2 days · East
Andasibe: Lemurs & Rainforest Trails
The short escape from Antananarivo: chameleons at Peyrieras, a night walk, and the indri, which call most mornings.
Tongasoa - welcome to Madagascar
Madagascar, guided by those who live there.
Private trips, planned around you. We reply within 24 hours.
Watch the film 2:19
Signature journeys
See all 8 trips
Discover Madagascar's top destinations
From two days in the rainforest to three weeks around the island. Every price below is per adult, private guide and vehicle included.
5 days · West
West: Baobabs and Tsingy
Sunset on the Avenue of the Baobabs, a night walk in Kirindy, and the limestone cathedrals of the Grand Tsingy.
11 days · North
Northern Madagascar: Beaches, Tsingy & Wildlife
The Three Bays, Montagne d'Ambre, the red Tsingy and Ankarana, finishing on the sand of Nosy Iranja.
10 days · East
Eastern Madagascar: Forests, Lakes & Islands
Indri in Analamazaotra, the Palmarium's friendly lemurs, the Pangalanes Canal, then ĂŽle Sainte-Marie.
11 days · South
Classic South, Expanded Version
The RN7 done properly: Andasibe, Ranomafana, Anja's ring-tailed lemurs, Isalo's canyons and the reef at Ifaty.
20 days · Island-wide
Ultimate Madagascar Adventure
Three weeks and nearly every landscape the island has: river cruise, Tsingy, baobabs, remote coast and southern parks.
The film
Madagascar, through local eyes
A two-minute journey across the island we call home: baobabs and Tsingy, lemurs and whales, music, food and the travellers we have guided. Narrated in English, French or Spanish.
Questions after watching? Christian answers personally.
Talk to Christian on WhatsAppPhoto credits
Film photography by Tongasoa Mada Tours, its guests, and 18 photographers on Unsplash: Alessandro Zanini, Chinh Le Duc, David Bruyndonckx, Falco Negenman, Guillermo Suarez, Hans-Jurgen Mager, iAko Randrianarivelo, karimjy LOULOUA, Marcelo Delgado, Noah Grossenbacher, Pierre Bamin, Rado Rafidinjatovo, Rafael Peier, Sam, Sandy Ravaloniaina, Sitraka Mamy Tantely Andriamialijaona, Tracy Winn, Yasmine Arfaoui. Globe imagery: NASA Earth Observatory (Blue Marble). Coastlines: Natural Earth.
What travellers say
Rated 5.0 by the people we guided
5.0 20 reviews, all Excellent See them all on Tripadvisor
We took a trip to Madagascar last August and being accompanied by our guide was, without a doubt, the best part of the experience. … If you go to Madagascar and want someone who not only knows the country like the back of his hand, but who also becomes a friend during the trip, look no further.
My husband and I made amazing memories during our travels with Christian. We felt incredibly fortunate to see so many different species of lemurs and chameleons, and every day brought something new and exciting…
We had an excellent stay with Christian. We appreciated his professionalism, good humor, and in-depth knowledge of the wildlife, flora, and traditions of Madagascar. He is a very good guide with whom we were able to discover many things…
Christian advised us on how to plan our custom trip to discover Madagascar. During the three weeks of travel, he was an excellent guide: always attentive and very caring to allow us to fully enjoy our trip, fostering beautiful encounters, and discovering the wildlife and flora of this magnificent country.
Christian prepared a “custom” 18-day stay with us to accompany us in discovering Madagascar. Christian is an excellent guide, attentive and adaptable to the wishes and expectations of his clients…
It's hard to describe beauty in words, because words can't convey feelings. Our guide Christian and driver Alphus were … very helpful and warm human beings :) … Highly recommended :)
Already the planning went smoothly, Christian always got in touch promptly via mail or WhatsApp and took all my wishes for the round trip into account. Already at the airport pickup I felt ver…
With Christian Major we had a good tour guide and organizer. My journey went from Antsirabe to Kirindy Forest, Tsingy de Bemaraha, Morondava to Ifaty beach. … That was great. It was a beautiful trip…
A caring guide, completely attentive to our wishes during 3 weeks in Madagascar. He knew how to surround himself with an excellent driver for a trouble-free trip.
A beautiful discovery of Madagascar rich in scenery and encounter. Christian is a very caring person who wants to give us a unique experience.
Super good tour, as the photos show, we had plenty of good experiences. We went on two long road trips, one to the north and one to the south. Christian was a good guide. We would not have been able to do it without him.
Welcome to Tongasoa Mada Tours
Your trusted partner for the wild side of Madagascar
A trek, a week by the sea, lemurs at dawn, or a bit of everything: we build the trip around what you actually want to see.
We are Malagasy, we live here, and we drive these roads every season. That means honest advice about what fits your dates, a private vehicle instead of a coach, and guides who can tell an indri call from a sifaka before you spot the tree.
Booking made simple
Three steps from idea to confirmed trip
No accounts, no deposits to ask a question. Send a request and a real person in Antananarivo answers it.
1
Pick a trip or tell us your idea
Choose one of our set journeys with its price, or describe the trip you have in mind. Everything we run is private and can be reshaped.
2
Send your dates
One short form: trip, start date and number of travellers. Send it to us right here or straight to our WhatsApp, whichever you prefer.
3
We confirm within 24 hours
You get a written itinerary, the final price for your group size, and the hotels we have held. Only then do you pay a deposit.
Wildlife and trekking
Four ways to meet Madagascar
Each of these can be a trip of its own, or a thread running through one of our journeys. Tell us which one pulls at you.
Lemur Safari
Indri at dawn, ring-tails on the rocks, sifakas in the dry forest: a trip built around the lemurs you most want to see.
