For this blog post, we spoke to Edward Tucker Brown of Madagascar Classic Collection (MCC) and Dr. Tim Eppley of Wildlife Madagascar about one of Madagascar’s newest ecolodges, Namoroka Tsingy Camp. The camp opened next to the Tsingy de Namoroka National Park in August 2024.
A New Ecolodge in the Remote Tsingy
When Edward Tucker Brown of Madagascar Classic Collection began conceptualizing a new ecolodge against the backdrop of the tsingy, he and his team started scouring Madagascar for a location. They came across the remote area of Namoroka in northwestern Madagascar and were blown away by the stark natural landscape of the tsingy that traverse it, traverses it, creating an otherworldly park.
Combining Ecotourism with Conservation in Namoroka
Edd envisioned a way to improve access to allow travelers the opportunity to experience this incredible ecosystem. Madagascar Classic Collections is equipped with years of ecolodge experience from running first property, Mandrare River Camp. However, given the remoteness and relatively unexplored landscape within the park, Edd recognized the necessity of bringing in an experienced conservation NGO to Namoroka Tsingy Camp. The idea, as Tim says, was to create, “effective community-based conservation programs that are grounded in science, and that will continue to monitor and adapt as the conditions change.”
Hence, a partnership with Wildlife Madagascar was born. Tim says,
Edd had just started building Namoroka Tsingy Camp when he approached Wildlife Madagascar. The idea of joining him there was intriguing. Other than a few short research expeditions, very little was actually known about the park and its wildlife. Along with MNP (Madagascar National Park) agents, MCC started exploring potential areas of focus for future guests, and were blown away with what they found.
Aside from the tsingy, there were thriving populations of Decken’s sifaka, a huge Malagasy flying fox colony, extensive cave networks, and even a crystal clear blue lagoon which creates an oasis in an otherwise dry savanna. It’s truly a remarkable landscape!
Namoroka Tsingy Camp and Wildlife Madagascar began their partnership in late 2023, when Edd and his team at Madagascar Classic Collection were still in the process of building their ecolodge site on the boundary of Namoroka National Park. Though common in eastern and southern Africa, partnerships between high-end ecolodges and conservations NGOs are rare in Madagascar. Tim remarks,
“It’s a different model from what has been tried before in Madagascar. We are very excited and optimistic that this partnership will be beneficial for the wildlife and local communities living around Namoroka National Park.”
About the Tsingy de Namoroka National Park
Tucked away in the Soalala district of the Boeny Region, the 220 km2 Tsingy de Namoroka National Park was established as a nature reserve in 1927. Despite having similar landscapes to the popular national parks of Bemaraha in the west and Ankarana in the north, Namoroka has been largely neglected by tourists because it is so difficult to reach. Despite the previous lack of tourism, its beauty extends beyond the tsingy itself, with caves (including the longest cave system in Africa, Marosakabe), canyons, natural pools, dry deciduous forests, and meandering gallery forests that scatter the surrounding grasslands.
Lemurs, Carnivores, Birds, and Lizards
In addition to the 6 unique ecosystems within Namoroka National Park, its wild inhabitants are also a sight to behold. There are 10 lemur species (including the Van der Decken’s sifaka and the aye-aye), at least 21 species of bat, 3 species of carnivores (including the famous fosa!), and over 100 bird species. There are also some reptile species that are thought to be endemic to the area, having not been observed elsewhere in Madagascar.
Tim says,
Considering lemur conservation and research, this site is exceptional. There have never been any long-term behavioral ecology research studies of Propithecus deckeni, Eulemur rufus, Hapalemur griseus (there have been many studies of this species from the eastern humid forests, but never within the western dry forests), or even Lepilemur ahmansorum. Plus, there are sympatric mouse lemurs (M. murinus and M. myoxinus), fat-tailed dwarf lemurs, pale fork-marked lemurs, and even aye-aye! While it is presumed that greater mouse lemurs (Mirza sp.) also inhabit Namoroka, we are still on the hunt for them and remain optimistic we’ll find them. It’s a site full of research potential!
Tourist Visits Support Conservation Work
To sustain the partnership, daily costs from guests staying at Namoroka Tsingy Camp include a conservation fee. This goes toward funding a variety of conservation initiatives and projects in and around Namoroka National Park, all of which will be carried out collaboratively between Namoroka Tsingy Camp and Wildlife Madagascar.
Field Station
Tim remarks, “Currently the Wildlife Madagascar team operates out of a typical tented research camp. Later this year, Namoroka Tsingy Camp will be building a field station from which our team will carry out all of the various conservation programs in the surrounding area, including everything from community engagement and sustainable development, environmental education, park patrols, wildlife monitoring via surveys and camera traps, species-specific behavioral ecology studies, cave exploration, trail creation and maintenance, creating tree nurseries for our reforestation program, and even fire break creation and installing water tanks around the park.”
