Lemur Island is an island just off Madagascar and as the name suggests, it is an island filled with furry creatures. It is a four-hour drive east of the capital Antananarivo and it is very close to the village of Andasibe. The small reserve located on the edge of the Andasibe Mantadia National Park is home to several species of lemurs, the instantly recognisable ring-tailed and the lesser known black and white ruffed lemurs, bamboo lemurs, diademed sifaka and brown lemurs.
Getting to the island is an adventure in itself, you will be greeted by friendly boatmen and board a two or three-person canoe to paddle across to the island. The boatmen whistle to attract the attention of the banana-hungry lemurs. Bananas are lemurs' kryptonite; they can not resist the yellow sweetness. They will bound through the long grasses and board on to the boat. Curious and full of personality the lemurs will eat straight out of your hands. They might even perch on your shoulder, which provides an excellent photography opportunity, but don’t be concerned as they have gentle padded feet. After the lemur-filled boat ride you will be taken around to the other side of the island to meet some more cute creatures.
Visiting Lemur Island by boat
More wildlife
Other than lemurs – what else can you see on the island? As well as hordes of cheeky lemurs, there are some animals of different nature – crocodiles. Furthermore, on the island, there are some of the lemur's only predators: the fossa, a cat like creature more closely related to a mongoose.
When to visit
The best time of day to visit this primate-filled isle is early in the morning as the sun is rising. Or take a visit last thing in the evening when there are fewer tourists. In total the whole experience lasts approximately an hour.
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