My family and I enjoyed a fantastic 7-day stay at Au Domnatur in January. We stayed in 2 magnificent, roomy, and comfortable bungalows surrounded by the rainforests of Ranomafana. Jerome, the gentleman in charge while we stayed, was an excellent host: kind, considerate, friendly, and helpful. We really enjoyed his company and the walks he took with us into the village where he introduced us to his friends and taught us some useful Malagasy slang. At one point, when my cousins had to get to Fianarantsoa early in the morning and the taxi brusse they had booked broke down , Jerome ran all the way into the village at top speed at 5 am to find them an alternate lift. He always went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed, arranging lifts to the national park, coordinating with local guides, and making local phone calls for us. Jerome is a true gem. And the hotel itself... amazing! We were half-joking that we saw more animals in and around the grounds of Au Domnatur than in the national park! One morning a gorgeous boa was lounging right outside our bungalow; tree frogs and bright-eyed frogs were in abundance; neon-green day geckos scampered over the patios; one night the guard found a giant tenrec a few feet from the bungalow and rushed to tell and show us!; stupendously large mantids grace the shutters and banisters at night trying to catch flying insects; and magnificent caterpillars munch the prolific vegetation. The walk from Au Domnatur to the village is about 20 minutes long, and at night walking that stretch of road my daughter and I spotted many chameleons, tree frogs, water snakes, and fat-tailed dwarf lemurs. Au Domnatur is heaven for anyone who has come to Ranomafana to enjoy the sights and sounds of the rainforest, spot amazing animals and plants, and enjoys waking up to an amazing view of lush green forest through the huge glass windows of a bungalow. Are there steps in the grounds leading to the bungalows as some reviewers have complained of? Yes. Steps are essential when an amazing hotel has been built on the side of a green, heavily forested mountain (they're probably just as essential when the the mountain is rocky and bare, to be fair). Are they onerous and difficult to manage? No. If my 76-year-old mother can manage them 10x + a day while also carrying her loaded rucksack and hiking gear, then most people should have very little to complain about. The steps lead down to the river, and it's fun and rewarding to wander up and down them looking for unusual insects, amphibians, and reptiles. Au Domnatur also provides excellent laundry service and packed lunches for those going on all-day hikes in the national park. Wifi is in the reception/bar area. It's about a 20-minute walk into town to the market, bars and restaurants; 25 min or so to the thermal baths; and around an hour's walk to the arboretum. In the opposite direction, it's about an hour's walk up to the national park entrance. To s
