National park · Madagascar
Berenty ReserveRéserve de Berenty
Go only if you pre-book the lodge: 27 rooms, no other beds nearby, 86 km (53 mi) of rough road (2–4 h) from Taolagnaro. Walk the main trails unguided and start at dawn; the lemurs come to you.Go only if you pre-book the lodge: 27 rooms, no other beds nearby, 53 mi (86 km) of rough road (2–4 h) from Taolagnaro. Walk the main trails unguided and start at dawn; the lemurs come to you.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1,000 km² (386 sq mi)386 sq mi (1,000 km²)
approximate
Established
1936
Best months
May–Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- African islands ↗Sleep on the island you fly home from the night before your long-haul departure; inter-island flights and ferries in this region are cancelled or rescheduled often enough to break a same-day connection.
- African islands ↗In the Indian Ocean islands book flexible rates for December to March: a cyclone warning can shut airports, ferries and roads for two or three days.
- Madagascar ↗Check visa and e-visa rules for your passport on Madagascar's official e-visa portal before booking.
- Madagascar ↗Book a travel-clinic visit several weeks ahead; ask about malaria prevention and whether a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for your route.
- Madagascar ↗Hire a car with a driver for road trips; self-drive is rarely practical and driving after dark is unsafe.
- Madagascar ↗Do not buy or export wildlife, tortoise shell, precious stones without a certificate, or protected plants; enforcement at the airport is strict.
At a glance
- Country
- Madagascar
- Area
- 1,000 km² (386 sq mi)386 sq mi (1,000 km²)
- The reserve is usually described as 1,000 ha (10 km²) in total, split between the main 200-ha Berenty section, the 100-ha Bealoka forest and the Rapily spiny-forest area (check).
- Established
- 1936
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Toliara
Berenty is a 1,000-ha private reserve in the sisal country west of Taolagnaro, protected by the de Heaulme family since 1936 and open to visitors since 1981. It is not a national park: you arrange the visit in advance through the reserve's booking agent, and the 27 rooms on site are often taken by tour groups months ahead. What you get is the closest lemur viewing in Madagascar — ring-tailed lemurs, brown lemurs and Verreaux's sifakas are fully habituated and walk the same trails you do — plus a slice of spiny forest at Rapily, a tamarind gallery forest at Bealoka, and the south's largest fruit-bat colony.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1936.
Size and age
1,000 km² (386 sq mi)386 sq mi (1,000 km²) · national park since 1936
The reserve is usually described as 1,000 ha (10 km²) in total, split between the main 200-ha Berenty section, the 100-ha Bealoka forest and the Rapily spiny-forest area (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Toliara.
Why go
- The most habituated lemurs in Madagascar: ring-tailed lemurs, brown lemurs and Verreaux's sifakas cross the lodge grounds and the trails at close range.
- Three habitats in one small reserve — tamarind gallery forest, spiny forest at Rapily and sisal plantation edge.
- You can walk the main trails without a guide, which is rare in Madagascar's protected areas.
- The south's largest colony of Madagascar flying foxes, in a roped-off grove.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecCaution
- JanCyclone season; the access road can be cut
- FebCyclone peak; hot and wet
- MarRain easing; mud on trails
- AprCooling; green forest
- MayDry, clear, comfortable nights
- JunDry and mild; good light
- JulPeak season; book far ahead
- AugDry; cold nights near 10°C (50°F)Dry; cold nights near 50°F (10°C)
- SepDry and warm; good walking
- OctHeating up; still dry
- NovFirst rains; midday highs near 40°C (104°F)First rains; midday highs near 104°F (40°C)
- DecHot, wet, cyclone risk rising
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ring-tailed lemurAll year · Active by day; habituated and often on the lodge roofs and breakfast tables. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Verreaux's sifaka and brown lemurAll year · Both active by day in the tamarind forest. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Nocturnal lemurs (sportive and mouse lemurs)All year · Seen on guided night walks; numbers and activity vary with moon and season. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Madagascar flying fox colonyAll year · The south's largest fruit-bat colony, in a restricted grove. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Birds (about 103 species recorded, including owls and couas)Sep–Dec · Best in the warmer months when resident birds are calling. | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin)
86 km (53 mi) west on a rough road by 4x4 or the lodge's vehicle; the last stretch is slow and rutted.53 mi (86 km) west on a rough road by 4x4 or the lodge's vehicle; the last stretch is slow and rutted.
2–4 h
From Toliara
Long drive east on the RN13 and RN10 via Ambovombe; most travellers instead fly to Taolagnaro and drive from there.
1–2 days
Open the page →
From Antananarivo
Fly to Taolagnaro, then road transfer; or drive the RN7 south first and continue east.
