VANILLA AND CHOCOLATE – 8 DAYS

From 4 to 12 persons.

Cocoa from Madagascar, a richness that is too little known and exploited.

We invite you on a journey of discovery and tasting of one of the best chocolates in the world.

It all starts in Tana with the meeting of manufacturers established for several generations and the visit of the factories. Ambanja, opposite Nosy Be, is the main cocoa growing site, we visit plantations and processing areas.

Madagascar is the main producer of vanilla and provides 75% of world production.

Meeting with the small producers of the island of Nosy Komba.

Highlights

Travel identity card

• Duration: 8 days
• Participant: From 4 persons
• Guiding: English-speaking Malagasy guide
• Accommodation: Standard or superior hotel
• Transport: 4×4 or bus
• Period: all year round

• Effort = 1

  “Easy”This trip is accessible to all. However, we ask you to be healthy.
  It is a journey of discovery and short hikes are scheduled for site visits.
  Madagascar is large, the steps in a vehicle can sometimes be a little long.

• Confort = 4

  “Standard”All nights are in hotels. The accommodations and/or the hotel are good categories and equivalent to 2 or 3 stars international standards.
  Dinner in restaurant, lunch at the restaurant and / or picnic.
  Travel take place in comfortable vehicle on roads and/or on relatively good tracks.

Day 1: Antananarivo – Chocolaterie Robert

After breakfast, factory tour of Chocolaterie Robert in Antananarivo. It all started in the big city of the province of Tamatave, on the east coast of Madagascar, where a couple Reunion, the “Roberts”, decided to settle down and found a small artisanal chocolate unit. It was the beginning of the year 1940. The chocolate factory was processed cocoa from Madagascar, which at that time was concentrated on the vast plains of Brickaville. Around 1948, the Roberts handed over the chocolate factory to a French colonist who decided to set up the small unit with his sugar confectionery, already installed in Antananarivo, the capital of  Madagascar. After Malagasy independence, the settlers gradually left the Big Island and the nationalization of the economy began. Consequently, in 1977, the Robert chocolate factory passed from the Berger family, the last settler owner, to the Ramanandraibe family, one of the first Malagasy families who actively contributed to the postcolonial economic and industrial revival of Madagascar. From that year, the management of the Robert chocolate factory became entirely Malagasy and it was part of a group of about ten companies, the Ramanandraibe Group. We will witness the unfolding of the industrialization of chocolate.

Then in the afternoon, visit the Gallery Lisy Art to see the different types of tastes and flavors of Chocolaterie Tsara. Tsara is a word from Madagascar which means “good”: it is also the name they call the cocoa bean. We will have the opportunity to see the different tastes of Tsara chocolate such as: Dark chocolates with orange, with a burst of fleur de sel beans, subtle and deep, infinite and fine aromatic milk chocolates, with exquisite hazelnut and arabica cappuccino coffee and also to taste them.

Return to the hotel at the end of the day.

• Duration: Full day

Day 2: Antananarivo – Ambohimanga

Walking and around Ambohimanga. Ambohimanga is the name of one of the twelve sacred hills that surround Antananarivo. It is located about 21 km from the center of Antananarivo. It means Blue Hill. On this hill is built the ancient city, cradle of the Merina kingdom. It was in this city that King Imboasalama was born who, after the conquest of Antananarivo, became King Andrianampoinimerina, literally prince desired by Imerina. At the top of the hill is the Rova, a fortified enclosure which contains the hut where King Andrianampoinimerina lived from 1788 to 1810; two wooden pavilions with a floor where Queens Ranavalona I and Ranavalona II came to stay; an ox park and the sacred pools where the queens bathed. Little anecdote, the wall of the enclosure is covered with a coating made from eggs. Since 2001, the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List on the basis of cultural criteria. 

Then return to the hotel at the end of the day.

• Duration: 2h drive
• Distance: 380 km

Day 3: Antananarivo > Nosy Be > Nosy Komba

Breakfast at the hotel then transfer to the airport.

Flight to Nosy Be.

Reception at the airport and transfer by car to Hellville, then speedboat to the small island of Nosy Komba opposite Nosy Be.

• Duration: 1h15 flight + 45 min speedboat

Day 4: Nosy Komba – COCOA day in Ambanja 

After breakfast facing the sunrise, short boat trip in the cool of the morning to reach the mainland. The day is devoted to the discovery of the Sambirano region which, since colonization, has concealed immense treasures: cocoa, spices and perfumed plants. From the Ankify pier, short transfer by 4X4 to meet the director of the MAVA plantation (Robert + TAF) who explains the secret of the grands crus that make Malagasy cocoa world famous as well as all the stages of its transformation from pod to the bean. Short tour in the town of Ambanja, a lively town which is at the heart of this agricultural area. Continuation of the visit to the Matsaborilava distillery in the company of Patrick Colin. This enthusiast of spices, fragrances and aromatherapy was able to create his activity here which exports essential oils all over the world: vetiver, patchouli, cinnamon, pepper, ginger, cloves… Return in the afternoon to the boat and Nosy Komba.

• Duration: 2 x 30 min speedboat

Day 5: VANILLA day in Nosy Komba

Short transfer by boat to the village of Anjiabe, whose inhabitants are both sea and mountain oriented. It is that apart from its magnificent deserted beaches and its small fishing villages, the volcanic island of Nosy Komba constitutes an exceptional terroir for vanilla planifolia, the vanilla of which Madagascar remains the first producer in the world. It’s a real walk in the mountains with Mahariziky Armand, founding member of the cooperative, which allows you to explore its plots, real gardens of Eden where the precious orchid grows in the middle of fruit trees and other spices. The steep path also allows you to admire, thanks to a gap in the forest, pretty views of the sea with the Malagasy coast in the background. Return on foot to the village.

• Duration: Full day

Day 6: Visit Lemuria Land in Nosy Be 

After breakfast, we will visit the Lemuria Land Park. It is a natural and botanical reserve in the middle of the hundred-year-old ylangs which made the reputation of the island of Nosy Be Madagascar and of a luxuriant vegetation. This visit will take you to discover the endemic fauna and flora of Madagascar, of course a wide variety of endemic lemurs.

The visit will be followed by the discovery of the distillation of the SPPM (Société des Produits à Parfums de Madagascar) founded by the missionary Fathers in 1889, and the world’s leading producer of ylang-ylang, with modern stills. A presentation of all the essential oils of Madagascar and many new products in our small distillation museum.

Return to Nosy Komba at the end of the day.

• Duration: 2 x 45 min speedboat

Day 7: Day at leisure in Nosy Komba

Free day to enjoy the hotel, the beach and the activities and excursions offered by your hotel.

Day 8: Nosy Komba > Nosy Be > Antananarivo

Transfer to the airport.

Flight to the capital.

• Duration: 45 mins in a speedboat + 1h15 flight