Guide to Isalo

Isalo National Park is probably the most famous and popular park in all of Madagascar. There are many ecosystems with dry, Wild Western-like areas, beautiful pools, beautiful forests and great views. To be honest, Isalo, even though it is recommended to visit, was a bit of disappointment as I expected long hikes, but that was not that long. My expectations were sky high, so don't let this sentence make you think you don't want to visit. The scenery is absolutely stunning, and it is great to visit.

Price: Entrance fee is 55,000 ariary per person, and a compulsory guide is depending on the hike but will probably be more than 100,000 ariary per day.

Tourist occurrence: High

How to get here: A 5-hour drive East from Tulear or 5-hours drive South from Fiarantsoa.

How much time needed: 2 Days.

What to see in Isalo

Namaza canyon

The Namaza Canyon is probably the most important area of the whole park. In the canyon, there are many sights, as the Blue and Black Pool, Piscine Naturelle and Cascade des Nymphs. There are chances of seeing chameleons, birds, and lemurs when walking here. You can hike through the canyon, come higher up the park, and have views of the fantastic canyon. This is the most important thing to see in this park. The hike is around 4-5 hours, and you can visit the many sights and levels. Because it is such a highlight of the park, you will not be alone, but it won't be crazy busy as well.

Cascade des Nymphs

The Cascade des Nymphs is a beautiful oasis in the Namaza Canyon. This is a very silent place, and there is a good chance you will be here alone. The scenery looks a bit like Jurassic Park, and the serene environment makes this a great place to relax and watch the great insects and fish in and around the place.

Black Pool

The Black Pool is one of the places to have a swim in Isalo National Park. The pool is pretty deep. The scenery is great, and swimming here is very pleasant and very special. Look out for the slippery stones and rocks in the water. It can be quiet or busy, but a refreshing dip in the water is always a good idea during a lovely hike. The Blue Pool is very close, so you can choose where you want to swim.

Blue Pool

The Blue Pool is very close to the Black Pool and is probably prettier than its neighbor. The water is extremely clear, and a refreshing swim is a fantastic idea. The pool is a bit more popular and smaller than the Black Pool, so I would recommend the other one, which has a great view. You can also have a swim in both, of course.

Isalo window

The Window of Isalo is a pretty big hole in a rock where you can see a nice landscape. The best (but also busiest) time to go is at sunset. I was here during the day and had a nice short stop. It is perfect in combination with a day trip to Zombitse National Park. This is not a big highlight, but nice for a quick stop.

Canyon des Makis

In a totally different area than the other sights of the national, park this is a fantastic sight. The place is getting less popular now that the lemurs are gone, but the scenery is absolutely stunning, and it may be the most beautiful area of the park. The hike is fantastic, and the hike is on stones, which makes it fun but also a bit difficult. There are some great birds and reptiles to find at this place. There is a good chance you are the only one here. The hike is around 1.5 hour one way, and you have to get back as well. The Canyon des Rats is very close by, but that can be closed (as it was for me).

There are also some things that should be cool, but which I did not do:

Piscine Naturelle
Canyon des Rats

Lemurs

Isalo is mostly famous for its scenery instead of its wildlife, but lemurs can be spotted as well, and in the Namaza Canyon, it is not that hard. Especially at the campsite, there are big chances to find them because there are some fig trees. The lemurs we found the most are the ring-tailed lemurs and we found them several times. Besides, you can find Verreaux's sifaka and Rufous brown lemurs (we both found them), but that can be more difficult. Night hikes are not allowed in the park, which makes finding nocturnal lemurs very difficult.

When to visit

Isalo can be visited throughout the year, but between January and March, there is more rainfall and hikes can get wet.

Elephant foot trees

Another nice thing to find in Isalo are the elephant foot trees, which are very small but fun-looking. They are mostly above the Namaza canyon in the drier areas of the national park. Ask your guide where to find these crazy plants.

Where to sleep

The getaway village for Isalo is Ranohira (see picture), a small, quiet village. You can have some safe strolls here. There are many accommodations to choose from. I slept in Hotel l'Orchidee, which is a nice place in the middle of the village. You can also sleep in the park, but I don't know how to arrange this, so unfortunately, I cannot help.

In combination with..

Isalo is next to the RN7, which goes from Antananrivo to Tulear. It is very convenient to go from one place to another or go back as there are many important sights on this route. From Ranohira, we also did a day trip to Zombitse National Park, which is located one hour from Ranohira. This park is fantastic for birding, and you can find Verreaux's sifakas and if lucky, Zombitse sportive lemurs.

Final thoughts

This popular national park is an overwhelming experience, consisting of many different ecosystems, and seeing multiple of them is an incredible sight. The possibility of seeing lemurs and other wildlife makes it even better. The park is one of the highlights of the country, and although it can be a bit crowded, this park should be on your itinerary.