Madagascar is still an explorer's paradise. On our journey we visit the African-facing west coast of the fourth largest island in the world. We meet people who have a very special view of the spectacular landscape and the modest way of life. Like the pilot, Michel, who has a bird's eye view of the picturesque beaches and baobab forests and also of the relentless march of deforestation and erosion. Dama de Mahaleo, Madagascar's most popular musician is involved in a project to develop better farming methods with a group of rice farmers. In his songs, he criticises the way in which the island has been plundered, particularly by fortune hunters, who dig for precious stones at great risk to their own lives. We visit traditional distilleries where sugarcane and ylang ylang are made into strong rum and viscous perfume oil, explore the old pirate den of Diego Suarez, formerly the buccaneer republic of "Libertalia", drive through the mountain cloud forests to the sapphire prospectors of Ambondromifehy and of course we also learn about the unique world of Madagascar's lemurs en route.
Madagascar's Wild West
Foreign Cultures / Travel
- Title: Madagascar's Wild West
- Original title: Madagaskars wilder Westen
- Film by: Werner Zeppenfeld
- Format: 30', series
- Long running series: Journeys Around The World
- Production: WDR
- Year of production: 2006
- Language / subtitle version: German
