Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 1, Episode 13 - Kimberley, Australia - full transcript

>> I'M BEAR GRYLLS.

I'VE SERVED WITH THE BRITISH

SPECIAL FORCES, I'VE CLIMBED TO

THE SUMMIT OF EVEREST, AND

CROSSED THE FROZEN OCEANS OF THE

ARCTIC.

NOW I'M IN AUSTRALIA'S

OUTBACK -- A VAST WILDERNESS.

5 MILLION VISITORS COME HERE

EVERY YEAR TO SEE THESE RUGGED

LANDS.



HUNDREDS NEED RESCUING.

I'M GONNA SHOW YOU THE SKILLS

NEEDED TO SURVIVE OUT HERE.

I'M FLYING OVER WESTERN

AUSTRALIA IN A REGION CALLED THE

KIMBERLEY.

IT'S AN AREA THE SIZE OF

CALIFORNIA, YET ONLY 30,000

PEOPLE LIVE HERE, AND MOST OF

THOSE BY THE COAST.

THIS PLACE IS WILD.

THE OUTBACK HAS AN EXTREME

CLIMATE.

FOR EIGHT MONTHS OF THE YEAR, IT



NEVER RAINS, AND IT CAN GET UP

TO 130 DEGREES.

NOW IT'S THE WET SEASON, AND

IT'S EVEN TOUGHER.

HUMIDITY IS OFTEN 100%, WHICH

MAKES THE TEMPERATURES FEEL EVEN

MORE UNBEARABLE.

THE AUSSIES CALL IT THE SUICIDE

SEASON.

OF THE THOUSANDS OF HARD-CORE

TOURISTS WHO COME HERE, 40

LOSE THEIR LIVES EVERY YEAR TO

HEAT, SNAKES, AND CYCLONES.

THEY SAY THAT IF YOU GET LOST

OUT HERE WITH NO SURVIVAL

SKILLS, THERE'S A 75% CHANCE

YOU'LL DIE.

BUT I'M GOING TO SHOW HOW YOU

CAN SURVIVE IN THIS HARSHEST OF

ENVIRONMENTS.

IF NEEDED, I'LL GET SOME HELP

FROM LOCAL EXPERTS, AND A CAMERA

CREW WILL FOLLOW ME.

WHEW!

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

IT IS SUDDENLY JUST SO HOT.

IT WAS QUITE NICE AND COOL IN

THE BREEZE OF LIKE

100-MILE-AN-HOUR SLIPSTREAM.

BUT SUDDENLY YOU REALIZE IT IS

VERY, VERY HOT.

AND IT'S ALSO JUST HUGE.

LOOK AT THIS.

FIRST THING -- FIND A VANTAGE

POINT TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE.

THE KIMBERLEY MAY BE THE SIZE OF

CALIFORNIA, BUT THIS AREA OF THE

OUTBACK HAS ONLY ONE HIGHWAY

ACROSS IT.

FOR MILLENNIA, THIS LAND HAS

BEEN COMPLETELY UNDEVELOPED, AND

THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO LIVED HERE

WERE AUSTRALIA'S FAMOUS

BUSHMEN -- THE ABORIGINES.

IT'S THEIR SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

THAT I'LL USE TO SHOW YOU HOW TO

SURVIVE IN THIS WILD LANDSCAPE.

WOW! LOOK AT THAT.

WHOO!

AND THIS VAST LANDSCAPE IS

TYPICAL OF THE OUTBACK IN

NORTHERN AUSTRALIA.

IT'S A MIXTURE OF HUGE SCRUB

DESERTS, DRY RIVERBEDS, AND RED

SANDSTONE CLIFFS FULL OF DEEP

GORGES.

IT MUST BE OVER 100 DEGREES

FAHRENHEIT.

IT'S DEVASTATINGLY HOT HERE.

BUT, FIRST, GET YOUR BEARINGS.

THERE'S A MAJOR HIGHWAY THAT

RUNS THROUGH THE SOUTH OF HERE,

ABOUT 150 MILES AWAY.

BUT MUCH CLOSER AND TO THE

NORTHWEST, I KNOW, ALSO, THERE

ARE A FEW SMALL TOWNS, AND

THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF DIRT

TRACKS.

BUT, FIRST OF ALL, I'VE GOT TO

WORK OUT WHICH WAY IS NORTHWEST,

AND WHAT I CAN DO IS USE THE SUN

AND MY WATCH.

AND THE TECHNIQUE IN THE

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE IS YOU POINT

12:00 AT THE SUN, AND HALFWAY

BETWEEN THERE AND THE HOUR HAND

IS NORTH.

SO, THAT'S NORTH, AND THAT'S

NORTHWEST.

SO, HEAD NORTHWEST UNTIL YOU

FIND A RIVER, WHICH SHOULD LEAD

TO THE COAST.

BUT BEFORE HEADING OUT INTO THE

GREAT OUTBACK, HERE'S A LITTLE

TRICK.

I'M GONNA SPREAD MY PARACHUTE

OUT AS A MARKER SO IT'S VISIBLE

FROM THE AIR, AND I'LL LEAVE AN

ARROW POINTING TOWARDS THE

DIRECTION THAT I'VE GONE.

THIS LOOKS LIKE AN ALL RIGHT

PLACE TO CLIMB DOWN.

THE ONLY THING IS, CLIMBING LIKE

THIS, WHEN YOU'RE UNROPED AND

YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN, IS PROBABLY

THE MOST UNFORGIVING THING YOU

CAN DO, AND IT JUST MEANS YOU'VE

GOT TO GET EVERY SINGLE MOVE

ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

AND ONE GOOD TIP TO CONSERVE

YOUR ENERGY, WHEN YOU'RE

CLIMBING, YOU TRY AND KEEP YOUR

HANDS AND YOUR ARMS AT SHOULDER

HEIGHT.

