Madagascar Natural Tours Head office
Madagascar Natural Tours
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2013)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $55 to $145 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
Email Bruce | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Cannot Be Trusted At All
If you are seriously considering booking any tour with Madagascar Natural Tours, I would strongly recommend that you read this review before you do so.
We booked a 15-day birdwatching tour with Madagascar Natural Tours and started the booking process 9 months in advance.
On the Madagascar Natural Tours website, it showed all of what we were promised would be included in our tour, and Harilala,who is the owner of Madagascar Natural tours, confirmed all of the details.
However virtually every significant aspect of our tour that was promised to us was not provided to us,
We were promised and paid for a 15-day tour but we received only a 13- day tour. We had booked our flights to Madagascar about 6 months before our tour was scheduled to start. Then,one day prior to our scheduled flight to Madagascar, we received an urgent email stating that our flight had been canceled for safety reasons because of civil unrest and violent protests that were taking place in Madagascar. The airline also stated that they were not sure when they would resume flights. I contacted Harilala about this, and he assured me that it was still safe to come to Madagascar for our tour because we were not going to be in the places where the violent protests were taking place. I told him that most airlines had stopped flying to Madagascar and that the government of Madagascar had instituted night-time curfews so that only flights arriving in daytime hours could still land in Madagascar. I told him that I would look to see if there was any way we could still find a flight to Madagascar. Harilala told me to let him know if we could find a suitable flight and then he would try to change the hotel arrangements to reflect the new dates of arrival at each hotel. We were able to find a flight onEthiopian Airlines that would arrive a day and a half later than our original arrival flight and would arrive in the late afternoon. I gave this information to Harilala and he said he would check with all the hotels to make the changes necessary because our tour would be starting on a later date that was originally planned. I checked with Harilala on the following day and he told me that he had successfully changed all the booking dates for all of the hotels for all 15 days of our tour.
Then when we arrived at the Madagascar airport, we were met by someone who worked for Harilala and rushed to a vehicle, Then Harilala showed up briefly to introduce us to a driver who did not speak English and also to a supposed “full-time qualified birding guide”about whom Harilala told us was not really a birding guide, but that he would be with us anyway.Harilala then told us he had something else to do and ran off.
We then discovered that Harilala had not rescheduled any of our itinerary and hotel arrangements like he had told us he had done. He had decided on his own, without telling us or providing any explanation, that we were now starting on Day 3 of our tour itinerary instead of Day 1of our itinerary, Harilala had unilaterally eliminated the first 2 days of our 15-day tour without any advance notice or explanation, and without any recourse. This resulted in him taking away 2 days of our tour during which we would no longer have the opportunity to see the cultural and scenery sights, the birds and other wildlife that we had wanted to see.
We had been promised a comfortable airconditioned 4X4 vehicle for our tour, but what we got on our first day there was a beat-up van with a non-working air conditioner. When we complained about this, we were told that we would get the vehicle we had been promised in another 3 or 4 days. But the vehicle Harilala provided 4 days later was another older van (not a 4x4) which at least had a working air conditioner.
We were promised a full-time qualified birding guide that would be with us throughout our tour, but all we were given was a person who admittedly knew nothing about birds (who provided absolutely no relevant information regarding birds) and was with us for only the first 3 days days of our tour, After those first 3 days, we had no birding guide at all and had only a driver with us for the remainder of our tour. Considering that our tour promised that we would be stopping and trying to see birds as we traveled along from destination to destination, by not having a full-time qualified birding guide with us meant that we would miss out on seeing many species of birds that we should have seen, Keep in mind that Harilala had 9 full months from the time that we first paid a deposit for this tour to find and assign a qualified full-time birding guide to accompany us on this tour but he failed to do so.
We were promised that we would also have qualified local birding guides provided to us on 11 of the days of our tour, but the local guides that were provided were certainly not qualified to be birding guides. Except for 2 of them, the local birding guides that were chosen for us did not own or use binoculars. We have never met or heard of any legitimately qualified birding guide that did not own or use binoculars. Most of the local guides provided did not know the English names of the birds and had to repeatedly try looking up the names of the birds. They mis-identified the birds dozens of times. Two of the local guides did not speak understandable English. Incredibly, one of the local guides blatantly stated that he would not speak to us unless we bought lunch for him.
