4 / 5 - One review
How to get there
80 km from Sambava by car
When to go
Between April and October (dry season). Hurricane danger between late December and mid-April.
Minimum stay
One day
Antalaha (Madagascar)
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Flickr cc urza
Practical information on Antalaha
Reviews of Antalaha
Welcome to the vanilla capital. Antalaha,which was still a village in the 19th century, is now a prosperous town, thanks to the introduction of vanilla at the start of the 20th century.
My suggestion:
Buy one or two pods to add flavour to your cakes upon your return to England!
My review
In the middle of the 18th century, vanilla was imported to Madagascar. Centuries have passed and yet the pollination of this orchid, with a perfume and flavour valued worldwide, continues to be done by hand. Madagascar vanilla represents more than 50% of worldwide vanilla production... It's therefore difficult to ignore its importance when you discover the Red Island.
In Antalaha, the streets are full of pods laid out to dry in the sun. Experts say that the vanilla industry is just as secretive as the diamond industry. So visiting Antalaha is an opportunity to penetrate this world of sweet perfume!
It's also nice to stroll in the town to see the rich villas, some of which have kept their colonial look, or to visit the dhow production sites.
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Flickr cc urza
194 travelers' photos
