0:00:01 > 0:00:05'There are over five billion kilometres of roads on the planet.
0:00:05 > 0:00:10'Now, even the most inaccessible places can be reached by car.
0:00:10 > 0:00:11Oh, God!
0:00:11 > 0:00:13'Over high mountain passes.'
0:00:13 > 0:00:15Confront your fear.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19'Across vast lunar landscapes.'
0:00:19 > 0:00:21This is mad! Oh, my God!
0:00:21 > 0:00:24'And along bone-shaking jungle tracks.'
0:00:24 > 0:00:25Oh, God.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29Slowing down would be complete madness.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32'These roads may be seen as a sign of progress,
0:00:32 > 0:00:34'but driving them requires skill...'
0:00:34 > 0:00:37What would happen if the wheel came off the edge?
0:00:37 > 0:00:39'..Stamina...'
0:00:39 > 0:00:41- Look, there's a cross there.- Yeah!
0:00:41 > 0:00:43'..And a steady nerve.'
0:00:43 > 0:00:46That was the most frightening thing I've ever done in my life.
0:00:46 > 0:00:47I might burst into tears now.
0:00:51 > 0:00:57'Madagascar, known for its forests, its beaches, its lemurs
0:00:57 > 0:01:02'and some of the worst roads in the world.'
0:01:04 > 0:01:09- Road, bad or good?- Bad, bad, bad! - Bad, bad, bad? That's very bad.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12OK, Angus, we are actually in the middle of a river.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15'Journalist Mariella Frostrup and actor Angus Deayton
0:01:15 > 0:01:19'have known each other for over 20 years.'
0:01:19 > 0:01:20Come on, Angus, we can do it!
0:01:20 > 0:01:23'But they've never travelled alone together.'
0:01:23 > 0:01:26Every morning, a perfect shirt.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30It's making me want to dip my hand deep into a clump of mud
0:01:30 > 0:01:32and rub it all over him.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Very noble of you.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36I can't hear you anymore and it's bliss.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38'Both have been round the world.'
0:01:38 > 0:01:40SHE SCREAMS
0:01:40 > 0:01:43'But neither has attempted a journey as arduous as this.'
0:01:43 > 0:01:46A sea of mud, the like of which I hope
0:01:46 > 0:01:49I never see again in my life.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52'They're attempting to drive from the capital Antananarivo
0:01:52 > 0:01:55'to the remote North West corner of the island,
0:01:55 > 0:01:58'one of the most bio-diverse places on earth.'
0:01:58 > 0:02:00God, that's a long way down.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04'Their route is so challenging that few tourists even attempt it.'
0:02:04 > 0:02:06Bit fast, Angus!
0:02:06 > 0:02:09We're going to just have to go for it, I'm afraid.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11'They'll risk dilapidated ferries.'
0:02:11 > 0:02:14- Did you give him duff fuel? - Probably.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16'And gamble on flimsy bridges.'
0:02:16 > 0:02:19- Oh, Christ!- Oh, blimey!
0:02:19 > 0:02:23'300 kilometres along one of the most atrocious roads in the world.'
0:02:23 > 0:02:26We're stuck in the middle of nowhere, we can't escape,
0:02:26 > 0:02:31the bridge is broken, I don't know how to impress upon you,
0:02:31 > 0:02:35the absolute crisis that we're in.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47'Angus has arrived in Madagascar a day before Mariella.'
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Tina, hi, Angus.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51- Nice to meet you, sir.- And you.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54'He's meeting a local driver called Tina who's showing him the ropes.'
0:03:01 > 0:03:02The bad roads?
0:03:02 > 0:03:06Yes. Sandy roads, muddy roads, water.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09I'd like to think I was quite gung-ho about things but
0:03:09 > 0:03:13unfortunately I'm not. I'm something of a wuss when it comes to danger.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16Well, those are obviously the gears but there are two gear sticks.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26- Four wheel drive, great. - Have a nice trip.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Thank you very much, Tina.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Can't remember a word of what he said now.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35Right, I'm going to go for it.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40We're on our way to the airport to pick up esteemed broadcaster
0:03:40 > 0:03:45and Forces sweetheart Mariella Frostrup.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51'Madagascar is the fourth biggest island on the planet.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55'In 1897, it was colonized by the French
0:03:55 > 0:03:58'who built a network of roads across the country.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04'After independence in 1960, political turmoil
0:04:04 > 0:04:08'and a lack of money meant that the roads were left to crumble.'
0:04:12 > 0:04:15This looks pretty much like the airport.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20- Hello!- Of all the places.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22- I know.- That we thought we'd...
0:04:22 > 0:04:25I've been on holiday with Mariella before.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28In fact, my son described her as being
0:04:28 > 0:04:30the scariest non-fictional person he'd ever come across.
0:04:30 > 0:04:35So obviously, she's sort of up there with Voldemort and Cruella de Vil.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37Nice car, have you driven it yet?
0:04:37 > 0:04:40Er, well, I was going to say I was completely on top of things,
0:04:40 > 0:04:42but I can't actually even open it.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45I wanted to do this trip with Angus because he's not that macho.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49I thought he might make me look really brave and a great driver.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51Do you want me to drive first or...?
0:04:51 > 0:04:54I think that would be the gentlemanly thing to do.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56She can be quite bossy and she can be quite assertive
0:04:56 > 0:04:59but fortunately, I'm incredibly meek and accommodating
0:04:59 > 0:05:02so she'll just tell me what to do and I'll do it.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09Are you on the right side of the road, by the way?
0:05:09 > 0:05:11Umm, well, we'll soon find out.
0:05:11 > 0:05:16'The next week will be intense and a true test of their friendship,
0:05:16 > 0:05:18'but it's also a week away from their respective partners
0:05:18 > 0:05:21'Lisa and Jason.'
0:05:21 > 0:05:25Oh, that's a nice name for a packet of biscuits, isn't it? Gouty.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29You know that Lisa has a whole drawer full of rude foods.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31Shall we add it to her list? Do you think I should text her?
0:05:31 > 0:05:33Not very rude, is it, Gouty?
0:05:33 > 0:05:35OK, so I'm not as funny as Lisa.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39Is it going to be like this all the way? Lisa, Lisa, Lisa, Lisa!
0:05:40 > 0:05:41Jason said to me,
0:05:41 > 0:05:46"Don't go anywhere with that Angus Deayton, you'll regret it."
0:05:47 > 0:05:51'Angus and Mariella have just six days to drive the only road
0:05:51 > 0:05:54'between port of Toamasina and the gateway to
0:05:54 > 0:05:56'the Masoloa National Park,
0:05:56 > 0:06:00'the town of Maroantsetra, 300 kilometres to the north.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05'Most tourists choose to fly, but the locals have little choice
0:06:05 > 0:06:09'but to travel by open boat up the coast or use the road.'
