One of the most spectacular and diverse mountain environments on the planet :
Marojejy National Park, located in the Sava region of northeastern Madagascar, is the perfect rendezvous for nature camping enthusiasts. The park covers approximately 55,500 hectares of tropical forest on the Marojejy massif, a mountain range rising to 2137 meters, with its peaks east of Tsaratanana. The park is one of the island’s richest in biodiversity. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Marojejy, with its layered vegetation representative of eastern wetlands, is home to numerous species: 275 fern species, 35 palm species, 118 bird species, 11 lemur species, and 149 reptile and mammal species, including the diademed sifaka.
An ideal place for camping and adventure :
For those looking to escape modern life and reconnect with nature, Marojejy is the perfect place for camping. The whole region is easily accessible from Sambava, which has an air link from Antananarivo. An excellent asphalt road offering magnificent panoramic views winds for around 100 km along the Lokoho River valley, from Sambava to Andapa. Cabs run frequently between the two towns. The park is open all year round, but the best times to visit are from April to May and from September to December, when the weather is less rainy.
The park offers several well-equipped camping areas and three tented camps, where visitors can pitch their tents amidst the lush forest. Spending the night under a starry sky, surrounded by the sounds of the jungle, is an unforgettable experience. Hikers can also explore the park’s many trails, which lead to spectacular viewpoints and majestic waterfalls. Hikes often start from the village of Manantenina and lead into the park’s tropical forests, then to the summit of Marojejy itself (altitude 2,132 m / 6,995 ft).
Conservation status and challenges in Marojejy National Park:
In Marojejy, bushmeat hunting has been practiced intermittently over the decades, as has the small-scale collection of forest products such as firewood and building materials. In the past, people settled in the park and burned large tracts of forest for cultivation. This explains why some areas along the tourist trail leading to and around Camp Mantella still bear traces of these incursions.
Today, the situation in Marojejy is more threatening than ever. Almost the entire surrounding area has been deforested, making Marojejy the last refuge for many plant and animal species that once thrived throughout northeast Madagascar. Some of these species, including the Silky Sifaka, are on the brink of extinction.
Consequently, conservation is at the heart of Marojejy National Park’s activities. Significant efforts are made to protect the park and raise awareness among local communities about the importance of biodiversity. Visitors can take part in educational programs and guided tours to learn more about ongoing conservation initiatives.
One of Marojejy’s most sought-after products is rosewood, a precious wood highly prized in China and the Western world, fetching extremely high prices. Over the years, rosewood has been illegally harvested within Marojejy’s borders by a well-organized mafia, with devastating and far-reaching consequences.