Deadliest Journeys - Gabon

[Music] hey yes [Music] across the world each morning is different in the heart of the gabonese forest the birds dawn chorus faces a serious competitor noise from those who are bogged down cries of encouragement can boost morale but they can do nothing for this monster not even this eight-wheel drive truck that came to lend a hand getting it to reverse seems impossible the cable is screwed [Music] it will end several days of misery [Music] i spent three or four days here but now it's okay you have to trust in god it was a miracle [Music] why do such large trucks even try using these dirt tracks in fact they have no choice it's a crucial economic axis that crosses gabon from east to west but only 20 of the route is paved like many african countries gabon has no shortage of natural resources its offshore oil fields and forests that cover most of its territory earned it the nickname the african emirate [Music] after black gold green gold is the country's second greatest resource without the forest gabon's economy would soon collapse [Music] transporting timber is a dangerous business on the gabonese roads the steering wheel takes on the air of the funeral wreath it's our daily routine this [Music] the drivers composure and skills are legendary they call us sick insane gabon's road network is one of the least developed in africa and besides the nation's two main cities the capital libreville and port gentile are not connected by road but by a river grab the cable the ogue is a long peaceful river except for the sailors who are towing thousands of wooden logs once they arrive in libreville bring the stock here when the trees are rolled out in wooden sheets they are used to make plywood for furniture in europe and asia [Music] is one of the lords of the forest it's not the name of this man but one of these giants the tool that floors it needs to be powerful and it is a one meter power saw let's start working the wood [Music] [Music] the tree must be over 30 meters high and yokume i've started the saw took 100 years to get to the size humans take only a few minutes to bring it down all right [Applause] its long journey begins at the edge of the forest hundreds of trunks called logs assorted and piled into trucks [Music] the load often exceeds 50 tons yusuf is a true believer but for his truck's inspection he has faith in just one person i'll redo the brakes myself i don't let anyone else do it are the brakes the most vital part of the truck never trust anyone or anything is how he's survived so long behind the wheel [Applause] it's good although a little prayer helps too [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] yusuf takes to the road with two other trucks an epic journey awaits [Music] the convoy leaves la stourville hoping to reach the capital libreville in two days a distance of 645 kilometers all muddy tracks and asphalt defaced by rainfall [Music] all three know they will suffer but they share an overriding sentiment [Music] there's just one objective drive and get there and that's it do you like this i do because i'm free totally free in recent months yusuf and the logging trucks have been overworked a non-stop series of return trips [Music] the fault lies in the poor condition of gabon's railways as a result of poor upkeep trains only run infrequently hundreds of logs are stuck in the wagons this bridge provides a few scares to the younger drivers [Music] [Applause] it was not designed for logging trucks [Music] now this is a test of a good driver the width is challenging it's a tight the authorities try to keep this main route in good condition but it's the rainy season and the track is waterlogged [Music] [Applause] here it's difficult it's just a sea of mud is it slippery well more a matter of getting sucked in and stuck you have to sort of force your way through [Music] on the descent the breaks are tested to the limit yusuf takes risks but he refuses to think about it he makes the equivalent of 1500 euros a month six times more than a teacher his only regret is seeing his wife and five children only two days a week [Music] is your wife worried oh she she is worried which is why i call her all the time to reassure her that i'm still alive she doesn't like me doing this anymore she wants me to stop let's go the vibrations rattled the truck and its load with every bump the logs move about despite the safety straps yusuf is doing okay but the truck at the back has a serious problem one of its trunks has shifted there's a problem with one of the trunks here backwards replacing this three-ton block of wood without a crane would seem impossible but with a little imagination and help from a cliff it's done that one's good yep that one's good but look there's another one here oh we can put that back [Music] and human beings from now on will be a rare sight the village marks an invisible boundary with the most hostile part of the road yusuf's convoy enters the dreaded forest of bees a two and a half thousand square kilometer no man's land better not break down it's hot in the cabin and outside their flies and mosquitoes and there's no phone network here is there none just your fellow truckers legend has it that the forest is cursed a refuge for evil spirits who are said to cause accidents and breakdowns and to torture the unfortunate drivers for days at a time [Music] like this one he came to tow a truck in difficulties when about