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Amber National Park location map
 

AMBER MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK


Situation: 12°31’ to 12°44’ South latitude and 49°03’ to 49°13’ East longitude

Amber Mountain National Park is situated in the North. This island of green forest is a harbor of freshness which escaped the stifling heat wave of this region. The Mountain and Forest of Amber, home of endemism, is a part of 7 protected areas the most visited by Madagascar. The Mountain and Forest of Amber constitutes a complex of protected areas which extends over 23 010 ha, among which 18 200 ha for the National park and 4 810 ha for the Special Reserve of the Forest of Amber. It is a volcanic massif covered with forest spreading out on 850 - 1 475 m of height. Six lakes and several rivers and rivers cross the park.

THE FAUNA


The Mountain and Forest of Amber is the Mecca of endemicity with 77 species of birds (among which endemic 35 as the Eagle, of a scale of 2m), 7 species of lemurs and 24 species of amphibians, about fifty species of reptiles, numerous batrachians and butterflies.

THE BEST OF THE FAUNA OF AMBER MOUNTAIN

  • The Very rich Ibis of Madagascar or Lophotibis cristata, an endangered and endemic species of Madagascar.
  • The Blackbird of rock Monticola erythronotus is a local endemic species of PN mountain of Amber.
  • The red owl of Madagascar Tyto soumagnei was recently rediscovered inside this Park. This species of night-bird of prey is classified in danger according to the IUCN in 2008.
  • Phaner furcifer or lemur with fork oriental. We find this species in the rain forest.
  • Hapalemur griseus occidentalis, the smallest of the diurnal lemurs.

THE FLORA


The Tsingy of Bemaraha National Park has original and endemic vegetation. It has a dense forest caducifoliée essentially tropophile - typical of the western ecoregion, interrupted with savannas in the dry eastern zone. 86% of 650 botanical species listed on Bemaraha are endemic and have adapted themselves to the dry climate. For the some, leaves were transformed into thorns to retain the water; the phenomenon known as spinescence. Others have enlarged their trunks to store water and some plants simply reduced their size and become dwarf shrubs.

THE BEST OF THE FLORA OF AMBER MOUNTAIN

The Amber Mountain has 10.020 listed botanical species and which represent 3 % of the flora of the world. 80 % of these plants are endemic. The forests of the mountain are populated with rosewoods, with Canarium madagascariensis or Ramy and of Chrysophyllum, Famelona. These big trees serve in the pharmacopoeia. We also find there ferns, orchids, pandanus and diverse palm trees which make of the Mountain and Forest of Amber a melting pot of biological varieties. This forest is of first importance from the point of view of the local and regional economy because besides the drinking water supply of the city of Antsiranana, it supplies forest domestic use products as the firewood, the lumber, and the healing plants.

TOURS


GMT+3's TOURS WHICH PASS BY IN AMBER MOUNTAIN





CLIMATE


AMBER MOUNTAIN N.P'S CLIMATE

There are several climatic areas in the northern part of the island. In the north-western coast around Mahajanga there are two clear opposite seasons, a dry and warm period from May to November (20°C average) and a rainy and sometimes much hotter season from December to April, when temperatures reach more than 35°C. North from Mahajanga along the West coast, the Tsaratanana massif is responsible for a micro-climate named after the main river in this area, Sambirano. Thus, this region and the islands around Nosy Be have the two seasons mentioned above as well, but rainfall is more evenly spread throughout the whole year. That means that it does not rain as much during the rainy season but it does often rain during the dry period. Temperatures are warm all year around, with an average temperature of 25°C. Northeast, on the opposite coast, the stable dry climate that dominates North Madagascar during the austral winter, abruptly changes. In Vohemara, the increasing level of humidity marks transition points to different scenery. Here we can no longer talk about a dry and a wet season. Although the period between May and November is in fact drier than the rest of the year, it can rain at any time. The months with the heaviest rainfalls are January, February and March. Rain can be torrential and as this is the cyclone season as well, we do not recommend coming here during this period.

WHAT TO BRING ?


BE PREPARED

Don’t forget your raincoat; wear some hiking shoes (not slippery) and take a powerful lamp and some batteries for nocturnal walk.