AS SOON AS THEY START GOING UP,

ALL THE BLOOD DRAINS OUT OF

THEM, AND YOU FATIGUE MUCH

QUICKER.

BEEN GOING JUST LITERALLY FIVE

MINUTES.

I'M JUST DRENCHED IN SWEAT

ALREADY.

[ EXHALES ]

IT'S 150 FOOT TO THE BOTTOM, BUT

WITH ROCKS AS FLAKY AS THIS,

YOU'VE REALLY GOT TO WATCH YOUR

FOOTING.

THERE WAS AN AMERICAN TOURIST

OUT HERE IN 2005, AND HE

ACTUALLY SLIPPED AND THEN FELL

ABOUT 40 FOOT DOWN ROCK FACES

NOT DISSIMILAR TO THIS.

BUT HE ACTUALLY SURVIVED --

SURVIVED THAT FALL.

BUT THEN PROBABLY WHAT HE DID

WAS PANIC, AND IT'S THEN THAT HE

SLIPPED AND HE FELL, AND THIS

TIME HE WAS KILLED.

I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY HOT AT

THE TOP OF THESE CLIFFS, BUT

WHAT I HAD UP THERE AT LEAST

WAS, YOU KNOW, A BIT OF A

BREEZE.

BUT DOWN HERE, I'LL TELL YOU,

IT'S JUST BOILING, BOILING.

AND IT'S LIKE I'M NOW ENTERING

THESE HOT PLAINS, AND IT FEELS A

BIT LIKE...I'M OUT OF THE

FURNACE BUT DEFINITELY ENTERING

THE FIRE.

DOWN HERE, IT'S UNBEARABLY

HUMID.

IT MAY LOOK GREEN AND LUSH, BUT

IT ISN'T.

THE HUMIDITY IS 100%, WHICH

MAKES THE TEMPERATURE FEEL MORE

LIKE 150 DEGREES.

GOD, THE SUN IS JUST SO

POWERFUL.

THE DANGER OF HIGH HUMIDITY IS

THAT SWEAT CAN NO LONGER

EVAPORATE AND COOL YOU DOWN

BECAUSE THE AIR IS ALREADY FULLY

SATURATED WITH MOISTURE.

THAT MAKES HEATSTROKE EVEN MORE

LIKELY.

TEMPERATURES IN THE OUTBACK OF

AUSTRALIA HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO

REACH UP TO 57 DEGREES CELSIUS.

THAT'S OVER 130 DEGREES

FAHRENHEIT.

IT'S UNBELIEVABLY HOT.

AND THE SEARCH-AND RESCUE GUYS

SAY THAT IF SOMEONE IS DROPPED

INTO THE MIDDLE OF THAT WITH

NOTHING -- NO WATER -- WITHIN

THREE HOURS, THEY'D BE DEAD.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF

YOU TO KEEP COOL IS YOUR HEAD.

YOU HAVE TO REDUCE THE RISK

OF OVERHEATING.

YOU COULD USE YOUR T-SHIRT, BUT

THEN THE SUN WOULD SEAR YOUR

BODY.

SO, IF YOU'RE A GUY, ALL YOU'VE

GOT LEFT ARE YOUR BOXER SHORTS.

HAT ON, SOME SORT OF PROTECTION.

I'M READY TO GO.

YOUR HEAD IS THE MOST VULNERABLE

PART OF YOUR BODY, AND A HAT

WILL KEEP YOU COOLER, BUT THE

BIG PROBLEM WILL BE WATER.

YOU MIGHT NEED TO RESORT TO

EXTREME MEASURES TO SURVIVE.

THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS TO

DRINK MY OWN PEE.

>> I'M IN THE KIMBERLEY IN

NORTH AUSTRALIA.

I'M SHOWING HOW TO SURVIVE IN

THIS HOSTILE WILDERNESS.

YOU'LL NEED WATER, BUT IF THERE

ISN'T ANY, YOU CAN DRINK YOUR

OWN PEE.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE NEVER

DONE BEFORE, AND I'M EXPECTING

IT TO BE PRETTY HORRIBLE, BUT I

NEED TO KEEP THOSE FLUIDS GOING

IN.

IT MAY SEEM DISGUSTING, BUT YOUR

OWN URINE IS SAFE TO DRINK.

[ URINE FLOWING INTO BOTTLE ]

[ SIGHING ]

AND IF I JUST PEED ON THE

GROUND, THAT'S ALL THOSE FLUIDS

WASTED.

UGH.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

[ GULPS ]

[ SIGHING ]

GAH, THERE'S NO GETTING AWAY

FROM IT.

PBHT.

THAT REALLY IS PRETTY HORRIBLE.

IT'S, LIKE, WARM, AND IT'S SALTY

[SIGHS]

...AND NOT -- [Chuckling] NOT MY

FAVORITE.

[ GULPS ]

[ SIGHS ]

BUT I'VE GOT ABOUT A QUARTER OF

A BOTTLE NOW FOR LATER, AS WELL.

UGH.

URINE IS ACTUALLY 95% WATER, AND

IT'S STERILE WHEN FRESH.

BUT ONLY DRINK IT WHEN YOU'RE

HYDRATED, AND DRINK IT SOONER

RATHER THAN LATER, AS IT'S A

BREEDING GROUND FOR BACTERIA.

THE PEOPLE WHO STAND THE BEST

CHANCE OF SURVIVAL ARE THE ONES

PREPARED TO PUSH THE LIMITS.

IN 2006, THREE MEXICAN FISHERMEN

WERE RESCUED AFTER A 9-MONTH

ORDEAL ADRIFT ON THE

PACIFIC OCEAN.

THEY DRANK TURTLE BLOOD AND

THEIR OWN URINE.

IT'S ONLY BECAUSE THEY WERE

PREPARED TO GO TO THESE EXTREMES

THAT THEY ARE ALIVE TODAY.

BUT URINE ALONE IS NOT GONNA BE

ENOUGH IN THIS HEAT.