to leave his truck bizarrely gave up the ghost it's the bad state of the roads it's ruined my clutch at first it's not noticeable but gradually gets louder and louder a buzzing noise fills the air it's made by the thousands of flies and bees in the forest the permanent noise and the constant attacks drive the truck as crazy even the dog doesn't know where to hide [Music] i'm starting to get used to it couldn't stand them at first has been stuck in this hell for three days but it's no fun let me tell you as chance would have it despite very few people who live in the forest of bees fate has made him stop in front of a house it belongs to a man to be feared a sorcerer his music seems to calm the insects the sorcerer has agreed to put jean-pierre up until help arrives [Music] [Music] and that's the living room there are some strange statuettes in the middle of the house they are there in part to treat the young man his family believes an evil spirit has made him a simpleton in exchange for his care the youngster helps with the household chores and prepares the meals that's porcupine is that what you're going to eat today [Applause] it's water are those bees in there yes and this is quite hard actually is it something to eat yes does it need soaking in water yeah the thousands of bees swarming around him doesn't seem to concern curtis he says he's in communion with him you don't get stung no as mobile phones don't work out here jean-pierre has asked a passing driver to call a tow truck in the meanwhile he pays for his room by doing odd jobs for the sorcerer his ordeal should be over soon well quite soon [Music] here's the rescue team come on their truck looks in very bad shape but as long as the wheels still turn in africa we throw nothing away if a part breaks we keep it anyway are the counters working oh yes they're working they're fine they're 770 000 kilometers on the clock but the engine seems to be holding up how long will that take there's always one worse off somewhere in gabon well that's really badly loaded now that's why he's driving like that he's overloaded it you mean it's too heavy yeah it's too [Music] on this track overtaking is often a risky maneuver did you see that that's really dangerous a hole like that if you're going fast on a turn or something you know what will happen you'll crash into it [Music] wow it's no fun [Music] i'll end up down the ravine with heavy overnight rain the track turns into molasses did you and his tow truck aren't quite ready to save jean-pierre yet we've been here a week be careful [Music] the motor refuses to budge but in an effort to start up again this man has an original solution give it to me give it to me i'll put it in we'll put it straight into the engine doesn't seem to like cheap perfume in the end it's the smell of sweat that seems to work his luck he has just enough room to get through on the side he's off and he's relaxed and gives us a driving lesson now with a four-wheel drive it's not worth accelerating just go slow see you see i break and it holds go on speed up you need to have a good grip my friend now that's a problem in the event didier rethinks his strategy and even with his six-wheel drive he has to pick up speed [Music] i have to help the other truck it's a matter of solidarity whoever gets through tows the other guy all right [Music] up but solidarity has its limits dda only helps one truck pass it's up to the others to use their own skills now unlike the rest of the country the track through the forest of bees will never be paved the region is a national ecological reserve oh we've arrived just in time as jean-pierre wouldn't have lasted one more day the bees flies and the saucer is cooking have taken their toll you're not feeling well i swear i've got diarrhea i have to go to the toilet every five minutes the heat humidity and the nets don't make the task any easier for the mechanics yes i really need to pray to god to make sure i can leave today their noise disturbs his meditation and tonight he has an important ceremony must purge the evil spirit that makes his patient a simpleton he's afraid that with all the commotion the gods of the forest will refuse to give him the ingredients he needs for his concoction oh yes the tree agrees he can take a piece of the bark out of respect he heals the wound [Music] [Applause] the patient focuses but he must begin by calming the evil spirit that is inside of him [Applause] it's impossible to know what the potion is made of [Music] [Applause] [Music] there's some beer and some claws from a flying squirrel complete the preparation [Music] we're heading this way you're back there's no water on your back if you don't do it properly according to the sorcerer his medicine is effective but it's impossible to know when the boy will be rid of the evil spirit that possesses him [Music] but there's bad news for jean-pierre and his helpers we'll sleep here another day in the open among all the bees huh they will take two days to repair the truck all the while tormented by the flies [Music] the road may be narrow but yusuf has his right foot pressed down on the accelerator and his left foot off the brake his truck is a 50 ton unstoppable missile [Music] [Applause] accidents involving logging trucks are common [Music] i risk my life in this truck i know it do you know people who've had accidents yeah yeah i've i've seen stuff someone's brains to minimize the risk logging