Madagascar November 2012 - January 2013, Ankarafanstika National Park

Ankarafantsika national park is the most excessible site for nearly all dry decidious forest species in Madagascar (only Western Tylas and Tsingy Wood Rail are not found here). It is very excessible and even with taxi-brousse it takes "only" ten hours (just ask to be dropped at the national park office). Even getting away from it towards Mahajanga is not that difficult, but going to Tana with taxi-brousse requires a bit more effort. The park provides perfectly fine accomodation (I camped out though), food and guides. Jacky is normally The bird guide in this park, but he is a bit pricey (120.000 Ariary) so I used Gerard (0328822461 or gerkely@gmail.com) who is a very young, amiable and already knowledgeable guide and he costs a quarter of what Jacky demands.

We birded for three days in Ankarafantsika with him and we found almost all key species including: Madagascar Fish Eagle (the resident pari on Lac Ravelobe), White-breasted Mesite (in Jardin Botanique A and B), Red-capped Coua, Coquerel's Coua, Schlegel's Asity (only in Jardin Botanique A), Torotoroka Scops Owl (only in Jardin Botanique B), Sickle-billed Vanga, Madagascar Pond Heron (on Lac Ravelobe), Humblot's Heron (on Lac Ravelobe) and Van Dam's Vanga (only Jardin Botanique B). I was there too late in the season to see the Madagascar Jacana's on Lac Ravelobe and dipped them even after 2,5 days of searching.

Madagascar Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides)

Sooty Falcon (Falco concolor)

Coquerel's Coua (Coua coquereli)

Crested Coua (Coua cristata)

Sickle-billed Vanga (Falculea palliata)

Humblot's Heron (Ardea humbloti)

White-breasted Mesite (Mesitornis variegatus)

Schlegel's Asity male (Philepitta schlegeli)

Schlegel's Asity Male (Philepitta schlegeli)

Mammals recorded included: Coquerel's Sifaka, Mongoose Lemur (surprisingly easy, for the mango trees were fruiting and they were seen daily next to the office in the evening), Golden-brown Lemur, Milne-Edwards Sportive Lemur, Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur and Commerson's Leaf-nosed Bat. Reptiles included: Nile Crocodile, Madagascar Hog-nosed Snake and Furcifer rhinoceratus.

Coquerel's Sifaka (Propithecus coquereli)

Young Mongoose Lemur (Eulemur mongoz)

Milne-Edwards Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur edwardsi)

Madagascar Hog-nosed Snake (Leioheterodon madagascariensis)

Collared Iguana (Oplurus cuvieri)

Overall this park is amazing even though the office was a bit awkward  towards me. I think the one day, most tours spend here is by far not enough.