The Nomadic Road: Tanya Saigal Shares Her Latest Expedition to Madagascar
“I embarked on my very first expedition to a place which can be as remote as it is tropical; Madagascar. I got onto my flight for Madagascar with little to no expectation of what I was heading into.” Today’s woman dreamer, Tanya Saigal, is an avid explorer, and is currently a brand developer at Nomadic Road Nomadic Road is a company that markets itself as a ‘not just your usual holiday’ and Tanya believes that this statement doesn’t come close to explaining what life on-the-road is truly like. In her Women Who Win interview with global contributor Khushee Nanavati, she details very first expedition to Madagascar, a place she claims “is as remote as it is tropical”. This expedition reignited her fire to step out of her comfort zone and (quite) literally into the wild! Enjoy!
By Tanya Saigal and Khushee Nanavati
1. Tell us about your story!
I would say I’m no different than any other adult in their mid-twenties still figuring out their life and their place in the 21st century interconnected world. My childhood passion of having a book in my hand 24/7 was the first sign of my constant urge to explore, discover, and research. This led to me eventually getting a degree in Astrophysics and Archaeology. To most, these may seem two entirely unrelated fields of study. To me, it acts as a reminder of who we are, where we come from, and of how insignificant we as a human species are at the hands of the vastness of the universe. This awareness of my existence as a speck in the grand scheme of things is a humbling experience that I actively strive for and defines me greatly.
2. How did you first get affiliated with Nomadic Road? How has your view of working with them changed since your trip?
Coming out of the pandemic, there was a lack of spark in my life as I was still figuring out what I wanted to take up as a challenge next. After experiencing a recent dip in inspiration, my life took another turn, when I met Venky, the founder of Nomadic Road. While I had never been on any expedition with them before, a couple of my family members had. Most importantly, my father, who steered me towards stepping into a new role of inspiring exploration with Nomadic Road.
Just 2 months after joining Nomadic Road, I embarked on my very first expedition to a place which can be as remote as it is tropical; Madagascar. Nomadic Road is a company that likes to market itself as offering you ‘not just your usual holiday’ and this statement doesn’t come close to explaining what life off-road is truly like. I can imagine a no more apt situation where actually using the product/service of the company you’re working for provides you with a sense of belonging. As one of the first employees of a now steadily growing group of Nomads, the consequence of my first expedition was to unleash a thirst to explore more. This has led me to not only be more passionate for what I contribute to Nomadic Road but also has reignited the fire in me to step out of my comfort zone and literally into the wild.
3. What motivated you to visit Madagascar as compared to a regular, more usual touristy/luxurious holiday?
I won’t deny the privilege I have received of getting to travel the world with my family while growing up. With a background in learning all about the past, be it through what we dig from underground or from what starry skies reveal, the answer to my questions about life can only be answered by going off the beaten path. The opportunity to visit Madagascar arose at a time when my mind had been feeling stagnant and my body restless for adventure. I don’t believe I ever really required any motivation to choose going on an expedition over a regular, touristy/luxurious holiday. Not to get too political or judgmental, but we, as a society have unfortunately been sublimated to believe that if you can afford it, luxury and holiday go hand in hand. While I won’t deny I do enjoy ‘regular’ holidays, I don’t really differentiate between the two. One is not better than the other. It simply lies in what you prefer; and unfortunately capitalism has led us to believe that touristy places are the ones to visit.
4. Can you tell us more about your expedition?
I got onto my flight for Madagascar with little to no expectation of what I was heading into. All Nomadic Road expeditions are centered around the fact that you self-drive capable 4x4 machines through some of the trickiest terrains out there. We had chosen to drive along the northeast cost of this island nation, on a route called the RN5. Labelled as one of the topmost dangerous roads in the world, my very first expedition turned out to be a pretty challenging one. Even more so, as I was part of the team that was leading this expedition.
5. What did most of your days look like? What was considered “the usual” on the trip that would’ve been something shocking for outsiders (in regular life)?
Being part of a Nomadic Road expedition meant every day was spent on the road and every night in a new place. Let alone hot water, getting enough water to take a shower was a luxury. The lack of clean toilets and flowing water led to going into the tropical bushes when nature called. What turned out to be even more ‘usual’ for me was the unwelcoming sight of a colorful snake every time I dared to step out for these nature calls. I’ll admit that the frequent sighting of these creatures was something I could never get used to and as my luck would have it, I was the only one in our group who seemed to attract such creatures. Along with the lack of the usual hygiene facilities we all in the first worlds are accustomed to, power shortage should come as no surprise. This however, turned out to be a welcome respite from our fast-paced lives and an opportunity to truly disconnect from the outside world.
A usual day on the RN5 meant an early start, usually synced with wanting to watch the beautiful sunrise along the east coast. Post two cups of coffee, I would be geared to spend the next 6-8 hours on road. Lunch would be a ham and cheese sandwich which we would slap together to refuel at a pit stop on the beach. The goal for each day was simply making sure we reached our destination before sunset. This meant accounting for a mechanical breakdown that turned out to be a rite of passage for driving on one of the world’s most dangerous routes. In such scenarios, more than reaching our destination, it turned out to be more important to find a safe place to setup camp for the night.
6. What was one of the toughest challenges of living in another country? And what did you learn along the way?
Whenever I narrate my experience, for an outsider, it’s usually the food, the lack of toilets, or even the shortage of electricity that strikes them to be the hardest challenge on a journey like this. To others, it is the uncertainty of it all. Each day, I woke up not knowing if we would make it to our planned lodging for the night or when our car was going to breakdown next with no garage for miles.
Such moments filled with uncertainty were hurdles I was glad to overcome. Not reaching our destination for the night was an opportunity to setup camp under the bright stars in the middle of nowhere. It isn’t often we get to see the night sky clear like this, and the astronomer in me was glad for not having a roof over my head those nights. On other days, our car would break down driving over a rock, skidding along a muddy path, or get stuck in the sand. I may have lost count of the number of ferry crossings we did which often involved us manually pulling the rope to push the ferry across the river. I even lost count of the number times I spotted or think to have spotted a snake.
These weren’t challenges as much as they were new experiences for me. Anything new to us can often seem daunting and is something I own up to avoiding as well. Going on this expedition was a chance for me to prove myself, that I can constantly learn, explore, and evolve. I don’t have to give up that part of me which is always curious for more.
7. What part of the globe are you going to conquer next? And what would you recommend to someone who wants to participate in a similar expedition?
This year, I plan to finally head to a place that won’t just be another expedition for me. It’s one that I have personally had the pride of curating. Additionally, it’s a place which I have greatly studied, albeit only through textbooks and videos. It’s where the night sky is completely unfamiliar for me. I’m looking forward to exploring Peru, the land of abundant myths and even greater mysteries. The plan is to go deep into the dunes of Southern Peru and journey through two of the deepest canyons in the world and of course fly over the Nasca lines.
For anyone who has a passion for off-roading and heading off into places with no cell reception, a Nomadic Road expedition may turn out to be just what you didn’t realize you were looking for. Be prepared for not only journeying through some of the wildest places in the rawest forms but such an expedition also helps you form a special bond with your fellow explorers. I would suggest not to overthink it and definitely not overpack. Don’t go in with preconceptions, head right in with an open mind and a willingness to get dirty. The thirst for adventure after such an expedition can only be satiated by going on another.