trucks are obliged to stop at nightfall yet yusuf doesn't slow down he drives so fast this truck lunged off to the side that's it the drivers are a bit upset i shouldn't have been driving at this [Applause] hour regardless of danger yusuf's convoy rushes headlong into the night their only concession all three have reduced speed i'm still in the forest here and i need to find a good place as i can't stop here it's very narrow and also dangerous for other people i have to find somewhere [Music] [Music] at night speed causes havoc the driver of this truck was very lucky behind the trees that are holding up the truck is a steep ravine [Applause] the driver slowly regains consciousness to avoid another truck he had had to swerve when i tried to squeeze through the trailer swung round i had to head over to the right and i ended up here i heard a bang my leg was was badly hit now i've got a problem with my kneecap are you getting my truck out or not no no first we must finish this no no get it out i'll wait i'm not gonna leave until it's off again the truck's fine [Applause] he's responsible for the truck if thieves ransack it overnight the driver will lose his job you can't sleep here the pain in his injured leg gradually gets worse the driver decides to abandon his vehicle he'll spend the night in the clinic and he's had a bit of luck no one will come to take his truck apart [Music] after 10 hours of road and 200 kilometers of track yusuf and the logging trucks reached the village of la lopez none of the three want to drive a minute longer okay okay journeys end how do you feel knocked out exhausted a prayer and then sleep that's all i need and uh to use my telephone of course to call his wife and his children especially that [Applause] i don't miss it i'm going to see my former colleagues yusuf dreams of mama tantin's delicious food [Applause] oh this is a required stop for all truckers to quench their thirst he's come to eat and drink others come for a little tenderness i'm looking for somewhere to lie down well we'll make the best of whatever there is there are places for a short time but no rooms the place is a victim of its own success is there anything to eat no it's all finished yusuf has to settle for a soda he might have got a meal if he'd reserved what are known here as the sisters-in-law [Music] oh yeah i had a meal so you were lucky yes luck was with me i'm with my sister-in-law she got me the food to make matters worse the next day promises to be difficult the forecast calls for heavy rain and the night is likely to be hectic it's hard there's noise from the musicians and the radio the musical cacophony almost never stops and adding to the noise is a strange cry from the end of the street as if being summoned hundreds converge towards it [Music] tonight there are almost 2 000 people who have come to listen to mass in one of the evangelical churches that are popping up all over africa the show features some very convincing priests in the heart of the forest god's enemy is the sorcerer i say tonight witchcraft must end the witch must die i will make sure fire will destroy the witchcraft fire fire fire the crowd is galvanized by the priest's litany and the flock gradually goes into a trance some are in spasms [Applause] the priests say it's a good sign because the black magic will leave their bodies with maybe just a little more help [Applause] fernando day claims to be a prophet [Applause] tonight he's challenging the water demon that has taken possession of this woman spirit of water be gone [Music] i kill fires leave go go spirit quick mama follow this finger that's tapping fernando has another gift that of liberating money from his followers pockets because poverty will turn into wealth and a blessing on you within minutes the self-proclaimed profit gathers the equivalent of three thousand euros a small fortune in gabon [Music] it takes six months for this ardent devotee to earn the same amount of money by risking his life every day but a banknote against a little divine help is far from being a waste according to christian but if the divine spirit is with us if the spirit comes and prevents all that then everything will work out without any trouble so i have peace of mind christian is a sailor but today he's wearing a different hat he assembles and pulls together huge rafts with okume wood it's hard work and makes the truckers look like shirkers you have to be fit if you're fit then you can do this sort of thing but if you're not it's impossible but sweat doesn't pay much only 700 euros a month about half what a trucker gets and for twice the risk the men have no protection [Music] apart may be from their agility by force of circumstance oxen the convoy driver of the train has become a tightrope walker at first it was hard but with time i got used to it were you falling off at the beginning oh yes but i learned how to balance on the wood the lives of his sailors are precariously balanced has been conveying wood for 10 years [Applause] the company he works for puts him and the other sailors up in a village where the comfort is basic [Music] [Music] [Applause] i live here with my my wife and my children my family everyone's here can we come in with you okay no problem hello madam hello just a few square meters even for a large family how many kids do you have i have five children and it's just your salary that takes care of everyone yes my salary feeds the whole