As a Malagasy you guys totally did this trip the WRONG way !!!! Like the others have said you definitely want to have a GUIDE or a Local with you. There are some red Zones in Madagascar just like the USA as well. I am GLAD you made it Back safe!!! We love tourists!!!!!
RedZones & Black Spots are every where.....Strange places in Karnataka state ,in India is danger.. Carjacker Mafia Groups..They will knock you out...steal your car..sell it as parts..to Grey Market...
correct ! Je suis sur ils l's ont seulement voulait aidé. Je connais madagascar, on parle beacoup des dahalo, mais quand ils ne sont jamais la. Ils habitent a Antananarivo, à Antenimiera. Oi, musicofangels: what's the problem to take a National Road? Will you need to have armed guides, how many do they cost, does the Malagasy gov. pay for it? They are responsible for safety and security, why don't they do their job? This counts for foreigners & locals. Do Malagasy pay taxes, can be disrespected and robbed, or do they only pay taxes and must live locked up? Think about it.
You guys should have done more research first. Renting motorbikes & a Guide would have been better. Even youtuber Ichyboots with a Guide is having road & bike problems !! At least she is showing us how Remote it is over there, with Lemurs
@gunter1444 well we took the RN35 to see lemurs but that didn’t work out and I doubt ichyboots is driving the RN35. I saw her take the same route to the trees but after that I’m sure her guide advised her to not take the RN35 like we did, plus we did research and on the Madagascar official website it said to be prepared for broken roads, missing bridges and what not so how we suppose to know that the route we took ended up being the worse one ?
@user-gs3tq6bx2u We abandoned the pajero and ended up paying the rental cars deductible for the loss. And simply put we had no business driving on the RN35 🤷🏼♂️
I was in Madagascar since 2008 till the end of 2010 , I stayed in Antananarivo , Moramanga and Tamatave , all Malagasy people i met were wonderful , friendly and peaceful people , I adore Madagascar it's the paradise , i was in shock when i heard in 2016 that many people was killed in the south by the armed robbers , i don't know if it's the situation all over the country but , when i was there it was very safe , I used to go around everywhere , any time alone and with expats I never face any problem with the people anywhere we go they used to greet and smile for us , I wish all the best peace and secure for the most beautiful country ever
Even with what happen I saw Madagascar for all it’s good qualities, we simply had bad luck which honestly can happen anywhere in the world. I still loved the trip, met amazing wonderful people and I wouldn’t mind going back one day, but next time plan it out correctly that’s all.
@@SebastianDykier I'm sorry for what happened to you and your friend , It's good you got out safe , I'm really sad because of the danger places in Madagascar but , I think East Madagascar and the islands are safer than the south , I would love to visit Madagascar again
I heard the same, the islands are more desirable for travel and as I said before dispute our experience I’d love to go back as well. It is a hidden gem
As I am from Madagascar I don't think it will be that terrifying. You just have to be with a tour guide not just going by your own or trust what's going on google maps. So, like this, you will be safe and lucky. It's how you go about it.
mandatory handler (tour guide) is a no go. if you cant solo it, it's an issue. stop making excuses. thats why theres travel advisories for madagascar warning you of this
Madagascar is one of the poorest country in the world so going through rural places it's definitely even more a battle of the strongest. I am Malagasy and I don't think I will ever do that. I think you both were incredible for sticking to that for so long. But this could happen anywhere even in some parts of rural U.S
Mark Sellers told me about this video and it was amazing. It felt like a travel story thriller that you would see at the theater! What an experience. When you were stuck in the mud and opened the door on the SUV, all I could think of is "I hope he got full coverage on that!" Glad to see you made it back to civilization safely!
Not only was that truck destroyed it stayed abandoned from my knowledge 😂 it ended up being 800 or something like that between Ramir and I so we paid it asap. We were definitely lucky though
Awesome video-I've mountain biked RN35 twice-once with a friend in 1998 from Morondava inland, and once alone from Antsirabe to Morondava. We/I camped by the road each time: somewhat risky, but your trip was insane LoL - going out into the unknown like that. It brings back memories, and intense love of the people who took care of us along the way.
Correction: I only took RN35 between the coast and RN34. I was mostly on RN34. Your trip was even more insane after crossing that river. I bet your Mitsubishi has been made into wonderful musical instruments, wagons, housewares and toys by now.
@@SebastianDykier it was a good low-profile way to go, and easier to bug out when you need to. We completed our first trip in a Land Rover with a hired driver and a very interesting Gendarmerie Lieutenant.
Astonishing! Just took some notices for our coming August self-drive Madagascar trip! As a matter of fact, I was thinking about taking the RN35 myself!! :)))) Thanks for the video!
Wow! What a heart-pounding story. My face went pale when you talked about your final hike with the thieves on your tail. I’ve developed a lot of curiosity and appreciation for Madagascar, it’s people, and especially it’s ecosystem. The parts of the video when you made it to the communities were so beautiful and shows the kindness of others. If I am ever to visit in the future I already know I’d set myself up with a guide throughout my stay! I’m so glad you made it out of that situation safely
FYI, automatic guns are illegal in Madagascar...but that doesn't stop that town leader from having what is almost certainly a full auto "AK". (a Chinese Type 81)
Well done! I Live in Madagascar and I see you presented the true situation many don’t even believe when we tell them. Great! Thank God you were unharmed! It could have been a very bad ending!!!
It could have been bad for sure but we met a lot of honest, sweet and compassionate people along the way thankfully. I’m glad you enjoyed the video, one of my favorite I’ve made so far
@@SebastianDykier I was just wondering what happened with the car? Where did you rent the car from ? Normally the cars are rented with drivers here in Madagascar. We are missionaries here but we still didn’t go on such bad roads as you did! 🤷♂️😃
It was Avis, they literally just opened up over there and we may have ruined them with that incident 😂. We just paid the insurance deductible, it was something like 800 dollars. And I bet the truck was just left there so who knows what happened to it 🤷🏼♂️.
i was wondering to visit Madagascar also, thats how i found your video on youtube, but now i think i should choose other destination for my solo trip :D good bless u are safe
The Mitsubishi is the real STAR of this episode. How did it end for her? When is her movie coming out? This has to be made into a "Herbie" movie. The "Mitzie That Could" also: "Dude, this just looks like it's never gonna end for us" lol. I felt that energy.
