The park is known for its endemic flora and fauna, water falls and crater lakes.

[1] The park covers an area of 18,200 ha (45,000 acres) on an isolated volcanic massif, of mostly basaltic rock, above the surrounding dry region.

There are numerous rivers and streams and the park is a water catchment area for the town of Antsiranana, which is surrounded by dry, sparse forests and semi-desert with succulent plants.

On the trip up the mountain to the entrance of the park there are a few small villages and there is a lodge for guests at Joffreville.

There are plantations of Eucalyptus and exotic conifers, pines, Araucaria and an invasive alien bush, Lantana camara.