Bird Watching
About 300 bird species, over 100 of them found nowhere else on Earth, including four entirely endemic families.
Reptiles & Insects
Well over 400 reptile species, most of them found nowhere else, from panther chameleons to leaf-tailed geckos.
Trekking & Hiking
Pic Boby, the canyons of Isalo, the hidden Makay Massif. The island is best met on foot.
90%
Unique wildlife
90% of species are endemic.
4,800 km
Coastline
From the reef at Ifaty to the sandbanks off Nosy Be.
6
Ecosystems
From rainforests to deserts.
7,000+
Whales
An estimated 7,000 to 9,000 humpbacks come to Madagascar's waters to breed.
Ready to explore
Madagascar welcomes you, and asks you to help protect it.
Wildlife found nowhere else, on an island that feels worlds away. We'll plan the trip around what you'd like to see.
18 ethnic groups, one island
Discover the culture of Madagascar
Step into the rich traditions and colourful customs of Madagascar: lively festivals, sacred places, delicious local food and art passed down for generations.
Traditional handicrafts
Wood and zebu horn carvingMalagasy artisans carve zebu horn and wood into bowls, combs, spoons and figurines entirely by hand. Ambositra in the central highlands is the capital of Malagasy woodcarving, and the carving tradition of the nearby Zafimaniry villages is recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
Hira Gasy
Highland music, dance and oratoryHira Gasy is the open-air folk theatre of the highlands around Antananarivo. Troupes in red costumes and white lamba shawls perform song, dance, drumming and kabary, the Malagasy art of speech, often competing with a rival troupe for the crowd's favour. Every show carries a lesson about family, respect and community.
Moraingy
Traditional martial artMoraingy is Madagascar's bare-fisted fighting art, most popular in the north and west of the island. Fighters face off in a ring formed by the spectators and trade short, fast bouts to the beat of drums and singing. It is a test of courage and skill, and a weekend gathering for the whole village.
Malagasy cuisine
Rice, laoka and street foodRice, or vary, is the heart of every Malagasy meal, served with a laoka on the side: romazava, the national stew of beef and leafy greens, ravitoto with pork and pounded cassava leaves, or slow-cooked zebu. Fresh lasary relishes add spice, and in the morning street stalls sell warm mofo gasy rice cakes.
Basket weaving
Raffia and reed craftsWeaving skills pass from mother to daughter all over Madagascar. Raffia palm fibre, sisal and reeds become baskets, hats, mats and bags, often dyed in bright colours. You will find them everywhere, from the La Digue craft market in Antananarivo to small roadside stalls in the countryside.
Savika
Zebu wrestlingSavika is the zebu wrestling of the Betsileo people in the southern highlands. Young men leap at a charging zebu and hold on to its hump for as long as they can while the village cheers from behind the fence. No weapons are used and the zebu is not killed: it is a show of courage and a young man's way to prove himself.
Questions
Who we are, and how booking works
Who is Tongasoa Mada Tours?
Tongasoa Mada Tours is a small, Malagasy-owned tour operator in Antananarivo, run by its founder, Christian Mayor, since 2019. We plan private trips across Madagascar, from two days in the rainforest at Andasibe to three weeks across the island, and we drive these roads every season. Tongasoa means “welcome” in Malagasy.
Why book with a local operator in Madagascar?
Because the people planning your trip live here. We drive these roads every season, we know which lodge has hot water and which park guide will find the indri fastest, and we would rather tell you honestly that a route doesn't work in February than sell you a bad week. Park guides and community reserves are booked and paid directly, which is how the reserves stay funded.
How does booking work?
Choose one of our set trips or describe the trip you have in mind, then send the trip, your start date and the number of travellers through the booking form or on WhatsApp. A real person in Antananarivo answers, usually within 24 hours, with a written itinerary, the final price for your group size and the hotels we have held. Only then do you pay a deposit.
Can you plan a trip that isn't one of your set itineraries?
Yes. Almost everything we run is tailor-made. Tell us roughly what you want, say the lemurs or landscapes you came for and how many days you have, and we'll build the itinerary around it. If you're still deciding where to go, our guide to the best places to visit in Madagascar is a good place to start.
Which languages can I plan my trip in?
You can plan your trip with Christian in English, French or Spanish. On the road, our set trips come with an English-speaking driver-guide, and local park guides walk with you inside the national parks.
Plan your trip
Planning guides from our team
Madagascar itineraries for 1, 2 or 3 weeks
What fits in one, two or three weeks, with real drive times and the combinations that waste days on the road.
How much does a trip to Madagascar cost?
What a private Madagascar trip costs, what our prices include, and what goes on top: flights, the visa, meals and tips, plus park fees if you travel on your own.
The best time to visit Madagascar, month by month
Month by month and region by region: dry roads, cyclones, the Tsingy's short season, whales, lemur babies, birds and chameleons.
Is Madagascar safe for tourists?
What the US, UK, Canadian and French advisories say (October 2026), and what to actually do about crime, night roads, malaria and cyclones.
Madagascar's national parks: which ones to visit
Andasibe-Mantadia, Ranomafana, Isalo, the Tsingy, the north and the remote parks: what each is for, how long to give it, the months that work and the trips that go there.
The best beaches in Madagascar, and when to go
The beaches worth building a trip around, from the Nosy Iranja sandbar to Anakao, with the dry months for each coast, honest notes on swimming, and the trips that finish on the sand.
Still deciding?
Tell us roughly what you want. We'll build the rest.
Send your dates and a sentence about your ideal trip. You'll get a written itinerary and a firm price for your group, usually the same day.