@@SebastianDykier Yo both of you inspire me to do a road trip with a Toyota or buggy. I'm from this country but my dad avoid traveling by night we have a chance to always take plane or bus travel. Nice video do more road trip like this, maybe we meet at the Island some day cheese
awesome video. I know its a little old, but help me understand - the same AK dirt bike guy that you hid from was actually the town leader and help you in the end?
This video had happy, sad and terrifying all wrapped up in one. It was definitely like watching a horror movie. I’m so happy y’all are safe and sound. The mother in me wants to say “DON’T DO IT AGAIN!” But it looks like you already learned that from what I read in the comments.
Cool video and thanks for sharing, I've visited Madagascar back in November and I've done some miles there through the country on motorcycle. It's a beautiful country and people are extremely friendly. But it can also be a scary and suspicious place especially if you don't speak French or Malagasy. I totally know how you guys felt in those situations. From one side I admire your trip but some part of me thinks that you didn't prepare well enough and perhaps underestimate Madagascar a little bit ;) Using Google Maps in country like Madagascar is probably not the best idea. I'm glad you made safe back home and share the story, I can't wait to go back myself.
Mike K. Like I said despite all that happened we saw how beautiful Madagascar was in its rawest form and met a lot of genuine people along the way. We just had bad luck and never would have thought google maps would consider that road as a route 😂 but now we know 🤷🏼♂️
What an adventure! We almost made the same mistake. We use google map a lot for our trip and RN35 was the suggestion. Luckily, we went hiking with a local guide the previous day and as we're chatting, we asked him about the road. Thanks to him, we took the RN34 instead and that was a very smooth ride. Next time you're in Madagascar you should try RN12, it's the best road (as in worst but doable if you avoid rainy season). That's if they still let you rent a car!!!😅
Amazing story ! as a Malagasy what u did was crazy, u should always bring a local or a tour guide with u in this county cause they know about the "fady" (the tabou or things u can't do) u could have died because of dahalo as well (dangerous robbers well known for stealing and killing) . But what a great adventure it was !
Man I feel like playing Uncharted 4, driving the cars in the mud and stuffs But Madagascar is a real gem. If Madagascar was a safe country and more developed without corruption, best touristic spot on earth, not even close
I understand that you wanted to experience things in different ways; however, this kind of thing shouldn't have beeen done in Madagascar. Even we as citizens of M/scar still depend heavily on locals of whichever provinces we go to. In my country, everything has its own mystery, and if you are with a tour guide then your journey will be one of the best ever. Glad you made it safely.
So, unless I'm mistaken, the main theme here is your fear of bad local people doing bad things to you. But the reality is that the locals treated you extremely well. As I bicycled around rural roads of: Mexico, China, Taiwan, and other places, I always expected the locals would treat me well. I was never disappointed. Mark Henry
crazy! Itchy Boots rode a motorcycle on the paved roads in Madagascar and was in the same area as you guys, with the green hills. She is famous for going off road, but she dare not this time and she had a guide.
You guys were real dare devils !!! Congratulations on your super adventurous trip I m going to Madagascar in a couple weeks with 3 friends, did not plan anything yet but for sure we will not rent a car ….thanks a bunch for your video
Definitely get yourself a guide and sorry for the late response, for whatever reason I didn’t have notifications on. I’m glad you enjoyed my video and I hope you have an amazing trip 💪🏻
This is NUTS! and sums up all of the good/bad/nightmare of an improvised solo trip in Madagascar without a guide: the absolutely ran down state of most provincial roads in Madagascar, the dangers in the middle of nowhere with no bridge/no restaurant/no hotel/no gas stations for miles/and the dahalo or the people seeing how the situation is and want to take advantage of it/and the sweetest, most helpful people on earth (most of us, Malagasy, anyway 😃) to balance that. Thank God you made it in one piece to tell the story, I hope you know how LUCKY you are to get out of it alive and kicking ! Thank you for the beautiful shots of the Baobab alley, the beach (is that in Morondava?), of that infamous RN35 and of the hills: cheers to a first travel vlog to remember!
This comment is so well said and put together that I don’t know what to reply 😂 Yes, we are both very aware of how lucky we are and I’m glad you really enjoyed this video 🙏🏻 I believe the beach was Morondava but at the moment I honestly don’t remember and this was definitely my most memorable trip ever 🤣
From a season traveler. as much as I love travel stories and as much as i understand that every trip, every road every destination has a certain degree of risk, because of that is imperative as a traveler to understand what is RISK MANAGEMENT. You have done all to fall in the worst disgrace, you made the worst mistake to not understanding the terrain in terms of geography and people. I wouldnt even criticize the fact you didnt take a local guide with you, but at certain point you should have judged the possibility the car may break down in the middle of no where. No extra water no extra food, no weapons? Madagascar in the extreme remote area? Luckily you ended up in one piece and able to share your story with the world so other inexperienced travelers dont make same mistakes. Having said that the upload was amazing!!!!
The 4x4 was left there to rot so I have no idea what really happened to it but we paid Avis the insurance deductible to make it even. If I remember correctly it was like 1000 or something like that to make it right.
Oh, dears, I just watched your video, I m so glad you both are safe. The worst thing you do is use GPS in Madagascar. And never go alone without Malagasy with you guys
I’m glad you enjoyed it, I put a lot of work into it so it’s nice to see it’s finally getting some views and people like yourself loving it, thank you 🙏🏻.
This was the whole idea , of an adventure and that you were able to document it is priceless . The worlds stereotype view on people can be jaring granted there are dangers anywhere in the world Even here in the US or even England and the Caribbean , from China to the Philippines . But i will say that you saw the good and the bad and you survived . The countryside in that country looks amazing just modern infrastructure and logistics is lacking only in the tourist locations . It's amazing how locals get by and in a sense amazing and fascinating .
What the hell did I just watch! Man that was insane. The part you said the men in the mountains started following, man insane. Great content though, I love it!