0:06:11 > 0:06:14The thing is, you can't really get up any speed
0:06:14 > 0:06:18because you never know when the next pothole is going to turn up.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20I thought it was better, but it's not.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23No, not really. Good Lord!
0:06:26 > 0:06:28'They're heading north
0:06:28 > 0:06:31'on a road built by the French in colonial times
0:06:31 > 0:06:35'to get at the valuable timber, vanilla and cloves that grow here.'
0:06:35 > 0:06:37HE LAUGHS
0:06:37 > 0:06:42'50 years ago, the 300-kilometre journey could be done in a day.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46'Now, because the road is in such a state, it can take a week.'
0:06:46 > 0:06:51OK, I have some very bad news here. This little town is the end
0:06:51 > 0:06:55of the tarred road and then it says,
0:06:55 > 0:06:59"Continue north if you dare."
0:07:00 > 0:07:04'Their first overnight stop is the frontier town of Sonierana Ivongo.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08'Before finding their accommodation
0:07:08 > 0:07:11'they have to stock up on some essentials.'
0:07:12 > 0:07:13We've got to buy some petrol
0:07:13 > 0:07:18because, apparently, that's how you pay the ferry men.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22'The route will take them across countless rivers
0:07:22 > 0:07:26'and they'll have to risk it on some seriously dodgy ferries.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32'Some boats don't even have fuel, so they'll need to bring their own.'
0:07:32 > 0:07:35I'll keep my eyes peeled for a petrol station.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37A petrol station,
0:07:37 > 0:07:39although it doesn't feel like you're about to bump into a...
0:07:39 > 0:07:42A petrol station, no.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45- Oh, there's the petrol station. - Yes, of course it is.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55Where is the petrol?
0:07:55 > 0:07:58There don't seem to be any petrol pumps of any sort.
0:08:05 > 0:08:06It's in these bottles here.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09Oh, really? We need more than that, we need...
0:08:16 > 0:08:18Is that 20 litres?
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Is that 30,000? It can't be 300,000, can it?
0:08:30 > 0:08:33- Have you got 300? - No, it can't be 300? 60?
0:08:37 > 0:08:41OK, so he said 300,000 and you gave him 60,000.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Yeah, I dunno. I gave him what I had!
0:08:44 > 0:08:47- Where shall we put it?- Well, I'm not putting it inside the car.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50Oh, look, there's room up there. I can get it in there.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54You go up, put it down. Let me see if I can lift it.
0:08:54 > 0:08:55Can you lift it?
0:08:55 > 0:08:58Oooh, I can't lift it any higher than that.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00How am I going to get it up to you?
0:09:00 > 0:09:02Can you reach that far?
0:09:02 > 0:09:04SHE GRUNTS
0:09:04 > 0:09:05- Have you got it?- No.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08Let me put my hand underneath it, have you got it?
0:09:08 > 0:09:11Yep, got it now. Thank you.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14OK? I think so, yeah.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Don't tie it with a bow, Angus, OK?
0:09:17 > 0:09:20But it looks so nice with a bow!
0:09:21 > 0:09:24Yeah, this'll be no problem at all.
0:09:24 > 0:09:25Grab that there.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30'Sensing what lies ahead,
0:09:30 > 0:09:34'both Angus and Mariella opt for an early night.'
0:09:34 > 0:09:38As you can see, I'm in room 12.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41The first welcome I got was from this slightly strange being,
0:09:41 > 0:09:43not sure what it is.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47There's some plastic flowers there
0:09:47 > 0:09:52and a mosquito net with something on it.
0:09:52 > 0:09:58I'm just going to show you the secrets of a perfect camp bed.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00It is...ta-dah!
0:10:00 > 0:10:06My lavender oil, sprinkled liberally all over the pillow.
0:10:06 > 0:10:11An end to all the stinky, stinky, olfactory assaults
0:10:11 > 0:10:14that have been going on during the day.
0:10:14 > 0:10:19This is the en-suite shower room which, as you can see,
0:10:19 > 0:10:21has a cold shower.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25And this is the loo, which is flushed thusly.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28TOILET FLUSHES
0:10:28 > 0:10:31So that is my world for tonight. Welcome to it.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38'The next morning, they're up before dawn
0:10:38 > 0:10:40'and they're on the lookout for the ferry.'
0:10:40 > 0:10:42Blimey.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49We're sort of looking for the sign "delicious breakfasts", aren't we?
0:10:49 > 0:10:51Yeah, and ferry, aren't we?
0:10:54 > 0:10:56Is this where we're going, straight down?
0:10:56 > 0:10:58I have no idea. Yeah, we are.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15'In better times, this whole route had a good network of ferries
0:11:15 > 0:11:17'that were free for everyone.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20'Now it's not just the lack of fuel that's the problem -
0:11:20 > 0:11:25'few of these boats have seen any proper maintenance for years.'
0:11:25 > 0:11:27Angus, don't forget the bit round your ears.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31I think it's important to keep up standards.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33ENGINE STARTS
0:11:34 > 0:11:38'Fortunately, this ferry seems to have fuel.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44'It's still free to travel by foot
0:11:44 > 0:11:48'and the people depend on these ferries.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51'The only other way across is by dugout canoe.'
0:11:55 > 0:11:58I got a smile. I didn't get a wave, but I got a smile.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03'This tranquil river crossing marks the end
0:12:03 > 0:12:07'of the easy roads and the start of the real driving challenge ahead.'
0:12:09 > 0:12:11OK, good luck.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Excellent. Good grief.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24Good start.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30See, I think it should've been in diff, that's my personal...
0:12:30 > 0:12:33I think you need to go to the left a bit.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35ENGINE STARTS
0:12:35 > 0:12:36HE SHOUTS IN FRENCH
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Try following the tyre marks over there,
0:12:39 > 0:12:42- that seems to be where everyone else has gone.- Over there?- Yeah.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44ENGINE REVS
0:12:54 > 0:12:56Yes!
0:12:56 > 0:12:59Sensational driving. Well done.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06'They've been advised that seatbelts aren't always beneficial
0:13:06 > 0:13:08'for these conditions.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12We need to watch the speed, we mustn't be too cavalier.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14I'm doing seven miles an hour.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17We could maybe settle on six.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21'Today, they're hoping to travel 70 kilometres up the coast
0:13:21 > 0:13:24'to the town of Antanambe.'
0:13:24 > 0:13:28You have no idea how deep these pools are.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32'This part of the world can get over 400mm of rain every month.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34'London gets 600 a year.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40'They're travelling over flat sandy ground now
0:13:40 > 0:13:44'but things will get a lot more difficult in the mountains ahead.'
0:13:45 > 0:13:49It worries me that tomorrow's going to be quite a bit worse.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52At least the landscape's starting to be a bit more interesting ahead.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54We'll be driving up into those mountains.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Yes, so I should be less enthusiastic, you're saying?
0:14:02 > 0:14:04This is a bit of a village. Is no-one up?
