Questions souvent posées

Comment est-ce que je peux faire des recherches dans le PNR?
Comment est-ce que je peux être un écotouriste dans le PNR?
(No, I don't want to deal with travel agents I want to get there myself)?
Where does one stay in Ranomafana?
How much does it cost to visit the park?
When is the best time to visit?

How do I do research at RNP?: Contact ICTE (the Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments) or at MICET (the Madagascar Institute pour la Conservation des Environments Tropicaux).
How can I be an ecotourist at RNP?: If you want to go into the forest and do some work yourself then Earthwatch usually has an expedition in the offing which will get you into the forest watching lemurs and taking data on them.
Or there are various travel agents who specialize in taking people around Madagascar, see the Bradt Guide to Madagascar for more information.
(No, I don't want to deal with travel agents I want to get there myself)?: Well go to the taxi-brouse station in Tana and find a taxi-brouse going to Fianaransoa. This trip will take the better part of a day. At Fianaransoa find a taxi-brouse going to Ranomafana (this leg is usually only 3~4 hours) and ask the driver to let you out at the park entrance, or go down to the village if you are staying there. A taxi-brouse from Tana is about 45,000FMG, while one from Fiana is 12,500FMG (or was so in 1999)
It's a 6km hike from the village to the park, with a 300m elevation gain. There is also a navette (shuttle) which runs around 7 or 8 in the morning and again around 5 in the evening to take people between the village and the park, check the schedule at the park entrance.
Where does one stay in Ranomafana?: It is possible to camp at the park entrance (if you have your own tent), the fee is nominal (10,000FMG). There is also a gîte at the entrance (a couple of rooms full of bunkbeds, 25,000FMG). Toilets and cold-water showers are available.
The nicest place (in Jan 2000) to stay is the Domain Nature which is between the park entrance and the village. It is the only place in the area with hot water showers. (185,000FMG)
In the village there are various small hotels, the most interesting of which is the much faded Hotel Thermal, a decaying vestidge of colonial splendor (37,500FMG). It is adjacent to the hot springs, and it's a short walk to a hot bath, or a hot swimming pool -- but these close at 5 and aren't open on Saturdays.
How much does it cost to visit the park?: It costs 50,000FMG for an ANGAP tourist permit allowing you to enter the park. This permit is good for 3 days and is available at the park entrance. It is also a good idea to enlist the services of a guide (otherwise you will quickly get lost in the trail system, and you probably won't see very much), depending on what guide you choose and what things you want him to show you this may cost between 25,000 and 60,000FMG a day (it is also polite to give the guides a tip if you like their work).
You might also consider a nocturnal walk to see various night active chameleons, mouse lemurs and the Fossa fosana, this costs 30,000FMG.
When is the best time to vist?: It depends on what you want to see. The nicest weather is probably in October and November, but some animals haven't come out of their winter dormancy yet. April/May also has reasonably good weather, this is a good time for viewing Eulemur and Hapalemur griseus-- they are easy to find, just go to a guava patch (which is fruiting). This is also the mating season for Eulemur so you are more likely to see scent marking at this time.

If you have any other serious questions please direct them to ICTE@notes.sunysb.edu. If you find a mistake please let me know that too.