YOU'VE GOT TO FIND WATER, AND

FAST.

JUST AT REST, YOU SHOULD BE

DRINKING 2% OF YOUR BODY WEIGHT

IN WATER EVERY DAY.

THAT MEANS ABOUT 1 1/2 LITERS --

MINIMUM.

BUT IN THESE CONDITIONS, YOU'LL

NEED THAT MUCH JUST EVERY HOUR.

[ SIGHS ]

LOOK AT THE SCALE OF THIS.

THE COMBINATION OF SEARING HEAT

AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL TAKE

THEIR TOLL.

[ SIGHS ]

YOUR SWEAT WON'T COOL YOU DOWN,

AND IF YOU CAN'T FIND ENOUGH

FLUIDS IN THIS HEAT, YOU'LL DIE.

I'M WALKING THROUGH THESE BAOBAB

TREES NOW, AND THESE ARE REALLY

TYPICAL OF THIS WHOLE KIMBERLEY

REGION, BUT WHAT THEY DO FOR ME

IS OFFER ME A LITTLE BIT OF THIS

PRECIOUS SHADE.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

FINDING SHADE LIKE THIS CAN BE A

LIFESAVER, AS IT'S UP TO 30

DEGREES COOLER THAN WHEN YOU'RE

IN THE SUN.

THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO COPE

BEST IN THIS ENVIRONMENT,

THOUGH, ARE THE NATIVE

AUSTRALIANS, THE ABORIGINES.

THE ABORIGINES HAVE A VERY

DISTINCT ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE

LAND, AND THEY DON'T SEE

THEMSELVES AS OWNERS OF THE

LAND -- RATHER THAT THE LAND

OWNS THEM, AS IF THEY'RE KIND OF

CUSTODIANS OF IT.

AND IT'S THIS SORT OF RESPECT

AND UNDERSTANDING THAT IS SO

VITAL FOR STAYING ALIVE IN THIS

SORT OF HARSH ENVIRONMENT.

AS THE AFTERNOON AND THE CLOUDS

START TO ROLL IN, THE SUN'S HEAT

IS BEGINNING TO COOL OFF A

LITTLE.

[ THUNDER RUMBLES ]

HEAR THAT?

THUNDER.

IT'S AMAZING, YOU KNOW -- SUN.

I TELL YOU, IT'S GONNA BE RAIN

WITHIN A FEW HOURS.

IT'S ALL MOVING THIS WAY.

OUT HERE IN THE WET SEASON, THE

INTENSE HUMIDITY AND THE

TROPICAL CYCLONES CAN LEAD TO

SUDDEN THUNDERSTORMS.

IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A CAMPFIRE

FOR THE NIGHT, YOU'VE GOT TO

COLLECT SOME TINDER NOW WHILE

IT'S DRY.

A LOT OF THE BUSHES AROUND HERE

ARE THESE KAPOK BUSHES, AND LOOK

AND TELL THAT JUST FROM THESE

LEAVES.

THEY'RE SOFT, THEY'RE FURRY, AND

THEY'RE KIND OF SHAPED LIKE A

MAPLE LEAF, AS WELL.

BUT WHAT I AM AFTER IS THE SEED

PODS THAT GROW ON THEM.

HERE YOU GO.

YEAH, LOOK.

PULL THIS DOWN.

AND LOOK.

YOU SEE THESE ONES HERE?

HERE YOU GO.

PULL THIS OFF.

AND JUST INSIDE, THERE'S, LIKE,

THIS COTTON WOOL, BUT THIS STUFF

IS GREAT FOR TINDER, FOR MAKING

A FIRE.

SO I'M GONNA JUST COLLECT A FEW

OF THESE, AND THAT WILL REALLY

HELP ME.

THE KAPOK SHELLS NOT ONLY

PROTECT THE SEEDS BUT ALSO HELP

KEEP THAT COTTON WOOL TINDER

DRY.

THE NORTH OF AUSTRALIA IS ONE OF

THE MOST LIGHTNING-PRONE AREAS

ON EARTH.

SOME STORMS HAVE PRODUCED OVER

1,500 LIGHTNING FLASHES IN JUST

A FEW HOURS.

YOU CAN SEE THOSE DARK CLOUDS

AND OVER HERE THE BLUE STUFF

THAT HAS JUST MOVED, AND THAT IS

ALL HEADING MY WAY.

IF THE WEATHER CLOSES IN LIKE

THIS, YOU'LL NEED SOME SORT OF

SHELTER.

YEAH, I NEED TO GET OFF THIS

ROCK NOW AND MAKE CAMP.

WITH STORMS COME RAIN, AND IN

THE KIMBERLEY ALMOST 3 FOOT OF

RAIN HAS BEEN KNOWN TO FALL IN

ONLY NINE HOURS, AND THAT COULD

LEAD TO TREACHEROUS FLASH

FLOODS.

AND I FEEL THAT WIND BLOWING

STRAIGHT TOWARDS ME, AND, YEAH,

IT'S REALLY STARTING TO POUR

NOW.

THE BAD WEATHER IS ABOUT TO HIT

ME.

I'VE GOT MINUTES UNTIL THE

DELUGE BEGINS.

EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT STAYING OUT

HERE TONIGHT, I'LL SHOW YOU HOW

THE ABORIGINES WOULD BUILD

SHELTER AGAINST THIS SORT OF

RAIN.

OKAY, WHAT I CAN DO HERE IS

BUILD A BIT OF A BED STRAIGHT

ACROSS FROM HERE -- ONE BRACE

HERE, ONE ONTO THIS LEDGE.

AND THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO

WHEN IT'S A TORRENTIAL

THUNDERSTORM IS JUST BE ON THE

GROUND, BECAUSE ALL OF THIS

COULD JUST TURN TO WATER.

SO FIRST THING IS, I NEED A

PLATFORM.

