Around a 3 to 4 hour drive from the capital, Andasibe (Perinet) is one of the most visited reserves in Madagascar. This reserve, together with Mantadia, makes up the Andasibe Mantadia National Park. This area of damp montane forest is home to a variety of lemurs, birds and chameleons. The park is particularly noted for its large number of Indri Indri, a black and white teddy bear like lemur which can grow over a metre tall. These creatures are very agile and athletic, often leaping large distances and have a haunting cry that maybe be heard several kilometres away. To the north, the reserve of Mantadia has rugged walking trails through primary rainforest and a diversity of wildlife. Birdwatching is particularly good with a number of rare species including Ground Rollers and the Red Owl. The nearby Vakona Private Reserve gives you a chance to glimpse a fossa, a mongoose like animal which is Madagascar’s largest carnivore.