Lokobe Reserve
The island's last primary forest, with black lemurs and chameleons.
Duration
5 hrs – 7 hrs
Best time
Early morning
Open
Every day
Entry price
To confirm
The Lokobe reserve protects the last seven hundred and forty hectares of primary forest on Nosy Be: all the rest of the island was cleared for ylang-ylang, sugar cane and coffee.
It holds the black lemur, with yellow eyes, whose males are black and females russet with a white ruff — a dimorphism so marked that they were long taken for two species. You also see nocturnal lemurs asleep during the day, Madagascar boas and several chameleon species. Access is by dugout canoe from Ambatozavavy.
Getting there
Dugout canoe from Ambatozavavy village, half an hour of paddling. A local guide is compulsory.
What the price covers
paid reserve entry and a compulsory guide, rates to be confirmed
What to bring
- Dry bag
Rules on site
The local guide is compulsory and part of the arrangement with the village: agree the price before boarding. The forest is wet and muddy, and leeches are about after rain.