WHAT A TRIP GUYS! First time ever I comment a video on youtube. Your trip could've been worse. Despite the fact that I am Malagasy, I would never have dared to venture into the bush without local guide. By the way, thank you for showing us that side. What I learned from the video is that there is a limit to technology: reality in the virtual world is very different from the real world.
I’m glad you enjoyed the video, and yes it could have been much much worse. We were definitely lucky. Lesson learned on our end but like I said in the video not everyone is bad but all it takes is one bad person so again we were very lucky. Thanks for also writing a comment and expressing your thoughts, means a lot to me 🙏🏻
@@SebastianDykierWe (unfortunately) took the same route as you guys (RN35) and we did see an abandoned truck along the way, with two flat tyres and a broken cabin, but there were no signs of a rental car. Maybe the young men you encountered stole it and brought it back to their town..? Either that, or it's now living a life of its own in the wilderness of Madagascar, just like the Ford Anglia in Harry Potter. 😂
The fact that I’m jealous that you got to go on this trip says a lot about how much I LOVE traveling. This looked so amazing, despiste the obvious danger. But this video is better than reporters even, it shows a raw side of a country that is so difficult to capture with footage. Thank you so much for all the work you put in to putting this together. My dream is to visit Madagascar one day, although, with a tour guide 😆
Unfortunately it was cloudy the nights we were there but I could imagine it would have been breathe taking since there’s no light pollution and most of the land is untouched
@@SebastianDykier its unfortunate you missed out... this is by far one of the best youtube videos ive seen recently... definitely deserves more views imo
I feel like I must comment because hooow? whyyy? You are just crazy, like craaazy! Even me a local I would never ever dare to do what you did...And somehow watching you makes me what to go home and go for an adventure. ^^
Everyone asks “why!?” 😂 but I say why not? What’s life without a little adventure and excitement. Honestly, this is my most memorable trip and best birthday to date 😂
Guys, seriously: my dad, brother and I just came back from Madagascar, and thanks to Google Maps we also drove the RN35... I can relate to many of the things you described here: the very dangerous roads and the friendly people in the mountain towns (who looked at us as if we were crazy driving there as white people without a guide), but also the shifty men with axes and knives who wanted to rob us. Fortunately it didn't rain much when we were there, so our car didn't break down once; otherwise I think we wouldn't have made it out alive: no service, no food and no water often means certain death in situations like these... However, we succeeded after 18 hours because of my brother's splendid driving skills and the police coming to our aid after we had almost been robbed (I speak French, so luckily I could explain what had happened). It was a nightmare! Madagascar is definitely both the most beautiful and most dangerous country I've ever visited. 😅
You are correct: the Nazis were training local herders in the north to supply garrisons and camps. The plan was scuttled when Germany lost control of the seas. The U of Waterloo in Ontario had a historian studying this.
I have watch a programme and my name is Abdul I was born in Madagascar I've been living in England for past 50 years I'm always in Madagascar you are lucky to be alive it's not a place anyone to wonder about without guide next time you won't take a trip take a guy like me
We were definitely lucky but as I said in the video, we did meet a lot of sweet genuine people along the way but yes next time I’ll be going with a guide
i've been to Madagascar three times. It is a truly wonderful island. It is also challenging to get around therefore we always rented a 4wd with a driver. I think you guys underestimated it by not being prepared (let's be fair, you didn't even know the highlight of your visit is called "Avenue de Baobab") Anyway, we are returning next week, bringing our son for the first time. Looking very much forward and we ARE well prepared in every way.
BUt what i can say is , i know this place and all the towns around. I can insure you that it is a safe place. No major security events occured arround . The government deploys few guys when the area is safe, if the area is not safe you can see many soldiers and even sometimes armored vehicles. So better back up in this last case.
I’ve been to see the Baobab trees and can’t understand why they don’t better the road which would make it easier and more pleasant for the tourists. Nice hotels in Morandava .
I spent 2 and half years in Madagascar and it was sometimes pure heaven or hell. Madagascar depending where you go can be very safe or very dangerous.If you would have sticked to the Menabe region or the deep south or North coast you would have been ok but in this past of central Madagascar near the East coast it can be very dangerous.
@@SebastianDykier I had some bad experiences in MAdagascar too ,got malaria ,was swept away in a flash mud flood ,drove from the capital to Antsiranana in the north through a cyclone and it took 6 days,been pickpocketed by a bunch of tiny 7 years old cute thieves but what you went through is the most intense that one can face in Madagascar.You are lucky to have made it .Kidnappings against ransom became a thing in Madagascar these past years .Of course its not like in South America but there are at least one or two cases every 2 or 3years.Normally they don't targert tourists but foreign expats working in Madagascar for big companies.
@@akarmoussaittizi3012 your experience sounds just as terrible, you should make a video on that if you have any footage. That would be just as intense to watch.
We could have stopped and turned around before the river but we’re super adventurous and stay committed 🤷🏼♂️ it was definitely my most memorable trip ever
@@SebastianDykier I probably would've done the same but probably would not have been as lucky as you. I'm planning on visiting Madagascar but I was sitting here with clenched teeth and hands watching this video. Great job!
Yeah a car rental, basically it got beat up, filled with mud and the turbo blew out. Honestly not sure if they ever picked up the car or just left it there however we did pay the deposit of 800 US dollars. In the end it’s not their fault so we paid whatever they told us.
Every guide book in the place tells you not to do what you did , consider yourselves lucky souls, southern madagasgar is a haven for road bandits that prey on strangers, a guide is always reccommended in these areas.Madagasgar is one of the poorest countries in the world yet one of the last wilderness.A long way from the mean streets of Atlanta.but the Malagasy can be the most beautiful loving people on earth despite there poverty.Much love
Dam bro, I would have advised you NOT to drive to Morondava from Tana (and vice versa). That drive is infamous for washed out roads. Sorry you all never made it to Andasibe but you got a great opportunity to see the Baobabs and really spend time with the Malagasy culture . Maybe next time you can check out the Indri Lemur at Andasibe.
rb we did miss out on everything we wanted to see but it was a memorable trip non the less and I don’t regret it at all... We’ll do more research or have a tour guide if we ever go back
Luckily we filled up right before this all happened and it wasn’t a big engine plus the roads didn’t allow us to drive fast so I guess that’s how it lasted
Good choices for places 🌼🌸 But there are some places to avoid traveling solo or even two in Madagascar. For some places, you have to go in group like at least 5 people . . .