THE NATIVE AUSTRALIANS USE

WHATEVER IS AT HAND TO DO

THIS -- STICKS FOR THE

FRAMEWORK, IVY FOR THE CORDAGE,

AND BUNCHES OF LEAVES MAKE

PERFECT ROOFING AND BEDDING.

[ THUNDER RUMBLES ]

GOD, HEAR THAT?

AND THIS IS GETTING CLOSER, AS

WELL, THIS LIGHTNING.

AND THAT IS WHERE THE 100%

HUMIDITY HAS GONE STRAIGHT UP IN

THE AIR, AND NOW IT IS POURING

DOWN.

AND THIS IS THE WET SEASON,

KIMBERLEY, NORTHERN AUSTRALIA!

THAT'S WHY I WAS BUILDING A BED.

THIS, FIVE MINUTES AGO, WAS

COMPLETELY DRY.

NOW, LOOK, NOW, A FOOT OF WATER.

AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE AMAZING

THING IS?

TOMORROW IT WILL BE ALL BONE-DRY

AGAIN BY LUNCHTIME.

AND LOOK AT THAT.

YOU SEE THAT?

JUST POURING OFF THIS SANDY

OUTCROP.

IT MIGHT WELL JUST STOP RAINING

IN FIVE MINUTES' TIME.

SO I WANT TO FILL THIS UP.

THIS IS JUST LIKE MANNA FROM

HEAVEN.

WHOO!

THAT IS SO NICE.

COME ON, RAIN!

I'M HYDRATED.

AGAIN, I'VE EVEN HAD A BIT OF A

WASH.

BUT BEING DRENCHED IN THE NIGHT

IS NO FUN, SO MAKE SURE YOU

BUILD YOUR SHELTER BEFORE THE

SUN GOES DOWN.

BUT A MUCH BIGGER DANGER OUT

HERE IS LIGHTNING.

AND IN AUSTRALIA, LIGHTNING

STRIKES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR

10 DEATHS A YEAR, AND THIS STORM

IS GETTING CLOSER.

>> I'M IN THE KIMBERLEY IN

NORTH AUSTRALIA.

IT'S THE WET SEASON, A

THUNDERSTORM IS RAGING, AND

MORE RAIN IS PROBABLY ON ITS

WAY.

I'M MAKING MY ROOF AT AN ANGLE

TO HELP THE RAIN RUN OFF.

I'VE PUT UP A BASIC FRAME MADE

FROM THIN BRANCHES, AND I'M

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER WITH

VINES.

OKAY, NOW I JUST NEED AS MUCH

GREEN FOLIAGE I CAN, JUST TO

COVER THIS.

AND THAT'S GONNA BE MY

WATERPROOFING.

I'M USING EUCALYPTUS LEAVES.

THEY'RE PLENTIFUL IN THE

OUTBACK, AND THEY MAKE EXCELLENT

THATCH.

AND WHAT I CAN ALSO DO IS USE

SOME OF THIS SMALLER, SOFTER

STUFF AS A BIT OF A SPRINGY

MATTRESS.

LOOK AT THAT.

THAT IS GONNA BE MUCH MORE

COMFORTABLE THAN THAT.

ALL I NOW NEED IS A FIRE TO GET

THESE CLOTHES DRY.

AND THE KAPOK-TREE SHELLS HAVE

KEPT MY TINDER DRY.

GOT TINDER, SOME KINDLING, AND

SOME WOOD.

AND THEN WHAT I'M GONNA USE TO

LIGHT THE FIRE IS THIS STRIKER

AND THIS FLINT.

AND FLINT IS AN ANCIENT WAY OF

LIGHTING FIRES.

ALL THIS IS, IS A MODERN WAY OF

DOING IT.

AND I STRIKE THE STEEL ALONG THE

FLINT LIKE THAT, AND IT CREATES

THAT SPARK.

AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS

IS THAT WILL EVEN GO WHEN IT'S

SOAKING WET.

PUT THE FLINT RIGHT DOWN LOW,

AND AS I STRIKE IT, I'M BLASTING

ALL THAT SPARK STRAIGHT INTO IT.

AND, LOOK, FIRST TIME.

AND IT'S NOT SURPRISING.

THE SPARK GIVEN OFF BY THE FLINT

IS OVER 5,500 DEGREES

FAHRENHEIT, AND INCREDIBLY, IS

BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN.

ALL I NEED TO DO NOW IS GENTLY

COAX IT.

I THINK THE FEELING IS, WHEN IT

SUDDENLY RAINS, IS IT BRINGS --

BRINGS OUT FRESH HOPE, YOU KNOW?

AND CERTAINLY THERE ARE TIMES

WHERE IT'S JUST SO DRY AND SO

HOT, YOU THINK, "HOW IS IT

POSSIBLE JUST TO SUSTAIN LIFE

HERE?"

AND THE ANSWER IS, WHEN IT

RAINS.

AND AUSTRALIA REALLY IS -- IT'S

A PLACE OF EXTREMES.

YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S HOT, IT'S

ROASTING.

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS, AND

WHEN IT'S BEAUTIFUL, IT REALLY

IS SPECTACULAR.

IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY IN THE

KIMBERLEY, YOU CAN EXPECT

125-DEGREE HEAT AND

ENERGY-SAPPING HUMIDITY.

BUT EVEN IN THIS WILDERNESS,

THERE'S FOOD.

NOW, THIS IS A ROCK FIG TREE.

LOOK AT THAT.

I CAN TELL THIS JUST BECAUSE IT

HAS THIS VERY DISTINCT GRAY

BARK.

AND THEY OFTEN CLING TO THE SIDE

OF JUST LITTLE CLIFFS, JUST LIKE

THIS.

AND, ACTUALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT

THE LEAVES, THEY'RE OVAL-SHAPED.

AND ALSO THEY'RE FURRY, AND THE

REASON FOR THAT IS THAT THAT FUR

STOPS THEM LOSING A LOT OF THEIR

PRECIOUS MOISTURE.

