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The accomodations consist of simple open bungalows with mosquito nets and electricity but camping is also possible. Kirindy is a one-day stop for most visitors -- actually many visitors only stop here for a night hike on their way to somewhere else. Having four days here gives me more time to explore some of the outer reaches of the reserve but I'd recommend a shorter stay for most people. This time of year (the cool dry season) much of the wildlife (especially repitles and amphibians) are hibernating. The forest is also very dry whereas during the rainy season much of the area of flooded and bright green leaves cover most of the plants. Kirindy is not accessible from mid-January to late March due to the rain. journal Province: Toliary (Tuléar) Area: 10,000 Protected area status: Private reseve Year established: General location: Western Location and Access: About an hour from Morondava Climate: Western deciduous forest Average temperature: 14-33°C* Elevation: Precipitation: Description: Kirindy is a place of extreme seasonal changes. A short, hot rainy season between December and February (where temperatures may top 40 C) is followed by nine months with little rain and cool temperatures. During this dry season, Kirindy's forest is brown, many trees are virtually leafless, and much of Kirindy's wildlife is in hibernation. Every rainy season, Kirindy explodes in verdant green vegetation and its many species of reptiles and amphibians become active. FAUNA Birds: Reptiles: 50 Chameleons: 7 Snakes: 11 Frogs: 15 Mammals: 31 Lemurs: 8 Rodents: 5 Insectivores: 7 Bats: 7 Carnivores: 3 Lemur species: FLORA: Species: Dominant ethnic group(s): Sakalava Additional notes: See journal Photos of Kirindy from Piotr Lukasik and other participants in the 2004 Tropical Biology Association Field Course. Giant Jumping Rat MAP/Satellite Picture KIRINDY PHOTOS
Pictures on this site were taken with a Konica Minolta |
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RECENT NEWS Photos: Madagascar's wonderful and wild frogs, an interview with Sahonagasy (03/03/2010) To save Madagascar's embattled and beautiful amphibians, scientists are turning to the web. A new site built by herpetologists, Sahonagasy, is dedicated to gathering and providing information about Madagascar's unique amphibians in a bid to save them from the growing threat of extinction. "The past 20 years have seen resources wasted because of a poor coordination of efforts," explains Miguel Vences, herpetologist and professor at the Technical University of Braunschweig. "Many surveys and reports have been produced that were never published, many tourists found and photographed amphibians but these photos were not made available to mapping projects, many studies carried out by Malagasy students did not make use of literature because it was not available." 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