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'''The Ankarafantsika National Park is located in the Boina region in the northwest of Madagascar. To the east , the park is bounded by the Mahajamba river and to the west by the Betsiboka river. The park is located along the national road 4 ([[RN4]]), about 115 kilometres south of [[Mahajanga]] (2 hours by car) and 450 kilometres north of the capital [[Antananarivo]] (8 hours). The road is in good condition and accessible all year round. There is a daily taxi-brousse service between Antananarivo and Mahajanga. Alternatively, [[Air Madagascar]] offers regular scheduled flights. '''
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The name Ankarafantsika comes from ''garafantsy'', meaning "mountain of thorns". The name is also connected with a crafty and scary man. The forests of Ankarafantsika were once market marked with terror and mystery due to [[Lake Ravelobe|Ravelobe]], a patriot living in the forests who became a bandit and robbed travellers.
Originally, two parks on both sides of RN4 formed the forest reserve of Ankarafantsika, before they were unified in 2002. Today, Ankarafantsika National Park covers an area of 135,000ha at an altitude of 250m. The highest peak is 350m. There are five major rivers running through the park. Several lakes, such as Tsimaloto, Ampijoroa, Antsimalo and Ankomakoma are the last refuges of native fish, aquatic birds and crocodiles. In addition, the lakes are shrines to the natives of the region. The landscape of the park is very alternating with different types of forests and savannas. A highlight of the park is the ''Lavaka of Ankarokaroka'', a lunar landscape born of massive erosion. Various endemic species live and grow in this sandy massif.
From April to November the weather is hot and dry, followed by a wet period. The average annual rainfall is 1,475mm. In general , the temperature varies between 24°C and 29°C. There are about 37,456 people (2010) living in the area, spread over 133 villages and hamlets. The inhabitants are mainly farmers. The dominant ethnic group is [[Sakalava]].
Ankarafantsika National Park is subject to strong pressures caused by charcoal production, slash and burn agriculture (''[[tavy]]''), logging, expansion of grazing, hunting and collecting forest by-products. Every dry season, the park is also exposed to severe fires caused by humans, which is destroying the habitat of a wide variety of animals. Hunting is also increasing, as the traditional ''[[fady]]'' on hunting of lemurs is generally not respected by migrants in the region.
{| class="imageTable"|-|colspan="3" | [[File:Ankarafantsika_National_Park_023.jpg|600px]]|} 50% of the park entrance fees are donated to the local population to support the financing of micro projects. Since the launch of the Environmental Action Plan, more than 200 projects were enforced in the surrounding communities. More than 20,000 people benefited from the construction of wells, mini-dams and a school, drilling for a fire hydrant, beekeeping, reforestation, poultry farming and provision of agricultural equipment.<br><br>
== Ecosystems ==
* '''Permanent lakes:''' They are habitat for rare species and play an economic and ecological function in the region.<br><br>
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== Fauna ==
* ''Haliaeetus vociferoides'' - [[Madagascar fish eagle]]
* ''Polyboroides radiatus'' - [[Madagascar harrier-hawk]]
* ''Ardea humbloti'' - [[Humblot's Madagascar heron]]
* ''Coua cristata'' - [[Crested coua]]
* ''Actophilornis albinucha'' - [[Madagascan Madagascar jacana]]
* ''Mesitornis variegata'' - [[White-breasted mesite]]
* ''Tachybaptus pelzelnii'' - [[Madagascan Madagascar grebe]]
* ''Bernieria madagascariensis'' - [[Long-billed bernieria]]
* ''Otus rutilus'' - [[Rainforest Madagascar scops -owl]]* ''Lophotibis cristata'' - [[Madagascan Madagascar crested ibis]]
* ''Leptopterus chabert'' - [[Chabert's vanga]]
* ''Xenopirostris damii'' - [[Van Dam's vanga]]
Various species of insects and amphibians can also be found.<br><br>
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== The best fauna most visible to tourists ==
== Flora ==
Ankarafantsika National Park is home to a rich and diverse flora. 823 species have been inventoried. The endemic rate is ranging from 82% for herbaceous plants to 92% for woody plants.<br> {| class="imageTable"|-|colspan="3" | [[File:Ankarafantsika_National_Park_005.jpg|600px]]|}<br>
== The best flora most visible to tourists ==
There are 14 French and English speaking guides, of which 11 are private and three working for the park. In addition to their knowledge about the biodiversity, all guides are trained in first aid, guidance techniques and knowledge about the natural and cultural environment.