0:14:04 > 0:14:08I think they had a good night. Look, it's very closed.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11While we were tucked up in our glamorous accommodation.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14- Yes, how was yours? - I managed to make it very cosy.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17- How did you do that? - Lavender drops on the pillow case.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20You bought lavender drops from London?
0:14:20 > 0:14:22I take lavender drops with me everywhere.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25I'm not that keen on lavender as a smell.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27- You're not? - No, it reminds me of aunts.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32I think there's something about your childhood
0:14:32 > 0:14:34that you're not telling me.
0:14:34 > 0:14:39Did you have terrible experiences at the hands of blue-rinse relatives?
0:14:39 > 0:14:43No, I like my aunts. I just don't want to smell like them.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45SHE LAUGHS That's fair enough.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55- Oh, it's ferry time. - Oh, we on a ferry again?
0:15:00 > 0:15:02I'm going to put it into diff here
0:15:02 > 0:15:04because you know what our last ferry experience was like.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11Oh, Christ. Oh, blimey.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13HE LAUGHS
0:15:13 > 0:15:15Excellent.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20What have I got to cope with here, Angus?
0:15:22 > 0:15:24It'll be pretty similar to last time.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26No, that's much better.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30- There's almost what you'd describe as a road in front of you.- Almost.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33And a sign saying "hotel". Blimey, it's civilisation.
0:15:43 > 0:15:48- Well, I'm sorry.- Simply...- Textbook. - ..Genius.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52And look, cars waiting to go back and everything and people.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55- People. Real, live people.- Yeah.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02'Madagascar is a very poor country.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05'70% of its 40 million people exist on just 1 a day.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11'And only three people in every 1,000 own a car.
0:16:15 > 0:16:20'Its natural beauty, however, is one of its most valuable assets
0:16:20 > 0:16:23'and hundreds of thousands of tourists are attracted
0:16:23 > 0:16:24'to its shores every year.'
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Well, this is like something out of a brochure, isn't it?
0:16:31 > 0:16:36- Palm fringed beaches. - Very, very pretty. Tropical.
0:16:36 > 0:16:3961, I think that said. Salut!
0:16:39 > 0:16:4161.
0:16:41 > 0:16:47Yes, well, if we continue to cane it like this,
0:16:47 > 0:16:51then I would imagine we're going to be there in no time.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54Jesus!
0:16:54 > 0:16:57A little bit pacier, perhaps, on the rocks.
0:16:57 > 0:16:58I dunno why you're dawdling.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04'The road to Maroantsetra involves another 15 ferry crossings.'
0:17:04 > 0:17:06Where's the ferry?
0:17:06 > 0:17:08Good question, Angus. Where have you put it?
0:17:08 > 0:17:12'And as they'll discover, many have their own makeshift charm.'
0:17:12 > 0:17:14It was supposed to be here.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19THEY SPEAK FRENCH
0:17:27 > 0:17:31OK, so the good news is that there is a ferry.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34The bad news is that it's over there, on the other side.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38And the even worse news is that it doesn't have any petrol.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41In addition, they don't have any battery.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45So we've got to take a car battery and some petrol across there
0:17:45 > 0:17:47to get the ferry to come back here.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51Yeah, complicated. But we'll get there in the end.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54Bye. Very noble of you.
0:17:54 > 0:17:55Well, I thought so.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57SHE SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY
0:17:57 > 0:18:00I can't hear you any more and it's bliss.
0:18:06 > 0:18:07It's lovely, it's lovely.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11I'm having a great time, it's all been very good so far.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15The company, I really couldn't fault.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18Mariella's been the perfect travelling companion in every way.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24Just waiting for the tide to go out. And it's not going to.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27So I'm going to have to wade through it anyway.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31- Bonjour.- Bonjour.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39We've got 20 litres here and we don't really want to give him
0:18:39 > 0:18:41all 20 because we need it for...
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Ten litres, that's half. We need Mariella.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54You see, she's good at negotiating.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56I just say, "Yes, please, help yourself."
0:19:03 > 0:19:06ENGINE STARTS
0:19:37 > 0:19:39Job done.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46- You know what I did think, which is to your credit?- What?
0:19:46 > 0:19:51Faster rowing across than you were coming back on the ferry.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53That's because I managed to tack across.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55Managed to tack, is that what you call it?
0:19:55 > 0:19:58I think it's called over-steering. He's very good, though.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00I'll do the driving now.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05'They've already lost hours at this river crossing
0:20:05 > 0:20:08'and they've not yet reached the other side.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14ENGINE SPUTTERS AND DIES
0:20:18 > 0:20:20HE SPEAKS FRENCH
0:20:21 > 0:20:24What's happened? Has it broken down?
0:20:29 > 0:20:31Did you give him duff fuel?
0:20:31 > 0:20:33Probably.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35ENGINE TRIES TO START
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Which ones of us is going to decide when to panic?
0:20:40 > 0:20:44Is there any need to panic? I mean, we're almost at the shore now.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46Just allow it to drift calmly into position.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49But you can't position it, can you, smarty pants,
0:20:49 > 0:20:51if you haven't got an engine?
0:20:51 > 0:20:54We may be stuck here for the rest of the night
0:20:54 > 0:20:57and most of tomorrow morning, unless we can get off.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00I don't know which I'm more afraid of,
0:21:00 > 0:21:05crashing in the ferry or driving for 3.5 hours in the pitch dark
0:21:05 > 0:21:08on the sort of roads we've spent the day on.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10I think you're being slightly melodramatic.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12I mean, by the way he's whistling,
0:21:12 > 0:21:15it seems like this happens every day.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17Have you never heard of affecting a nonchalant air?
0:21:19 > 0:21:24'Eventually, some Malagasy ingenuity gets them safely to shore.'
0:21:24 > 0:21:27- Brilliant! Disaster averted. - Just about.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29SHOUTING IN FRENCH
0:21:29 > 0:21:31ENGINE STARTS
0:21:38 > 0:21:41This is almost paved. It can't last.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44- Someone's slipped up somewhere. - Yeah, just round here.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50Oh, Angus, I don't know about that.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58Fun in the dark, won't it?
0:21:58 > 0:21:59HE LAUGHS
0:21:59 > 0:22:01Oh, my God!
0:22:02 > 0:22:04Remember, tomorrow's going to be worse.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06- No, tomorrow's the bad day.- Yeah.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10'It's already beginning to get dark,
0:22:10 > 0:22:14'so Angus and Mariella distract themselves with a game.'
0:22:14 > 0:22:17OK, so start me off.
0:22:17 > 0:22:22Boris Johnson, Ken Livingstone, Gordon Brown.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25- Oh, that is so easy.- Oh, really?
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Yeah, I'd shag Boris Johnson.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31The way I'm thinking about it, if you want to know, is
0:22:31 > 0:22:33Boris, good for a laugh.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37OK. And there's nothing sexier really than a laugh.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39Quite frankly, all that lovely blonde hair.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41I think he'd be fun for a night,
0:22:41 > 0:22:44but I think you'd tire of him quite quickly.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48Quite quickly. OK. Marry, Gordon Brown or Ken Livingstone?
