Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 2, Episode 4 - Jungle - full transcript

I'M BEAR GRYLLS,

AND I'M GONNA SEEK OUT SOME
OF THE MOST EXTREME CHALLENGES

IN THE MOST DANGEROUS LOCATIONS
ON EARTH,

WHERE HAVING
THE RIGHT SURVIVAL SKILLS

CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.

WHOO!

NOW I'M IN PANAMA,
CENTRAL AMERICA,

TANGLING WITH THE MOST
INHOSPITABLE RAIN FOREST

IN THE WORLD.

IT'S SO REMOTE, MOST OF IT
HASN'T EVEN BEEN CHARTED.

THIS STUFF IS HORRIBLE.



YOU'VE GOT TO DO
WHATEVER IT TAKES.

I DON'T KNOW HOW DEEP IT IS.

[ BRANCH SNAPS ]

THAT'S WHY I DON'T
WANT TO FALL OFF THIS THING.

HOLD YOUR NERVE,

EAT WHATEVER YOU CAN...

KEEP FOR LATER.

...LEARN SURVIVAL SKILLS

WITH THE EMBERA TRIBE,

AND PUSH YOURSELF TO THE LIMIT
IN A SCRAMBLE TO BE RESCUED.

YEAH, THAT'S
DEFINITELY A CHOPPER.

I'M GONNA SHOW YOU
HOW TO STAY ALIVE HERE.

PANAMA HAS THOUSANDS
OF SQUARE MILES OF JUNGLE

TEEMING WITH VENOMOUS SNAKES,
INSECTS, AND BIG CATS.



IT'S NOT THE SORT OF PLACE
YOU'D WANT TO BE STRANDED IN.

THE JUNGLE
WOULD JUST SWALLOW YOU UP.

EVEN AT THIS HEIGHT,
IT'S SO DENSE,

I CAN'T EVEN
SEE THE GROUND BELOW.

I'M LOOKING FOR A CLEARING
TO SET DOWN.

BELOW ME,
THE GREEN CANOPY LOOKS SMOOTH,

BUT THIS
IS A MOUNTAINOUS REGION.

IT'S GNARLY, ROCKY,
AND VERY UNFORGIVING.

I'VE GOT A FEW
BASIC SURVIVAL TOOLS,

AND MY CAMERA CREW
ARE COMING WITH ME.

AS SOON AS I DISAPPEAR
INTO THE TREES,

I'M KNOW I'M IN
FOR A TOUGH RIDE.

[ INSECTS CHIRPING,
BIRDS SINGING ]

Grylls:
IT'S THAT EASY.

LITERALLY JUST A DROP
OFF THE RADAR IN THESE JUNGLES.

AND ONCE YOU'RE LOST OUT HERE,
YOU'RE GONNA STAY LOST.

I'VE GOT TO MAKE A PLAN.

HARDLY A SOUL LIVES HERE,

SO FINDING PEOPLE
ISN'T AN OPTION.

IF YOU'RE LOST IN THE JUNGLE,
YOUR BEST HOPE FOR SURVIVAL

IS TO HEAD HIGH
AND SIGNAL FOR HELP.

I'M MAKING
FOR THE NUSAGANDI AREA --

THE HIGHEST PART OF THE REGION.

THERE REALLY IS EVERYTHING YOU
NEED TO SURVIVE IN THE JUNGLE.

JUST ALL AROUND YOU,

AND THERE'S AN ABUNDANCE OF
WATER, FOOD, AND ALSO MEDICINES.

OUT HERE, WHAT YOU KNOW
CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE,

BUT WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW
COULD KILL YOU.

AH, BUT THE KEY TO IT
IS KNOWLEDGE.

CHECK OUT THIS MONSTER
GRASSHOPPER HERE.

AND THESE ARE SO FAST.

YOU'VE GOT
TO GRAB THESE QUICKLY,

AND AFTER YOU TRY AND GO FOR IT
OR IT JUMPS,

YOU WANT TO AIM ABOVE IT.

[ GROANS ]

LOOK AT THAT.

HE'S NOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S QUITE A --
QUITE A WHOPPER.

I'M JUST GONNA
TAKE HIS HEAD OFF.

THERE YOU GO.

AND THEN THE REST OF HIM
NOW IS EDIBLE.

BUT REALLY IN THE WILD,
IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION,

YOU'VE GOT TO LEAVE
YOUR PREJUDICES BEHIND.

AND THAT IS ENERGY.

ENERGY MEANS MOVEMENT,

AND MOVEMENT IS VITAL
IF YOU'RE GONNA SELF-RESCUE.

SO, HERE WE GO.

UGH.

[ CRUNCHING ]

THAT TASTED JUST
KIND OF CREAMY GOO.

[ GRUNTS ]

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

HE'S GONE DOWN, AND I'M ON.

GAINING ANY GROUND
IN THIS STRENGTH-SAPPING MUD

IS EXHAUSTING.

THIS IS WHY IT'S SO HARD
TO MAKE ANY SORT OF PROGRESS

IN DENSE JUNGLE.

[ SPITS ]

YEAH, IT'S SLIPPY.
LOOK AT THAT UNDERFOOT.

SOLDIERS, YOU KNOW,

WOULD NORMALLY RECKON
ON MOVING IN DENSE JUNGLE

NOT MUCH MORE THAN A MILE --
MAYBE A MILE AND A HALF A DAY.

AND THIS IS WHY.

YOUR CLOTHES JUST STICK TO YOU
LIKE DAMP GLUE

IN THE 100% HUMIDITY,

AND IT MAKES THE TEMPERATURE
FEEL LIKE 120 DEGREES.

YOU CAN'T FIGHT THE JUNGLE.

YOU'VE GOT TO GO WITH THE FLOW,

AND I'M ALWAYS
LOOKING TO HEAD UP...

...EVEN IF FIRST
I'VE GOT TO GO DOWN.

[ WATER RUSHING ]

THE WATER LEVEL'S
DEFINITELY INCREASING,

AND YOU CAN TELL
IT'S BEEN RAINING HERE.

