Madagascar has a mix of African and Asian roots with its first settlers arriving from Southeast Asia about 1,500 years ago. Malagasy remains an Austronesian language, and the blend is visible in the island’s culture, cuisine and rice-terraced Highlands.
The world’s fourth-largest island is widely recognised as one of the top five biodiversity hotspots in the world. Around 90% of its wildlife lives nowhere else, including over 100 lemur species and six of the world’s nine baobabs. UNESCO lists three World Heritage Sites: the Rainforests of the Atsinanana, including Masoala and Ranomafana National Parks; the Andrefana Dry Forests, including the Tsingy de Bemaraha; and the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga. Zafimaniry woodcrafting and village is also recognised as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Cactus Tours Madagascar has operated on the island since 1998. The Antananarivo-based company is 100% Malagasy-owned and licensed by the Ministry of Tourism. At the World Travel Awards 2026, it was named Madagascar’s Leading DMC and Leading Tour Operator, extending a winning streak since 2022. It also received Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice awards in 2025 and 2026.
The focus is authentic, rewarding travel. Native Malagasy staff lead every trip, built around the seasons. Community-based tours let guests meet villagers, and its social responsibility work supports local communities and the environment. Its birding brand, Birds & Birding Madagascar, seeks out the island’s endemic species.
For incentive and MICE groups, Cactus Tours organises meetings, conferences and events, from venue sourcing and gala dinners to team-building in national parks, with its own vehicle fleet and local suppliers. Trade partners get net rates, peak-season priority, a dedicated account manager and FAM trips, and travellers from Asia can reach Antananarivo with one connection.
