Lemurs in Madagascar: The Best Places to See Them in the Wild

Madagascar's lemurs include some of the most endangered creatures on the planet. Endemic to the African island country, these strepsirrhine primates are fascinating to watch—their behaviour and often endearing appearance adding to their appeal.

And with over 100 species in total, you can be sure to see a reasonable variety of them in their natural habitat.

Whether you're on a Rainbow small group tour or tailor-made lemur experience, you'll be observing our most 'primitive' cousins. You'll always be under the care of one of our highly experienced, internationally praised, professional Malagasy wildlife expert guides. They, in collaboration with their network of ‘spotters’, will give you the best chance of enjoying as many observations of these engaging primates as is possible.

So, where are the best places to see lemurs in Madagascar? What species inhabit the country's spectacular protected areas? Which interesting facts should you know? And how can you locate them?

Topics Covered in this Lemurs in Madagascar Travel Guide

– Where are the best places to see lemurs?
– What types of lemurs can you see?
– What are the most frequently asked questions about lemurs?
– How do you plan a trip to see lemurs in Madagascar?

1. Andasibe-Mantadia National Park

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is regarded as a must-see rainforest site because it's home to a habituated population of indri, along with diademed sifaka. In addition to this, eastern lesser bamboo lemur, common brown lemur and, in Mantadia, black-and-white ruffed lemur and red-bellied lemur can be seen by day.

At night, nocturnal species include the eastern woolly lemur, weasel sportive lemur, furry-eared dwarf lemur and Goodman’s mouse lemur. Night walks are the most productive in the spring and summer months (September to March), when the nocturnal lemurs of the area are more active.

Helen Kennedy

Africa Travel Specialist

"Early morning is the best time for exploring in Andasibe. You can hear the eerie call of the indri, the largest species of lemur, across the rainforest – it sounds like whale song. As indri don’t survive in captivity, it's almost the only place in the world you're ever likely to hear or see them."

3. Anja Community Reserve

Anja Community Reserve is home to a thriving ring-tailed lemur population in a granite cliff setting. Recently, it's become the country’s most visited community-run protected area, managed by the Anja Miray Association, which operates a spectrum of projects like habitat restoration through tree nurseries. The landscape, dominated by imposing granite domes called 'inselbergs', is spectacular.

5. Berenty Reserve

Habitat in this privately protected site is mostly dry tamarind gallery forest, with a small parcel of spiny bush. Berenty Reserve is appreciated for its high population densities of two iconic species, the ring-tailed lemur and Verreaux’s sifaka. This is where wildlife photographers come for those classic 'dancing' sifaka images.

Created around 80 years ago by the de Heaulme family, who still own and run it, Berenty is probably the island's best-known private reserve. You can visit year-round. It has cold, dry winters and hot summers from November–February, when temperatures can exceed 40°C. Ringtails give birth in September/October, enabling them to wean their young in February/March.

1. Ring-tailed lemur

Best place to see ring-tailed lemurs: Berenty Reserve

Quick facts about the ring-tailed lemur

Scientific name: Lemur catta
IUCN status: Endangered
Habitat: Arid, open areas & dry forests
Average adult weight: 2.2–3.5kg

Madagascar's ring-tailed lemur is the national mammal.

They're commonly found in Berenty Reserve, Ifotaka Community Forest, Isalo National Park and in the Anja Community Conservation Site. You may also see them present in Tsimanampetsotse National Park.

Male ring-tailed lemurs have a spur on each wrist gland which they use to mark tree bark with their scent. They live in matriarchal groups, with the dominant female lemurs having preference over food and choice of mates.

3. Sifakas

Best place to see sifakas: Species Dependent (see below)

Quick facts about sifakas

Genus: Propithecus
IUCN status: Ranges from endangered to critically endangered
Habitat: Dry deciduous forests, rainforests & spiny forests
Average adult weight: 3–6.5kg

The nine sifaka species vary from pitch black to pure white. All are highly arboreal.

Verreaux’s and Coquerel’s sifakas in particular are known for their 'dancing' locomotion. Most are classified as critically endangered, with some having very narrow ranges. The all-black Perrier’s sifaka of Andrafiamena-Andavakoera and Analamerana is one of the world’s 25 rarest primates, with a population of around 500 adults. Other very localised species like silky sifaka and golden-crowned or Tattersall’s sifaka, are equally close to the edge.

How many species of lemurs are there in the Propithecus genus? And where can you find them?