Long-Term Monitoring of Lemurs and Other Wildlife
Given the abundance of lemur species that can be found in Namoroka National Park, lemurs are naturally a large focus of Wildlife Madagascar’s long-term monitoring program. However, their research is broader in scope, with several projects studying bat species richness and distribution (Namoroka has the highest bat species richness in all of Madagascar), and herpetofauna species. In fact, the Namoroka leaf chameleon (Brookesia bonsi) was recently photographed by the Wildlife Madagascar team for the first time after being only known from illustrations based on its discovery in 1980.
Challenges of Conservation in Namoroka
On fieldwork, Tim states,
Right now, we have Malagasy researchers and graduate students leading our programs in and around Namoroka. During the first year, we were operating on a smaller scale, with the focus on lemur and bat surveys, and habituating lemur groups living near Namoroka Tsingy Camp. We were also building familiarity and relationships with local communities, which, in combination with maintaining a presence within the park, is critically important for the success of our programs. Given the remoteness of the park, one of the challenges has been attracting students to the site, including international graduate students.
This year, however, with the facilities being built by MCC, the continuous electricity and unlimited wifi, the site is transforming into a premier destination for conservation and research projects, and this will allow us to expand and scale up our programs.
Other challenges in the region include wildfires, which are prevalent due to the arid savanna environment. Along with MNP, Wildlife Madagascar is creating an extensive firebreak around the entire national park and the major forest fragments. As part of that project, they are installing water tanks around the park and training locals on fire prevention. Additionally, Tim mentioned the creation of a new tree nursery on the property with the goal of “planting extensive buffer zones around the current gallery forests and strengthen their connection with the national park.”
Working with Local Communities near Namoroka
The area near Namoroka Tsingy Camp is sparsely populated, with only a handful of villages. On the local community, Tim notes, “While the region is traditionally Sakalava, the area around Namoroka is a curious mixture of Malagasy cultures from all over the island. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming, and they are super excited to have Namoroka Tsingy Camp and Wildlife Madagascar bringing new opportunities to them and their communities.” There are several sacred sites in the area, including along the Mandevy and Andriabe rivers, where villagers perform different ceremonies. Guests can visit the villages of Vilanandro and Analatelo to learn more about the rich heritage of the indigenous inhabitants of the region.
Tim remarks on their relationship with the local community, stating,
Wildlife Madagascar’s team spends a lot of time in the local communities, especially in the schools, so everyone is aware of what we are doing in the park and why it’s important. Just in the short time we’ve been active in Namoroka, it’s incredible to see how excited the kids are now about their local wildlife! As for the adults, nearly everyone in the local villages has benefited from Edd’s investment in creating and maintaining Namoroka Tsingy Camp, while Wildlife Madagascar is also continuing to hire and train locals for wildlife monitoring, park protection, reforestation, etc. Everyone is on board!”
Staying at the Namoroka Tsingy Camp
Lodging
As a luxury safari camp nestled in one of Madagascar’s most remote regions, Namoroka Tsingy Camp blends nature and comfort. Edd states, “We have 9 tents outside of the national park near the town of Vilanandro. They are all fully en-suite with indoor and outdoor showers and 24hr electricity. All tents have 4-poster beds with mosquito nets, and we offer twins, king-size, and can even do triples for kids.”
Namoroka Tsingy Camp is all-inclusive, including transport, guides, park fees, food, and drink. Special diets, including vegan and vegetarian, can be accommodated at Namoroka Tsingy Camp’s restaurant and bar.
How Long to Stay
Edd recommends staying 3-7 nights (minimum of 3 nights) to get the full experience of the opportunities offered by Namoroka Tsingy Camp, from the expansive tsingy and natural swimming pools, to the abundance of wildlife that can be spotted around the property and within the park.
Getting There
To get to the property, most guests arrive via charter flight from Antananarivo to Soalala, followed by a 2- to 3-hour drive. Madagascar Classic Collection operates these flights twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays throughout the season (May 15 – November 10). Some guests may opt to drive, however, which is possible from Majunga and taking the ferry to Katsepy and then making the 8- to 10-hour drive to Namoroka.
Photos of the Camp
Below, view interior and exterior of the accommodations at Namoroka Tsingy Camp. Each luxury tent has a private terrace for guests to unwind and enjoy the sights and sounds of the area’s wildlife.
Learn More about Namoroka Tsingy Camp
- Visit Madagascar Classic Collection’s website and contact them to learn more.
- Visit Wildlife Madagascar’s website to learn about their conservation work.