As of 1st November 2015, [[Madagascar National Parks]] increased the entrance fee to the park. Foreign tourists pay now 55.000 Ariary for a day ticket, children 25.000 Ariary. <!--The admission fee for visiting depends on how many days will be spent in the park. Foreign tourists pay 25,000 Ariary for one day, 37,000 Ariary for two days, 40,000 Ariary for three days and 50,000 Ariary for four to ten days (prices 2010). --> Half of the entrance fees goes to Madagascar National Parks and half to local communities. Guides are obligatory. The fee for a guide depends on the chosen tour (circuit).<br> {| class="imageTable"|-|colspan="3" | [[File:Ankarafantsika_National_Park_038.jpg|600px]]|}<br>
== Circuits (tours) ==
* medicinal plants: katrafay, adenia, vanilla (''Vanilla madagascariensis'')
* panoramic views of the Ankarafantsika forest
Guide: 15,000 Ariary (1-6 people), 21,000 Ariary (7 or more people)<br> {| class="imageTable"|-|colspan="3" | [[File:Ankarafantsika_National_Park_013.jpg|600px]]|}<br>
=== The Baobab Extension Circuit ===
* diurnal lemurs: Brown lemur, Mongoose lemur
* landbirds: Schlegel's asity, Madagascar magpie-robin, flycatcher, Madagascar bulbul, coua, mesite, drongo, hawk
* aquatic birds: osprey, herons, egret, Glossy ibis, [[African darter]], wild ducks<br>
* reptiles: chameleons, snakes, lizards
* panoramic view of [[Lake Ravelobe]]
* diurnal lemurs: sifaka, Brown lemur
* land birds: flycatcher, Madagascar magpie-robin, Madagascar bulbul, coua, mesite, drongo<br>
* waterbirds: osprey, Madagascan Madagascar fish-eagle (''Haliaeetus vociferoides'') - ''ankoay'' in Malagasy, herons, egrets, Glossy ibis, [[African darter]], wild ducks* reptiles: chameleons, snakes, lizards, [[Nile crocodile ]] (''Crocodylus niloticus'')
* medicinal plants: adenia, vanilla, tamarind
* precious wood: ficus, sorindeia
* panoramic view of the sacred [[Lake Ravelobe]]
* opportunity to visit a ''[[doany]]'': a place where the [[Sakalava]] perform a sacred ritual called ''[[joro]]''. The joro takes place once a year, usually in July. At the ritual the Sakalava bless the ancestors and afterwards admire the sacred lake (Lake Ravelobe).
Guide: 15,000 Ariary (1-6 people), 21,000 Ariary (7 or more people)<br> {| class="imageTable"|-|colspan="3" | [[File:Ankarafantsika_National_Park_036.jpg|600px]]|- |[[File:Ankarafantsika_National_Park_027.jpg|196px]]|align="center"|[[File:Ankarafantsika_National_Park_031.jpg|196px]]|align="right"|[[File:Ankarafantsika_National_Park_029.jpg|196px]]|}<br>
=== The Ankarokaroka Circuit ===
* medicinal plants: katrafay, adenia
* wonderful view of the Ankarafantsika forest
Guide: 25,000 Ariary (1-6 people), 37,000 Ariary (7 or more people)<br> {| class="imageTable"|-|colspan="3" | [[File:Ankarafantsika_National_Park_009.jpg|600px]]|- |[[File:Ankarafantsika_National_Park_016.jpg|196px]]|align="center"|[[File:Ankarafantsika_National_Park_015.jpg|196px]]|align="right"|[[File:Ankarafantsika_National_Park_014.jpg|196px]]|}<br>
=== The Ankoririka Circuit ===
'''What to see?'''<br>
Boat safari on the quiet, 60ha large [[Lake Ravelobe]]. The guide will tell the legend of Ravelobe, a dangerous and feared man in the ''garafantsy'' (hill of thorns).
* [[Nile crocodile|Nile crocodiles]]* birds: osprey, herons, egrets, jacanas, morhens, Glossy ibis, [[African darter]], wild ducks
* various aquatic plants
Guide and boat: 50,000 Ariary (1-2 people), 40,000 Ariary (3 people), 50,000 (4 people), 65,000 Ariary (5 people), 70,000 Ariary (6 people), 90,000 Ariary (7 people), 100,000 Ariary (8 people). Maximum 8 people.<br> {| class="imageTable"|-|colspan="3" | [[File:Ankarafantsika_National_Park_033.jpg|600px]]|- |[[File:Ankarafantsika_National_Park_032.jpg|196px]]|align="center"|[[File:Ankarafantsika_National_Park_025.jpg|196px]]|align="right"|[[File:African_darter_001.jpg|196px]]|}<br>
=== The Car Ride ===
* precious wood: rosewood
* medicinal plants
Guide and car: 50,000 Ariary (1-2 people), 75,000 Ariary (3 people), 100,000 Ariary (4 people), 125,000 Ariary (5 people), 150,000 Ariary (6 people). Maximum 6 people.<br> {| class="imageTable"|-|colspan="3" | [[File:Ankarafantsika_National_Park_017.jpg|600px]]|- |[[File:Ankarafantsika_National_Park_022.jpg|196px]]|align="center"|[[File:Ankarafantsika_National_Park_021.jpg|196px]]|align="right"|[[File:Ankarafantsika_National_Park_018.jpg|196px]]|}<br>
== Fady - What not to do in the park ==
* 7 safari tents for 6 poeple with kitchen, running water and shared bathroom: 25,000 Ariary per night/tent
* 10 simple tents for 2 people with kitchen, running water and shared bathroom: 9,000 Ariary per night/tent<br><br>
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'''Accommodation outside the park'''<br>
* traditional marriage<br><br>
<googlemap versiondiv style="0.9" lat=max-width:600px;">{{#display_map:-16.056371" lon="241046, 46.999512" 856689~'''Ankarafantsika National Park'''~~;|type="map" |service=google|width=auto|height=400|zoom="8" |controls="large">pan, zoom, type, scale|copycoords=yes-16|icon=https://www.madacamp.241046, 46com/images/madagascar/Green_marker.856689pngAnkarafantsika National Park}}</googlemap><brdiv>
== Additional information ==
* [http://www.parcs-madagascar.com Madagascar National Parks] - Plentiful information about the National Parks in Madagascar in English, French, German and Italian
* Legends about [[Lake Ravelobe]]