AND WHAT HAPPENS --

ALL OF THE RAIN FALLS AND GETS
FUNNELED INTO THESE GULLIES,

AND THAT WATER LEVEL RISES
AND FALLS HERE VERY FAST.

AT THIS TIME OF YEAR,

THESE TORRENTS CAN TURN ON
LIKE A LIGHT SWITCH,

WIPING OUT
EVERYTHING IN THEIR PATH.

GOOD TECHNIQUE IS THE KEY
TO CLIMBING THIS.

MAKE SURE YOU
PLAN YOUR ROUTE FIRST.

BUT BE CAREFUL -- THESE ROCKS
CAN BE RAZOR-SHARP.

RIVERBEDS CAN HELP YOU
COVER MORE GROUND

AND GIVE YOU A BREAK FROM
BATTLING WITH THE RAIN FOREST,

BUT WHEN THE TERRAIN OPENS UP,

YOU'VE GOT
TO TAKE YOUR CHANCES.

THE STREAM'S STARTING
TO PETER OUT A BIT NOW,

AND THESE BANKS
ARE LOOKING MUCH CLEARER.

SO I'M GONNA
KEEP HEADING UP HERE --

TRY TO GET
TO HIGHER GROUND STILL.

THE TERRAIN HERE
IS SO DECEPTIVE.

YOU CAN'T SEE FURTHER THAN
A FEW YARDS IN FRONT OF YOU,

AND THERE ARE NEW OBSTACLES
LURKING AT EVERY TURN.

LOOKS LIKE
IT'S A MASSIVE DROP AHEAD. LOOK.

THERE'S NO WAY
I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO CROSS THAT.

WHAT I'M GONNA TRY AND DO...

[ GRUNTS ]

THIS LIMESTONE IS NASTY...

ALL RIGHT.

...SHARP AS CORAL
AND FLAKY AS WAFER.

EVERYTHING IS JUST
SO LOOSE AROUND HERE.

BE REALLY CAREFUL
ALONG THIS EDGE.

LOOK.

LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A BIG
FALLEN TREE ACROSS THIS GORGE.

YEAH, LOOK AT THIS.

YOU SEE THAT?

THAT'S COME STRAIGHT DOWN,

STRAIGHT ACROSS THIS,
LIKE, RAVINEY THING.

AND THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT
30 FOOT STRAIGHT ACROSS,

BUT THE ACTUAL LOG ITSELF
LOOKS PRETTY SOLID.

YEAH, I RECKON THIS IS DOABLE.

GIVE US THE LITTLE CAMERA.

THIS SHORTCUT CAN SAVE YOU
MILES OF UPHILL STRUGGLE,

BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

LET'S GIVE THIS A QUICK GO.

THE KEY IS NOT TO RUSH THIS.

THE SLIGHTEST SLIP,

AND IT'S A LONG DROP
TO YOUR DEATH.

IT MUST BE 90 FEET
TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS RAVINE.

WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY --
HALFWAY ACROSS HERE,

AND THERE'S
ALL THIS MOSS AND LICHEN

THAT'S MAKING IT REALLY SLIPPY.

AND ALSO, IT'S MUCH SPRINGIER
THAN I THOUGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

BUT YOU CAN SEE
ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE.

IT'S MUCH FURTHER
THAN I THOUGHT. HAVE A LOOK.

THERE'S ALSO THIS DEAD BRANCH,
LIKE, HANGING ON IT.

LET'S SEE
IF WE CAN GET THIS TO GO.

[ BRANCH SNAPS,
WATER SPLASHES ]

THAT'S WHY I DON'T WANT
TO FALL OFF THIS THING.

OKAY, I NEED TO GET ACROSS NOW.

I'M TAKING A SHORTCUT
ACROSS THE GORGE.

IN THE JUNGLE, YOU'VE GOT
NO HOPE OF BEING SPOTTED

UNDER THE DENSE FOREST CANOPY,

SO I'M HEADING
FOR THE NUSAGANDI AREA --

THE HIGHEST PART OF THE REGION,
WHERE I CAN SIGNAL FOR RESCUE.

THE TERRAIN IS GETTING STEEPER,

AND THE HEAT,
COMBINED WITH 100% HUMIDITY,

IS TAKING ITS TOLL ON MY BODY.

ONE THING YOU NEEDN'T
BE SHORT OF IS WATER.

YOU SWEAT SO MUCH YOU NEED
AT LEAST 11 LITERS A DAY.

I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU CAN SEE THAT.

RUNNING ALL THE WAY UP THE TREE
HERE IS A WATER VINE.

SEE THAT --
IF I GIVE IT A SHAKE?

AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS

IS THAT IT CONTAINS
FRESH DRINKING WATER.

AND THE WAY TO GET AT THE WATER
IS TO CUT THE TOP ONE,

AND THEN KEEP IT HORIZONTAL.

CUT THROUGH THIS...

AND THEN HOLD IT UP.

AND THERE YOU GO.

MMM.

IT JUST SHOWS, YOU KNOW,

IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
LOOKING FOR IN THE JUNGLE,

YOU CAN GET
ALL THE FRESH WATER YOU NEED.

I'VE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME
IN THE JUNGLE,

AND I WAS ALWAYS
TAUGHT IN THE MILITARY

NOT TO FIGHT IT, BUT
TO TUNE INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND I ALWAYS THINK
THERE ARE, LIKE,

THREE PHASES
THAT PEOPLE GO THROUGH

WHEN THEY ARRIVE IN THE JUNGLE.

AND THE FIRST
IS WHEN THEY ARRIVE

WITH NO KNOWLEDGE
OF THE DANGERS.

AND THEN THE SECOND
IS THEY SUDDENLY

GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF
JUST HOW ALIVE THE JUNGLE IS --

WHERE THE SNAKES ARE,
WHERE THE SCORPIONS ARE.

BUT THEN THE FINAL STAGE
IS REALIZING

IF YOU'RE GONNA
MAKE ANY SORT OF PROGRESS HERE,

YOU NEED TO JUST RELAX
AND GO WITH IT.

AND THAT'S THE PHASE
YOU WANT TO GET TO.

