Parc National de Ranomafana (approximately 40,000ha), with its rain forested hills and abundant wildlife, has long been considered one of Madagascar’s highlights, and is one of the most heavily visited of the country’s national parks. Its entrance lies about 7km from Ranomafana village. Altitudes in the park range from 800m to 1200m. In addition to its densely forested hills, Ranomafana’s terrain is characterized by numerous small streams - which plummet down to the beautiful Namorona River. Although much of the region has been logged, the easternmost part of the park retains a relatively large area of the primary forest.

The main tribal group in the area is the Tanala, who are known for the honey they produce, as well as for their 'tavy' (slash-and-burn) farming methods.