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Oh, my! Water, Angus, could be a ferry.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55That may have saved you from having to choose between...
0:22:57 > 0:23:02It's now 6.00 in the evening, and I think we're still a couple of hours
0:23:02 > 0:23:04away from where we're staying tonight.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07And the road has definitely got a lot rougher.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10That last bit, that muddy bit with the rocks and things,
0:23:10 > 0:23:14that was quite scary but you have to get over that.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17Because I think, if you don't go ahead and do it,
0:23:17 > 0:23:19then you end up being terrified all the time
0:23:19 > 0:23:22and that's not really going to work on this journey.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26Martina Navratilova.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28Oh, my dear God, yes?
0:23:28 > 0:23:31Germaine Greer or Ann Widdecombe?
0:23:31 > 0:23:33Please don't say Ann Widdecombe.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36I knew you were going to say Ann Widdecombe.
0:23:36 > 0:23:41Sharon Stone, Rachel Weisz and January Jones.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44Hang on, the rules of the game have changed rather dramatically!
0:23:50 > 0:23:53'Today is reputed to be the hardest leg of the journey
0:23:53 > 0:23:56'and Angus has dressed accordingly.'
0:23:56 > 0:23:59Every morning, perfect shirt, perfectly...
0:23:59 > 0:24:02I mean, his mum must be so proud of him.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06It's making me want to dip my hand deep into a clump of mud
0:24:06 > 0:24:09and rub it all over him.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13Have we got tissues, Angus, and have we got wipes?
0:24:13 > 0:24:16And is that your orange from today or yesterday?
0:24:16 > 0:24:19You're beginning to sound like my mother.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21I may be sounding like your mother, but look at you.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25Yes, and have I got a handkerchief and have I combed my hair.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28I'm not the one walking round in an ironed white shirt
0:24:28 > 0:24:30for possibly the worst day on the road.
0:24:32 > 0:24:36'Right from the off, the road shows no mercy.'
0:24:36 > 0:24:39- Oh, it's started. - It's started already.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42'Today, the route is more mountainous and they're
0:24:42 > 0:24:46'immediately faced with steep rocky slopes and thick glutinous mud.'
0:24:46 > 0:24:47Hold tight.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51I'm just going for it
0:24:51 > 0:24:56because I think slowing down would be an act of complete madness.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58What? As opposed to this?
0:25:01 > 0:25:05Could you imagine how it would revolutionize this country
0:25:05 > 0:25:08if someone invested in the infrastructure?
0:25:08 > 0:25:10It's ridiculous.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14How do people survive? Hospital, your child is dangerously ill...
0:25:14 > 0:25:17I mean, yeah, the emergency services can't really get to
0:25:17 > 0:25:19anyone in less than half a day.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21I'm not even sure there are any.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25'It's only 7.30 in the morning and already they're at
0:25:25 > 0:25:27'their first river crossing.'
0:25:27 > 0:25:30Look, they have to pull it backwards and forwards.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32Well, that saves on the petrol.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36Maybe we don't have to give them our battery today.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38ENGINE STARTS
0:25:41 > 0:25:42Alley-up!
0:25:44 > 0:25:48'The ferry is packed with locals going about their business.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50- You speak English, yes?- Yes.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54Can you tell me how the road is ahead? Bad or good?
0:25:54 > 0:25:57- Good or bad?- Bad, bad, bad, yes.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00- Bad, bad, bad, that's very bad.- Yes.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03- Is it steep? - Yes, he just went like that.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05You live here?
0:26:05 > 0:26:07No, no live. I live Tutamatave.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10Ah, OK, so you're travelling.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12Yes, I buy vanilla.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14Ah, you buy vanilla.
0:26:14 > 0:26:15When you come back?
0:26:15 > 0:26:19When will we get there? That's the question.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22Two very good questions.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24THEY LAUGH
0:26:24 > 0:26:26- We don't know the answer to either of them.- Sadly.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33'Madagascar is the world's leading producer of vanilla.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36'But the roads to the plantations are appalling.'
0:26:36 > 0:26:38CAR RATTLES
0:26:38 > 0:26:42'Angus and Mariella have just 46km to travel today,
0:26:42 > 0:26:46'but this road is so tough that nothing is guaranteed.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51- Oh, Jesus!- Oh, gosh.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03Oh, mind this other car.
0:27:03 > 0:27:04Yeah.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10Well done, well done. My God, look at your window!
0:27:10 > 0:27:12HE LAUGHS
0:27:12 > 0:27:16I'm shaking! Wow, that was scary, exhausting...
0:27:16 > 0:27:20- Yeah, you did very well. - ..And difficult, actually.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23'Incredibly, this is the only road connecting Toamasina
0:27:23 > 0:27:28'with two major towns, and the people travel by foot,
0:27:28 > 0:27:31'bicycle and the local public transport known as taxi brousse.'
0:27:38 > 0:27:40They don't have to run. Why are they running?
0:27:40 > 0:27:43Maybe they're running to get to the bit where I'll badly
0:27:43 > 0:27:45need their help, that's what I suspect.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48They're running ahead because they know there's a really
0:27:48 > 0:27:52precipitous drop and that's where they get the biggest laughs.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57Or we'll have to pay them to dig us out. They're laughing.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59There's more of them coming,
0:27:59 > 0:28:02there's definitely something happening down here.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12'A vital concrete bridge has been severely damaged
0:28:12 > 0:28:14'during the rainy season.
0:28:16 > 0:28:21'The locals have cobbled together an alternative way of getting across.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27But it's not for the faint-hearted.
0:28:32 > 0:28:36Yeah, the worst bit is that mud at the end, to be honest.
0:28:36 > 0:28:40Oh, they're moving rocks in the river now as well.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42Look how deep it is.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45There's just no margin for error here, really.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50Yeah, it's very scenic, though.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53I might just wait up here and take photographs of you.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55What do you think?
0:28:55 > 0:28:57I think it's scary as hell.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00You're the one that's going to be driving.
0:29:01 > 0:29:03I think it's really difficult.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13Let's get it over with.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19Fabulous. I've never driven into a river before.
0:29:19 > 0:29:23It feels rather peculiar to be doing it willingly.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29Blimey, you've got it down to a fine art.
0:29:33 > 0:29:37OK, Angus, we are actually travelling across a river.
0:29:41 > 0:29:42Now this guy takes over.
0:29:50 > 0:29:51Left a bit.
0:29:58 > 0:29:59OK?
0:29:59 > 0:30:01Mora mora! >
0:30:01 > 0:30:03Slowly, slowly. Softly, softly.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05No, no, no, he means...
0:30:13 > 0:30:15Come on, Angus, we can do it!
0:30:15 > 0:30:17ENGINE REVS
0:30:18 > 0:30:21Come on. Come on.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24Oh, my good God!
