HOT ROADS III
People, animals and goods are transported on desert tracks, narrow mountain roads or roads made of ice, because for many these "Hot Roads" are the only way to get to their families or to transport urgently needed goods. Road conditions can change from day to day, from hour to hour. Encounters with wild animals on and off the trail do the rest, making the trip a real ride into risk for everyone. But where there is danger, there is also beauty. Whether it is coastal rainforest on the Pacific coast in British Columbia, shifting sand dunes in the Thar Desert, or thousands of wildebeest among the acacias of the Serengeti, our routes are characterized by a diversity and uniqueness that is second to none.
01. Camels and Trucks in Rajasthan
India's state of Rajasthan is known for its ancient palaces, vast landscapes - and wild transport routes. For thousands of years, dromedaries served as the most important means of transport. Today, India's roads are considered fast-paced, chaotic and unpredictable. On a journey through the desert state, we discover its rough roads. We travel by truck, bus, autorickshaw and on dromedaries from the Aravalli Mountains to the Thar Desert, encounter free-roaming leopards, huge flocks of cranes, and of course, time and again, sacred cows that calmly block the highways.
02. British Columbia’s Bella Coola Highway
Far out in the "Wild West" of Canada lies Bella Coola. If you want to get to the small town on the Pacific, you have no choice: there is only one road leading there, the Bella Coola Highway. It is constantly monitored and yet remains dangerous. Gravel roads, narrow hairpin bends and steep mountain slopes make the highway in British Columbia a particular challenge.
03. On Tanzania’s Dusty Roads
Tanzania is known for its national parks, vast landscapes and wild roads. They make traveling a real adventure. We travel in trucks, buses and off-road vehicles from the Indian Ocean via the Serengeti to Lake Victoria, accompany huge herds of wildebeest, observe lions and rhinos - and show the lives of the people who live on and along the roads.
04. Georgia's Abano Pass
In the far north-east of Georgia, on the border with Russia, the Abano Pass leads to lofty heights. At almost 3000 metres it is the highest passable road in the Great Caucasus. It winds its way up dizzyingly steep slopes. On wild paths, it leads through a fascinating landscape. It is a voyage of discovery into a mighty mountain world.
05. The Trans Sulawesi Highway
It is one of the wildest roads in Asia: the Trans Sulawesi Highway. The adventurous road leads through Indonesia's fourth-largest island and takes people to spectacular destinations. To beautiful beaches, turbulent cities, or unique primeval forests. If you want to drive on the highway, you need strong nerves: it is loud, crowded, confusing, and sometimes dangerous.
06. Navigating Norway's Arctic Roads
In the extreme north-east of Norway known as the Finnmark region, winters are freezing cold and snowy. Due to the location on the Arctic Ocean, the roads are prone to snow drifts. Every metre is a challenge and a journey into risk. An adventure for all those who set off into the fascinating and unique landscape, through a seemingly endless desert of snow.