BUT I'VE GOT TO KEEP MOVING,

AND KEEPING YOUR ENERGY
AND SPIRITS UP

ARE VITAL IN THIS PLACE.

EVERY LITTLE FIND IS A VICTORY.

THIS IS A CACAO TREE.

THE PODS FROM THIS
ARE USED TO MAKE CHOCOLATE.

OKAY, LET'S HAVE A LOOK
INSIDE THIS.

IT'S THESE SEEDS THAT GIVE
GOOD VITAMIN C, GOOD ENERGY,

BUT IT'S ALSO INSIDE THE SEEDS
THAT WHEN IT'S RIPE,

THEY'RE PURPLE, AND THAT'S WHAT
THEY MAKE THE CHOCOLATE FROM.

AND THE GOOD THING ABOUT IT
IS THE CHEMICALS IN HERE

WILL RELEASE ENDORPHINS
IN MY BRAIN,

AND THAT'S WHAT GIVES YOU THE
FEEL-GOOD FACTOR OF CHOCOLATE.

EVEN IF YOU KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE DOING,

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE
THE DANGERS IN THE JUNGLE.

JUST NICKED MYSELF
ON ONE OF THESE BRANCHES.

THAT'S THE THING
ABOUT THE JUNGLE --

EVERYTHING HERE IS JUST SO SHARP
AND THORNY AND SPIKY.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S SMALL,

IT'S OFTEN THE SMALL THINGS
THAT CAN BE THE REAL KILLERS,

AND ULTIMATELY
THAT'S AN OPEN WOUND --

GET FULL OF BACTERIA
AND GO SEPTIC.

I ACTUALLY HAD A FRIEND WHO WAS
OUT IN THESE JUNGLES IN PANAMA.

GOT A LITTLE NICK LIKE THIS,
AND IT WENT SEPTIC VERY QUICKLY.

AND HE ALMOST
HAD TO BE AIR CASEVACED

JUST 'CAUSE A TINY, LITTLE CUT.

SO I NEED TO FIND SOMETHING
TO TREAT THIS.

THE PANAMANIAN RAIN FOREST
HAS OVER 10,000 PLANT SPECIES.

MANY ARE DEADLY,
BUT WITH THE RIGHT KNOWLEDGE,

YOU REALIZE YOU'RE WALKING
THROUGH NATURE'S DRUGSTORE.

THIS PLANT CAN ACTUALLY HELP ME.

IT'S CALLED A "DESTROYER."

IT'S CALLED A DESTROYER
NOT 'CAUSE IT DESTROYS US,

BUT BECAUSE
IT DESTROYS BACTERIA.

AND ALL I NEED TO DO
WITH THIS --

TAKE A LEAF OFF
AND THEN CRUSH THIS UP.

AND WHAT IT WILL DO --
IT WILL ACT AS AN ANTISEPTIC,

BUT IT WILL ALSO HELP THE WOUND
AND THE BLOOD COAGULATE.

SO, YOU GOT TO SQUEEZE
ALL OF THAT SAP ON,

AND THAT WILL HOPEFULLY
HELP PROTECT IT.

OVER 100 PEOPLE DIE
EVERY YEAR IN PANAMA'S JUNGLES

FROM CUTS AND INFECTIONS.

SO IF YOU GET ONE,
YOU'VE GOT TO ACT FAST.

[ GRUNTS ]

THIS IS
THE MOST ENERGY-SAPPING,

NERVE-RACKING PLACE
YOU'D NEVER WANT TO BE LOST IN.

A DAY IN THE JUNGLE
FEELS LIKE A LIFETIME.

WHEN YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY
AND IT'S SAFE,

GIVE YOURSELF
A BREAK AND RECHARGE.

JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE, GUYS.
GIVE ME A MINUTE.

[ PANTING ]

OH, THIS IS SO NICE

TO FIND A BIT OF A CLEARING
IN THIS PLACE, YOU KNOW?

AND THE OTHER GOOD THING ABOUT
HERE IS THAT THERE'S WATER.

IN FACT, ACTUALLY,

THIS WOULDN'T BE A BAD PLACE
TO MAYBE SET UP CAMP.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
IN THE JUNGLE,

WHEN YOU WANT TO SET UP CAMP,

IS TO GIVE YOURSELF
ENOUGH TIME TO DO IT.

YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE WHEN IT
GETS DARK IN THE JUNGLE,

IT GETS DARK HERE SO FAST.

AND THE LAST PLACE YOU WANT
TO BE TRAPPED OUT AT NIGHT

IS THE JUNGLE.

ONE THING THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF
IN THE JUNGLE ARE TERMITES.

AND LOOK, YOU SEE
THIS TERMITES' NEST HERE.

AND ACTUALLY THEY'RE PRETTY
FUNDAMENTAL TO THE JUNGLE,

ARE TERMITES,
JUST 'CAUSE THEY DIGEST SO MUCH

OF ALL THE ROTTING WOOD.

LOOK, YOU GO.
SEE THEM ALL CRAWLING OUT THERE?

BUT ACTUALLY,
ALL OF THESE ARE EDIBLE.

AND THEY TASTE LIKE
A LITTLE BIT ZINGY, YOU KNOW,

LIKE KIND OF
NOT VERY NICE CITRUS.

BUT THERE IS SOMETHING
THAT YOU CAN DO WITH THESE

THAT'S GONNA HOPEFULLY
BRING ME MUCH MORE ENERGY.

OKAY, I'M GONNA
TAKE A BIT OF THIS WITH ME.

THERE WE GO.

I'M GONNA TAKE...

THAT AND THAT WITH ME.

I'VE GOT AN IDEA.

BUT IT WILL HAVE TO WAIT.

OUT HERE, IT CAN GO
FROM DAYLIGHT TO PITCH-BLACK

IN JUST HALF AN HOUR, AND
I'VE STILL GOT TO MAKE CAMP.

WHEN YOU'RE MAKING SHELTER,

ONE OF YOUR
MOST IMPORTANT GOALS MUST BE

JUST TO TRY AND RAISE YOURSELF
UP OFF THE JUNGLE FLOOR

'CAUSE THE LAST THING
YOU WANT TO DO

IS HAVE TO SHARE YOUR BED WITH
ALL OF THE SNAKES AND SCORPIONS

AND ANTS THAT LIVE ON
THE JUNGLE FLOOR.

