The Harsh Realities of Our 2024 Madagascar Expedition: In Videos

“I don’t think it was made for people to drive on it,” says Nawar, referring to the RN5.

On Nomadic Road’s Madagascar expedition, we spend seven out of eleven days tackling the RN5 highway. Known for its stint in the Dakar Rally, this route is notorious. The roads are nightmares, if they can even be called roads. Expect it all — river crossings, stretches of deep sand, slippery red clay, steep ascents, and rugged rocks.

“Driving on the RN5 is like driving in the dark,” says Ash. 

Now throw in nature hazards and broken pontoons. Nawar and Ash, like all other travellers, had no clue that 2024 Madagascar would be one of Nomadic Road’s most dangerous expeditions. They had no idea what they were getting into.

“This is not a place where tourists go. I haven’t seen a tourist in six days,” says Fakhreldin.

So, why embark on such an expedition? Where so much can go wrong and predictability is nonexistent? How do travellers cope when things go sideways? For partakers, is this what adventure is all about?

— those who participated and persisted on our recent island adventure.

The expedition drew in people from all walks of life. Different nationalities, ages, and backgrounds. Why Madagascar? Their responses varied, but one thing was clear — each one of them craved something wild and untamed.

An Adventure That Breaks the Mould

Madagascar’s RN5 ranks among the world’s most dangerous roads for a reason. This challenging route runs alongside the Indian Ocean, demanding navigation through 13 river crossings by boat or makeshift ferry. In the rainy season, floods render sections impassable, challenging the very concept of a "national route."

“When you first encounter it and think, 'This is a national route,' it (seems) contradictory,” says Jack, a traveller on the expedition. He describes the RN5 as looking like a path someone deliberately destroyed. “But this is what we came out for — to encounter problems, to go through them, to go around them, to go in them.”

For those daring enough to face it, RN5 reveals remote, off-the-beaten-path landscapes. Crisp, raw beauty stretches for miles — palm tree forests, vast ocean views, pristine white sand coastlines, hidden clove and vanilla plantations, and the haunting calls of Indri lemurs.

A “Refreshingly Tough Grind”

Sunny describes the expedition he just completed in three words.

For many, it's hard to imagine why someone would choose such dangerous expeditions when a comfortable holiday could leave you feeling truly rested. But that's the thing. Those who choose adventures like these are drawn to the grind Sunny describes.

The arduous experience is the allure. The tribulations are the incentives. To encounter problems is to succeed.

In the video, participants recount the myriad challenges they faced — from pooping in the wilderness to navigating treacherous roads and the constant uncertainty of whether they were going to make it to their destination.

Yet, it's all a welcome departure from the ordinary, with rewards that are plentiful, to say the least. These include the expected, such as the adrenaline rush from conquering roads that even seasoned drivers find daunting.

But there are also unexpected rewards, like the overwhelming hospitality of the Malagasy people or the thrill of witnessing the Milky Way after a tough day. "For me, this was one of the most sublime experiences I’ve ever had. I was expecting to look at the road, not the sky," says Jack.

Cut Short? Altered? Still Worth It.

Due to landslides and a broken pontoon, the final section of the RN5 was impassable during our 2024 expedition. We had no option but to cut it short. Instead of driving, we arranged for two boats to get out of there.

Was it disappointing not to reach the finish line? Absolutely. But such is the reality of adventure escapes like these. With so much depending on Mother Nature, control is minimal. Yet, embracing this unpredictability makes dangerous expeditions like these incredibly valuable.

In the video, Fakhreldin captures the daily excitement of the expedition: "Every day I wake up wondering how it’s going to go; who will get stuck, which car will break down, where we'll sleep, which village we'll reach, and whether the ferry will work or not."

Nomadic Road expeditions offer no guarantees. There's no room for checkbox tourism or fixed itineraries. If that's your thing, there are plenty of tame options out there.

But there are many who find routine travel uninspiring. They crave the thrill of unpredictability and want to encounter problems head-on. They also know that breaking away from the familiar is a fast way to learn things.

Decoding Your Adventure Type

Adventure varies for everyone. Different aspects of Nomadic Road expeditions strike each traveller as the ultimate thrill. For some, it's confronting unpredictable and harsh nature hazards. For others, adventure is synonymous with personal growth. Many are drawn to the unplanned uncertainties of such journeys.

And again, our perception of adventure is continually changing. Until this expedition, Fakhreldin's idea of an adventure escape was a simple walk in the woods. "Now, adventure to me is packing up your car and hitting the open road," he declares.

This isn’t to say Fakhreldin won’t continue hiking in the woods back in Egypt or elsewhere. But he's now tasted a different kind of adventure — one that challenges every part of you, engages all your senses, and drives you to explore the most remote corners of our planet.

The emotions stirred by such expeditions are nothing short of addictive. It's no surprise that travellers keep returning to Nomadic Road for more. Once you've experienced it, you can't resist coming back.

The Madagascar island adventure is for those chasing the extraordinary. On the RN5, there's no turning back — only pushing ahead. Sounds like you? Here’s a sneak peek you mustn’t miss.