PROBLEM IS, ALL THE FRUITS ARE

UP THERE.

BUT CLIMBING UP TO GET THE

FRUITS IS A RISK.

THIS SANDSTONE IS BRITTLE AND

CAN BE GREASY WHEN IT'S WET.

SO I'M GONNA USE THE ROOTS AS

HANDHOLDS TO HELP ME.

THE ROOTS GO DEEP INTO THE

CLIFF, SO THEY SHOULD BE STRONG

AND SAFE.

OKAY.

THESE ARE THE GUYS I'M AFTER.

THERE WE GO.

AND LET US PLUCK ONE OF THESE

OFF.

ALL OF THIS FRUIT IS EDIBLE.

IT'S NOT RIPE, BUT IT'S EDIBLE.

AND IF YOU OPEN IT UP, SEE ALL

OF THOSE FIG SEEDS INSIDE?

AND...

ALL OF THOSE ARE REALLY GOOD

VITAMIN "C."

IT'S PRETTY TASTELESS.

IT'S LIKE KIND OF CHEWING ON

CARDBOARD, BUT I KNOW IT'S GOOD.

I WANT TO COLLECT A LOAD OF

THESE, STICK THEM IN MY POCKET,

AS MANY AS I CAN.

TWO MORE FOR LUCK.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

FINDING YOUR WAY ACROSS THIS

VAST LANDSCAPE IS DIFFICULT WITH

SO FEW LANDMARKS TO HELP.

THE NATIVE AUSTRALIANS HAVE

THEIR OWN UNIQUE METHOD OF

NAVIGATION.

ONE OF THE REASONS THAT

ABORIGINES ARE, IN MANY WAYS,

THE ULTIMATE SURVIVORS IN THE

OUTBACK IS THAT THEY USE THESE

SONGS THAT ARE PASSED DOWN FROM

GENERATION TO GENERATION AS A

WAY OF NAVIGATING THROUGH THIS

WILDERNESS.

AND WHAT THESE SONGS DO IS THEY

ACT AS, LIKE -- IT'S LIKE A

SINGING MAP, YOU KNOW, DIRECTING

THEM BETWEEN HUNTING GROUNDS,

WATER HOLES, AND GOOD PLACES TO

SHELTER.

BUT I DON'T HAVE THE BENEFIT

OF THAT SORT OF HISTORY.

AND THAT MEANS STICKING TO MY

NORTHWEST BEARING AND HOPING

THAT I'LL EVENTUALLY FIND

CIVILIZATION.

FOOD IS HARD TO FIND IN THIS

WILDERNESS, BUT YOU'LL NEED TO

KEEP LOOKING, OR YOU'LL JUST RUN

OUT OF ENERGY.

[ GULPS, SIGHS ]

THERE'S A SPIDER THERE, A

CRUCIFIX SPIDER, AND THEY'RE

CALLED THESE JUST FROM THE

SHAPE, WHERE THEY SIT IN THEIR

PREY, AND THAT CROSSLIKE

CRUCIFIX SHAPE, AND THEN ALL THE

WEB AROUND IT.

AND THE WEB THEY SPIN IS

ACTUALLY AMAZING.

IT'S ACTUALLY 50 TIMES STRONGER

THAN STEEL.

AND I WAS TAUGHT IN THE

MILITARY, YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

SPIDERS' WEBS TO HELP WITH

WOUNDS.

AND WHAT YOU DO, YOU COLLECT IT

ALL UP, BUNCH IT UP, PUT IT IN

THE WOUND, AND IT WILL HELP

COAGULATE THE BLOOD.

IT ACTS AS, LIKE, A FIELD

DRESSING.

BUT THIS SPIDER HERE, IT DOES

HAVE SOME POISON IN IT, BUT NOT

ENOUGH REALLY TO HARM YOU.

IT MIGHT JUST GIVE A LITTLE NIP.

AND SO MUCH OF SURVIVAL IS

ABOUT OPPORTUNISTIC HUNTING, AND

THIS IS EDIBLE.

HERE WE GO.

AND GRAB HIM HERE, SQUEEZE HIS

HEAD, AND THEN...

PUT HIM IN.

UGH!

JUST TASTES OF KIND OF GUTS AND

PUS AND BRAIN.

SPIDERS AND OTHER INSECTS ARE

ALWAYS A GOOD SOURCE OF PROTEIN,

BUT IT'S NOT REALLY ENOUGH.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, THE

RAINWATER FROM THE STORM HAS

DRIED UP.

IN THIS HEAT, YOU HAVE TO FIND

SOMETHING TO DRINK.

BUT HERE THERE'S NONE TO BE

FOUND.

COMING OFF THESE HILLS IS NOT AS

EASY AS I THOUGHT.

AND THERE'S OBSTACLES EVERYWHERE

YOU TURN.

AND THERE'S NO WAY I'M GONNA BE

ABLE TO CROSS THIS.

AND THAT'S NOT THE ONLY DANGER

YOU'LL FACE IN THIS WILDERNESS.

AHEAD ARE SNAKES AND, THE MOST

DANGEROUS OF ALL, AUSTRALIA'S

LETHAL CROCODILES.

>> I'M IN THE SEARING HEAT AND

HUMIDITY OF AUSTRALIA'S OUTBACK.

WATER IS SCARCE, AND THE

TERRITORY IS UNFORGIVING.

SO IS THIS 40-FOOT DROP.

THIS GORGE ISN'T LOOKING TOO

GREAT.

LET'S HAVE A LOOK.

YEAH, IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT --

PROBABLY ABOUT 40 FOOT DOWN

HERE, BUT ACTUALLY THIS TREE

DOESN'T LOOK TOO BAD.

AND IF I COULD JUST REACH THAT

MAIN TRUNK, I MIGHT WELL BE ABLE

TO JUST, LIKE, MONKEY DOWN IT.

