Madagascar’s Isalo National Park offers visitors a striking alternative to the island’s famous rainforests, combining dramatic sandstone canyons, crystal-clear natural pools, rare wildlife, and spectacular stargazing. Located in the country’s southwest, the park features scenic hiking trails leading to refreshing swimming holes such as the Piscine Naturelle, a cold pool fed by a waterfall; the turquoise Piscine Bleue; and shadowy Piscine Noire. Visitors can also experience the rich traditions of the Bara people, whose ancestors have long used the surrounding mountains as sacred burial grounds. Despite ongoing conservation challenges—including habitat loss and climate-driven water shortages—Isalo remains home to several lemur species, including the endangered Verreaux’s sifaka. Combined with remarkably dark night skies and diverse landscapes, Isalo provides travelers with one of Madagascar’s most memorable outdoor experiences.
The New York Times