Originally, in 1998, Ilakaka (officially known as Antohan' Ilakaka) was merely a plain distinguished by a small dam across a river. The discovery of a sapphire deposit sparked a genuine rush to this desolate stretch of land some twenty kilometers south of Ranohira along Route National 7.

Before the first prospectors arrived, Ilakaka consisted of barely half a dozen houses made from plant materials. Since then, people from all corners of Madagascar have descended upon the town with one idea in mind: to strike it rich with precious stones. Ilakaka has become an essential hub for the sapphire trade. Sri Lankans and Thais have settled here and opened shops to buy and sell stones.

Over two decades, life in Ilakaka has gradually taken shape, though housing remains precarious. The town has become a magnet for merchants of every stripe. They come from Befeto, Tulear, and Fianarantsoa. Locally, various activities have emerged, including trade, craftsmanship for construction, and even food and beverage. Ilakaka still carries the aura of a Wild West frontier town. The deposit, which has been worked for two decades, continues to yield stones. These are sold from tens of thousands of Ariary to several hundred thousand Euros.

Ilakaka, One of the World's Largest Sapphire Fields

Ilakaka is rich in sapphires—blue, pink, and yellow in their natural state. The site is considered one of the world's largest sapphire deposits. Across the 30 km² exploitation zone, sapphires are extracted from cavities measuring 25 meters in diameter and 7 to 8 meters deep. Other prospecting occurs in much narrower shafts that are especially hazardous. Each dealer operating a shop pays a small fee to the municipality. Currently, roughly a hundred precious stone merchants are counted in Ilakaka.

Bernard CONCHON - DETOURS MADAGASCAR