Species profile
About this species
Verreaux's sifaka is a medium-sized lemur endemic to Madagascar, recognised by its striking white fur with dark patches on the crown & shoulders. It is renowned for its unique bipedal bounding gait when moving across open ground, holding its arms aloft for balance. This species is primarily arboreal, inhabiting the dry deciduous forests & spiny thickets of southern & south-western Madagascar.
Dry deciduous forests, spiny thickets & gallery forests in southern & south-western Madagascar, particularly in areas with limestone karst outcrops known as tsingy.
Where to photograph
Where our trips feature this species
You can photograph Verreaux's sifaka with us in Madagascar.
These departures are part of our Africa programme.
In the field, David Miles helps guests make the most of these encounters.
Field notes
Photography notes
Early morning hours between dawn & 09:00 are ideal for photography, as sifakas are most active during this period. The dry season from April to October offers clearer skies & better visibility, while leaf-off conditions in deciduous forests during the dry season also improve sightlines through the vegetation.
Position yourself near favoured feeding trees in the early morning when sifakas are most active & light is soft, allowing for well-exposed shots without harsh shadows. Use a telephoto lens of at least 300mm to capture close-up portraits without disturbing the animals, as sudden movements will cause them to retreat into the canopy. When sifakas descend to the ground to travel between trees, anticipate their bounding movement by pre-focusing on a likely path & using a fast shutter speed of at least 1/1000s to freeze the action.
Available holidays
Trips featuring Verreaux's sifaka
The holidays below are pulled from the same species relationship, so the guide stays tied to live departures rather than becoming a static article.
