tylas
-         velvet asity
-         pitta-like ground roller
-         scaly ground roller
-         brown mesite
-         Henst’s goshawk
-         Madagascar flufftail
-         forest rock-thrush

One area of forest at Ranomafana is known as Vohiparara. Vohiparara is situated about 5 km toward Fianarantsoa. It is at a higher elevation and therefore at a better location for a few species (such as pollens vanga, common sunbird-asity, yellow-browed oxylabes).

The park organises a nocturnal forest watch, with a night feeding station. Although it is somewhat zoo-like, there is no doubt that it gives most visitors their only real chance at getting close to nocturnal mammals and to photograph them. These include the red-bellied lemur, the diminutive and incredibly tame brown mouse lemur, and the fanaloka (striped civet).

Madagascar has many fascinating National Parks, the most popular of which are:

 - Parc National de l'Isalo
 - Parc National de Montagne d'Ambre
 - Berenty Private Reserve
 - Parc National des Tsingy de Bemaraha
 - Parc National d'Andasibe-Mantadia