What does it take to become the first person ever to complete a full source-to-sea kayaking trip down Madagascar's longest river?
Oscar Scafidi is a history teacher, travel writer, and expedition leader who has lived and worked across more than 30 African countries since 2006. He has written guide…What does it take to become the first person ever to complete a full source-to-sea kayaking trip down Madagascar's longest river?
Oscar Scafidi is a history teacher, travel writer, and expedition leader who has lived and worked across more than 30 African countries since 2006. He has written guidebooks to Angola, Equatorial Guinea, and Tunisia, and holds a Guinness World Record for the first source-to-sea kayak expedition along Angola's Kwanza River. In 2022, he and a fellow expedition partner completed the first source-to-sea kayak trip along Madagascar's longest river, the Mangoky, an adventure now documented in his book and film.
In this episode, I talk with Oscar about his years living and working across Africa, and the story behind his recent Madagascar kayaking adventure.
This conversation moves between two very different worlds: the classroom, where Oscar spends his days teaching, and the wild, unmapped stretches of Africa where he pushes himself to the edge. There's a real thread of humility running through it, a reminder that no expedition succeeds without the people who make it possible along the way. It's also a great reminder that a regular person with a full-time job can still build a life full of big, audacious adventures. If you're drawn to stories of grit, humor under pressure, and what it feels like when a plan falls apart in real time, this one's for you.
Have you ever pushed yourself into a situation where you genuinely weren't sure how things would turn out? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message.
Tune In To Learn:
How a string of rejected job applications accidentally launched a two-decade career in Africa
What it was really like moving straight from Western Europe into a country facing serious political instability
How teaching and travel writing compete for Oscar's time and attention
Why staying humble matters when writing about places that aren't your own
What it takes to prepare for a multi-week kayaking expedition with almost no prior experience
How a mountain range with no water nearly ended the trip
Advice for handling corrupt officials and checkpoint shakedowns without losing your cool
Why local guides and communities deserve more credit than the explorers themselves
What's next for Oscar's expedition career
Resources:
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Learn what it really costs to honeymoon in one of the world's least-visited countries and how to get there on points.
Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French share what it actually costs to honeymoon in one of the world's least-visited countries. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, …Learn what it really costs to honeymoon in one of the world's least-visited countries and how to get there on points.
Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French share what it actually costs to honeymoon in one of the world's least-visited countries. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including the new Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits that went live June 15th, a full Wyndham Rewards card family refresh that added a brand-new premium card, why airfares are up more than 26% year-over-year amid broader travel price increases, and highlights from AAA's new Five Diamond Hotels list.
Then, they discuss Sally's Madagascar honeymoon from every angle, with tips on whether a group tour could be the right call for destinations with little tourist infrastructure, why countries with the lowest cost of living can be among the most expensive places to visit, and how to score business class seats on Ethiopian Airlines for 80,000 United miles to one of the farthest destinations from San Francisco on earth. They also feature an interview with Madagascar guide Zu Rakuthu Nirina and answer a listener’s question about using 176,000 United miles for flights from SFO to Singapore.
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Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews:
Chase Sapphire Preferred Review: Strong Option for Travel Rewards
5 Things to Know About the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card
Wyndham Credit Cards Get a Glow-Up and a New Premium Sibling
Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Review: Solid Rewards and Perks for Loyalists
Wyndham Rewards Earner Credit Card Review: Ideal for Frugal Travelers
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PointsYeah Award Search Review: A Great Tool for Points Collectors
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🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you. Oscar Scafidi has spent two decades living and working across 36 countries in Africa — writing travel guides for Bradt, teaching African history, and launching himself down some of the continent's most remote …🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you. Oscar Scafidi has spent two decades living and working across 36 countries in Africa — writing travel guides for Bradt, teaching African history, and launching himself down some of the continent's most remote rivers. In 2022, he and a teammate attempted the first descent of Madagascar's Mangoky River: 750km, 28 days, and a 200km portage across a waterless mountain range that nearly broke the expedition ...more
Today we're taking you somewhere truly off the map, to a remote archipelago off the northeastern coast of Madagascar, where wild nature and ultra-luxury somehow coexist. Think pristine white sand beaches, vibrant coral reefs, and wildlife found nowhere else on Earth.
Joining us is Damian Jardine, t…Today we're taking you somewhere truly off the map, to a remote archipelago off the northeastern coast of Madagascar, where wild nature and ultra-luxury somehow coexist. Think pristine white sand beaches, vibrant coral reefs, and wildlife found nowhere else on Earth.
Joining us is Damian Jardine, the General Manager of Miavana, one of the most exclusive private island resorts in the world.
We talk about what makes Madagascar feel like an entirely different planet, from cutie its lemurs and chameleons to its landscapes. We also chat about the intention behind building Miavana, and what it really means to experience luxury in a place where nature still leads.
Hope you enjoy this episode of Luxury Travel Insider.
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START HERE: AdventureDiaries.com/Go In this adrenaline-packed highlight reel, we revisit the most heart-stopping moments from our conversation with expedition leader Chaz Powell. FULL Interview Here: From trekking the length of the Zambezi River to dodging bandits in Madagascar's lawless zones, Chaz…START HERE: AdventureDiaries.com/Go In this adrenaline-packed highlight reel, we revisit the most heart-stopping moments from our conversation with expedition leader Chaz Powell. FULL Interview Here: From trekking the length of the Zambezi River to dodging bandits in Madagascar's lawless zones, Chaz shares the raw reality of walking the wildest rivers in Africa. Featured Highlights: (00:28) Zambezi Survival: Battling 50°C heat, dehydration, and getting trapped in a gorge alone.(01:58) M...more