The nine sifaka species can reliably be sought in the following locations:

– Diademed sifaka: Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
– Milne-Edwards's sifaka: Ranomafana National Park
– Silky sifaka: Marojejy National Park
– Perrier's sifaka: Andrafiamena-Andavakoera Protected Area
– Coquerel's sifaka: Anjajavy Reserve and Ankarafantsika National Park
– Verreaux's sifaka: Berenty Private Reserve, Ifotaka Community Forest, Isalo National Park, Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park and Kirindy Forest
– Von der Decken's sifaka: Tsingy de Bemaraha and Tsingy de Namoroka National Parks
– Crowned sifaka: In the forest around Katsepy Lighthouse
– Golden-crowned sifaka: Loky-Manambato Protected Area

Derek Schuurman

Madagascar and Alternative Africa Product Manager

"Sifakas are arboreal folivores capable of clearing up to ten metres when they launch sideways between trees. These vertical clingers live in female-led social groups and are named after the sneeze-like alarm call they utter to warn each other of predators such as fossa. All nine species are endangered to varying degrees due to habitat fragmentation in sometimes extremely restricted ranges."

5. Black lemur

Best place to see black lemurs: Nosy Be Archipelago

Quick facts about the black lemur

Scientific name: Eulemur macaco
IUCN status: Endangered
Habitat: Sambirano forest (blend of moist deciduous & tropical evergreen forest)
Average adult weight: 1.61–2.19kg

Part of the true lemur subcategory, the black lemur resides in the forests of the Sambirano region.

This strongly sexually dichromatic species is found in the far north-west and can be seen on the Nosy Be Archipelago (notably in Lokobe Reserve and on Nosy Komba island) and around Baobab Beach on the Malagasy ‘mainland’ opposite Nosy Be. Groups tend to include between 4–15 individuals. Interestingly the species has been observed licking toxins from certain millipedes in order to get intoxicated.

Lemur FAQs

"What is a lemur?"

Today, Madagascar is the only place where prosimians are the dominant primates. Here, they can lead a diurnal existence which is no longer the case on the continents, where they were replaced by more 'evolved' and aggressive primates like monkeys and apes. On the continents, prosimians have been forced to adopt a secretive nocturnal existence.

"What do lemurs eat?"

A lemur's diet consists mostly of plants, leaves and fruits. Some species include invertebrates in their diet.

"How do lemurs behave?"

Diurnal lemurs tend to live in groups ('troops' or 'conspiracies'); in many species, females dominate the social hierarchy. They communicate through vocalisations, scent marking and physical contact. Some, such as ring-tailed lemur, engage in 'stink fights', using scent to assert dominance. Unlike monkeys and apes, lemurs have a ‘tooth comb’ in the form of forward-tilted lower incisors with which they groom themselves and each other. Most species are arboreal, with some, such as indri and sifakas, known for their ability to leap up to ten+ metres between trees. With their long legs, the sifakas adopt a comical, hopping gait with outstretched arms to move across open ground. While most lemurs are either diurnal or nocturnal, some, such as brown and the rare mongoose lemurs, are cathemeral, i.e. active for bursts by day and at night.

"What do lemurs look like?"

From the ape-like indri to tiny, nocturnal mouse lemurs; from ring-tailed lemurs to the acrobatic sifakas; and from black, ruffed and brown lemurs to the bamboo lemurs and the bizarre aye-aye, lemurs are extremely diverse in appearance. Features common to most include soft fur, a wet nose (rhinarium), nails (as opposed to claws), bright eyes (larger in the nocturnal species such as woolly lemurs, sportive lemurs, dwarf and mouse lemurs) and arboreal adaptations.

You can see many lemur species on our wildlife holidays in Madagascar.

"Where do lemurs live in Madagascar?"

Lemur habitats are located in the network of protected areas across the country, where suitable forest cover exists. These include rainforests (e.g., Andasibe-Mantadia, Ranomafana, Masoala and Marojejy), dry deciduous forests (e.g., Kirindy, Ankarafantsika, Anjajavy, Ankarana and Tsingy de Namoroka) and spiny bush (notably Ifotaka and Ifaty).

As a result of habitat loss, most lemurs today are threatened with extinction. Conservation is therefore vital to their survival and ecotourism provides a valuable contribution towards their continued existence.

"What is the story of the lemur?"

The story of Madagascar’s lemurs goes back some 65 million years ago, when, after the dinosaurs went extinct, early primates began diversifying in Africa. About 50–60 million years ago, the ancestors of today’s lemurs crossed the Mozambique Channel. This was most likely by 'rafting' on floating vegetation mats, and in Madagascar, they found themselves in an 'asylum' environment (i.e. free of great predators). So, they were able to evolve gently into many dozens of species filling a wide variety of ecological niches.

"Can you touch lemurs in Madagascar?"

We strongly recommend visitors to avoid any contact with wild animals

"What is a group of lemurs called?"

A conspiracy

"Are lemurs dangerous?"

No, they're generally shy and non-aggressive