How to get there:
The Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve is located 35 km northeast of Betioky Sud in the southwest of the island. Take a Taxi Brousse to Toliara and from there take the next one to Betioky. From Betioky you need a "charette" to join Beza Mahafaly. It is convenient to do your provisions of food and water in Betioky.

What you can do and see:
The Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve (Beza) is a protected forest of an area of about 620 ha in south-west Madagascar. The reserve includes spiny forest vegetation endemic to southern parts of Madagascar, as well as 10% of southern Madagascar's remaining riverine forest.
The fauna contains four species of lemurs including Ringtailed Lemur and White-Footed Sportive Lemur. Furthermore, the forest hosts four species of tenrecs including the rare, large eared Lesser Hedehog Tenrec, three species of carnivores, 17 species of saurians, twelve species of snakes, two species of tortoises including the Radiated Tortoise and seasonally, crocodiles. Finally, there are around ninty species of birds in the reserve, including the Sickle bill vanga and the Hoopoes.
If you are in Beza Mahafaly also consider visiting the
Mahafaly Gigantesque Tombs with its bright colours and the Aloalo (high carved wooden stakes decorating the tombs). If you want you can also trek to the Canyon of Andranovoay fito or along the Onilahy River.

Housing:
To access the Beza Mahafaly Reserve you are obliged to have a permission. You can organize it or in the village adjacent to the resserve or at the ESSA Département of the Eaux et Forêt (the Forestry University): BP 3044 (Tel. 22 323-19). Since April 2004 such a permission is also available at the ANGAP office.
As a visitor you need to bring your own tent. Some basic facilities are to be found on the project camp site. It is vital to bring enough water and food supply for the staying time. Last but not least: Always beware of poisonous scorpions.

For pictures of this region please have a click.

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