AND THESE TWO TREES WOULD BE
A PRETTY GOOD PLACE --

ABOUT THE RIGHT DISTANCE APART
TO MAKE A HAMMOCK.

BUT FIRST OF ALL, YOU'D NEED
THE MATERIALS FOR THAT.

AND THIS IS CALLED
"BEJUCO REAL,"

AND IT'S REALLY COMMON
IN THE JUNGLE.

THE LOCAL INDIGENOUS TRIBES
WOULD USE THIS

FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS,
JUST BECAUSE IT'S STRONG,

BUT ALSO IT GROWS
IN DIFFERENT THICKNESS.

AND THIS STUFF IS PRETTY THIN.
IT WILL BE GOOD FOR MY HAMMOCK.

BUT YOU CAN TELL -- LOOK --
IF I JUST SCRAPE IT HERE,

YOU CAN TELL THAT'S BEJUCO REAL

JUST 'CAUSE IT'S GOT THAT
REDDISH TINGE UNDER THE BARK.

IF I CUT IT DOWN HERE,
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE --

IT JUST UNWRAPS.

THERE WE GO.

THIS COULD TAKE A WHILE
ON YOUR OWN, BUT IT'S WORTH IT.

AND THE FIRST THING
YOU NEED TO DO

IS MAKE LIKE
TWO CROSSES AT EACH END

THAT'S GONNA
SUPPORT THE HAMMOCK.

AND YOU CAN JUST USE A BIT
OF BARK STRIPPED FROM A TREE

THAT WILL ACT AS GOOD LASHING,

AND THAT'S
GONNA SUPPORT ONE END.

THE CROSS ENDS
WILL CARRY MOST OF THE WEIGHT,

SO THEY NEED TO BE SECURE.

AND THEN WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
IS TAKE THIS VINE,

THREAD IT BEHIND THE TREE,
AND TIE THESE TIGHT.

AND THAT THEN IS GONNA BE
THE OUTER FRAME OF THE HAMMOCK.

AND THEN ALL YOU NEED TO DO THEN

IS INTERWEAVE CROSS ONES
ALL THE WAY THE LENGTH OF THIS.

AND HOPEFULLY,
THIS WILL TAKE MY WEIGHT.

[ GRUNTS ]

[ VINE SNAPS ]

ONE LITTLE SNAP,
BUT THAT'S NOT TOO BAD.

AND BEFORE I BED DOWN,

I'M GONNA TRY MY BIG IDEA
WITH THOSE TERMITES.

WHAT I'M GONNA TRY
AND USE THESE TERMITES FOR

IS BAIT FOR FISH.

AND WHAT I CAN DO IS JUST
PUT THEM OVER THE WATER,

GIVE IT A SPRINKLE,

AND HOPEFULLY THEN THE FISH
WILL GO FOR IT.

BUT WHAT I'M GONNA ALSO NEED
IS A NET,

AND WHAT I CAN USE IS JUST A
LITTLE BIT OF SAPLING I'VE GOT.

AND ALL I NEED TO DO
IS BEND THIS 'ROUND

AND THEN TIE IT
AND PUT MY SHIRT OVER IT.

AND THEN YOU'RE READY
FOR A BIT OF FISHING.

AND LOOK -- YOU CAN SEE THEY'RE
STARTING TO JUMP AND TAKE THEM.

SEE ALL THAT? HERE.

OKAY, JUST COME ABOVE MY NET.

[ Chuckles ]
IT'S ALL ABOUT BEING PATIENT.

I'M NOTORIOUSLY IMPATIENT.

COME ON, TAKE THE ONES
ABOVE MY NET.

LOOK, LOADS
OF DELICIOUS TERMITES.

AT THE MOMENT, THEY'RE
FEASTING OFF MY TERMITES,

AND I'M NOT GETTING ANY.

OH, I THINK WE'VE GOT ONE HERE.

OH, NO. WHERE'S HE GONE?

[ Chuckles ] LOOK, THEY'RE JUST,
LIKE, MOCKING ME HERE.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'VE BEEN AT THIS AWHILE,
AND I THINK THIS IS ONE TIME

WHERE THE FISH HAVE HAD
THE BETTER OF THE BEAR.

GOING HUNGRY
IS A REAL SETBACK OUT HERE,

BUT A FIRE
HAS TO BE MY PRIORITY NOW.

THERE'S ONLY ABOUT AN HOUR LEFT

BEFORE IT'S PITCH-BLACK
AND THE TEMPERATURE PLUMMETS.

BUT EVEN WHEN
YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY WOOD,

A FIRE'S NOT THAT EASY.

FINDING TINDER IN THE RAINFOREST
IS NOTORIOUSLY HARD,

AND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR
IS DEAD WOOD THAT'S DRY.

ALTHOUGH, IN THIS CASE --
LOOK AT THAT.

IT'S ALL SOAKING WET.
LET'S TRY ANOTHER ONE.

HERE WE GO.
THIS IS LOOKING BETTER.

SEE ALL THAT?

THAT IS DRY, AND THAT'S
GONNA MAKE GREAT, GREAT TINDER.

SOME SURVIVAL EXPERTS RECOMMEND

THAT YOU DON'T EVEN TRY
TO LIGHT A FIRE

BECAUSE THE CHANCES OF FAILURE
ARE GONNA BRING YOU DOWN.

BUT I WANT A FIRE.

TRY AND GET THIS GOING.

THE MOSQUITOES
ARE GETTING BAD ALREADY.

THE AIR IS SO DAMP IT'S A REAL
STRUGGLE JUST TO LIGHT THIS.

[ FLINT SCRAPING ]

OKAY, WE'VE GOT FIRE.

IT'S BARELY ENOUGH
TO KEEP ME WARM,

BUT IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING.

AND WHATEVER LIFTS YOUR SPIRITS
IS GONNA HELP YOU.

