Ambanja
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 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 surrounding of Ambanja is 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.
The town of Ambanja itself offers only a view attractions. Near the northern entrance of the town there is a big fruit market. Along the town's main street a vast number of stalls are set up, selling second hand cloth, cooking utensils and other useful things. At the other end of the town is a smaller, covered fruit market (Bazarbe), just next to the taxi-brousse station. A few minutes from there a bridge leads over the huge Sambirano River.
Ambanja is best reached via Nosy Be, from where boats depart to 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.
Accommodation in Ambanja
Hôtel Bar Restaurant Palma Nova
Tel: +261 320 461 121 or +261 (0)20 86 500 41
Email: nosyvelo@yahoo.fr
Website: www.hotel-nord-madagascar.com
La Timonière
Tel: 86 935 32 or cellphone 032 41 172 75 / 032 02 379 09
Email: N/A
Hôtel Patricia
B.P 176 Place de l'Oua
Ambanja 203
Tel: 01 43 84 21 69
Email: N/A
Ylang-Ylang
MG-203 Ambanja
Tel: +261 3207 208 87
Email: N/A
Diamant 10
Lot 01-06-AC 0020
Ankatafahely
MG-203 Ambanja
Tel: +261 20 86 50259 or +261 32 04 58466
Email: N/A
Other hotels with missing details:
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.
Additional information
- www.diana.gov.mg Homepage of the Diana region of which Ambanja is a part.