Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
AMBANJA & AROUND
Ambanja
POP 30,000
Ambanja is a small, tree-lined town on the Sambirano River, and the junction for overland
travel to and from Nosy Be. It is famous for its large cocoa, spice and vanilla plantations,
some of which can be visited.
Millot Plantations
FARM
(
www.cananga.fr
;
4hr tours €10) Madagascar is famed for its vanilla and its spices but did
you know that it also produces one of the world's finest cocoa? This beautiful plantation,
established in 1904, is a leading producer of organic cocoa, spices and essential oils, and a
visit to this little slice of paradise is not only highly informative but a true festival of the
senses: with a backdrop of stunning scenery, the formidable Mado, your guide, will invite
you to taste or smell every plant on the farm, from the lychee-like raw cocoa beans straight
out of their husk to potent green peppercorns soaking in brine and vinegar. You'll also poke
your nose in the distillery, where ylang-ylang essential oils or freshly picked vetiver roots
will fight for your olfactory attention.
The plantation's main products are cocoa, spices (combava, or wild lemon; four spice;
pepper; chilli etc) and perfume plants (ylang-ylang, vetiver, lemongrass, palmarosa,
patchouli etc), and over the course of the visit, you'll see how each plant is grown, picked
andprocessed(distilleryforperfumeplantsandpreparationareasforcocoaandspices).Mil-
lot is entirely organic and employs more than 800 people, the majority of them women. The
plantation also supports the village school, which most of the employees' children attend.
At the end of the visit, you can have lunch at the gorgeous old
farmhouse
(3-course meal
incl drinks €15), where you'll be served dishes prepared with products from the plantation,
including a wondrous chocolate cake with a vanilla cream. Make sure you try Mado's ex-
quisite chocolate-flavoured rum (made with the plantation's cocoa, of course) before you
head off.
Because the plantation spreads over 15 sq km, you'll need a vehicle. If you don't have
your own, you can hire the plantation's for the length of your visit (€50). It is also possible
to sleep at the farmhouse, where there are simple and atmospheric rooms (d €50, including
dinner).