0:30:24 > 0:30:27That was the most frightening thing I've ever done in my life.
0:30:27 > 0:30:29I might burst into tears now.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32Yes, do, feel free, you deserve it, well done.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35HE LAUGHS
0:30:35 > 0:30:39You have just crossed a river in a car.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42And just for your information, "mora mora" means "softly, softly",
0:30:42 > 0:30:44not "go as fast as you possibly can!"
0:30:44 > 0:30:46No, for the last bit they said,
0:30:46 > 0:30:49"Go as fast as you can because, otherwise, you won't get up the mud."
0:30:49 > 0:30:52- I see mud on the dashboard. No surprise.- It's all over me.
0:30:52 > 0:30:57See, not a spot on you, not a spot, not even a splash of mud.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01Oh, for God's sake! Look at the state of my trousers, I'm covered in it.
0:31:01 > 0:31:05Hmm. Well... That speaks volumes, quite frankly.
0:31:06 > 0:31:11'Angus and Mariella are trying to drive between Antanambe and Mananara,
0:31:11 > 0:31:15'but four hours in, they've only covered a fraction of the distance.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23'The dreadful road has at least meant one thing -
0:31:23 > 0:31:27'that this remote and beautiful coastline has remained unspoiled.'
0:31:30 > 0:31:32Nice ocean views.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35Yes, which I'll be enjoying.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38God, it's a long way down.
0:31:38 > 0:31:42This is spectacularly scenic but at the same time terrifying.
0:31:42 > 0:31:46Terrifyingly dangerous, yep. This is a tight corner.
0:31:46 > 0:31:48Please turn the wheel.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52I am, but if I turn it too fast, I'll be all over the place.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56La-la-la! Quite near the edge there.
0:31:58 > 0:32:02'This coast is regularly lashed by devastating storms,
0:32:02 > 0:32:04'and in February 2012
0:32:04 > 0:32:07'Madagascar took a direct hit from cyclone Giovanna.
0:32:10 > 0:32:14'Winds of over 170mph killed 33 people
0:32:14 > 0:32:18'and just added to the devastation of the roads
0:32:18 > 0:32:20'on this exposed eastern coast.'
0:32:28 > 0:32:30TYRES SPIN
0:32:32 > 0:32:34Neither backwards nor forwards.
0:32:39 > 0:32:43- I think, Angus...- I think we are. - ..Stuck.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49It's funny because all four tyres are actually on...
0:32:49 > 0:32:51We're stuck on that rock.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53I think it needs to be lifted up.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56Yeah, I know, but how do you lift up a 4x4?
0:32:59 > 0:33:03We need a piece of wood or something to put under the tyre
0:33:03 > 0:33:07to elevate it above the rock.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09No, no, no, at the front.
0:33:09 > 0:33:10Well, I can't go forwards.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13It'll help you go, it'll help you get traction on it.
0:33:13 > 0:33:15I don't think it'll go forwards.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24TYRES SPIN
0:33:30 > 0:33:31No?
0:33:31 > 0:33:35Oh, dear, Angus, the worst has happened.
0:33:35 > 0:33:36I know.
0:33:36 > 0:33:40Look at your shirt sleeve. Look at your shirt sleeve.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48Yes, please, any help.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51I've never been so glad to see a man in my life.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56So, Angus, is the plan to lift it up and then
0:33:56 > 0:34:00when it's up high enough, put the wood underneath the tyre?
0:34:00 > 0:34:01I'm assuming so.
0:34:01 > 0:34:03THEY SPEAK FRENCH
0:34:03 > 0:34:05This is turning into quite a long day.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17Merci beaucoup! C'est tres gentile!
0:34:21 > 0:34:24Thank God those guys were around. What would we have done?
0:34:24 > 0:34:26Well, we would've just had to wait.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29We've done 3.5 kilometres.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31Is it? Oh, excellent going.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34And it's 11.30. We've been on the road for...
0:34:34 > 0:34:37- Six, seven, eight...- 5.5 hours.
0:34:37 > 0:34:425.5 hours. We have 36 kilometres still to go to Mananara.
0:34:45 > 0:34:46'They're now way behind schedule
0:34:46 > 0:34:49'and desperately need to cover some ground.'
0:34:53 > 0:34:56THE CAR RATTLES
0:34:56 > 0:34:59SHE MOANS
0:35:03 > 0:35:07I have to say, I had no idea the road would be quite this bad.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10Be really careful on my side, there's quite a big drop
0:35:10 > 0:35:11so stay in the tread.
0:35:17 > 0:35:20I will never again complain about the condition of the roads
0:35:20 > 0:35:22in central London.
0:35:22 > 0:35:27- No, shower me in potholes. - Give me speed traps, bus lanes.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37Oh, my God.
0:35:47 > 0:35:52'They're just halfway to Mananara, but the road is unrelenting.'
0:35:54 > 0:35:57It's exhausting, it's exhausting watching you.
0:35:59 > 0:36:05Oh, my God, Angus. I've got to just go for it here.
0:36:10 > 0:36:14Come on. Now we're done for.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17THE TYRES SPIN
0:36:18 > 0:36:20- Felt it.- Shit!
0:36:22 > 0:36:24'It's not just Angus and Mariella that are struggling.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30'Even the locals are also getting bogged down.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38'One of the taxi brousse passengers speaks English.'
0:36:39 > 0:36:43Where are you going? Why are you driving this road?
0:36:43 > 0:36:48Because we have work at Tamatave,
0:36:48 > 0:36:52so me and my team are going to Tamatave.
0:36:54 > 0:36:56These roads must drive you crazy.
0:36:56 > 0:36:58- Yeah. - HE CHUCKLES
0:36:58 > 0:37:02We're trying to go to Mananara, have you just come from there?
0:37:02 > 0:37:05- Yes.- How's the road? Because we're having a lot of problems.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07It's very hard, I think.
0:37:07 > 0:37:13It's hard because the season now is not very good to travel to Mananara.
0:37:13 > 0:37:18And from now, from here to Mananara, is it as bad as this
0:37:18 > 0:37:20or does it get a bit better?
0:37:20 > 0:37:22Please say it gets a bit better, please.
0:37:22 > 0:37:27You have one road left, it's very hard.
0:37:27 > 0:37:29But like this or worse?
0:37:29 > 0:37:34More difficult than this. More difficult, but only one.
0:37:34 > 0:37:36THEY LAUGH
0:37:36 > 0:37:38- Yes.- How long?
0:37:38 > 0:37:42An hour, about 15 kilometres from here.
0:37:42 > 0:37:46Very nice to meet you. Good luck on your journey.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50Well, I don't know - is that good news, bad news?
0:37:50 > 0:37:52- Mainly bad.- Mainly bad.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57'They have one major obstacle still to overcome,
0:37:57 > 0:38:02'but the recent rain has made every inch of this road treacherous.'
