Reviews of MADAGASCAR NATURAL TOURS

Determined to ensure the best experiences possible

Beginning well in advance of our travel to Madegascar, we had repeated communications with the company. This interaction not only answered many of our questions about what to expect and how to prepare, but also it gave us confidence in the choice we had made for our tour operator. That certainly allowed us to feel more comfortable as we prepared to traverse halfway around the globe. Because we were arriving on different days from Australia and the USA, Harilala, the owner, began our tour by having to coordinate different pick up times. Complicating this was the cancellation and rescheduling of my flight from Australia; nonetheless, he was at the airport to ensure I was met. The following morning, he shepherded us through the domestic terminal to our flight to the coast for our eagerly anticipated visit to the Baobab Alley. The local guide he provided was exceptional. The experiences and interactions with local residents he managed truly enhanced the grandeur of these extraordinary trees. Two days later, we learned that Madegascar Airlines had canceled the return flight and it appeared that we would be forced to wait four days to return to the capital. Such a delay would have cost us much of our anticipated touring. Through his flexibility, Harilala arranged for the guide to drive us back to the capital. While this was a two day trip our treacherous roads, it provided an opportunity to see much of the country that otherwise would have been missed. Harilala’s making the best of a very bad situation actually worked to our advantage since it gave us the opportunity to experience different regions of Madagascar that we would have never known. Once we were back in the capital, we prepared for our visit to the national parks in search of lemurs. These several days were the BEST. We never envisioned there could be so many different varieties of these beautiful animals. Trekking through the rainforest both during the day and night allowed us to experience the animals and their natural environment. The guides who were provided insured again that we used our time most expeditiously and discovered the lemurs in their natural habitats. The accommodations that were provided for us throughout our tour exceeded our expectations. We never would have thought that a couple of these hotels could exist in some of the locales. We really anticipated that we would be “roughing it” in the national parks but were most pleasantly surprised. In summary, we feel we were handsomely rewarded for having chosen Madagascar Natural Tours. The attention to detail and the extra efforts provided by both the management and the several guides with whom we worked were a superb return on our investment of tour dollars

Lynne

Took care of everything!

We had a fabulous time with a private vehicle, kind attentive staff, and we saw so many lemurs! it was the perfect vacation in a beautiful setting. They were informative and so helpful throughout the entire trip. No complaints!

Sam

Truly outstanding, every detail was perfect for an unforgettable experience!

I had a truly wonderful experience with Madagascar Natural Tours. From start to finish, everything was thoughtfully organized and professionally handled. The tailor-made itinerary allowed me to experience all the major highlights of Madagascar at a comfortable and well-paced rhythm, perfectly balancing travel days with exciting activities. The guides and my driver were absolutely excellent: knowledgeable, friendly, and always ensuring I was enjoying myself. They even introduced me to some local restaurants, adding to the travel experience. The accommodations and locations throughout the tour were consistently of good quality and well-situated. Special thanks to Harilala, who was incredibly helpful both during the planning and the trip itself. He was always available to answer any questions and made me feel well taken care of at every step. I highly recommend Madagascar Natural Tours to anyone looking to explore this beautiful country.

Martijn

Great tour operator for tailor-made tours!

We had an 8-day tour from Antsirabe to Ifaty including a flight back to Tana with Madagascar Natural Tours. Harilala took care of the driver, all the hotels and activities for the whole week. It was a beautiful trip in a beautiful country and we had a very nice driver (Christian) who took great care of us during the trip from Antsirabe to Ifaty. I would definitaly recommend booking your Madagascar Tour with Madagascar Natural Tours, especially if you want to have a say in your itinerary, Harilala listens to your wishes and makes them come true!

