Amber National Park & the Tsingy Rouge

Diego Suarez can be the base for two amazing day trips to the surrounding areas. First is the tropical forest of Amber National park – where you can see crater lakes, waterfalls, diverse flora, lemurs and yes, one of the smallest chameleons in the world (barely more than 1 cm). The second is the beautiful red pinnacles of the Tsingy Rouge (Red Tsingy), which are quite different from the grey Tsingy found in Ankarana and the Grand Tsingy in Bemaraha.

Read about our experiences in Diego Suarez in our blog here.

Day trip to Amber National Park

About 1-1.5 hours drive from Diego Suarez, beyond Jofreville is the small but beautiful Amber National Park (Montagne d’Ambre National Park). It is also an option to stay a night or two in Jofreville instead of visiting Amber as a day trip from Diego. This is more convenient, if your trip extends beyond from Diego Suarez to Ankarana National Park as well.

One of the first and oldest official national parks of Madagascar, Amber National Park is an isolated stretch of montane rainforest offering an amazing biodiversity. The park has six volcanic lakes and three waterfalls. It is home to a variety of animal including 25 mammals, 75 bird species, 60 reptiles and more than 40 butterflies. In an earlier time, the park also hosted a botanical garden – hence do not be surprised to see a variety of non-endemic flora in a section of the park.

While normally a day trip should suffice, the more adventurous and nature lovers might prefer to cover one of the many walking circuits in the park. Some of the circuits lead to beautiful waterfalls and pools (volcanic craters) with beautiful views.

Flora & Fauna – Amber National Park

Birds, lemurs and chameleons are abundant and can be spotted quite easily with the assistance of your guide.

 

But the highlight of the trip is definitely watching the second smallest chameleon in the world – the Montagne d’Ambre Leaf Chameleon (Brookesia tuberculate). Hold a couple of these dimunitive chameleons in your hand; it is hard to believe such small species exist – you will need ‘magnifying’ eyes to properly see this specie

 

Watch the video blog on my visit to Amber National Park.

 

The Red Tsingy or the Tsingy Rouge

Tsingy Rouge is a 2.5-3 hour drive from Diego Suarez. It is located beyond Amber National park and on the way to Ankarana National Park). It can be covered as a long day trip from Diego Suarez. Alternatively, it can be visited en-route to Ankarana National Park, if that wonderful park is in your itinerary.

The geological formation of the Tsingy Rouge is another of Madagascar’s wonderful natural wonders. Formed of laterite and iron oxide rich soil, the ‘red Tsingy’ creates outstanding landscape forms composed of red, orange and ochre soils. It is similar in name to the other Tsingys – the Grand Tsingy of Bemaraha and the Grey Tsingy of Ankarana due to the pinnacles or the needle like conical shapes. But then Red Tsingy is quite different in the splashy red splendour and the way it is sculpted by nature. Quite fragile and charming, the Tsingy Rouge is not as ‘grand’ in scale like the Grey Rock Tinsgys.

Stretching over 180 ha in the Irodo Valley and the Sahafary plateau, the bright pinnacles of Red Tsingy are sculpted by rain and wind in an erosion process called ‘lapiaz’. Ephemeral looking, the Tsingy is a grand show with new structures constantly forming and becoming visible. There are three different sections in the area – each equally beautiful. Three natural pigments are found in the soil here – ochre, vermilion and magenta. Malagasies use this for face paints and natural dyes.

Time to Visit

Visit the Tsingy Rouge either early morning or late in the afternoon. Though afternoons are hot, the spectacle of the clean blue skies forming the backdrop for the red / ochre formations is stunning!

 

Watch additional photos in this video:

 

Thinking of going to Madagascar? Find out more about Madagascar itineraries on our country page of Madagascar.