We spent the night in Ambanja, the gateway to the Sambirano Valley. Located in northwestern Madagascar along the Sambirano River, the town is a vibrant agricultural hub and the heart of the country’s organic cocoa production. The name “Ambanja” literally means “where there is powder.”
Historically, the region developed around colonial-era plantations and remains strongly influenced by the agricultural expertise of the Sakalava people, who are known for cultivating vanilla, ylang-ylang, coffee, and pepper. To this day, Ambanja is a major centre for traditional plantation agriculture, most notably the Millot Plantation, established in 1904 and renowned worldwide for its high-quality cocoa.