Just watched your video and I felt sorry for you guys. But then I was wondering what the heck 🤣. I am from Madagasikara so knowing the country , I would never advise foreigners to travel all by themselves especially if you follow Google maps 😬. It's always better to travel with somebody who knows at least the language and the tricks. (Even here in the US, maps can lead you to a road you can't never imagine or planned. Got lost a couple of time🥵) Anyway, I am glad you guys were safe and were able to enjoy your trip. ☺️
Well no one really advised us to travel solo, we just like adventure 😂. Even with what happened it was an awesome birthday trip, definitely the most memorable 😆
Hi guys! Every gun are not AK's . When you see a man or a woman with this type of gun wich is The chinese Type 81, wich is not an AK, you can be sure that it is a member of the Military Police of Madagascar, named Gendarmerie. But i advice you to never approach people if they are bearing AK without uniforms because the Ak is frequently used by road cutters.
The first time was because we couldn’t find a hotel so we decided to make use of the time since it was a 12 hour drive but the other times were no choice and find a city
Well, pretty sure by contract you were not allowed to drive the car to where you drove it but if you got away with it - start buying lottery tickets. You gonna win.
It wasn’t my suv, it was a rental but we think the turbo broke down causing the engine to slowly fail and obviously all the abuse the rest of the suv took finally killed it. We abandoned the suv and for all we know it could still be in the middle of no where in Madagascar 😂
As a Malagasy you guys totally did this trip the WRONG way !!!! Like the others have said you definitely want to have a GUIDE or a Local with you. There are some red Zones in Madagascar just like the USA as well.
I am GLAD you made it Back safe!!! We love tourists!!!!!
RedZones & Black Spots are every where.....Strange places in Karnataka state ,in India is danger.. Carjacker Mafia Groups..They will knock you out...steal your car..sell it as parts..to Grey Market...
correct ! Je suis sur ils l's ont seulement voulait aidé. Je connais madagascar, on parle beacoup des dahalo, mais quand ils ne sont jamais la. Ils habitent a Antananarivo, à Antenimiera. Oi, musicofangels: what's the problem to take a National Road? Will you need to have armed guides, how many do they cost, does the Malagasy gov. pay for it? They are responsible for safety and security, why don't they do their job? This counts for foreigners & locals. Do Malagasy pay taxes, can be disrespected and robbed, or do they only pay taxes and must live locked up? Think about it.
You guys should have done more research first. Renting motorbikes & a Guide would have been better. Even youtuber Ichyboots with a Guide is having road & bike problems !! At least she is showing us how Remote it is over there, with Lemurs
@gunter1444 well we took the RN35 to see lemurs but that didn’t work out and I doubt ichyboots is driving the RN35. I saw her take the same route to the trees but after that I’m sure her guide advised her to not take the RN35 like we did, plus we did research and on the Madagascar official website it said to be prepared for broken roads, missing bridges and what not so how we suppose to know that the route we took ended up being the worse one ?
@user-gs3tq6bx2u We abandoned the pajero and ended up paying the rental cars deductible for the loss. And simply put we had no business driving on the RN35 🤷🏼♂️
You two did EVERYTHING all the literature tells you NOT to do. I hope you know how lucky you are.
Dare devil
Seriously..?
I was in Madagascar since 2008 till the end of 2010 , I stayed in Antananarivo , Moramanga and Tamatave , all Malagasy people i met were wonderful , friendly and peaceful people , I adore Madagascar it's the paradise , i was in shock when i heard in 2016 that many people was killed in the south by the armed robbers , i don't know if it's the situation all over the country but , when i was there it was very safe , I used to go around everywhere , any time alone and with expats I never face any problem with the people anywhere we go they used to greet and smile for us , I wish all the best peace and secure for the most beautiful country ever
Even with what happen I saw Madagascar for all it’s good qualities, we simply had bad luck which honestly can happen anywhere in the world. I still loved the trip, met amazing wonderful people and I wouldn’t mind going back one day, but next time plan it out correctly that’s all.
@@SebastianDykier I'm sorry for what happened to you and your friend , It's good you got out safe , I'm really sad because of the danger places in Madagascar but , I think East Madagascar and the islands are safer than the south , I would love to visit Madagascar again
I heard the same, the islands are more desirable for travel and as I said before dispute our experience I’d love to go back as well. It is a hidden gem
it's not all over the country, it's only in the south. because of the drought, some people find it easier to rob others.
Yes we love people and we welcome everybody 🥰
As I am from Madagascar I don't think it will be that terrifying. You just have to be with a tour guide not just going by your own or trust what's going on google maps. So, like this, you will be safe and lucky. It's how you go about it.
mandatory handler (tour guide) is a no go. if you cant solo it, it's an issue. stop making excuses. thats why theres travel advisories for madagascar warning you of this
This journey is amazing! I’m very terrified and worried on your way but glad to hear you able to make it.
Madagascar is one of the poorest country in the world so going through rural places it's definitely even more a battle of the strongest.
I am Malagasy and I don't think I will ever do that. I think you both were incredible for sticking to that for so long.
But this could happen anywhere even in some parts of rural U.S
Thank you 🙏🏻, and I agree something like this can happen anywhere rural for sure
i have lived in the rural us in several places...doors unlocked and leave keys in the car.
10/10 My favourite video on the internet. I live in Madagascar, and this is a perfect portrayal. Thank you.
Very glad you enjoyed the video 😊 thank you 🙏🏻
Mark Sellers told me about this video and it was amazing. It felt like a travel story thriller that you would see at the theater! What an experience. When you were stuck in the mud and opened the door on the SUV, all I could think of is "I hope he got full coverage on that!" Glad to see you made it back to civilization safely!
