By air
Toliara Airport (TLE), ~4 h by road
Indian Ocean Islands · Madagascar
Isalo National Park, Madagascar
Sandstone canyons, palm oases and natural pools
Getting there
Best time to visit
April to November — dry and cooler
Don't miss
The Natural Pool
Canyon des Makis
The Window of Isalo
Ranohira
Things to do
Canyon hikes
Swimming in natural pools
Lemur spotting
Sunset at the rock arch
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Sun hat, sunscreen, walking shoes, swimwear for the pools
A quieter corner
The Window of Isalo, a rock arch for sunset
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Isalo National Park?
April to November — dry and cooler. What to pack: Sun hat, sunscreen, walking shoes, swimwear for the pools.
How do I get to Isalo National Park?
Fly into Toliara Airport (TLE), ~4 h by road.
What is there to do in Isalo National Park?
Canyon hikes, swimming in natural pools, lemur spotting, sunset at the rock arch. A quieter find: The Window of Isalo, a rock arch for sunset.
What should I eat in Isalo National Park?
Zebu stews, rice with greens and simple lodge meals.
About Isalo National Park
- Desert
- Mountains
Where it is
Isalo National Park is a sandstone massif in south-western Madagascar, rising from grassy plains near the village of Ranohira.
History
The park was created in 1962 to protect a landscape of eroded Jurassic sandstone, deep canyons and palm-lined streams. It lies in the lands of the Bara people, whose burial sites in the cliffs are respected as sacred.
People
The Bara people of the area are known as zebu herders, and many guides in the park come from the village of Ranohira.
Known for
- Eroded sandstone ridges
- Palm-fringed natural pools
- Ring-tailed lemurs
- Sacred burial caves
Did you know?
The Bara traditionally place their dead in caves high in the sandstone cliffs, and some of these sites lie within the park.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.