AND ACTUALLY THERE WAS A HIKER A

COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHO GOT

LOST, AND HE FOUND HIMSELF AT

THE TOP OF A GORGE LIKE THIS,

AND HIS ONLY WAY OUT WAS TO GO

DOWN A TREE.

AND HE WENT FOR IT, AND HE

MANAGED IT, AND HE GOT OUT.

IT'S A RISKY CLIMB, SO I'M

ROPING UP JUST IN CASE.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

OKAY, I'VE JUST GOT TO GET MY

LEG AROUND THIS TREE TRUNK.

[ GRUNTING ]

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

WHAT I'VE GOT TO DO HERE IS

REALLY GRIP JUST WITH MY THIGHS

AND LET THEM TAKE THE STRAIN AND

JUST BALANCE WITH MY ARMS AND

TRY AND PROTECT MY FAMILY

JEWELS.

WOW.

WHOA!

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

WOW!

WHOA!

OHHH.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

THERE'S WATER AT THE BOTTOM OF

THIS GORGE, BUT YOU CAN'T

GUARANTEE IT'S DRINKABLE.

YOU HAVE TO FIND OUT FIRST WHERE

IT HAS COME FROM.

YOU'LL ONLY BE TOTALLY SAFE IF

IT COMES FROM AN UNDERGROUND

SPRING.

WHAT I'VE GOT TO DO IS JUST KEEP

FOLLOWING THE STREAM UP HERE TO

FIND WHERE IT STOPS.

YEAH, IT'S STILL GOING HERE.

AND, YEAH, LOOK, IT'S DRY UP

THERE, AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS.

WHEN IT RAINS, IT WILL POUR DOWN

HERE.

WHEN IT'S DRY LIKE NOW, YOU'LL

SEE THIS, LIKE, NATURAL SPRING.

AND THIS -- YEAH, THIS IS THE

SOURCE OF IT.

AND IF I DIG DOWN INTO THIS...

HOWEVER MUCH WATER I TAKE OUT,

IT'S JUST GONNA KEEP REFILLING.

THIS SPRINGWATER HAS FILTERED

THROUGH THE ROCKS TO EMERGE AS

CLEAN WATER.

THAT MEANS IT DOESN'T EVEN NEED

TO BE BOILED.

OHHH.

AND WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE IS THAT

ALL THIS WATER JUST GETS

CLEANED NATURALLY AS IT FILTERS

THROUGH ALL THE ROCK AND THE

SAND.

AND IT'S 100% SAFE, THIS STUFF,

TO DRINK.

AND THE GREAT THING IS, HOWEVER

MUCH OF IT THAT I DO DRINK, THIS

THING IS JUST GONNA KEEP WELLING

UP AND FILLING UP.

[ SIGHS ]

OKAY.

YOU SHOULD KEEP FOLLOWING A

RIVER LIKE THIS DOWNSTREAM.

IT'LL PROBABLY LEAD TO A BIGGER

RIVER, THEN THE COAST.

WALKING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BIG

PART OF ABORIGINAL CULTURE, AND

FOR THEM, IT'S ABOUT

EXPERIENCING THE LANDSCAPE AND

LEARNING TO LIVE WITH NATURE.

AND FOR ME, I THINK, SO MANY OF

MY EARLY CLIMBING EXPEDITIONS

WERE SIMILAR, YOU KNOW?

IT'S ABOUT PUSHING MY OWN

BOUNDARIES AND, THROUGH THAT,

FINDING MY SENSE OF IDENTITY.

WOW! LOOK AT THAT!

WHOO!

AFTER THE HOT PLAINS, COMING

ACROSS A RIVER LIKE THIS WILL

REALLY LIFT YOUR SPIRITS.

WHAA!

OH.

I JOKE NOT WHEN I SAY IT IS

SEARINGLY HOT HERE, AND THIS

WATER IS JUST GODSENT.

OHHH.

OHH!

ABORIGINES BELIEVE THAT THE

RAINBOW SERPENT MADE THE RIVERS

AS HE TRAVELED ACROSS THE LAND.

AND THAT SERPENT IS A SYMBOL FOR

BOTH THE CREATIVE AND

DESTRUCTIVE FORCES OF NATURE.

THESE RIVER GORGES ARE TESTIMONY

TO THAT POWER.

ALL AROUND ME ARE SIGNS OF

FLASH FLOODS AND DEBRIS.

NOW IN THE WET SEASON, THE RISKS

OF THESE FLOODS ARE EVEN

HIGHER.

WHERE THERE IS WATER, THERE IS

LIFE, AND NOT ALL OF IT IS

FRIENDLY.

WHAA!

LOOK AT THIS!

>> I'M IN THE BAKING HEAT

OF THE KIMBERLEY IN

NORTH AUSTRALIA.

OUT HERE, OVER 3,000 PEOPLE EACH

YEAR GET BITTEN BY SNAKES.

I'M GONNA SHOW YOU WHAT TO DO IF

YOU COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH ONE.

IT'S AN OLIVE PYTHON.

LET'S JUST GET HIM OUT OF HERE.

THERE YOU COME, THERE YOU COME.

WE JUST LEAVE HIS HEAD ON THE

GROUND.

THEY'RE ALWAYS CALMEST WHEN THEY

GOT THEIR HEAD ON THE GROUND

LIKE THAT, BUT THIS IS -- YEAH,

THIS IS A PRETTY COMMON SNAKE IN

AUSTRALIA.

AND HERE WE GO.

WE'LL JUST GET HIS HEAD.

YEAH, HE'LL PROBABLY LIVE OFF,

LIKE, RODENTS, SKINKS, EVEN

OTHER -- ACTUALLY, OTHER SMALL

SNAKES.

AND ONE THING THERE ARE NO

SHORTAGE OF IN AUSTRALIA ARE

SNAKES.

IN FACT, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING

LIKE 21 OF THE 25 MOST

POISONOUS SNAKES IN THE WORLD

ARE ACTUALLY IN AUSTRALIA.