0:38:05 > 0:38:07ENGINE REVS
0:38:07 > 0:38:09Very nice.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11GEARS CREAK
0:38:17 > 0:38:19ENGINE REVS
0:38:26 > 0:38:31We're just digging deeper in the same hole, seriously.
0:38:31 > 0:38:32Got to attempt to do something.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41Yes, I think the sheer volume of mud is the problem.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43Oh, my God.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53ENGINE REVS
0:38:56 > 0:38:59In between feeling sorry for myself and Angus,
0:38:59 > 0:39:04I just can't work out how people manage this every day of their lives.
0:39:04 > 0:39:08You know, I'll never complain about a motorway again.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20Look at it flooding back down, amazing.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38'In the last of the day's light,
0:39:38 > 0:39:41'they eventually limp in to Mananara.'
0:39:41 > 0:39:42Holy shit!
0:39:48 > 0:39:51You know, television is often about pretending,
0:39:51 > 0:39:54but this is definitely not pretending. It's really scary.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57That road doesn't deserve to be called a road,
0:39:57 > 0:40:01it is a river bed at best, and a sea of mud,
0:40:01 > 0:40:05the like of which I hope I never see again in my life.
0:40:09 > 0:40:14So here we are at Mananara, we arrived last night as darkness fell.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17And found this thriving town of 10,000 people,
0:40:17 > 0:40:22which felt kind of odd given the extraordinary terrain
0:40:22 > 0:40:25that we'd managed to traverse in order to get here.
0:40:25 > 0:40:30An odd day, really, and one that I'd be quite keen never to relive.
0:40:30 > 0:40:35'Mananara is a bustling trading hub for the surrounding population.
0:40:35 > 0:40:37'Cloves, cinnamon, lychees,
0:40:37 > 0:40:41'and a million other things are all bought and sold here.'
0:40:41 > 0:40:43- Goes on forever, this market.- God.
0:40:43 > 0:40:47This is so busy, compared to where we've been.
0:40:47 > 0:40:51There's people everywhere. I'm feeling a little bit fazed by it.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54'They're on the final stage of their journey.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57'Tonight, they hope to reach the town of Rantabe.
0:40:57 > 0:41:03'Tomorrow, the final push to their ultimate destination Maroantsetra.'
0:41:06 > 0:41:09This is lovely, isn't it? It'll be nice if it stays like this.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12It's not going to, Angus, you know it's not.
0:41:14 > 0:41:18- You've got a bit of a bridge coming up.- Am I on it?
0:41:18 > 0:41:20- Yep.- Do you think?
0:41:20 > 0:41:22Yep, you're OK. Good. Well done.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27Gosh, two planks of wood you had to hit there.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30- That was quite scary. - And fortunately, I think you did.
0:41:30 > 0:41:37Like on a bridge like that, if we missed those planks, we'd be dead.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41Yes, so again, well done for hitting the planks.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44No, but I'm just sorry, just now...
0:41:44 > 0:41:48Realising the importance of accuracy of that situation.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50Of hitting the planks, as it were.
0:42:01 > 0:42:05Oh, look at this, it's a lovely beach.
0:42:05 > 0:42:07Wow, this is a bit surreal, isn't it?
0:42:09 > 0:42:11It's wild, look at it.
0:42:11 > 0:42:13Beautiful.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17What happens here, Angus?
0:42:17 > 0:42:19I think this is the ferry.
0:42:19 > 0:42:21What? Oh, my good God.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24And there's two whole planks of wood to drive onto it.
0:42:24 > 0:42:25That is crazy.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29THEY BOTH LAUGH
0:42:30 > 0:42:33- Well, it's different. - Angus, I don't think I can do this.
0:42:33 > 0:42:38'The bridge across this river was destroyed by the recent cyclone.
0:42:38 > 0:42:40'Now the villagers earn a little cash
0:42:40 > 0:42:44'by ferrying cars across on a bamboo raft.'
0:42:44 > 0:42:46SHE FEIGNS SCREAMING
0:42:48 > 0:42:49Mora mora. >
0:42:49 > 0:42:53Mora mora. Where have we heard that before?
0:42:55 > 0:42:56Stop!
0:43:01 > 0:43:03My God, look at this. I think we're going to be punted.
0:43:03 > 0:43:07- Are we?- Yeah. - Do we need to pay, by the way?
0:43:07 > 0:43:10You'd think. We've got to pay a lot of people by the looks of it.
0:43:10 > 0:43:14- Can't give them any petrol. - You'll have to do the money, dear.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26- Salut, merci. Au revoir!- Au revoir.
0:43:29 > 0:43:31Oh, my God! That was scary.
0:43:31 > 0:43:33Actually, everything is. I'm going to stop saying it
0:43:33 > 0:43:34because quite honestly...
0:43:34 > 0:43:36There hasn't been anything that hasn't been.
0:43:36 > 0:43:40It's the most repeated word in my vocabulary at the moment.
0:43:40 > 0:43:43They really are quite enterprising, aren't they?
0:43:43 > 0:43:45You know, the bridge collapses,
0:43:45 > 0:43:49obviously no means of building a new one so they build a raft
0:43:49 > 0:43:51- and charge...- 5,000 ariaries a time.
0:44:00 > 0:44:02THE SHOUT A GREETING
0:44:11 > 0:44:14Be amazing to come here and do something useful.
0:44:14 > 0:44:18You know, like be a teacher or a doctor.
0:44:18 > 0:44:22Yes, well that's what we did originally, of course,
0:44:22 > 0:44:24when we sent the missionaries.
0:44:24 > 0:44:29Yeah, but without meaning to convert people at the same time.
0:44:29 > 0:44:32Yes, well, I think we did a certain amount of good,
0:44:32 > 0:44:34then the French took over.
0:44:34 > 0:44:36Obviously brought a lot of money into the place
0:44:36 > 0:44:39and it's, in a way, it's that money they're missing now.
0:44:39 > 0:44:42It's just a question of whether they'd prefer to have
0:44:42 > 0:44:45the money again or their independence.
0:44:53 > 0:44:55Bit fast, Angus!
0:44:55 > 0:44:58Just going to have to go for it, I'm afraid. No time to stop.
0:45:16 > 0:45:17'They're in a different region now
0:45:17 > 0:45:21'where there's a long-established Chinese community.
0:45:21 > 0:45:24'Originally, they were here to build a railway,
0:45:24 > 0:45:25'but their influence is everywhere.'
0:45:25 > 0:45:29Kind of a little bit incongruous eating Chinese in a little village
0:45:29 > 0:45:31in the middle of Madagascar,
0:45:31 > 0:45:34and quite interesting to see so many Chinese around.
0:45:34 > 0:45:37Chinese faces, more and more as we get closer to Rantabe,
0:45:37 > 0:45:39where we're supposed to be spending tonight.
0:45:39 > 0:45:41Goodness, that's tough!
0:45:41 > 0:45:44Where's the dog? Oh, here's the dog, there you go.
0:45:44 > 0:45:47- Shall we see the wine list? - Give it a shot.
