Michael Zervos, a filmmaker, has achieved a feat few would dream of attempting. The Greek-American has broken the world record by visiting all 196 UN-recognised nations in the world faster than any person in history, in just 499 days. More people have been to space than have visited every country in the world.

Dubbed Project Kosmos, Michael’s general rule was to spend at least one night in each country. The longest he spent in a country was six nights, while he was able to explore the world’s smallest country – The Vatican – in half a day. Having visited a huge number of diverse and exciting countries, Michael struggled to narrow it down to his favourite. However, he named one gorgeous African island country as one of the top on his list.

Michael, from Detroit, Michigan, told the Express he decided to take on the challenge after going through a period of serious depression during the pandemic. “Once I had got out of that experience, I realised that I wanted to be able to help other people who may have been experiencing a sort of depression, suicidal thoughts, which I realised was happening all over the world.

“I’m not a psychiatrist or a psychologist or a sociologist. My tools are stories, and I wanted to collect stories about happiness. So I combine my love of travel with my desire to help other people through story. And so this is how everything came to be.

The filmmaker recorded multiple interviews in every nation, asking people, “What was the happiest moment of your life?”, collating positive stories from around the world.

Michael did not initially intend to break the world record. He read a story about Brazilian Anderson Dias, who visited all 196 countries in 543 days in 2019. He thought: “I could do this. It would be a really interesting thing to be able to see some countries that I really never expected to go to.” 

Responding to claims that it is impossible to see a country in just a few days, Michael said: “That wasn’t my intention […] My purpose was the people and to collect stories about people. So if I got those, then I was happy and I could move on. I look forward to going back to a lot of places where I connected with.”

Michael’s least favourite question is being asked what his favourite country he visited was. So, he narrowed it down by continent. Of the 54 countries in Africa, he named the island country of Madagascar among his top visits. Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the world’s fourth-largest island. Madagascar surprised him thanks to its aesthetic beauty and welcoming people.

“I generally try to enter countries without a whole lot of expectations, because expectations can lead to disappointment. So I would often not read too much about where I’m going.”

Speaking of when he landed in Madagascar, he said: “I remember my first impression was driving from the airport through these rice paddies and, my goodness, I mean [there was] this low winter sun and just everywhere was a photograph, it was a movie. It was beautiful”.

Madagascar boasts a wide range of landscapes, from lush rainforests to arid deserts. On the eastern side of the island, the rainforests are home to an array of animals, including lemurs and chameleons, while in the dry regions in the South and west are characterised by unique, thorny plants like the iconic baobab trees with their massive trunks and sparse foliage.

“And then when I got to meet the people. They’re fascinating faces that don’t feel like they come from anywhere and everywhere at once, because it’s a very biodiverse, but also it was a cloistered island for a long period of time. The people were so kind.”

The indigenous people of Madagascar are called the Malagasy. There are about 20 ethnic groups, with the largest being the Merina, who primarily inhabit the central plateau. The second-largest is the Betsimisaraka, who generally live in the East. Most Malagasy people live in rural areas and grow rice, cassava (manioc) and other crops.

Michael particularly enjoyed his interactions with locals and the landscape in Antananarivo, the capital: “It’s such a picturesque place. It’s a city that gets a bad reputation, but it’s just built around a bunch of hills that you look all around up at the Queen’s Palace, and it’s stunning.”

Antananarivo suffers from severe public health, sanitation and hygiene problems, as well as overcrowding, pollution and poor infrastructure, all of which are exacerbated by rapid population growth. However, none of this seemed to bother Michael.

From the Queen’s Palace, Manjakamiadana, you could witness “panoramic views all the way around, and you walk down, and everybody’s smiling and waving at you, wanting to know where you’re from, and there’s just immense curiosity.”

“The food is very different from what you would expect to be on the African mainland, and even in Southeast Africa that’s influenced by maybe Indonesia, people say at times, or even India, well. Spicy, delicious, resourceful, the biodiversity there.”

The island country is known for its flavourful, gently spiced dishes, often centred around rice with meat or fish accompaniments. Influences from Arabic, Chinese, French, African, and Indian cultures contribute to the unique cuisine. Dishes rely on flavours like onions, tomatoes, garlic, and ginger. A top dish is romazava, a meat stew with greens, while nems (spring rolls) and Koba, a rice, peanut, and banana paste, are popular street foods.

“That’s a country that I can’t speak anymore more highly of.”

Brits keen to explore Madagascar can fly from Heathrow Airport to Antananarivo (TNR) with AirFrance, with a stop in Paris (CDG) for as little as £757 in June, according to Skyscanner.