Vakona Private Reserve
Vakona Private Reserve
4
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Duration: 1-2 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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4.0
444 reviews
Excellent
217
Very good
138
Average
57
Poor
17
Terrible
15
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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J M
1 contribution
Oct 2024 • Couples
We did not stay at the lodge, only came for lunch and visited the reserve in the afternoon. The food was not cheap and not that great (dry chicken skewer). We also did not like the main host of the restaurant. He was a bit arrogant and not very friendly. The rest of the staff was nice.
Although we were quite enthusiastic to visit the reserve. First the lemur island which looks great and the lemurs also look very healthy. The main goal of giving this lemurs a nice home (they were pets before) is very nice. Although they say that they release the newborn lemurs after some time back to the wild, but we saw many young ones and the guide told us that they almost never get new petted lemurs in..
The same with the crocodile lake. They keep about 50 of them and throw away new eggs. The staff will hatch an egg in an incubator if there is room for another crocodile. So actually it really felt like a zoo to us, not a sanctuary.
The biggest shock was when the guide showed us a cage where they now keep mossy leaf-tailed lemurs. It used to be a Fossa cage. Let me get this straight, it was a small cage of 3 bij 5meter where they kept a male and female for years to breed! And they had three of these cages! These animals had no space at all. So for a lodge that says they give petted lemurs a fine house, they are just running a zoo and kept caged fossa’s themselves for year and years. We do not support this at all. There are plenty of nationals parks nearby to see the real animals.
Although we were quite enthusiastic to visit the reserve. First the lemur island which looks great and the lemurs also look very healthy. The main goal of giving this lemurs a nice home (they were pets before) is very nice. Although they say that they release the newborn lemurs after some time back to the wild, but we saw many young ones and the guide told us that they almost never get new petted lemurs in..
The same with the crocodile lake. They keep about 50 of them and throw away new eggs. The staff will hatch an egg in an incubator if there is room for another crocodile. So actually it really felt like a zoo to us, not a sanctuary.
The biggest shock was when the guide showed us a cage where they now keep mossy leaf-tailed lemurs. It used to be a Fossa cage. Let me get this straight, it was a small cage of 3 bij 5meter where they kept a male and female for years to breed! And they had three of these cages! These animals had no space at all. So for a lodge that says they give petted lemurs a fine house, they are just running a zoo and kept caged fossa’s themselves for year and years. We do not support this at all. There are plenty of nationals parks nearby to see the real animals.
Written 23 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rainforests & Rollercoasters
london - uk1,285 contributions
Sept 2019
We read a number of mixed reviews and articles about Vakona Island prior to the trip and was a little hesitant about it. I felt like we shouldn't have enjoyed it, but i have to admit - we loved it!
Being able to see the lemurs up close is an amazing experience, yes the guides do tempt them a little to come and out and see you or jump on you but they all appeared to be in good condition and healthy. If they were not living on the island that i expect they wouldnt have survived in the wild, so whilst its not a 'natural' experience its still fantastic. And you will have plenty of other opportunities to see lemurs in their natural environment throughout the rest of your trip.
Being able to see the lemurs up close is an amazing experience, yes the guides do tempt them a little to come and out and see you or jump on you but they all appeared to be in good condition and healthy. If they were not living on the island that i expect they wouldnt have survived in the wild, so whilst its not a 'natural' experience its still fantastic. And you will have plenty of other opportunities to see lemurs in their natural environment throughout the rest of your trip.
Written 6 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katie K
Muscat, Oman5 contributions
Feb 2021
This place was amazing! We had some of the best food we've had in Madagascar and the staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The rooms are basic but exactly what you need. The hotel is in the forest and it was fun to walk around and do all the activities they offer. We really enjoyed our stay and I can't recommend this place enough!
Written 23 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bl Gz
Antananarivo Province, Madagascar63 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
We had lunch and then made the mini reserves (lemurs, crocodiles, geckos and chameleons).
The reserves are small but very nice, and allow to see lemurs very closely (they are animals recovered from poachers who can not be released into the wild but who live in the wild on an island). Leader is serious and guides/caregivers pro. To do with the family with little ones!
The reserves are small but very nice, and allow to see lemurs very closely (they are animals recovered from poachers who can not be released into the wild but who live in the wild on an island). Leader is serious and guides/caregivers pro. To do with the family with little ones!
Automatically translated
Written 5 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Juléonah R
Viladrau, Spain1 contribution
Feb 2024 • Family
We were lucky that it didn't rain that day. We visited the reserve that has 3 species of lemurs. The advantage is that they are easy to find. The path is easy, 1 hour or so and with 1 baby. To do the 2 routes, be prepared to step on mud (to see crocodiles and lemurs). The only thing I expected to see was more variety of chameleon. Apart from that, the guide was friendly and explained everything well.