THE ABORIGINES HAVE ALWAYS LIVED

IN HARMONY WITH THE LAND, ONLY

TAKING WHAT NATURE CAN MAINTAIN.

AND TODAY THEY'RE THE ONLY

PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA ALLOWED TO

KILL INDIGENOUS SPECIES.

THEY WOULD CARRY THEIR LIVE PREY

UNTIL THEY NEEDED TO EAT IT.

BUT AS I'M NOT A NATIVE

AUSTRALIAN, I'M GONNA LET THIS

SNAKE GO.

AS IT'S SO HUMID, I DON'T NEED

A SHELTER TONIGHT.

I'LL JUST SLEEP UNDER THE STARS.

[ THUNDER RUMBLES ]

IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SLEEP AT

THE MOMENT JUST BECAUSE I'M

STILL JUST POURING IN SWEAT,

IT'S SO HUMID.

BUT IT HAS JUST GIVEN ME TIME

JUST TO SIT AND LOOK AROUND AND

LISTEN.

I CAN HEAR THE RIVER FLOWING.

THERE'S A DISTANT THUNDERSTORM,

SO I CAN HEAR THE ODD CRACK OF

LIGHTNING OCCASIONALLY, AND IT

JUST GIVES ME THAT TIME JUST TO

GO ACTUALLY, "WOW, THIS IS

SPECIAL."

AND IT'S JUST, FOR ME, A REAL

PRIVILEGE TO BE IN SOMEWHERE SO

WILD BUT ALSO SO UNIQUE.

AND THAT, FOR ME, KEEPS MY

SPIRITS GOING.

[ SNIFFLES ]

DAWN HAS BROKEN OVER THE OUTBACK

IN NORTH AUSTRALIA.

AS SOON AS THE SUN COMES OVER

THE HORIZON, I CAN FEEL ITS

WARMING RAYS.

THE TEMPERATURE IS ALREADY 90

DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND RISING,

BUT AT LEAST I'M NEAR WATER.

IT'S TIME FOR AN EARLY-MORNING

DIP.

WHOO!

BY FOLLOWING THIS RIVER

DOWNSTREAM, YOU COULD REACH THE

COAST.

BUT THE DANGER, AS I HEAD DOWN,

THIS RIVER IS GONNA GET WIDER,

BIGGER, AND ALSO, AS IT GETS

CLOSER TO THE SEA, CROCODILES.

AND ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS FOR ME

ARE THE SALTWATER ONES.

AND SOON I START TO SEE

CROCODILES.

AND SOME OF THESE ARE

MAN-EATERS.

>> I'M IN THE AUSTRALIAN

OUTBACK, CLOSE TO THE BANK OF A

RIVER WHICH SHOULD RUN DOWN TO

THE COAST.

THIS IS CROCODILE TERRITORY.

IN LIFE-OR-DEATH SITUATIONS,

IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO SET

YOURSELF A STRUCTURE TO WORK

WITHIN -- YOU KNOW, LIKE A

DISCIPLINE AND GOALS TO HAVE.

THE WAY I'M WORKING, AT THE

MOMENT, IS THE THING WE USED TO

DO IN THE ARMY OF JUST, WHEN

YOU'RE WALKING LONG DISTANCES,

BREAKING IT DOWN AND MARCHING

FOR LIKE AN HOUR AND THEN TAKING

10 MINUTES JUST TO SIT DOWN,

REST, FIND SOME SHADE, BIT OF

WATER, AND THEN ANOTHER HOUR,

AND STICKING TO THIS TIMING

RELIGIOUSLY.

AND IT JUST HELPS BREAK THE DAY

DOWN.

AND WHAT BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO

STOP THAN A FRUIT BUSH?

WHAT I'M SITTING UNDER HERE IS

A WALLAROO BUSH, AND I CAN TELL

THAT JUST FROM THESE OVAL-SHAPED

LEAVES WITH THESE YELLOW VEINS

RUNNING THROUGH IT, BUT MORE

IMPORTANTLY BECAUSE OF THESE

WHITE BERRIES THAT THEY'VE GOT.

AND THESE ARE EDIBLE.

AND THEY'RE ALSO DELICIOUS.

THEY SORT OF FEEL LIKE

BLUEBERRIES WHEN THEY POP IN

YOUR MOUTH, YOU KNOW?

THEY'VE ALSO GOT THESE SEEDS

THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT BITTER,

BUT YOU DON'T KIND OF NOTICE

THAT, JUST BECAUSE THE REST OF

IT IS SO SWEET.

AND SO MUCH OF SURVIVAL ACTUALLY

IS JUST ABOUT THE PSYCHOLOGY OF

IT -- THINGS THAT GIVE YOU A

LIFT AND KEEP YOU GOING.

AND THESE BERRIES ARE JUST SO

SWEET AND TASTY, AND ANYTHING

THAT MAKES YOU SMILE AND WILL

HELP YOU KEEP MOVING IS A GOOD

THING WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN THE

WILD.

[ THUNDER RUMBLES ]

BUT AS THE LANDSCAPE ALTERS,

THERE ARE NEW DANGERS.

EVERYTHING IS JUST CHANGING NOW.

LOOK, THE WEATHER IS GETTING

WORSE.

THE WIND IS PICKING UP, BUT

ALSO, THIS RIVER IS REALLY

WIDENING, WHICH MEANS IT'S PRIME

CROCODILE TERRITORY.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF

CROCODILES IN AUSTRALIA.

SALTWATER CROCODILES ARE THE

MAN-EATERS, AND THEY TEND TO

STAY NEAR THE COAST.

SO FAR, I'M ONLY SEEING

FRESHWATER ONES, BUT EVEN THESE

CAN ATTACK.

HEY, LOOK, LOOK, THERE YOU GO.

THERE'S A FRESHWATER CROCODILE,

20 METERS AWAY.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET UP A

LITTLE BIT CLOSER.