I ALWAYS THINK ALMOST
HALF THE BATTLE OF SURVIVAL

IS BEING ABLE TO KEEP YOUR HOPES
UP AND YOUR SPIRITS ALIVE.

THERE'S A LITTLE PICTURE
OF MY FAMILY

THAT I ALWAYS KEEP WITH ME
WHEREVER I GO.

I KEEP IT LAMINATED
IN THE SOLE OF MY BOOT.

AND...I PULL IT OUT.

I HAVE THAT -- MY LITTLE BOY.

AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE --
MY WIFE AND MY OTHER LITTLE SON.

AND THAT'S HELPED ME, YOU KNOW,

SO MUCH THROUGH
SO MANY DIFFERENT ADVENTURES.

HUNGRY, COLD, AND EXHAUSTED,
MY THOUGHTS OF MY FAMILY

ARE WHAT I HOLD ONTO
THROUGH THE NIGHT.

IT'S EASY TO FEEL
JUST PRETTY VULNERABLE HERE,

AND IF I'M HONEST,

I'M QUITE LOOKING FORWARD
TO DAYBREAK NOW.

[ WILDLIFE CHIRPING ]

Grylls: I'VE JUST SPENT A NIGHT
OUT IN THE PANAMANIAN JUNGLE,

ONE OF THE MOST
INHOSPITABLE PLACES ON EARTH.

HEY.

WELL, IT WASN'T A BAD NIGHT.

THE GOOD NEWS IS,
THIS HAMMOCK HELD UP.

THERE WAS ONE MOMENT IN
THE NIGHT WHERE THIS POPPED OUT,

AND I SORT OF FOUND MYSELF
HANGING OUT OF IT,

BUT IT BASICALLY HELD UP.

THE ONLY THING IS, I DID
GET REALLY COLD AT ABOUT 3:00

JUST 'CAUSE MY CLOTHES
WERE STILL WET,

AND I STARTED TO GET REALLY,
REALLY SHIVERY.

SO I JUST PUT A LOAD
OF THIS GREEN ON IT

TO TRY AND INSULATE ME,
BUT TO BE HONEST,

IT DIDN'T REALLY, YOU KNOW,
DO THAT GOOD A JOB.

THE BEST WAY
TO GET OUT OF HERE ALIVE

IS TO HEAD UP TO HIGHER GROUND
IN THE NUSAGANDI REGION.

BUT BEFORE I GET GOING,
I NEED BREAKFAST.

LOOK AT THIS.

SEE THIS HERE?

THAT IS IVORY PALM.

[ GRUNTS ]

YEAH, NOW, THIS STUFF IS EDIBLE
IF I CAN JUST GET INTO IT.

THERE WE GO.
I'M INTO IT.

AND LOOK AT THIS STUFF.

SEE ALL OF THAT?

THAT, WHEN IT SETS, GOES
ABSOLUTELY ROCK-HARD LIKE IVORY,

AND ACTUALLY,
LOCAL, INDIGENOUS TRIBES

WILL USE THIS FOR, LIKE,
CARVINGS.

AND IT SHOULD BE
GOOD CARBOHYDRATE...

AND TASTY.

MMM.

IT'S LIKE KIND OF --

IT TASTES LIKE COCONUT
BUT IT'S REALLY GOOEY.

IT'S LIKE SORT OF GLUE
THAT HASN'T QUITE SET.

AND REALLY ALL OF THAT
IS LIKE A MEAL IN ITSELF ALMOST.

COOL.

THAT'S ME SET OUT
FOR A DIFFICULT CLIMB AHEAD.

IT'S SO HARD GETTING UP.

ALL OF THIS IS JUST SO SLIPPY.

AND WHEN IT'S STEEP LIKE THIS,

I WANT TO JUST USE THIS STICK
LIKE AN ICE AX

'CAUSE IT'S THE ONLY THING
I CAN PULL ON.

AND KICK A STEP IN.

[ PANTING ]

OKAY, IT'S A BIT BETTER HERE.

JUST GET YOU OVER THAT.

ONE THING THAT THERE'S
NO RELIEF FROM

IS THE RAVENOUS MOSQUITOES.

I'M GONNA NEED A JUNGLE REMEDY.

THERE, YOU SEE ALL OF THIS?

THIS IS ALL -- THIS IS ALL
THE SPOIL FROM LEAF-CUTTER ANTS.

THIS IS WHAT THEY DO.

THEY STRIP ALL THE LEAVES, TAKE
IT UNDERGROUND WHERE IT ROTS,

AND THEN THEY FEED OFF
THE FUNGUS FROM THIS.

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.

THEY'VE OBVIOUSLY
EITHER MOVED ON

OR THEY MIGHT JUST BE
HAVING A SIESTA.

BUT EITHER WAY, WHAT I CAN DO IS
ACTUALLY USE SOME OF THIS SPOIL,

AND THIS ACTUALLY
CONTAINS MASSES OF FORMIC ACID

FROM THE ANTS.

AND FORMIC ACID IS GOOD
FOR MOSQUITO REPELLENT,

AND I'M GETTING DEVOURED
AT THE MOMENT.

SMEAR THIS ALL OVER.

OKAY, MOVING ON.

THE HIGHER I GET,
THE COOLER IT BECOMES,

AND THE TEMPERATURE
DROPS NEARLY 2 DEGREES

WITH EVERY 500 FEET.

BUT WITH HEIGHT COMES RISK.

LOOK AT THIS.

THIS WHOLE AREA'S JUST
COMPLETELY COLLAPSED INTO, LIKE,

JUST A GIANT MUDSLIDE.

AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS
IN THE JUNGLE

WHEN YOU'RE GETTING
THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN FALLING.

BUT YOU CAN
JUST IMAGINE LITERALLY

THOUSANDS OF TONS
OF MUD AND TREES

AVALANCHING DOWN THIS FACE.

IT WOULD JUST WIPE OUT
EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH.

IT'S LOOSE AND IT'S SLIPPERY,

BUT IT'S A QUICKER WAY UP THAN
DOING BATTLE WITH THE TREES.

I CAN JUST WHACK MY HAND IN LIKE
THIS AND GET QUITE A GOOD HOLD.