We were promised in our itinerary that all dinners and all breakfasts would be included in the price of our tour, but on 3 occasions when we checked in to our lodge or hotel, we were told that there was no record of these meals being included. On all 3 of these occasions, we had to ask them to contact Harilala to correct this so that our promised meals would be included. At the last hotel where we stayed, our reservation also had no record of meals being included. When they contacted Harilala about this, we were told by the hotel representative that Harilala deliberately chose the option where breakfast would be provided for only one of us, telling the hotel representative that the 2 of us could split the one breakfast. .
If you look at tour reports from other legitimate birding companies that offer birding tours in Madagascar that have followed the same itinerary as we did on our tour, you will find that a typical 2-week birding tour will result in seeing between 150-200 different bird species. On our tour, we only saw 102 different species. And the reason for that is because Hrilala, in addition to eliminating 2 days of our tour, failed to provide all the key elements that were promised to us, including a full-time qualified birding guide and truly qualified local birding guides.
Obviously, we tried again and again to contact Harilala about this. We made multiple telephone calls to Harilala, but he only answered one of them,and in that call ,he lied about many things. We sent many WhatsApp texts to him that were usually completely ignored, and if they were eventually answered, they were also full of lies and nonsensical explanations. For the last 3 days that we were in Madagascar, we repeatedly asked Harilala to meet with us in person to discuss what had transpired on our tour. He agreed to do so, and then on each of the next 3 days, he made us some excuse why he could show up.
Right after we returned home, we sent a detailed message to him explaining all the things that went wrong on our birding tour because of his failure to provide all that he had promised.We also requested a refund to make make up for the 2 days that he had eliminated form our tour and for not providing the full-time qualified birding guide that had been promised. Harilala said he would soon provide a response to this, and despite multiple further contacts with him over these last few months, he has never replied.
What makes this situation even worse is that Harilala could have warned us or told us in advance about these significant issues, but he never did. Harilala could have asked us if what he was doing would be acceptable, but he never did. Harilal could have offered us an explanation of why he made the choices he did about cutting short our tour and why the promised birding guides were not given to us, but he never did Harilala could have apologized to us for all these things, but he never did. Harilalla could have offered compensation or a refund for not providing what we had paid for, but he never did.
PLEASE BE WARNED: I would expect Harilala to respond to this review, and I expect that whatever he says will be the same kind of lies and fabrications that he has given to us. I believe that Hartilala is essentially a dishonest conman whose only goal is to make all the promises that you want to hear, then takes your money, and then fails to provide virtually anything that he promised,,
We would strongly suggest that you avoid booking any tour with Madagascar Natural Tours. There are many other tour providers in Madagascar that are honest and ethical and will deliver everything that they promise. Use one of them.
Reply from Madagascar Natural Tours
Posted on Jan 20, 2026We are genuinely sorry to read that this guest feels dissatisfied with their experience, and we regret that their perception of the tour differs so strongly from both the documented itinerary and the experience reported by the vast majority of our guests.
Madagascar Natural Tours has been operating for many years and has successfully organized hundreds of customized tours, including specialized birding itineraries, with consistently positive feedback from travelers, independent platforms, lodges, and professional guides. While we fully accept that no trip is ever perfect, we respectfully disagree with several statements made in this review and feel it is important to clarify a few key points for future travelers.
Tour duration and itinerary adjustments
The tour dates and number of nights were directly impacted by a last-minute international flight cancellation caused by external circumstances beyond our control. Alternative flights were found by the guests themselves, arriving significantly later than originally planned. As clearly explained at the time, adjustments were required to ensure the rest of the itinerary could still operate realistically and safely. At no point was there any intention to “remove” days arbitrarily, nor to withhold services that had been paid for.