Not only was that truck destroyed it stayed abandoned from my knowledge 😂 it ended up being 800 or something like that between Ramir and I so we paid it asap. We were definitely lucky though
Good footage of your crazy trip ! Glad you guys made it back safe.
Awesome video-I've mountain biked RN35 twice-once with a friend in 1998 from Morondava inland, and once alone from Antsirabe to Morondava. We/I camped by the road each time: somewhat risky, but your trip was insane LoL - going out into the unknown like that. It brings back memories, and intense love of the people who took care of us along the way.
Mountain biking the RN35 sounds wild to me especially from what we went through 🤯
Correction: I only took RN35 between the coast and RN34. I was mostly on RN34. Your trip was even more insane after crossing that river. I bet your Mitsubishi has been made into wonderful musical instruments, wagons, housewares and toys by now.
@@SebastianDykier it was a good low-profile way to go, and easier to bug out when you need to. We completed our first trip in a Land Rover with a hired driver and a very interesting Gendarmerie Lieutenant.
I often have wished that my spirit haunt that region when I die.
For sure that Mitsubishi was stripped into pieces 🤣
Astonishing! Just took some notices for our coming August self-drive Madagascar trip! As a matter of fact, I was thinking about taking the RN35 myself!! :)))) Thanks for the video!
Glad you saw this video before traveling, definitely avoid the RN35 😂
Wow! What a heart-pounding story. My face went pale when you talked about your final hike with the thieves on your tail. I’ve developed a lot of curiosity and appreciation for Madagascar, it’s people, and especially it’s ecosystem. The parts of the video when you made it to the communities were so beautiful and shows the kindness of others. If I am ever to visit in the future I already know I’d set myself up with a guide throughout my stay! I’m so glad you made it out of that situation safely
Im very glad you enjoyed the video, means a lot to me 🙏🏻
FYI, automatic guns are illegal in Madagascar...but that doesn't stop that town leader from having what is almost certainly a full auto "AK". (a Chinese Type 81)
Well done! I Live in Madagascar and I see you presented the true situation many don’t even believe when we tell them. Great! Thank God you were unharmed! It could have been a very bad ending!!!
It could have been bad for sure but we met a lot of honest, sweet and compassionate people along the way thankfully. I’m glad you enjoyed the video, one of my favorite I’ve made so far
@@SebastianDykier I was just wondering what happened with the car? Where did you rent the car from ? Normally the cars are rented with drivers here in Madagascar.
We are missionaries here but we still didn’t go on such bad roads as you did! 🤷♂️😃
It was Avis, they literally just opened up over there and we may have ruined them with that incident 😂. We just paid the insurance deductible, it was something like 800 dollars. And I bet the truck was just left there so who knows what happened to it 🤷🏼♂️.
i was wondering to visit Madagascar also, thats how i found your video on youtube, but now i think i should choose other destination for my solo trip :D good bless u are safe
Yeah I’d say if you’re going to visit, definitely hire an official tour guide and maybe not solo just in case lol.
Hey Im from Madagascar
The Mitsubishi is the real STAR of this episode.
How did it end for her? When is her movie coming out?
This has to be made into a "Herbie" movie. The "Mitzie That Could"
also:
"Dude, this just looks like it's never gonna end for us"
lol. I felt that energy.
For real, I have so much respect for that SUV and it does deserve its own movie 🤣
@@SebastianDykier Yo both of you inspire me to do a road trip with a Toyota or buggy. I'm from this country but my dad avoid traveling by night we have a chance to always take plane or bus travel. Nice video do more road trip like this, maybe we meet at the Island some day cheese
awesome video. I know its a little old, but help me understand - the same AK dirt bike guy that you hid from was actually the town leader and help you in the end?
Yeah, funny enough 😂
This video had happy, sad and terrifying all wrapped up in one. It was definitely like watching a horror movie. I’m so happy y’all are safe and sound. The mother in me wants to say “DON’T DO IT AGAIN!” But it looks like you already learned that from what I read in the comments.
Felt like I was watching a movie bro! Well put together🙌🏾
Thank you, Im glad you loved it
Cool video and thanks for sharing, I've visited Madagascar back in November and I've done some miles there through the country on motorcycle. It's a beautiful country and people are extremely friendly. But it can also be a scary and suspicious place especially if you don't speak French or Malagasy. I totally know how you guys felt in those situations. From one side I admire your trip but some part of me thinks that you didn't prepare well enough and perhaps underestimate Madagascar a little bit ;) Using Google Maps in country like Madagascar is probably not the best idea. I'm glad you made safe back home and share the story, I can't wait to go back myself.
Mike K. Like I said despite all that happened we saw how beautiful Madagascar was in its rawest form and met a lot of genuine people along the way. We just had bad luck and never would have thought google maps would consider that road as a route 😂 but now we know 🤷🏼♂️
What an adventure! We almost made the same mistake. We use google map a lot for our trip and RN35 was the suggestion. Luckily, we went hiking with a local guide the previous day and as we're chatting, we asked him about the road. Thanks to him, we took the RN34 instead and that was a very smooth ride. Next time you're in Madagascar you should try RN12, it's the best road (as in worst but doable if you avoid rainy season). That's if they still let you rent a car!!!😅
I doubt anyone will let us rent a car again there 🤣 that car was brand new when we got it 😅
Love from South Madagascar 💯
Amazing story ! as a Malagasy what u did was crazy, u should always bring a local or a tour guide with u in this county cause they know about the "fady" (the tabou or things u can't do) u could have died because of dahalo as well (dangerous robbers well known for stealing and killing) . But what a great adventure it was !
Thank you 🙏🏻, after we got out of that mess the locals helping us to the hotel told us the same thing, we we’re definitely lucky.
@@SebastianDykier i’m happy u have experimented the kindness and hospitality of my people though !
Thankful that luck was on your side!!
@@MrEdinho94 How do you live peacefully with all of that going on?
Dahalo mostly will kill and steal cows, I come from there.
Man I feel like playing Uncharted 4, driving the cars in the mud and stuffs
But Madagascar is a real gem.
