The collaborative travel documentary project run in conjunction with the RGS
Cattle roads and motorcades
Programme Details
Mon 6 Sept 2004
Luke Freeman fulfils his dream to drive a herd of cattle along the old drove-paths of Madagascar and endsÌýup jetting around Africa as chief speechwriter to the President.
Luke, in ordinary life an academic at the LSE, set out to buy some cattle and herd them along the ancient droving paths of Madagascar, along with the local cattle-dealers.ÌýÌýHe hadÌýmany adventures on the wayÌýincluding falling down a deep hole in the course of a nighttime trek with the cattle.Ìý
But that was only the beginning. Between legs of the journey he was phoned up by the President of Madagascar's office and asked to report immediately to the Presidential palace.Ìý Where he was asked to draft a speech for President Marc Ravalomanana toÌýpresent to the Worldwide Fund Fund for Nature.Ìý The speechÌýwas such a sensation that Luke was taken on to the President's staff as speechwriter andÌý whisked off to Maputo on an official mission.ÌýThe whirlwind of limousines, private jets and helicopters ended when Luke pleaded a release to return to the life of a cattle-drover….ÌýÌý
As Luke says:ÌýÌý"If there’s one thing I’ve taken from this journey it’s how simple life can be. You don’t need a whole lot to be happy.ÌýThere’s something wonderful about living the simple life, something we should all try and do."
He's now beenÌýoffered a permanent post with the President's office ...
