Tsimanampetsotsa National Park

Tsimanampetsotsa National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Pachypodium lamerei in Tsimanampetsotsa
Map of Madagascar
Location	South-west Madagascar
Nearest city	Toliara
Coordinates	24°05′56″S 43°49′55″E / 24.099°S 43.832°ECoordinates: 24°05′56″S 43°49′55″E / 24.099°S 43.832°E[1]
Area	456 km^2 (176 sq mi)
Established	1927

Tsimanampetsotsa National Park also spelt Tsimanampetsotse, and known as Tsimanampetsotsa Nature Reserve is a national Park in the region Atsimo-Andrefana in Madagascar. It lies on the southwest coast, south of Toliara. It contains Lake Tsimanampetsotsa, an important wetland and a Ramsar site. The Ramsar site has a total area of 456 km² (176 sq mi) while the surface of the lake is much smaller.

List of lemur species found in Tsimanampetsotsa National Park^[2]

Viewing time	Species
Daytime	Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi)
Nighttime	Reddish-gray mouse lemur (Microcebus griseorufus) Fat-tailed dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus medius) White-footed sportive lemur (Lepilemur leucopus)

Key Sites

There are several circuits of different duration and interests:^[3]

• Tsiamaso circuit: Includes the cave and famous blind fishe.
• Andaka circuit: A short visit and walk beside the lake to see the birdlife.
• Emande circuit: Visit old tombs and some wonderful landscapes.
• Andalamaike circuit: A botanical walk through arid landscapes and spiney forest.

Tsimanampetsotsa Lake

Tsimanampetsotsa Lake from the viewpoint

The park takes its name from the saline Tsimanampetsotsa Lake. Due to its high salinity, there are no fish in the lake. More than 100 species of bird are found within the park, including various waders, ducks and flamingos. The lake sustains populations of greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) and lesser (dwarf) flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor).^[3]

Viewpoint

The viewpoint is accesses from a car-park about half way along the east side of the lake. It is a short, but steep walk of about 200 meters, where some scrambling over rocks may be required. It provides splendid views across the lake.

Mitoho Grotto

Mitoho Grotto (a sacred cave in Tsimanampetsotse National Park)

Mitoho cave notice board with details of Typhleotris madagascariensis

Mitoho Grotto lies within the Tsimanampetsotse National Park. It lies at the end of the nature train from one of the two campsites. This is a sacred site where according to local belief the Antambahoka, an invisible people, live.

Present in these limestone cave systems live the blind fish (Typhleotris madagascariensis). Also present at this cave are a colony of swallows (Phedina borbonica).

The superstitious local people make sacrifices of black goats or black cockerels, and protect the cave and the blind Typhleotris madagascariensi fish by forbidding their removal.

External links

• - official page of National Parcs Madagascar

References

1. "Tsimanampetsotsa National Park". protectedplanet.net.
2. Mittermeier, R.A.; Louis, E.E.; Richardson, M.; Schwitzer, C.; et al. (2010). Lemurs of Madagascar. Illustrated by S.D. Nash (3rd ed.). Conservation International. p. 665. ISBN 978-1-934151-23-5. OCLC 670545286.
3. "Tsimanampetsotsa National Park". www.travelmadagascar.org. Travel Madagascar. Retrieved 10 September 2014.