If Madagascar was a safe country and more developed without corruption, best touristic spot on earth, not even close
Never played uncharted but I guess I lived it 🤣 But I agree Madagascar is a gem and in a world of its own
If !
Glad you guys made it. Super video
Thank you 🙏🏻 I’m glad you enjoyed the video 💪🏻
Insane story! Thanks for taking the time to share it
Thank you 🙏🏻 I’m glad you enjoyed it, I also posted a video filled with raw unedited iPhone clips if you want to see a little more from that story 💪🏻
Thanks for your reply. Yes, I’d love to see more, thank you!
I understand that you wanted to experience things in different ways; however, this kind of thing shouldn't have beeen done in Madagascar. Even we as citizens of M/scar still depend heavily on locals of whichever provinces we go to. In my country, everything has its own mystery, and if you are with a tour guide then your journey will be one of the best ever. Glad you made it safely.
So, unless I'm mistaken, the main theme here is your fear of bad local people doing bad things to you. But the reality is that the locals treated you extremely well.
As I bicycled around rural roads of: Mexico, China, Taiwan, and other places, I always expected the locals would treat me well. I was never disappointed.
Mark Henry
There was bad locals with bad intentions and there was locals with big hearts and open arms. I’m assuming you didn’t watch the whole video
crazy! Itchy Boots rode a motorcycle on the paved roads in Madagascar and was in the same area as you guys, with the green hills. She is famous for going off road, but she dare not this time and she had a guide.
I have to see that video, I’m curious to see
@@SebastianDykier yes! you need to see her videos!
You guys were real dare devils !!! Congratulations on your super adventurous trip
I m going to Madagascar in a couple weeks with 3 friends, did not plan anything yet but for sure we will not rent a car ….thanks a bunch for your video
Definitely get yourself a guide and sorry for the late response, for whatever reason I didn’t have notifications on. I’m glad you enjoyed my video and I hope you have an amazing trip 💪🏻
Super beautiful scenery
Epic story, I wish more people would find this. Thank you for posting.
Thank you for watching 🙏🏻
This is NUTS! and sums up all of the good/bad/nightmare of an improvised solo trip in Madagascar without a guide: the absolutely ran down state of most provincial roads in Madagascar, the dangers in the middle of nowhere with no bridge/no restaurant/no hotel/no gas stations for miles/and the dahalo or the people seeing how the situation is and want to take advantage of it/and the sweetest, most helpful people on earth (most of us, Malagasy, anyway 😃) to balance that. Thank God you made it in one piece to tell the story, I hope you know how LUCKY you are to get out of it alive and kicking ! Thank you for the beautiful shots of the Baobab alley, the beach (is that in Morondava?), of that infamous RN35 and of the hills: cheers to a first travel vlog to remember!
This comment is so well said and put together that I don’t know what to reply 😂 Yes, we are both very aware of how lucky we are and I’m glad you really enjoyed this video 🙏🏻 I believe the beach was Morondava but at the moment I honestly don’t remember and this was definitely my most memorable trip ever 🤣
Dude you are lucky, I am a local and i wouldn't even dare going out there without an experienced guide and a proper plan
Lucky is an understatement 😬
You really took risks but thank you to still recommand this beautiful Island of ours
🙏🏻
From a season traveler. as much as I love travel stories and as much as i understand that every trip, every road every destination has a certain degree of risk, because of that is imperative as a traveler to understand what is RISK MANAGEMENT.
You have done all to fall in the worst disgrace, you made the worst mistake to not understanding the terrain in terms of geography and people. I wouldnt even criticize the fact you didnt take a local guide with you, but at certain point you should have judged the possibility the car may break down in the middle of no where. No extra water no extra food, no weapons? Madagascar in the extreme remote area?
Luckily you ended up in one piece and able to share your story with the world so other inexperienced travelers dont make same mistakes.
Having said that the upload was amazing!!!!
And what happened to the car in the end, just left it there?
Yeah, dumped the car there and paid the rental company insurance later on
Amazing. Thank you
So what happened to the 4x4, was is recovered ? The owner must have been glad, how much this they charge you ?
The 4x4 was left there to rot so I have no idea what really happened to it but we paid Avis the insurance deductible to make it even. If I remember correctly it was like 1000 or something like that to make it right.
Oh, dears, I just watched your video, I m so glad you both are safe.
The worst thing you do is use GPS in Madagascar. And never go alone without Malagasy with you guys
Best travel video ever! So exciting
I’m glad you enjoyed it, I put a lot of work into it so it’s nice to see it’s finally getting some views and people like yourself loving it, thank you 🙏🏻.
I thought I was a "man of adventure" you guys are like WOW!
This was the whole idea , of an adventure and that you were able to document it is priceless . The worlds stereotype view on people can be jaring granted there are dangers anywhere in the world Even here in the US or even England and the Caribbean , from China to the Philippines . But i will say that you saw the good and the bad and you survived . The countryside in that country looks amazing just modern infrastructure and logistics is lacking only in the tourist locations . It's amazing how locals get by and in a sense amazing and fascinating .
Damnn RN35 , so scary and so good to know that there are still good people. Loved it
The RN35 is nothing to play with, craziest road I've ever been on
What the hell did I just watch! Man that was insane. The part you said the men in the mountains started following, man insane. Great content though, I love it!
Thank you 🙏🏻, glad you enjoyed it and yes that part was terrifying lol
Nice!! Glad you guys made it out of there!!
So are we lol
This was a awesome and thrilling story. I LOVE IT. (Don't do that again, tho). But what an awesome adventure.
Definitely my most exciting birthday to date 🤣
WHAT A TRIP GUYS! First time ever I comment a video on youtube. Your trip could've been worse. Despite the fact that I am Malagasy, I would never have dared to venture into the bush without local guide. By the way, thank you for showing us that side. What I learned from the video is that there is a limit to technology: reality in the virtual world is very different from the real world.
I’m glad you enjoyed the video, and yes it could have been much much worse. We were definitely lucky. Lesson learned on our end but like I said in the video not everyone is bad but all it takes is one bad person so again we were very lucky. Thanks for also writing a comment and expressing your thoughts, means a lot to me 🙏🏻
@@SebastianDykier any news of the car?