0:45:47 > 0:45:49Garcon!
0:45:53 > 0:45:57'Still on schedule, the road leads them to a stunning beach
0:45:57 > 0:45:59'that appears to be deserted.'
0:46:21 > 0:46:24Do you feel as if something's suddenly happening here?
0:46:24 > 0:46:27Because we were alone when we arrived
0:46:27 > 0:46:31and now there's about six cars, about 45 people,
0:46:31 > 0:46:33because it's rush hour.
0:46:33 > 0:46:34Yeah.
0:46:34 > 0:46:37That is insane, and they all get into the back bit.
0:46:37 > 0:46:40It is a triumph of numbers over reason.
0:46:40 > 0:46:41I think that's what you'd say.
0:46:41 > 0:46:46'In the confusion, they seem to have lost their place in the queue but
0:46:46 > 0:46:47'it gives them a chance to chat
0:46:47 > 0:46:50'with one of many taxi brousse passengers.'
0:46:51 > 0:46:5320 people inside this.
0:46:53 > 0:46:55It must be like hell.
0:46:55 > 0:46:57No, because I enjoy it.
0:46:57 > 0:46:59- Do you?!- Yeah.
0:46:59 > 0:47:02You like the ride because everyone's talking to each other?
0:47:02 > 0:47:04Everyone is talking to each other
0:47:04 > 0:47:07and the atmosphere is so alive, you know, inside.
0:47:07 > 0:47:10- 20 is insane. - Yes, that's quite extraordinary.
0:47:10 > 0:47:13- Is there a bridge here? - Yes, there is a small bridge.
0:47:13 > 0:47:16So what happened to it?
0:47:16 > 0:47:19- Because of the cyclone. - Oh, the cyclone.
0:47:20 > 0:47:24Will the government fix the bridges sometime
0:47:24 > 0:47:27or is it never going to change?
0:47:27 > 0:47:29You know the government has promised about this,
0:47:29 > 0:47:31about repairing this road
0:47:31 > 0:47:37but up to now we've not seen any concrete result.
0:47:37 > 0:47:39That must make life much more difficult.
0:47:39 > 0:47:45Exactly, the commodities here are very expensive compared to
0:47:45 > 0:47:49the city, to Tana, because of the road.
0:47:49 > 0:47:51OK, guys, we have to go because our boat is ready.
0:47:51 > 0:47:54- Very nice to meet you. Thank you very much.- Nice to meet you.
0:47:54 > 0:47:57Bon voyage. 20 people!
0:47:57 > 0:48:00If only we could conjure up some of that same excitement.
0:48:00 > 0:48:02Maybe we need another 18 people.
0:48:15 > 0:48:18Well, sadly, this guy has just got off the ferry
0:48:18 > 0:48:21and what's happened to him is exactly what we've been in fear of.
0:48:21 > 0:48:22He's missed the plank.
0:48:22 > 0:48:25Which is he's missed the plank and now he's sunk down in the sand
0:48:25 > 0:48:29and I guess they're going to try and pull him out with the rope
0:48:29 > 0:48:32but it's literally one disaster after another, this road.
0:48:32 > 0:48:33It does appear that way, yeah.
0:48:33 > 0:48:36And we've still got four hours' driving ahead of us
0:48:36 > 0:48:39- and it's going to be dark in an hour.- Yeah.
0:48:39 > 0:48:43It is literally life or death about 20 times a day.
0:48:48 > 0:48:51Although this is the shortest river crossing they've had to make,
0:48:51 > 0:48:53the hold-up has now cost them the day.
0:48:57 > 0:49:00There's temptation to just floor it
0:49:00 > 0:49:03and get the hell out of Dodge, as they say.
0:49:03 > 0:49:05Half past four.
0:49:05 > 0:49:08I reckon we've got about an hour left.
0:49:08 > 0:49:10We've done a kilometre in minutes there.
0:49:10 > 0:49:13That's probably the first time in two days.
0:49:17 > 0:49:19- Ay, oh.- Sorry.
0:49:20 > 0:49:23OK, I'm not going to drive across this.
0:49:25 > 0:49:26As light begins to fade,
0:49:26 > 0:49:31Angus and Mariella come across yet another barrier to their progress.
0:49:31 > 0:49:36That's the bridge, well, what's left of the bridge, that I'm not
0:49:36 > 0:49:38going to drive over.
0:49:38 > 0:49:40Angus, want to give it a go?
0:49:40 > 0:49:43Well, let's analyse this, shall we?
0:49:43 > 0:49:47There seem to be two planks for each tyre right until
0:49:47 > 0:49:50right at the end, where there seems to be one plank.
0:49:50 > 0:49:53In some respects, it could be regarded as perilous.
0:49:53 > 0:49:56I am now walking, there's no time for pride.
0:49:56 > 0:50:00Well, if someone was to direct me
0:50:00 > 0:50:03then obviously that'll probably be the only we'd get the car from this
0:50:03 > 0:50:08part to that part otherwise we're going to have to go back to London.
0:50:49 > 0:50:52Did it. I'm alive!
0:50:55 > 0:50:59- Do you want to take over? Do you want me to...?- I'll take over.- Yeah.
0:51:05 > 0:51:07Five to five.
0:51:07 > 0:51:08If you get stuck at...
0:51:08 > 0:51:09Twilight.
0:51:09 > 0:51:13..twilight it's just not good any which way you look at it.
0:51:13 > 0:51:15How long did you say we've got left of daylight?
0:51:15 > 0:51:16About an hour.
0:51:17 > 0:51:22Oh, God, I don't know how much more I can take.
0:51:28 > 0:51:32Well, it's late, as you can see. The sun is going down fast
0:51:32 > 0:51:37and we are three hours' drive from where we ought to be
0:51:37 > 0:51:42and we're trying to decide whether or not to stay the night.
0:51:42 > 0:51:45The alternative, obviously, is to keep driving in the darkness
0:51:45 > 0:51:47along roads that we don't know.
0:51:47 > 0:51:51Roads like the ones we've all enjoyed together.
0:51:51 > 0:51:53Yes, only in daylight.
0:51:53 > 0:51:56And we're thinking that might be a recipe for disaster.
0:52:10 > 0:52:13It is now, I think, probably officially dark.
0:52:18 > 0:52:19Angus, what's going on?
0:52:22 > 0:52:24- I wish I knew.- Where to start?
0:52:26 > 0:52:28- It's a long story.- Yeah.
0:52:29 > 0:52:31I've got all night, I think.
0:52:31 > 0:52:33I might just take this off first.
0:52:33 > 0:52:40Well, yes, what it is, is that for most of the evening we've
0:52:40 > 0:52:45been travelling in darkness down the roads roughly similar to ones
0:52:45 > 0:52:48that we were travelling in daylight -
0:52:48 > 0:52:49just as bad, in other words -
0:52:49 > 0:52:51and we've come across two places
0:52:51 > 0:52:55where the bridges have basically broken
0:52:55 > 0:53:01so we've had to go round the outside, along the beach in darkness
0:53:01 > 0:53:06as the tide's coming in, and now the latest is that we've found a
0:53:06 > 0:53:11bridge that is completely impassable and probably has been for a while.
