Dicing with Death: Madagascar – Satan’s Corridor

Madagascar is a country with two faces. On the coast, the fine sandy beaches and turquoise water look like paradise. Inland, it’s a whole different story. On the island, the majority of the tracks are in poor condition, so much so that the inhabitants prefer to travel on foot rather than by transport.

During the rainy season, which lasts nearly six months, the roads deteriorate further and turn into vast mud traps. Entire villages then find themselves isolated, cut off from everything. Their only hope: to rely on the courage of a few drivers ready to venture on these tracks. Thierry is one of those road tamers. Here, cars and trucks are no match for these tracks: only tractors can. 

Thierry has to transport 4 tons of goods to a village cut off from the world by the rain. The journey promises to be tough: it can take a week to cover the 30 km of track that separates it from its place of arrival! Despite the misery and difficulties they encounter throughout their lives, Malagasy people like to party, especially when they unearth their missing ancestors. In the capital, very close to the beautiful districts, the recyclers bring life back to everything that is broken. Marcelin is one of his miracle workers. His job: finding parts for the dumpster to transform them into everyday objects that he then resells on the markets.