IT FEELS LIKE ONE STEP FORWARD
AND TWO STEPS BACK.

[ GRUNTS ]

ONCE IT STARTS TO GO, IT GOES.

TO GET TO THE TOP OF THIS,
YOU NEED CALVES LIKE STEEL.

I MADE QUITE A GOOD PROGRESS
UP THIS,

BUT IT'S SUDDENLY
BEGINNING TO RAIN.

AND I DO NOT WANT TO BE ON THIS
IF THIS TURNS INTO A DOWNPOUR,

ALL OF THIS MUD
WOULD JUST BECOME, LIKE, SLICK.

BUT THERE'S NO TIME TO REST.

I'VE GOT TO PUSH ON
TO THE HIGHEST POINT

TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF BEING
SPOTTED BY THE HELICOPTER CREW.

I RECKON THIS TREE'S CLIMBABLE.

YOU'VE GOT THIS VINE RUNNING ALL
THE WAY UP THE SIDE OF IT.

THE CHOPPER'S DUE,
AND IF I GET UP HERE,

I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO SEE IT.

THE THING IS, THEY'RE
GONNA STRUGGLE TO SPOT ME

IN THIS CANOPY.

SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS JUST
MAKE A BIT OF A SIGNAL FIRE.

THERE'S A NICE PATCH OF CLEAR
SKY ABOVE ME WITH NO CANOPY,

AND THE SMOKE WILL BE ABLE
TO RISE STRAIGHT UP THERE.

[ FLINT SCRAPING ]

THIS IS GONNA
NEED TO BE A SMOKY ONE.

I'VE PILED IT
WITH GREEN WOOD AND LEAVES

SO IT CAN BE SEEN FOR MILES.

ONE LAST BURST OF ENERGY,

AND I SHOULD BE ABLE
TO GET UP THIS TREE.

JUST THE LAST FEW FEET.

[ Panting ] WHAT A VIEW.

AND THAT'S THE CARIBBEAN COAST
ABOUT 30 MILES AWAY.

SPECTACULAR!

AND IT'S THE SORT OF VIEW
THAT SIR FRANCIS DRAKE

WOULD HAVE SEEN WHEN
HE CAME HERE TO PLUNDER GOLD.

AND LEGEND ACTUALLY HAS IT
THAT HE CLIMBED A TREE

TO GET A VIEW ACROSS PANAMA.

IT'S JUST AMAZING.

YEAH, THERE'S A GOOD AMOUNT
OF SMOKE COMING UP NOW

THROUGH THE CANOPY.

I JUST HOPE THEY SEE THIS.

YEAH, LISTEN.

YEAH, THAT'S DEFINITELY
A CHOPPER.

[ HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING ]

I THINK IT'S COMING IN NOW!

YEAH, THEY'VE SPOTTED ME!

AND I'M OUT OF HERE.

IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE,

BUT I'M ABOUT
TO MEET THE PEOPLE

WHO'VE LIVED AND SURVIVED
IN THIS JUNGLE FOR CENTURIES --

THE EMBERA.

Grylls: I'M IN PANAMA
ON THE CHAGRES RIVER

WITH EMBERA HUNTERS.

THESE GUYS HAVE LIVED HERE
FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS,

AND WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT
SURVIVAL ISN'T WORTH KNOWING.

IN FACT,
NASA TURNED TO THE EMBERA

TO TEACH THE FIRST ASTRONAUTS
HOW TO SURVIVE

IF THEIR CAPSULE
LANDED IN THE JUNGLE.

SO WE'RE
HEADING DOWNSTREAM NOW,

AND WE'VE GOT ASIROY, WHO'S
AT THE FRONT NAVIGATING FOR US.

AND THEN HIS SON, EDITO,

WHO'S LIKE THE CHIEF
OF THE TRIBE.

AND THEN RUBéN, WHO'S
HANDLING THE BOAT AT THE BACK.

THE YOUNG MEN OF THE TRIBE
ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MARRY

UNTIL THEY HAVE MASTERED
THE SKILLS OF SURVIVING

IN THE RAIN FOREST.

NOW I'M GOING HUNTING WITH THEM
TO LEARN SOME OF THEIR SKILLS.

NO GUNS HERE,

BUT INSTEAD TRADITIONAL BOWS,
ARROWS, AND BLOW DARTS.

WHAT WE'RE PUTTING ON JUST
THE TIPS OF THESE BLOW DARTS --

THIS LITTLE POISON DART FROG

WILL SECRETE TOXINS
ONTO THE BLOW DART.

AND, YEAH, DON'T
UNDERESTIMATE THIS GUY.

THEY'LL KEEP THIS WITH THEM

'CAUSE IT WILL ALWAYS
SECRETE THIS TOXIN.

BUT IF YOU GOT SOME OF THAT
TOXIN INTO YOUR BLOODSTREAM,

THAT WOULD REALLY, REALLY
PUT YOU IN DANGER.

THE SLIGHTEST PINPRICK
FROM A POISON DART

WILL SHUT DOWN
AN ANIMAL'S NERVOUS SYSTEM,

KILLING IT STONE-DEAD, BUT
IT WILL STILL BE SAFE TO EAT.

THIS IS WICKED STUFF.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

Grylls: You can just see Asiroy
up there ahead.

And, you know,
so much of jungle movement

normally is you want
to make noise.

You want, you know, snakes and
animals to move out of your way.

You want to let them know
you're coming,

but this is really about
slowing down,

tuning in your senses,
and being as quiet as you can.

And one of
the most important things

is to make sure you can find
your way back

to where you've come from

'cause it's so easy in
this jungle just to get lost,

especially when you
spot an animal

and you charge off after it.

So they have a technique to
make sure they don't get lost.

PARA HACER SEÑA QUE NOSOTROS
VINIMOS EN ESTE MISMO RUTO.

Okay, in every
20 yards or so,

they'll turn over some leaves
in a very obvious fashion,

and then
when they come back,

they can recognize
the way they've got to follow.

Okay.

THEY DON'T JUST
STALK THEIR PREY,

THEY LURE IT TOWARDS THEM.