Britta

Professionalism At Its Finest

In October 2025, I completed a fantastic tour with Madagascar Natural Tours. The itinerary included three days in beautiful Andasibe Park as well as multiple days on the west coast in Kirindy Forest and Tsingy. For wildlife viewing, Andasibe was unmatched. The lush rainforests, the quiet atmosphere, and the sheer amount of lemurs (in particular, the haunting indris and mischievous diademed sifaka) leaping through the trees was simply breathtaking. The drier forest of Kirindy provided close-up encounters with brown lemurs, who leapt from branch to branch at eye-level, unbothered by their human fans. It was a perfect mix and sampling of this wildlife-packed country. The eight hour bumpy drive to Tsingy proved to be worth it 100 times over as well. Note that the drive to Tsingy and the climb up are not for the faint of heart. But when in Madagascar, one must go. The limestone cliffs caught by sunlight and dotted with treetops is a view I will never forget. All in all, Madagascar is in a realm all of its own for wildlife and nature. Plus, each lodging location selected by this tour company was wonderful (be sure to request Relais de Mantadia when in Andasibe - it was so peaceful, the utilities were excellent, and it was perfectly located near the park). With regards to the specifics of Madagascar Natural Tours: my driver for the east, Harrison, and my driver for the west, Mr. Mahefa, were exceptional. They were both extremely punctual EVERY DAY, friendly, helpful, dependable, and always ready to make the long journeys to and from the parks more enjoyable. As a solo female traveler, I can say without hesitation that the drivers are the most important factor for safety and comfort throughout a tour - they are the connection to every lodge and every guided walking tour and can really make or break the trip. Harrison and Mr. Mahefa were fantastic. I cannot thank them enough for their professionalism. While all of the above made Madagascar Natural Tours stand out as a wonderful tour company, Madagascar Natural Tours truly shone bright when things did NOT go as planned. A cancelled international flight, rescheduled domestic flight, and civil unrest that led to the dissolution of the government all happened during my trip. All potentially could have derailed my tour of Madagascar, but did not. And they did not because Mr. Harilala seamlessly adjusted my itinerary to ensure my safety, while still prioritizing my desire to see the fantastic parks of Madagascar. The first hiccup happened when my connecting flight to Madagascar was cancelled and rescheduled for the next day. Because everything in the itinerary was booked in advance, that meant I would not be able to make my domestic flight to the west as planned. Over the course of the evening (and while I was stranded in Addis Ababa), Mr. Harilala was able to rearrange my itinerary based on the availability of other domestic flights and lodges, ensuring I still visited the parks I wanted to, but rearranged the order of the park visits and made minor changes to the amount of days I would be in each park. This was an incredible feat to accomplish in so little time - for while every lodge and domestic flight had been booked, everything was changed and ready to go prior to my arrival in the country. Importantly, Mr. Harilala was present at the airport with Harrison upon my arrival into Madagascar and explained in detail the changed itinerary, putting my mind at ease that everything had been worked out. The biggest test, however, arrived in the form of civil unrest when I drove into Tana with Harrison after leaving Andasibe. Because of the protests and accompanying road blocks, Harrison and I were stuck on the street for hours, unable to reach the hotel, and unable to to leave the area. Of course, this was unprecedented. But with Harrison’s patience and intuition for keeping the client safe, and Mr. Harilala finding a last-minute alternative hotel outside of the city, we were able to safely make it to another hotel and resume the itinerary - which had to be adjusted AGAIN because of a rescheduled domestic flight due to the protests. And yet, I was able to STILL make it to Kirindy Park for multiple walking tours, leading to some fantastic lemur sightings! Overall, suffice to say that the professionalism of Madagascar Natural Tours was strenuously tested during my stay in Madagascar. And this tour company came out on top. By prioritizing client safety, selecting lodges that were beautiful and client-focused, employing such personable, responsible drivers, and always keeping in mind the client’s ultimate desire to see the natural beauty of this country, Madagascar Natural Tours has proven to be the best of the best. For these reasons, I highly recommend Madagascar Natural Tours for all of your Madagascar adventures.

Shauna P

Well organized and professional in responding to emails

I chose Harilala Madagascar Natural Tours because he understood my request and responded so well on all my back to back emails. The hotel in Antananarivo and Lodge in Andsibe were perfect and the trip to the Lemurs was amazing. I loved every minute of my stay in Madagascar. Jocelyn the guide was so helpful too. Thank you Harilala and the team.

Virgo Immaculate Ssempebwa Munting

Harilala is dedicated to his clients and their experience.

I really can’t imagine a better value than Madagascar Natural Tours. We saw so many things it’s hard to put into words. Madagascar is such a huge country. It would take years to see it all. But our group felt like th two week trip provided us with a solid foundation and impressions and memories that will last a lifetime.

Greg

Good reliable operator providing a quality trip.

We travelled through Madagascar for 4 weeks with Madagascar Natural Tours. We enjoyed reliable and punctual service and had guides that were considerate of our preference to see wildlife in the National Parks. The roads are terrible, but our driver was always considerate of our comfort and tried to make it as smooth as possible.

Lisa

Accommodating and very knowledgeable

What a special time, place and country. As I reflect on the past few weeks I am reminded that the world is such a beautiful and big place and there is so much to be seen. Harilala, Lucas, Des and all those we met here have been special. This country has a special place in my heart. Its beauty, diversity and culture is something that can’t be matched. I will cherish these memories forever and always think of how I felt safe, loved and respected here. Let this be my mantra going forward “never let money stop you from doing something special”.

Nicholas Thompson

Great tour, great value, helpful and understanding

31 day custom tour for birds and wildlife. Had great guides and drivers, thanks. Harilala was lovely and organised tour well, always on hand for questions etc. Quick response always. 166 species of birds, lots of chameleon and lemurs plus aye aye and fossa. Fantastic.

Carol