We left it abandoned and the rental company made us pay their insurance deductible so not sure it’s probably still out there somewhere 😂 🤷🏼♂️
@@SebastianDykierWe (unfortunately) took the same route as you guys (RN35) and we did see an abandoned truck along the way, with two flat tyres and a broken cabin, but there were no signs of a rental car. Maybe the young men you encountered stole it and brought it back to their town..? Either that, or it's now living a life of its own in the wilderness of Madagascar, just like the Ford Anglia in Harry Potter. 😂
@@idanvane 🤣
The fact that I’m jealous that you got to go on this trip says a lot about how much I LOVE traveling.
This looked so amazing, despiste the obvious danger. But this video is better than reporters even, it shows a raw side of a country that is so difficult to capture with footage.
Thank you so much for all the work you put in to putting this together. My dream is to visit Madagascar one day, although, with a tour guide 😆
I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏻
What were the stars like at night?
Star gazing is amazing in Madagascar
Unfortunately it was cloudy the nights we were there but I could imagine it would have been breathe taking since there’s no light pollution and most of the land is untouched
@@SebastianDykier its unfortunate you missed out... this is by far one of the best youtube videos ive seen recently... definitely deserves more views imo
Thank you 🙏🏻
I feel like I must comment because hooow? whyyy? You are just crazy, like craaazy! Even me a local I would never ever dare to do what you did...And somehow watching you makes me what to go home and go for an adventure. ^^
Everyone asks “why!?” 😂 but I say why not? What’s life without a little adventure and excitement. Honestly, this is my most memorable trip and best birthday to date 😂
For sure it was an adventure 😅 But now for the next birthdays you have to be more creative if you want to top it 😂
I’ll have to celebrate my birthday In a country that’s in a middle of a war next time 😂
Could do it. We are waiting for the video 💪🏼
Guys, seriously: my dad, brother and I just came back from Madagascar, and thanks to Google Maps we also drove the RN35... I can relate to many of the things you described here: the very dangerous roads and the friendly people in the mountain towns (who looked at us as if we were crazy driving there as white people without a guide), but also the shifty men with axes and knives who wanted to rob us. Fortunately it didn't rain much when we were there, so our car didn't break down once; otherwise I think we wouldn't have made it out alive: no service, no food and no water often means certain death in situations like these... However, we succeeded after 18 hours because of my brother's splendid driving skills and the police coming to our aid after we had almost been robbed (I speak French, so luckily I could explain what had happened). It was a nightmare! Madagascar is definitely both the most beautiful and most dangerous country I've ever visited. 😅
Wasn't Madagascar proposed about 90 years ago as a possible homeland for the Jews ? Huge country with great potential.
You are correct: the Nazis were training local herders in the north to supply garrisons and camps. The plan was scuttled when Germany lost control of the seas. The U of Waterloo in Ontario had a historian studying this.
@@frequentflyer585 cheers
I have watch a programme and my name is Abdul I was born in Madagascar I've been living in England for past 50 years I'm always in Madagascar you are lucky to be alive it's not a place anyone to wonder about without guide next time you won't take a trip take a guy like me
We were definitely lucky but as I said in the video, we did meet a lot of sweet genuine people along the way but yes next time I’ll be going with a guide
So many things could've went wrong. You guys are so lucky to be alive!
Lucky is an understatement 😂
What a crazy adventure, I’m glad you were able to go through it unharmed.
So are we 😂
Everybody is saying that this was unreasonably dangerous, but I disagree. I think it was a good balance of adventure and risk.
One of my best birthday trips ever 🤷🏼♂️ 😂
i've been to Madagascar three times. It is a truly wonderful island. It is also challenging to get around therefore we always rented a 4wd with a driver. I think you guys underestimated it by not being prepared (let's be fair, you didn't even know the highlight of your visit is called "Avenue de Baobab")
Anyway, we are returning next week, bringing our son for the first time. Looking very much forward and we ARE well prepared in every way.
Just came across this video. The least I could do is drop a like. That was insane suspense 😅 great video.
Thank you 🙏🏻 I’m glad you enjoyed it
Thank God you both are alive!
As a Surfer, i have taken dicey roads to get to the beach. Nothing compares to what you (crazily) did.
Lmao I need to vacation with this guy. He totally destroyed the rental 🤣
Awesome video
edward castillo Thank you 🙏🏻
BUt what i can say is , i know this place and all the towns around. I can insure you that it is a safe place. No major security events occured arround . The government deploys few guys when the area is safe, if the area is not safe you can see many soldiers and even sometimes armored vehicles. So better back up in this last case.
I’ve been to see the Baobab trees and can’t understand why they don’t better the road which would make it easier and more pleasant for the tourists. Nice hotels in Morandava .
U guys made me remember my offroading trip, when me nd my friend got lost in the middle nowhere, but ur story is way more scary....
Definitely the most memorable birthday to date 😂
I spent 2 and half years in Madagascar and it was sometimes pure heaven or hell. Madagascar depending where you go can be very safe or very dangerous.If you would have sticked to the Menabe region or the deep south or North coast you would have been ok but in this past of central Madagascar near the East coast it can be very dangerous.
Definitely learned that central can get really bad 😂 but like you said the rest was pure Heaven.
@@SebastianDykier I had some bad experiences in MAdagascar too ,got malaria ,was swept away in a flash mud flood ,drove from the capital to Antsiranana in the north through a cyclone and it took 6 days,been pickpocketed by a bunch of tiny 7 years old cute thieves but what you went through is the most intense that one can face in Madagascar.You are lucky to have made it .Kidnappings against ransom became a thing in Madagascar these past years .Of course its not like in South America but there are at least one or two cases every 2 or 3years.Normally they don't targert tourists but foreign expats working in Madagascar for big companies.
@@akarmoussaittizi3012 your experience sounds just as terrible, you should make a video on that if you have any footage. That would be just as intense to watch.
@@SebastianDykier It was 20 years ago ,I was 22,but I had a lot of fun in fact ..Madagascar was the school of life for me.
