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'''Ambanja is the capital town of the district by the same name in the northwest of Madagascar. The town is located along the beautiful [[Sambirano]] River, about 20 kilometres from the Mozambique Channel, southeast of [[Nosy Be]] island.'''
Ambanja is the heart of the Sambirano region, which comprises the area along the course of the Sambirano River, from the [[Tsaratanana Massif]] down to [[Ampasindava Bay]]. The climate of the region is tropical with regular, almost daily rainfall, providing ideal conditions for farming. The surroundings of Ambanja are characterised by many lush green plantations. About 60% of the population live from farming, and the most important crop is cacao. Other important crops include vanilla, ylang-ylang, coffee, pepper and rice. One of the biggest cacao plantations in the area is the [[Millot Plantation]].
<!--Industry provide employment for about 26% and the services sector for about 2%. Approximately 10 percent of the population make a living from fishing.-->
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The town of Ambanja itself offers only a few attractions. Near the northern entrance of the town there is a big open-air fruit market. Along the town's main road a vast number of stalls are set up, selling second hand clothes, cooking equipment and other useful things. At the other end of the town is a smaller, roof-covered fruit market (Bazar Be) just next to the [[taxi-brousse]] station. A few minutes walk from there a bridge leads over the wide Sambirano River.
Ambanja is best reached via Nosy Be, from where boats depart to [[Ankify|Ankify harbour]]. From Ankify it is about 18km to Ambanja. A drive by taxi-brousse from [[Antananarivo]] to Ambanja takes between 18 and 24 hours. The car ride from Ambanja to [[Diego Suarez]] (Antsiranana) (240km) along the [[RN6]] takes between 3 and 4 hours. <!-- ??? There is a domestic airport but which is currently not served by [[Air Madagascar]] (March 2012). -->
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== Internet ==
Hôtel Bougainvilleas (or Bougainvillier), Sambirano (tel: +261 86 920 60), Chez Sachine, Le Cocotier, Salama Rose, Moderne, Le Roxy Hôtel Salama, Rose Hôtel (BP. 54 Ambaibo, Ambanja), Les Cocotiers Hôtel,
Relax Hôtel Restaurant (BP. 25 Tsaramandroso, Ambanja), Flores, Kofmad, Le Palmier d'Or, Riviera.
<googlemap version="0.9" lat="-13.682923" lon="48.452604" type="satellite" zoom="16" controls="large">
-13.68285, 48.452539
Ambanja town centre
</googlemap>
== Additional information ==
* View all [[Ambanja photos]]
* [http://www.diana.gov.mg www.diana.gov.mg] Homepage of the Diana region of which Ambanja is a part.
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