Written 4 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
47degrees
Missoula,MT4 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
We assumed this was a nature reserve, i.e. a tract of land managed so as to preserve its flora, fauna, and physical features. It is not, in fact it is more like a poorly operated circus. We were told the lemurs are "rescued" pets. Wild animals as pets can become dangerous and very unpredictable. As such they should be reintroduced into the wild. If they cannot be reintroduced then at least provide as natural an environment as possible. The trees planted on the island are not indigenous and therefore not a food source for the lemurs. The animals are continued to be fed fruit and perform "acts" to entertain the tourists. We have read in these reviews that this is one of the only ways to see lemurs up close. We utterly disagree. Spending time in the national parks was the highlight of our time in Madagascar. During the hikes which we went on for hours not minutes, we saw an incredible variety of lemurs very close. Did we pet them? No, they are wild animals and we made the effort to respect them in their natural environment. Until Vakona takes responsibility to become a true nature reserve please stop supporting this place as an attraction.
Written 29 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Willa S
Sydney, Australia21 contributions
Aug 2015 • Solo
My trip to Vakona was included in my package in Andasibe - I will contact the travel company to encourage them to remove it from the package. Vakona is a privately owned animal park and accommodation - I can only comment on the animal park. Vakona is located in Andasibe National Park which is very easy to access and walk though and people can see lots of lemurs and chameleons in their natural habitat free to behave naturally. Vakona has a lemur island which is heavily over populated by lemurs who are stuck there and do not have enough room to move around naturally. Vakona also boasts housing a Fossa - I hope I never see another animal in such sad conditions. The poor Fossa was alone in a small concrete cage with no natural vegetation. The cage was next to a cage of lemurs who were in equally miserable conditions. Scattered on the surrounding concrete were about 6 tortoises again with nothing other than concrete and the Vakona guide even went to pick one up to show me - they have no respect for the animals they house and should not be allowed to keep them. I do not understand why anyone would want to see animals in these conditions under any circumstances and especially when they are easy to see a kilometre away in the wild. I encourage everyone to avoid this horrible animal park. I would also recommend staying at Eulophiella instead if you're looking for a lovely place in the forrest.
Written 1 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jasmine V
Brisbane, Australia29 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
The lemurs on lemur island are all poached from the wild from unprotected areas, they are not 'rescued'. They are living in extremely cramped and unnatural conditions.
Vakona has also recently 'acquired' some critically endangered golden mantella frogs. These frogs have been poached from the wild, there is no other way they could have sourced them. This is extremely unethical, no wildlife lover should be supporting this resort.
Vakona has also recently 'acquired' some critically endangered golden mantella frogs. These frogs have been poached from the wild, there is no other way they could have sourced them. This is extremely unethical, no wildlife lover should be supporting this resort.
Written 21 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HelenL481
Belfast, UK5 contributions
Dec 2014 • Solo
I started my tour with a magical trip to Lemur Island - yes they are captive and tame but none the less they are well treated and have lots of space (and I understand were saved from people keeping them as 'pets'). If I had just visited the island my rating would have been 4.
I then went to the reserve which is a very depressing and run down space (and feel its only purpose is to make the owners some easy money). Most distressing was a lone foosa which paced up and down in a very small cage. If the owners has any interest in nature (rather than money) they would release this poor animal back into the wild. The crocodile enclosure was not much better - far too many crocs in too small a space and evidence of fighting between them given such confined area. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND boycotting this part of the park.
I then went to the reserve which is a very depressing and run down space (and feel its only purpose is to make the owners some easy money). Most distressing was a lone foosa which paced up and down in a very small cage. If the owners has any interest in nature (rather than money) they would release this poor animal back into the wild. The crocodile enclosure was not much better - far too many crocs in too small a space and evidence of fighting between them given such confined area. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND boycotting this part of the park.
Written 8 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ian J
Germany113 contributions
Oct 2018 • Friends
This is an island zoo like complex, accessible by a canoe ride.
Lemurs jump on you. Interesting place, but not if you are against keeping lemurs in zoo conditions.
Lemurs jump on you. Interesting place, but not if you are against keeping lemurs in zoo conditions.
Written 18 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kathiieee
Havirov, Czech Republic
Hello, I would like to ask about the price for entree and the guide? Thank you so much, Kate from Czech Republic
Written 4 March 2018
Entry in 25000 Ariary per person. The price of the guide that takes you there depends on what you negotiate and what they ask, could be 40000 for a morning. The guide in the hotel resort is included in the fee but expects a tip, perhaps 10000?
Written 8 August 2018
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