I`am suprised this video does not have millions of views? Grear video guys..:))
Thank you 🙏🏻 it’s slowly gaining popularity, it was at a 1000 views for a long time.
bro, this literally is my worst nightmare in travelling!! lol. it looks hella fun though!
We could have stopped and turned around before the river but we’re super adventurous and stay committed 🤷🏼♂️ it was definitely my most memorable trip ever
@@SebastianDykier I probably would've done the same but probably would not have been as lucky as you. I'm planning on visiting Madagascar but I was sitting here with clenched teeth and hands watching this video. Great job!
Thank you 🙏🏻 I’m glad you enjoyed it 💪🏻
What an amazing adventure.
My most memorable trip to date
@@SebastianDykier oh I could imagine it was I particularly loved the Top Gear moment
Great video. I was riveted to my seat waiting to see what happens next. What happened to your SUV?
The rental company found it days later and they probably either fixed it enough to run or just left in there 🤷♂️
@@SebastianDykier honestly the most surprising part about all this is that you didn’t have to pay like 30000 for trashing that SUV
I assume you rented the vehicle. What an up charge!
We ended up having to pay their insurance deductible to cover their loss, which is completely fair.
Balls of steel my friend 👍🏼
Wow!
But what happened with the car in the end?
Abandoned the car and later had to pay the insurance to cover their loss 🤷🏼♂️
So, uh.. was that car a rental? It got completely trashed. Like, what happens to it afterwards? How much did it cost you?
Yeah a car rental, basically it got beat up, filled with mud and the turbo blew out. Honestly not sure if they ever picked up the car or just left it there however we did pay the deposit of 800 US dollars. In the end it’s not their fault so we paid whatever they told us.
Super challenging route ❤
Every guide book in the place tells you not to do what you did , consider yourselves lucky souls, southern madagasgar is a haven for road bandits that prey on strangers, a guide is always reccommended in these areas.Madagasgar is one of the poorest countries in the world yet one of the last wilderness.A long way from the mean streets of Atlanta.but the Malagasy can be the most beautiful loving people on earth despite there poverty.Much love
Lucky is definitely an understatement 😂 however despite it all, it’s my favorite trip ever
Mitsubishi should sponsor this video.
That Pájero had the most intense ride of its life 🤣
Dam bro, I would have advised you NOT to drive to Morondava from Tana (and vice versa). That drive is infamous for washed out roads. Sorry you all never made it to Andasibe but you got a great opportunity to see the Baobabs and really spend time with the Malagasy culture . Maybe next time you can check out the Indri Lemur at Andasibe.
rb we did miss out on everything we wanted to see but it was a memorable trip non the less and I don’t regret it at all... We’ll do more research or have a tour guide if we ever go back
How did you drive fro two days on one tank of gas?
Luckily we filled up right before this all happened and it wasn’t a big engine plus the roads didn’t allow us to drive fast so I guess that’s how it lasted
wow!
7.1k wow it deserves million views men!
Thank you 🙏🏻, that means a lot to me
what kind of drone did you use? Are there restrictions on customs regarding the video or the drone model?
Dji ( Mavic ) mini 2, it’s pocket size so I had no issues what so ever
What happened to your SUV?
Still somewhere in the mountains of Madagascar
Good choices for places 🌼🌸
But there are some places to avoid traveling solo or even two in Madagascar.
For some places, you have to go in group like at least 5 people . . .
Just watched your video and I felt sorry for you guys. But then I was wondering what the heck 🤣. I am from Madagasikara so knowing the country , I would never advise foreigners to travel all by themselves especially if you follow Google maps 😬. It's always better to travel with somebody who knows at least the language and the tricks. (Even here in the US, maps can lead you to a road you can't never imagine or planned. Got lost a couple of time🥵)
Anyway, I am glad you guys were safe and were able to enjoy your trip. ☺️
Well no one really advised us to travel solo, we just like adventure 😂. Even with what happened it was an awesome birthday trip, definitely the most memorable 😆
Follow Google maps 🤣🤣👍👍👍👍👍
You two broke almost all the "What Not To Do" rules yet you made it gee you're some lucky son of a gun!
What can I say we love adventure 😂
how about the rental car?.
Left it somewhere deep in the mountains 🤷🏼♂️ and paid the rental company’s insurance deductible
Hi guys! Every gun are not AK's . When you see a man or a woman with this type of gun wich is The chinese Type 81, wich is not an AK, you can be sure that it is a member of the Military Police of Madagascar, named Gendarmerie. But i advice you to never approach people if they are bearing AK without uniforms because the Ak is frequently used by road cutters.
Aren't you dead?
@@rogonegaming8543 my body is dead, not my soul, the soul is eternal
I want to come with you on your next trip!
💪🏻
What's was the point to travel at night.
The first time was because we couldn’t find a hotel so we decided to make use of the time since it was a 12 hour drive but the other times were no choice and find a city
What a great adventure and experience ! I am jealous !
Thank you 🙏🏻
WOW
It's a very beautiful country Madagascar
Did AVIS bring you to court?
Why would they? We paid for the insurance and their deductible for the loss
Well, pretty sure by contract you were not allowed to drive the car to where you drove it but if you got away with it - start buying lottery tickets. You gonna win.
That’s a national route lol, RN35 is an official roadway 🤣 so technically I didn’t drive anywhere I wasn’t suppose to 🤷🏼♂️
SO MUCH ANXIETY JUST WATCHING
😬 😂
You guys are hilarious! Situation hopeless but not serious! 😂
Glad you enjoyed the video 🙏🏻
Did you guys buy the SUV vehicle or you hired it?
Rented it from Avis and we ended up paying something like 800 dollars for totaling/ abandoning the SUV
What happened to your SUV? Im curious, i cannot sleep
It wasn’t my suv, it was a rental but we think the turbo broke down causing the engine to slowly fail and obviously all the abuse the rest of the suv took finally killed it. We abandoned the suv and for all we know it could still be in the middle of no where in Madagascar 😂
@@SebastianDykier by leaving the suv, did you pay the value of the car? or they charge you extra?
We paid the insurance deductible so it wasn’t too bad overall considering the situation
@@SebastianDykier thanks.. i can sleep well now. Thanks a lot again