family you're not worried when he's on the water well of course she is she can't help being worried [Music] the roar of the engines can be heard from 6am [Music] eugene the captain christian the passionate believer and arsene will take this load of wood to port gentil through a passage feared by all river men 300 kilometers along the banks of the river [Music] ascent tie up the middle one like that all together take the cable there as that one's the one we need for it to come up the load is worth 350 000 euros if they lose a trunk they'll have to pay for it [Music] so [Applause] [Music] it's the calm before the storm [Music] this is the day's special pork cutlets and spaghetti excellent during the rainy season the yogurt is unpredictable its flow increases and the 350 horsepower tug struggles against the current it's tremendously powerful and moves at the same rate as a mountain river there'll soon be no time to relax there's a sandbar on the horizon to get around they'll have to reduce the length of the tow row with a shorter length the raft becomes more manageable [Applause] has carried out this maneuver many times before but this time the current pushes the raft towards the shore the trunks catch on the riverbed and the ropes may not hold the raft might come apart one trunk has broken free eugene leaves his load to give chase there's the cable pull it the log was found by a fisherman who would have gladly kept it as hakume wood makes a perfect canoe stress increases the raft is now stuck fast against the riverbank [Music] it weighs almost 700 tons and a part of it is firmly wedged the pressure is huge if the driver accelerates too hard everything will come undone and it will take the three men hours to reconstruct the raft lost hours deducted from their wages [Applause] we almost broke up if the front part of the raft hits the bank it will turn and the pressure will make it break up everything almost came apart then yes we nearly smashed it all up we had to free up the front of the raft very quickly i could see you were worried well now it's all right [Applause] but the incident caused some damage as the journey progresses the scents of the forests are overwhelmed by the smell of gasoline and the engine loses power [Applause] [Music] in the engine room there's a nasty surprise for christian some of the fuel supply joints have broken off when they push the engine to the limit it's an operation that needs to be carried out every half hour the problem couldn't have happened at the worst time damn it the bridge at lambarani is within sight crossing it takes a lot of composure guards supervise its passage if a raft damages a pillar the crew will have to pay a fine and if the damage is serious the captain faces jail [Applause] no sailor can spend ten years without hitting it sooner or later it's bound to happen you might have a mechanical problem 100 meters from the bridge if that happens then everyone will panic though doesn't want to risk it he's called for two tubs for a few hundred euros they'll help guide his car go through two of his men will direct the operation here some reservations about their reliability [Applause] your eyes aren't too red it's okay i trust you does that mean they were partying last night yeah it's the end of the month so if they didn't get trashed that's reassuring the two escorts prevent the current playing with the raft [Music] [Applause] [Music] the convoy squeaks through [Music] the hardest thing is to get past the bridge we did it and it went well the rest is mechanics so we'll see his crew and their journey for now as they wait for spare parts to arrive they will take one week to get to them for their part yusuf and the logging trucks can finally enjoy some paved roads they make the most of it as only ten percent of the roads are surfaced in gabon [Music] i have to put my foot down we're playing with time now foreign as always the problem is overtaking drivers have so little opportunity of taking such smooth roads they don't like being passed if they're going faster than you you let them get overtake there's no point doing what he's doing really it gets dark by 7pm as in the forest and the three trucks will no longer be allowed to be on the road yusuf's boss wants an update yeah it might be tight okay is he worried ah it's 50 kilometers to libreville the truckers speed up regardless of the danger the road turns into a torrent and it's impossible to spot the huge potholes hidden underwater damn why don't you park when it's bucketing down no i can still see 10 meters ahead finally the trucks enter the outskirts of the capital yusuf and his team have driven for almost two days without sleep yet they'll hit the road again tomorrow morning with the same enthusiasm after my wife and my children this is my life my life is the trust [Music] recently the wood industry in gabon has recognized the need to preserve the world's second largest forest after the amazon they have promised to replant every tree that's chopped down three million trees each year [Music] [Applause] foreign [Music] [Music] um [Music] foreign

Channel: Best Documentary

Views: 485,668

Rating: 4.7841163 out of 5

Keywords: documentary, roads, National Geographic, waterways, travel, Deadliest Journeys, most dangerous roads, free documentary, dicing with death, ADVENTURE, DISCOVERY, Deadliest Roads

Id: pEHsCFgYy0c

Length: 51min 36sec (3096 seconds)

Published: Mon Jan 11 2021