HE'S ONLY A SMALL ONE.

KEEP AN EYE OUT AROUND, AS WELL.

THERE YOU GO. LOOK, LOOK.

THESE FRESHWATER CROCS ARE FAST.

THEY CAN RUN UP TO 10 MILES AN

HOUR IN SHORT BURSTS, SO YOU'VE

GOT TO KEEP YOUR DISTANCE.

SEE, WHAT THEY LIKE HERE IS ALL

THESE SHALLOW POOLS THAT THEY'RE

JUST BASKING IN.

WE'VE GOT QUITE A LOT OF THESE

POOLS AROUND US, GUYS.

LET'S JUST KEEP MOVING.

OKAY, THIS IS A MUCH SAFER

DISTANCE TO BE.

WE'RE ABOUT 50 METERS BACK NOW

FROM THE BANK, BUT WE NEED TO

KEEP THAT DISTANCE AND KEEP

FOLLOWING THE RIVER THERE.

FRESHIES ARE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED

BY THEIR LONG, THIN SNOUTS.

THERE'S ANOTHER.

THEY'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

FRESHIES TEND TO ATTACK IF

CORNERED OR SURPRISED.

I NEVER WANT TO FIND MYSELF

BETWEEN A CROC AND THE RIVER.

HERE, FURTHER DOWNSTREAM, YOU'RE

MORE LIKELY TO RUN INTO

SALTWATER CROCODILES, AND AT

THIS TIME OF YEAR, THEY OFTEN

HEAD UPSTREAM, AWAY FROM THEIR

USUAL COASTAL HABITAT.

IT'S THEIR BREEDING SEASON, AND

THAT MAKES THEM EVEN MORE

AGGRESSIVE.

OH! SEE THAT? LOOK.

SALTWATER CROCODILE.

YOU'LL BE ALL RIGHT FROM THIS

DISTANCE.

NOW, THESE GUYS ARE THE ONES YOU

WANT TO WATCH OUT FOR.

IF HE TOOK ME, HE'D DRAG ME INTO

THE WATER, DEATH ROLL, AND THEN

RIP ME APART.

AND THE CHANCES OF SURVIVING A

SALTWATER-CROCODILE ATTACK IN

DEEP WATER ARE ALMOST NIL.

AMAZING TO SEE SO CLOSE, BUT

THIS MEANS THERE ARE SALTIES

HERE.

I DON'T WANT TO BE CLOSE TO THE

RIVER.

I'M GONNA MOVE BACK INLAND.

COME ON, THEN.

SALTIES HAVE BROAD, ROUND NOSES

AND ARE CONSIDERED TO BE

AUSTRALIA'S MOST DANGEROUS

ANIMAL.

THEY'RE CAPABLE OF BITING WITH A

FORCE OF ONE TON PER SQUARE

INCH, AND SCIENTISTS BELIEVE

THAT'S EVEN STRONGER THAN THE

TYRANNOSAURUS REX.

THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER 60

UNPROVOKED ATTACKS IN AUSTRALIA

EVERY YEAR.

CROCODILES VERY RARELY MISS

THEIR TARGETS.

AND RECENTLY, THERE WAS A GUY

CANOEING IN QUEENSLAND, AND A

CROCODILE CAME UP UNDERNEATH

HIM, TURNED HIM OVER, AND TOOK

HIM.

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE SALTWATER

CROCODILES.

THEY'RE ONE OF OUR PLANET'S MOST

RUTHLESS AND EFFICIENT KILLERS.

NOW, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO MAKE A

DIFFICULT CHOICE.

IN ORDER TO FIND THE COAST,

YOU'D WANT TO STICK CLOSE TO THE

RIVER.

BUT THE SALTIES CAN LIVE OVER

500 FEET FROM THE EDGE OF THE

RIVER.

SO IT'S EITHER RISK THE CROCS OR

RISK LOSING YOUR WAY.

THIS AREA, THOUGH, SHOULD BE

SAFE, BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER

ANIMALS HERE, LIKE THE BROLGA, A

TYPE OF CRANE, AS WELL AS THE

ICONIC WALLABY.

BUT IT'S JUST LIKE EVERYTHING

AROUND HERE -- IT'S QUICKER THAN

ME, IT'S SMARTER THAN ME...

[SIGHS]

...JUST BETTER AT SURVIVING THAN

ME.

FORCED BACK FROM THE RIVER BY

THE SALTIES, YOU'LL BE AT THE

MERCY OF THE SEARING HEAT AGAIN.

[ SIGHS ]

[ SNIFFLES ]

SIGNS OF CIVILIZATION DON'T

ALWAYS MEAN SAFETY, AND FINDING

THIS FENCE WILL GIVE YOU LITTLE

COMFORT.

AUSTRALIA HAS SOME OF THE

LONGEST FENCES IN THE WORLD.

ONE IS OVER 3,500 MILES LONG.

THAT IS 700 MILES WIDER THAN THE

USA.

THE CONDITIONS HERE ARE REALLY

EXTREME, AND IT'S EXTRAORDINARY

THAT ANYTHING MANAGES TO

SURVIVE.

BUT THOSE WHO DO, LIKE THE

ABORIGINES, HAVE LEARNT TO ADAPT

AND TO WORK WITH THIS

UNFORGIVING WILDERNESS.

IT'S ONLY THEN CAN YOU HOPE TO

SURVIVE AUSTRALIA'S GREAT

OUTBACK.

AND WHAT I'VE LEARNT OUT HERE IS

THAT THE ABORIGINES REALLY ARE

THE ULTIMATE OUTBACK DWELLERS.

BUT THEY'RE ALSO THE ULTIMATE

GUARDIANS OF THE LAND.

AND IN SO MANY WAYS, IT'S US

THAT HAVE SO MUCH TO LEARN FROM

THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THIS

GREAT WILDERNESS.