0:53:11 > 0:53:13Let's not use the word impassable,
0:53:13 > 0:53:14let's say collapsed.
0:53:14 > 0:53:17Yes, half destroyed. No longer a bridge.
0:53:21 > 0:53:25Angus, what are you doing?
0:53:25 > 0:53:28- Cleaning my teeth.- We're staying here the night then, are we?
0:53:28 > 0:53:31We're staying here the night. This is our bedroom. This my bed.
0:53:31 > 0:53:33Oh, that looks very snug. Where am I?
0:53:33 > 0:53:35You're in the passenger seat.
0:53:35 > 0:53:37Oh, yeah, that'll be luxury.
0:53:37 > 0:53:40Light yourself. Go on, yeah.
0:53:40 > 0:53:43Can you not do anything? Give me the light then.
0:53:43 > 0:53:45Actually, it's looking a bit Blair Witch now.
0:53:46 > 0:53:50No, but that's the thing - it feels a bit Blair Witch.
0:53:50 > 0:53:54We're stuck in the middle of nowhere. The sea could indeed rise
0:53:54 > 0:53:57even higher and sweep us away in the night, we can't escape,
0:53:57 > 0:54:04the bridge is broken. I don't know how to impress upon you the absolute
0:54:04 > 0:54:05crisis that we're in.
0:54:05 > 0:54:08But Angus and I, we have the secret weapon.
0:54:08 > 0:54:11Dun, dun, dun!
0:54:11 > 0:54:14Rum with vanilla pod.
0:54:14 > 0:54:17NOISILY KISSES BOTTLE
0:54:17 > 0:54:18How much is there?
0:54:18 > 0:54:21That's not what I'll be doing to Angus later, that is
0:54:21 > 0:54:25what I'll be doing to the rum.
0:54:25 > 0:54:26Good night, all.
0:54:26 > 0:54:29Good night.
0:54:29 > 0:54:32The situation seems to have improved somewhat.
0:54:32 > 0:54:35Where's the rum? Not so bad.
0:54:35 > 0:54:39In a way, you know, we've got a beach out there.
0:54:39 > 0:54:42Back in the light, please.
0:54:42 > 0:54:44There's a beach, there are waves, there's rum,
0:54:44 > 0:54:47I have all my friends around me.
0:54:47 > 0:54:50I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be.
0:54:53 > 0:54:55We've woken up to paradise.
0:54:55 > 0:54:58Clearly, last night it didn't feel like it
0:54:58 > 0:55:01in the pitch black with no idea, really, where we were.
0:55:01 > 0:55:05Angus curled up on the seat next to me. It was almost romantic.
0:55:05 > 0:55:07I say almost.
0:55:07 > 0:55:10OK, best press on if we want to get out of here
0:55:10 > 0:55:12at some point in our lives.
0:55:15 > 0:55:21They're now just 65 kilometres from their final destination
0:55:21 > 0:55:25but the road continues to throw up obstacles at every turn.
0:55:25 > 0:55:26Crikey.
0:55:49 > 0:55:52I mean, it's not even an adventure for us any more now cos it's
0:55:52 > 0:55:56got to the point, now, where every bridge we're coming to is broken.
0:55:56 > 0:56:00I think we're going to have to traverse the spit.
0:56:00 > 0:56:05It's really, really hard to fathom just how to difficult
0:56:05 > 0:56:07it must be to lead a life here.
0:56:23 > 0:56:26Do you think there'll be a reception committee when we arrive?
0:56:26 > 0:56:30Yes, I think there will be. The people will line the streets.
0:56:30 > 0:56:32Will there be banners, do you think,
0:56:32 > 0:56:34- saying, "Welcome..." - "..Mariella and Angus?"
0:56:34 > 0:56:37Or will it be, Angus and Mariella?
0:56:37 > 0:56:38I don't care!
0:56:38 > 0:56:41Oh, OK, Angus and Mariella then.
0:56:41 > 0:56:45What are you looking forward to seeing, mainly?
0:56:45 > 0:56:46The back of you.
0:56:49 > 0:56:52This might be it. I think this might actually be...
0:56:52 > 0:56:55The end of the road. the end of the road.
0:56:55 > 0:56:56- Our destination.- Oh.
0:56:57 > 0:57:00It's delightful. It's like Henley.
0:57:00 > 0:57:05Hello. Hello, civilisation.
0:57:05 > 0:57:07In the first few hours when we drove out of Tana
0:57:07 > 0:57:11and everything we were talking about Madagascar and the wildlife
0:57:11 > 0:57:14and everything but after we actually hit the difficult
0:57:14 > 0:57:18part of the road, we couldn't think about anything but survival.
0:57:18 > 0:57:21These people don't know what we've been through to get here.
0:57:21 > 0:57:23Do you know what? I think they probably do.
0:57:23 > 0:57:25They probably do actually, yeah.
0:57:25 > 0:57:29There were times I was not sure we were going to make it, but,
0:57:29 > 0:57:31in the end, you look back on it
0:57:31 > 0:57:34and think, "I just had six fantastic days."
0:57:35 > 0:57:39- Well, well done.- Well done, you. - No, please.
0:57:39 > 0:57:42I think I'm going to be sad saying goodbye to our Ford Everest.
0:57:42 > 0:57:47It's done us proud. Saved our lives about 20 times every day.
0:57:47 > 0:57:50At last! I'm so excited.
0:57:50 > 0:57:52We made it.
0:57:52 > 0:57:55The images in my head are like from a disaster movie.
0:57:55 > 0:57:57I see seas of red mud.
0:57:57 > 0:58:00Red, glutinous mud.
0:58:01 > 0:58:05Oh, cocktail coconuts.
0:58:05 > 0:58:10I think I described Mariella at the start as being bossy,
0:58:10 > 0:58:13so I'm glad we've had a chance to scotch that rumour.
0:58:13 > 0:58:17We've had a very long journey. We're barely alive.
0:58:17 > 0:58:20If I'm honest, she's very good fun to be with
0:58:20 > 0:58:24and it has been a bit of a hoot over the last five/six days.
0:58:24 > 0:58:26- Cheers again.- Cheers.
0:58:26 > 0:58:28Yeah. I never actually thought we'd make it.
0:58:28 > 0:58:32He did remain completely unflappable
0:58:32 > 0:58:35and probably had quite a good effect on me
0:58:35 > 0:58:39because I am a flapper, on occasion.
0:58:39 > 0:58:40Aargh!
0:58:40 > 0:58:43Yeah, we just need to be away from each other for another
0:58:43 > 0:58:47two or three years and we'll be ready to be friends again.
0:58:53 > 0:58:57Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd