Kirindy Forest, also known as the Kirindy Private Reserve, lies about 2.5 hours from Morondava along a rough off-road RN8 track. This remarkable dry deciduous forest is considered one of the best places in Madagascar to spot the elusive fossa — the island’s largest predator — as well as Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur, the world’s smallest primate (🎟️55,000 MGA; day guide: 70,000 MGA; night guide: 90,000 MGA). The reserve is a true biodiversity hotspot, famous for its dry-adapted flora, towering baobab trees, and exceptional nocturnal wildlife viewing.
Although we were unlucky and did not see a fossa, our night walk rewarded us with a sighting of the rare Giant Jumping Rat high in the trees. The reserve also has a rustic ecolodge with simple bungalows and a small restaurant, allowing visitors to stay overnight in the heart of the forest. Kirindy is generally closed — or extremely difficult to access — from mid-January to late March due to seasonal road conditions.