Guides and birding expertise
Madagascar is internationally recognized for its highly skilled local nature and birding guides, many of whom work regularly with leading international birding companies. The guides assigned to this tour are experienced professionals who work with us repeatedly and receive excellent feedback.
Birding in Madagascar is highly location-specific and depends on season, weather, and field conditions. Species numbers vary greatly from one trip to another, even on identical itineraries, and no ethical operator can guarantee a fixed species count.
Vehicles and logistics
Vehicle assignments in Madagascar can occasionally require adjustment due to road conditions, availability, or safety considerations. Any temporary change was made to ensure continuity of the tour, and solutions were provided as quickly as possible.
Accommodation and meals
All accommodations were booked according to the confirmed agreement. Any occasional clarification needed at reception was resolved directly with the hotels, as is sometimes required in remote regions. At no point was there any instruction for guests to “share” meals, and we strongly reject this allegation.
Communication and follow-up
We acknowledge that communication during busy operational periods can sometimes be delayed, especially when multiple tours are running simultaneously in remote areas with limited network coverage. This is never intentional, and we regret if the guest felt insufficiently heard.
Madagascar Natural Tours is a licensed and locally established tour operator, working in close partnership with national parks, conservation organizations, lodges, and local communities. Our reputation has been built over many years through transparency, ethical practices, and genuine passion for Madagascar’s wildlife and people.
Out of hundreds of tours and reviews, this remains an isolated case, and we encourage future travelers to consider the overall body of feedback rather than a single experience.
We remain open to constructive dialogue and continuous improvement, and we thank all our guests—past and future—for placing their trust in us.
— Madagascar Natural Tours Management
SG
Email TS | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Knowledgeable and caring tour company
The tour operator was responsive and provide good advice for our questions for our trip. The tour operator boss, Mr Harilala even came to the airport to meet us and introduced us to our driver. The drivers that was assigned were knowledgeable and good drivers. They are timely and helpful. The cost of the tour is reasonable for the number of days for the tour.
Excellent and comprehensive service
We spent 2 weeks in Madagascar on a private tour. The drivers and guides were knowledgeable and articulate. The hotels chosen were top notch. Harilala met us at the airport and again between domestic flights. The price was very reasonable. Go for the best hotels, and use flights as much as possible as the roads are terrible, and bring good binoculars The rangers at the parks are well prepared to show where the lemurs are but they are high up in the trees
Email Carol | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
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.
Email Aliks | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
An excellent tour agent covering the whole of the island
Madagascar Natural Tours provided excellent support for our trip providing guides and transport in all regions of the island. I have no hesitation in recommending them for all types of trip, from seaside resort, to trekking, lemurs, birdwatching and more.
For everything that we asked for when planning our trip, they were flexible and helpful.
CH
Email tamara & alissa | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
absolutely great
Harilala made a special week for us in Madagascar and was even after our tour still in contact with as we had some questions not about the tour, but the country. he always answered fast and it was handeled easy over whatsapp. we had some issues as the political situation was not so good, but he changed hotels and kept us safe all the time. we really recommend booking with natural tours, was great! thank you Harilala!
Email Shauna P | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
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.
Email Lisa | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
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.
IT
Email Manuel | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible
We entrusted Harilala with our Madagascar tour, explaining what we wanted to see and visit. What can I say? He exceeded our expectations! Besides the wonderful tour, Solo and Fidele, our tour leaders, made the difference. We spent 20 days in Madagascar, and they flew by; everything was fantastic. We'll definitely be back to see the southernmost part of the country.
CA
Email Mark | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Outstanding & flexible support - before and during our trip
From initial communications, through itinerary changes to accommodate flights and interests, Harilala provided prompt, excellent service. Throughout the trip, the main and local guides had fantastic personalities and were excellent when managing rough roads and helping with challenging climbs. Pricing was very good value for what we received in both support and experiences. Madagascar is challenging but amazing and incredibly rewarding. And, don't miss the opportunity to eat at the Mad Zebu. Great food, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. I can't recommend Harilala and his team at Madagascar Natural Tours enough.