2 days
Open the page →
From Toliara Province plan
Where Berenty sits in the far south, with Isalo and the coast.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Main Berenty Reserve | About 200 ha of tamarind gallery forest around the lodge, with the widest and best-marked trail network. | Open to guests with a ticket; walk unguided or take a guide. |
| Bealoka forest | About 100 ha of denser forest, reached on foot or by short drive from the lodge. | Guided walks; ask at the lodge. |
| Rapily spiny forest | Spiny forest with octopus trees and the bats' grove, at the drier edge of the reserve. | Guided only; the bat grove is restricted. |
| Sisal plantation and Mandrake River bend | The working sisal estate that surrounds the reserve, and the river bend that gives Berenty its name. | Stay on the reserve tracks; the plantation is private farmland. |
Sketch map
- 1Berenty Reserve lodge and museum · Sleep≈-25.009, 46.303Main buildings, restaurant and Arembelo museum.Map ↗
- 2Main trail loop · Trail≈-25.008, 46.302Approximate centre of the 200-ha main reserve.Map ↗
- 3Bealoka forest · Trail≈-25.020, 46.290Approximate.Map ↗
- 4Rapily spiny forest and bat grove · Viewpoint≈-24.995, 46.315Approximate; guided access only.Map ↗
- 5Private airstrip · Ranger station≈-25.015, 46.305Approximate; landing requires advance permission.Map ↗
- 6Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin) · Town≈-25.032, 46.99286 km (53 mi) east; nearest hotels and airport.53 mi (86 km) east; nearest hotels and airport.Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Reserve coordinates from open data; trail, forest and airstrip points are approximate, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reserve entry and guided walk | MGA 65,000–150,000 | person | 2026 estimate; usually bundled into the lodge package and paid through the booking agent — confirm the current rate when you reserve. |
| Night walk with a guide | MGA 30,000–60,000 | person | 2026 estimate; needed for the nocturnal lemurs. |
| Room at the reserve lodge | MGA 250,000–700,000 | room per night | 2026 estimate, full board; some rooms air-conditioned. Rates move with the season. |
| Vehicle transfer from Taolagnaro | MGA 400,000–900,000 | vehicle | 2026 estimate for the 86 km rough road, one way; arrange with your lodge or a Taolagnaro operator. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Advance reservation permit or guide
Private airstrip landing permit or guide
Fruit-bat grove permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- MGA 65,000–150,000
- MGA 30,000–60,000
- MGA 250,000–700,000
- MGA 400,000–900,000
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Madagascar National Parks — protected areas before you go.
Park rules
- Do not feed the lemurs
- They will climb on tables and wait for food; feeding changes their behaviour and is the main welfare problem at the lodge.
- Guides
- Not required on the main trails around the lodge, but required for Rapily, the bat grove and all night walks.
- Bat grove
- Keep to the viewing point; the colony trees are closed to protect the roost.
- Drones
- Not allowed without permission from the reserve.
- Litter and fires
- No fires; carry out everything you bring in.
Where to stay
In the park
Berenty Reserve lodge
27 rooms, some air-conditioned, one restaurant and bar. Generator power only 05:00–09:00, 11:00–15:00 and 17:00–22:00. Book months ahead.27 rooms, some air-conditioned, one restaurant and bar. Generator power only 5:00 AM–9:00 AM, 11:00 AM–3:00 PM and 5:00 PM–10:00 PM. Book months ahead.
Near the park
Taolagnaro
The nearest town with a range of hotels, 86 km (53 mi) and 2–4 h away over a rough road.The nearest town with a range of hotels, 53 mi (86 km) and 2–4 h away over a rough road.
Safety
Heat medium
Rough road from Taolagnaro medium
Cyclones high
Cold nights low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The main trails around the lodge are flat and sandy, but there are no paved paths and no adapted vehicles on site.
- The Rapily spiny forest and Bealoka walks are rough and hot; not suitable for limited mobility.
- Ask the booking agent about ground-floor rooms and vehicle access before you commit, as facilities are basic.
Visiting lightly
- Never feed the lemurs, however close they come; habituated animals that beg are the reserve's biggest welfare risk.
- Keep to the marked tracks in the spiny forest, which regenerates very slowly.
- Stay at the reserve lodge rather than day-tripping from Taolagnaro: the entry and room fees are what fund protection of the forest.
- Buy from the reserve's small shop and use local guides so the surrounding Tandroy villages see income from the reserve.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Berenty Reserve?
Expect roughly 65,000–150,000 MGA per person for entry and a guided walk (2026 estimate), usually bundled into the lodge package and paid through the reserve's booking agent. Night walks cost extra, around 30,000–60,000 MGA. Confirm the current rate when you reserve, as prices are not published in a stable public tariff.
What are the best hikes in Berenty Reserve?
The flat main trail loop around the lodge is the best short walk, done at dawn for ring-tailed lemurs and sifakas. The Rapily spiny-forest walk to the fruit-bat grove and the Bealoka forest walk are longer, hotter and guided only. Add a night walk for mouse and sportive lemurs.
When is the best time to visit Berenty Reserve?
May to September: dry, clear and mild, with cold nights in June to August. October is still dry but heating up. Avoid January to March, the cyclone season, when the access road can be cut and midday temperatures reach about 40°C.
Do I need a guide at Berenty?
No for the main trails around the lodge — you can walk them unaccompanied. Yes for Rapily, the bat grove and all night walks, where a guide finds the nocturnal lemurs far faster than you will.
Can I visit Berenty without staying at the lodge?
In practice, no. There is no other lodging in the area, the reserve is 86 km from Taolagnaro over a rough road, and visits must be arranged in advance. Treat it as an overnight stay, not a day trip.
How do I get to Berenty Reserve?
Fly or drive to Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin), then take a 4x4 for the 86 km west — 2–4 h on a rough road. There is a private airstrip at the reserve, but landing needs advance permission.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go