[ HIGH-PITCHED CHIRP ]

And what they're doing here

is just simulating
the noise of an agouti,

just with a leaf
between their mouth.

They want me to have a go at
making this noise with the leaf,

but I have a dreadful feeling
this is not gonna resemble

the sound of agouti --
what comes out of my leaf.

But let's give it a go.

[ SHRILL SQUAWKING ]

I'm not sure what animal
that was.

[ CHUCKLES ]

[ Chuckling ] But we'll see

what comes charging
out of the jungle.

BUT OUT HERE,

EVEN THE MOST EXPERIENCED
HUNTERS CAN MAKE MISTAKES.

ASIROY'S GOT A BIT OF THE POISON
FROM THE BLOW DART

ONTO HIS HAND.

AND LOOK, YOU CAN JUST
SEE HIS FINGERS.

THEY'RE
BEGINNING TO SWELL UP.

AND IT'S
SO EASY TO DO

WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO WORK
YOUR WAY THROUGH THE JUNGLE,

JUST TO RUB AGAINST THAT
VERY BRIEFLY

AND GET A LITTLE BIT
ON YOUR HAND.

BUT YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT
THAT THEN WILL DO

TO A LITTLE ANIMAL.

BUT THE ANTIDOTE, HE WAS SAYING,
FOR THIS IS HONEY.

HONEY IS
A POWERFUL MEDICINE,

AND THE EMBERA USE IT
FOR A VARIETY OF PROBLEMS.

ASIROY IS OKAY,

BUT HE'LL HAVE TO WAIT TILL
HE GETS BACK HOME TO TREAT IT.

JUST AS WE'RE ABOUT TO RETURN
FOR VILLAGE, I SPOT SOMETHING.

MIRA, MIRA, MIRA,
MIRA, MIRA!

[ WHISTLES ]

A LITTLE IGUANA.

IGUANITA AQUí.

AGáRRALE A LA CABEZA,
AGáRRALE A LA CABEZA.

BRAVO!

[ LAUGHS ]

AGáRRALE A LA CABEZA,
AGáRRALE.

NO ONE'S MORE SURPRISED
THAT I HIT IT THAN ME,

BUT I KNOW THIS
IS SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD TO EAT.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH
INDISTINCTLY ]

I JUST SAW HIM
OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE,

JUST WHERE
HE WAS PICKING UP HIS DART.

AND THAT IS -- THAT'S GREAT.
THAT'S A REAL THRILL.

BUENO, VAMOS A COMER
SOPA DE ESTE IGUANA.

[ SIGHS ]

SO IT'S LIZARD SOUP FOR SUPPER
AND HIGH FIVES ALL AROUND.

ASIROY.

WHEW. THAT IS DEFINITELY
BEGINNER'S LUCK.

IT'S HARDLY
GONNA FEED THE 5,000,

BUT I KNOW
IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING

AS WE WEND OUR WAY
BACK TO THE VILLAGE.

HE SAID I'VE GOT THE ARM HERE.

[ CRUNCHES ]

I KNOW THEY ALWAYS SAY
EVERYTHING TASTES LIKE CHICKEN,

BUT IT DOES TASTE
A LITTLE BIT LIKE CHICKEN.

AND THEY'VE GOT JUST THE THING
TO SWILL IT DOWN --

SOME CHICHA.

THIS ONE'S MADE
FROM FERMENTED PALM,

AND IT PACKS QUITE A PUNCH.

Man:
Tú PRIMERO.

WOW.

IT'S LIKE
A GREAT COCKTAIL.

Sí.

MMM.

I HAVE AN EMBARRASSING WEAKNESS
FOR PIÑA COLADAS,

AND THIS IS I THINK GONNA RIVAL
THE PIÑA COLADAS.

MMM.

OKAY.

[ LAUGHTER ]

WHAT THEY DIDN'T TELL ME

IS THAT THEY ADD THE SALIVA
FROM THE VILLAGE ELDERS

TO HELP IT FERMENT.

I THINK I NEED SOMETHING
TO CLEAR MY HEAD.

WHOO!

AND IT DID JUST THE JOB.

REALLY, FOR ME,
TODAY HAS JUST BEEN --

IT'S JUST BEEN AMAZING
AND A REAL PRIVILEGE

JUST TO BE ABLE TO HANG OUT
WITH THESE GUYS

AND SEE SOME OF THEIR
SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES.

AND IT JUST REMINDS ME,
ONCE AGAIN,

THAT THERE'S SO MUCH
THAT I CAN STILL LEARN

ABOUT ALL OF THIS.

SO, THANK YOU, GUYS.

Grylls:
I'VE SPENT 24 HOURS WITH THE
MASTERS OF JUNGLE CONCEALMENT,

THE EMBERA TRIBE.

NOW I'M STRIKING OUT
INTO THE JUNGLE ONCE MORE,

BUT THIS TIME
I DON'T WANT TO BE FOUND.

HERE YOUR LIFE MAY ACTUALLY
DEPEND ON STAYING UNDETECTED.

I'M NEAR THE DARIEN GAP AREA
OF PANAMA

THAT BORDERS COLOMBIA,

AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS
THERE, IN RECENT YEARS,

HAS BEEN KIDNAPPING
BY THE F.A.R.C. GUERRILLAS

THAT STALK THAT AREA.

COLOMBIA ITSELF

ACTUALLY HAS THE HIGHEST
KIDNAP RATE IN THE WORLD --

3 A DAY AT THE LAST COUNT.

AND THEREFORE,

CONCEALMENT ACTUALLY BECOMES
A KEY TO STAYING ALIVE.

AND THE HUMAN BODY ACTUALLY
HAS A VERY DISTINCT SHAPE,

ESPECIALLY THE SHOULDERS,
HEAD, AND SHOULDER.

THEREFORE, YOU WANT TO TRY
AND BREAK UP THAT SHAPE,

AND THAT'S WHAT I GOT
JUST WITH THESE PALMS.

IT'S JUST BREAKING UP
THAT OUTLINE,

AND THEN THE OTHER THING
IS SHINE.

