Ten Lemur Species in Madagascar – and where to find them

Madagascar is home to an abundance of plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth. The island has been isolated from other landmasses for 88 million years, allowing wildlife to evolve in unique and distinct ways. Local tour guide Jean Claude joins us today to talk about one of his country’s most famous animals: the Madagascar lemur.

Best places to see lemurs in Madagascar

Madagascar has close to 100 species of lemurs and the quirky animal with large eyes is one of the emblems of Madagascar. I’ve whittled those 100 species down to 10 types of lemurs you absolutely must see when you visit the island of Madagascar: The Ring-Tailed Lemur or Maki, the White Lemur or Dancing Lemur, the red-fronted lemur called “Gidro”, the Indri indri (the biggest lemur in Madagascar!), the Mongoose Lemur, the nocturnal White-Footed Sportive Lemur, the Aye-Aye, the Bamboo Lemur, the Black and White Lemur, and the nocturnal Marohita Mouse Lemur.

To see these lemurs in the wild, you’ll want to go to one of these parks – the best places to see lemurs in Madagascar:

• Anja Park is the recommended park to go to when you want to see groups of ring-tailed lemurs.
• Lemur’s Park is good if you want to see 4 species of lemurs at the same time (Ring-tailed lemur, black and white lemur, dancing lemur and red-fronted lemur.)
• Andasibe National Park is a good place to see the indri indri.
• Ankanin’ny nofy, Manamabato village and Ivoloina Private Park near Tamatave are the best locations where you can spot the aye-aye.
• Berenty Reserve is a place where you can see groups of dancing lemur.
• Ranomafana National Park is a place where you can see the bamboo lemur up close.

Madagascar is famous for its diverse wildlife, and while the ring-tailed lemur may be the most iconic, there are many other types of lemurs to marvel at during your trip. Keep in mind that even if seeing the famous ring-tailed lemurs is your priority and your main interest, you should not miss out on seeing Madagascar’s other lemurs and animals - beautiful creatures which make Madagascar such a unique place in the world.

Explore Madagascar on a Private Tour

If you’re interested in experiencing more of Madagascar’s wildlife, Jean Claude also offers multi-day safari tours to see lemurs and other wildlife. This is the best way to immerse yourself in the biodiversity of Madagascar and see its unique animals, including the lemurs, up close. Along the way, you’ll also have the chance to encounter some of Madagascar’s famous animals, including its endemic birds, reptiles, and other species found nowhere else on Earth. Madagascar is truly one of the best places in the world for wildlife lovers.

You can read more about Jean-Claude and all his Madagascar tours here: Jean Claude in Madagascar.