Madagascar: attacking the Red Island | Roads of the impossible

National Route 5a is only national in name. This is how we can qualify the section of road that connects Ambilobe, in the North-West of the Big Island, to Vohémar, in the North-East. It is a 160 km track, nicknamed "the track from hell". During the months of January and February, in the rainy season, it is difficult to pass. The track then becomes a real obstacle course which is normally done in two or three days, but which often can take more than 15 days. Ruts. Mud pools. At times, the track is too narrow to allow two trucks to pass. This is one of the reasons that prevents buses from using this route.
However, it is the only road to reach the coast of vanilla at the edge of the Indian Ocean. A handicap for the whole North, one of the largest economic areas in the country, because the state of the road blocks the flow of vanilla and many minerals from the region. The problem with the RN 5 comes from the lack of maintenance. Over time, it gets worse and worse. The State seems to have forgotten this economic axis, further mistreated by large goods transport vehicles n: gaping holes, multiple deviations… The poor condition of the road affects the life of the region. For example, to transport their fruits and vegetables, farmers have to use dhows (boats), to be sure of selling them in the capital.
00:00 The documentary
15:48 Approved car
16:04 The horse man
24:56 The driver breaks down
29:01 On the verge of breaking point
32:20 40 euros per month salary
36:01 3000 liters of rum
40:05 Hold on as long as possible to the hump of the zebu
43:35 When the cooling radiator fails
Director: Daniel Laine, David Geoffrion