Kirindy Forest Reserve Safari Trips & Tours

Spot the fossa, Madagascar’s most fearsome and elusive predator, in this pristine forest reserve.

Located around 50 kilometres from Morondova and those famous baobabs, Kirindy is a dry, deciduous forest reserve home to a variety of curious chameleons and lizards, giant jumping rats and beautiful dancing lemur - but it’s the infamous fossa that really draws the crowds. They might not jump and they may not dance, but the carnivorous mammal, endemic to Madagascar, is quite a creature to behold. Not dissimilar to a small puma but also related to the mongoose family, they are formidable, wily and strong, yet so elusive that scientists know very little about them. Mating season, from October to December, is the best time to spot one, but visit at other times of the year and be equally entertained by lemurs, nocturnal walks and the astonishing variety of flora.

Things to do

What to do in Kirindy Forest Reserve

Guided walks along sandy trails offer prime wildlife-spotting opportunities throughout the day and night. Morning excursions focus on observing Verreaux's sifaka and red-fronted brown lemurs while taking in the remarkable baobab trees, including the peculiar double-trunked "Baobabs in Love." After dark, torch-lit walks reveal an entirely different cast of creatures, including the world's smallest primate, Madame Berthe's mouse lemur - a species found exclusively in this forest. The nocturnal roster includes grey mouse lemurs, red-tailed sportive lemurs, and the rather impressive Oustalet's chameleon. Wildlife enthusiasts should keep an eye out for the fossa, Madagascar's top predator, often spotted in the early morning or late afternoon. Birdwatchers can tick off some of the 60 recorded species, including the striking Madagascar paradise flycatcher and the rare white-breasted mesite. Photography opportunities abound, particularly at the nearby Avenue of the Baobabs during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset. The area proves a reliable spot for observing endemic birds and the occasional Malagasy giant jumping rat year-round.

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