ANYTHING THAT'S GONNA GLISTEN
AND REVEAL YOUR POSITION

LIKE A WATCH OR EVEN LIKE
THE RINGLETS IN YOUR BOOTS --

GET SOME MUD ON THOSE
AND ALSO YOUR FACE.

JUST PUT A FEW LINES DOWN IT
JUST TO TAKE THE GLISTEN AWAY.

BUT ACTUALLY, WITH CONCEALMENT,
OFTEN LESS IS MORE.

AND A COMPLETELY CAKED FACE
IS PROBABLY JUST AS DISTINCTIVE

AS A COMPLETELY BARE FACE.

MY TRAINING
WITH THE SPECIAL FORCES

TAUGHT ME
HOW TO CONCEAL MYSELF...

AND THE EMBERA TRIBE

TAUGHT ME THAT YOUR SMELL
WOULD ALSO BETRAY YOU

LONG BEFORE
YOU'RE SEEN OR HEARD.

NEVER COOK FOOD --

THE SMELL CARRIES
FOR NEARLY A MILE.

WAH! COR!
HE JUST BIT ME!

WHATEVER AND WHENEVER YOU EAT,
EAT IT RAW.

IT'S A LITTLE VINE SNAKE
JUST WORKING HIS WAY UP THIS.

AND THESE ARE PRETTY
COMMON AROUND HERE.

LOTS OF THESE.

THIS IS ALL EDIBLE,

BUT WHEN YOU'RE TRYING
TO CONCEAL YOURSELF,

YOU WANT TO DO
AS LITTLE COOKING AS POSSIBLE.

IF YOU'RE MAKING FIRE,

THAT'S ALL TRACE THAT YOU'VE
BEEN THERE, AND ALSO SMELL.

AND GET RID OF THAT.

LET THE MUSCLES STOP TWITCHING.

[ CRUNCHES ]

PRETTY CHEWY.

I MIGHT KEEP THIS LITTLE BIT

EVEN THOUGH
IT'S STILL WIGGLING AROUND.

WRAP THAT UP,
AND KEEP FOR LATER.

THAT'S NOT ALL
THAT THE TRIBE TAUGHT ME.

WHEN YOU'RE BEING HUNTED,

THE SLIGHTEST MISTAKE
PUTS YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE.

THE EMBERA TRIBE ARE FAMOUS

FOR BEING ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH
THESE JUNGLES SILENTLY

AND WITHOUT LEAVING A TRACE.

AND THE WAY THEY USED TO
TEACH THE AMERICAN G.I.s

THEIR JUNGLE SURVIVAL
WAS TO SAY, "MOVE LIKE A TIGER."

YOU KNOW, EFFORTLESSLY
AND REALLY CAREFULLY.

BE REALLY CAREFUL ABOUT,
YOU KNOW,

GRABBING TREES 'CAUSE
A LITTLE MOVEMENT DOWN HERE

IS A BIG MOVEMENT UP THERE.

IF YOU THINK I'M EXAGGERATING
THE DANGERS OF THE DARIEN GAP,

THINK AGAIN.

AND I KNOW OF TWO AMERICANS

WHO WERE TAKEN HOSTAGE
BY DRUG TRAFFICKERS,

AND THEY DEMANDED
$5 MILLION IN RANSOM.

AND THERE WERE A FEW BRIEF
EXCHANGES OF DIALOGUE.

THEN IT WENT QUIET, AND THEY'VE
NEVER BEEN HEARD OF AGAIN.

IF YOU FEEL
THAT SOMEBODY'S FOLLOWING YOU,

WHAT YOU NEED TO TRY AND DO
IS THROW THEM OFF YOUR TRACK.

AND THE WAY TO DO THAT IS AVOID
JUST WALKING IN A STRAIGHT LINE.

YOU KNOW, STRAIGHT LINES
ARE VERY DISTINCTIVE,

AND YOU VERY RARELY GET THEM
IN NATURE.

SO INSTEAD YOU WANT TO TRY
AND SNAKE YOUR WAY THROUGH --

ANYTHING THAT'S AN IRREGULAR
PATTERN TO IT IS GOOD.

ONLY MAKE A FIRE IF YOUR LIFE
REALLY DEPENDS ON IT.

OTHERWISE, THE SMOKE AND FLAMES

WILL SERVE AS A BEACON
FOR MILES AROUND.

IF YOU DO HAVE TO LIGHT ONE,

TRY AND CONCEAL IT
IN THE BUTTRESS OF A TREE.

AND IF YOU JUST HAVE A FIRE
LITERALLY OUT IN THE OPEN,

ALL THE SMOKE
JUST GOES EVERYWHERE,

BUT IF YOU TUCK INTO A TREE,
WHAT HAPPENS --

ALL THE SMOKE THEN CLINGS
TO THE TRUNK AS IT GOES UP,

AND IT SORT OF GETS
LOST IN THE FOLIAGE

AND THEN GOES STRAIGHT UP
INTO THE CANOPY.

AND IT'S MUCH BETTER HIDDEN
THAN JUST BEING OUT IN THE OPEN.

EVEN WHEN YOU'RE CLOSE
TO BEING RESCUED,

YOU JUST CAN'T
LET YOUR GUARD DOWN.

MY PICKUP POINT IS JUST
OVER THE BROW AHEAD,

AND AT THE MOMENT,
I'M REALLY WELL-HIDDEN HERE.

BUT AS SOON AS
THAT HELICOPTER ARRIVES,

ALL OF MY COVER
IS GONNA BE COMPROMISED,

AND I WAS ALWAYS TAUGHT
IN THE SPECIAL FORCES

THAT YOU'RE
AT YOUR MOST VULNERABLE

AT THAT POINT OF PICKUP.

SO AS SOON AS THAT HELICOPTER
LANDS, YOU NEED TO MOVE FAST.

YOU NEED TO BE
ONTO IT AND THEN AWAY.

[ HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING ]

THE JUNGLES, TRIBES,
AND TRAILS OF PANAMA

HAVE BEEN A VERY MUDDY
BUT HUMBLING EXPERIENCE,

AND I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH
ABOUT HOW TO STAY ALIVE

IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.

BUT FOR ME,
IT'S TIME NOW TO GO HOME.