Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 2, Episode 7 - Sahara - 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!

I'VE COME
TO THE SAHARA DESERT,

ONE OF THE HOTTEST AND
DEADLIEST PLACES ON THE PLANET.

THAT IS JUST HUGE!

3.5 MILLION SQUARE MILES

OF BURNING SAND
THE SIZE OF THE U.S.



EVERY YEAR PEOPLE DIE
TRYING TO CROSS IT,

SCORCHED BY THE HIGHEST
RECORDED TEMPERATURES

IN THE WORLD.

'CAUSE THIS SAND IS BURNING HOT!

BEING STRANDED HERE
IS LIKE BEING COOKED ALIVE.

WE'VE GOT TO GO THERE.
THIS HEAT IS JUST KILLING.

IT'S GOING TO BE
MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE YET.

IN ONE OF THE MOST
INHOSPITABLE PLACES ON EARTH...

THIS PLACE IS RELENTLESS.

ONLY THE TOUGHEST
CAN SURVIVE.

I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU

THE EXTREME LENGTHS
YOU NEED TO GO TO,

TO STAY ALIVE IN THE DEATHTRAP
THAT IS THE SAHARA.

I'M IN MOROCCO IN NORTH AFRICA,



FLYING INTO THE SAHARA DESERT
FROM THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS.

IT'S ENORMOUS.

A QUARTER
OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT

AND SPRAWLING
ACROSS 11 COUNTRIES.

IT'S A HARSH, ARID WILDERNESS
THAT CAN COOK YOU AND KILL YOU

IF YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

THERE'S NO WAY OUT OF HERE.

JUST STAYING ALIVE
IS YOUR ONLY HOPE.

IF YOU GET LOST OUT HERE,

THE TWO MOST LIKELY THINGS
TO KILL YOU

ARE DEHYDRATION AND HEAT STROKE,

AND BOTH OF THOSE CAN COME ON
IN A MATTER OF HOURS.

THE CHOPPER'S HOVERING
AT 8,000 FEET,

AND IT'S TIME TO GO.

I'VE GOT A FEW
BASIC SURVIVAL TOOLS

AND MY CAMERA CREW
COMING WITH ME.

THIS MUST BE
THE HOTTEST DESERT

I HAVE EVER BEEN IN.

YOU KNOW,
SUMMERTIME IN THE SAHARA

IS OVER 130 DEGREES HEAT.

YOU KNOW, JUST TOUCHING --

TOUCHING THAT SAND,

YOU CAN ALMOST
NOT HOLD YOUR HAND DOWN

LONGER THAN A FEW SECONDS.

THE ONLY ESCAPE FROM HERE
IS THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS,

HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY.

BUT IN THIS FURNACE
OF A DESERT,

YOU'D NEVER GET THAT FAR.

YOU'VE JUST GOT TO STAY ALIVE
UNTIL YOU'RE FOUND.

YOU NEED TO KEEP A COOL HEAD,

SO I'M GOING TO
MAKE AN ARAB-STYLE HEADDRESS

OUT OF MY T-SHIRT.

IN THIS HEAT,
YOUR BRAIN WOULD SIZZLE

AND YOUR BODY WOULD SHUT DOWN.

BEFORE YOU KNEW IT, YOU'D
BE A SNACK FOR THE VULTURES.

THE LAST THING I CAN DO
JUST TO HELP KEEP ME COOL

IS JUST TO THEN
PEE ON THIS T-SHIRT.

IT'S NOT VERY NICE,
BUT IT WILL HELP KEEP ME COOL.

THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE ACTUALLY
DONE BEFORE IN THE DESERT.

BUT REALLY ANYTHING YOU CAN DO
IN THIS SORT OF HEAT

TO KEEP YOUR HEAD COOL

IS GOING TO PROLONG HOW LONG
YOU CAN SURVIVE OUT HERE.

IF YOU WRAP THIS
AROUND YOUR HEAD,

IT WILL BUY YOU
A FEW EXTRA HOURS

IN HEAT THAT FEELS LIKE
YOU'RE BEING SLOW ROASTED.

AND, BELIEVE ME, IT WORKS.

I'VE HEARD
AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY

OF A MOTHER WHO SAVED HER
KIDS' LIVES IN THE DESERT

BY COVERING THEIR HEADS
WITH CLOTHING SOAKED IN PEE.

ZIP UP, READY TO GO.

TO SURVIVE OUT HERE,
YOU NEED FOOD

BUT, ABOVE ALL, WATER.

THAT'S NOT EASY
IN THIS BARREN WILDERNESS

WHICH GETS JUST
3 INCHES OF RAIN A YEAR.

ONLY THE HARDIEST CREATURES
CAN LIVE HERE,

AND YOU'VE GOT TO
GRAB WHAT YOU CAN.

CHECK OUT THIS LITTLE GUY!

OH!
YOU WANT TO WATCH OUT FOR HIM.

THIS IS A LITTLE CAMEL SPIDER.

AND I'M TRYING TO
GET HIM TO BE STILL.

THERE YOU GO.

THESE ARE LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN
A SCORPION AND A SPIDER.

THEY CAN GROW ACTUALLY
UP TO ABOUT 6 INCHES LONG.

THEY'RE PRETTY
AGGRESSIVE BRUTES,

AND SOLDIERS IN THE DESERT

ARE KNOWN TO BE
QUITE AFRAID OF THESE.

YOU SEE WHAT HE'S CHASING?

IT LOOKS LIKE
HE'S CHASING ME,

BUT IT'S MY SHADOW HE'S AFTER.

EVEN HE WANTS TO
ESCAPE THE BURNING SUN.

AND THESE GUYS
CAN MOVE PRETTY FAST,

ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR.

AND THAT'S FASTER

THAN I CAN WALK UPHILL
IN THE SAND DUNE.

OKAY. HERE WE GO.

HE'S EDIBLE,

AND HE DOESN'T LOOK VERY NICE.

BUT THE DANGEROUS BIT OF HIM --

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE IT,
BUT IT'S HOLDING DOWN THERE --

ARE THOSE PINCERS.

THAT CAN GIVE A NASTY NIP.

HE'S JUST TRYING TO --
HE'S TRYING TO EVEN BITE THIS.

BUT THE REST OF HIM,
IF I CAN GET RID OF THAT,

IS EDIBLE.

COME HERE.

AND THAT WAS THE NASTY BIT,
HIS FRONT LEGS AND THE PINCERS,

AND THEN ALL OF THIS...

[ BLOWS ]

...IS EDIBLE.

AND ACTUALLY --
GOD, LOOK AT THAT.

THAT'S JUST SOFT GOO.

AND GOD KNOWS
WHAT'S INSIDE THAT.

I'M NOT PARTICULARLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO EATING THIS ONE,

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD BIT
OF PROTEIN AND ENERGY.

OHH.

LIKE AN EXPLOSION OF PUS
IN MY MOUTH.

PRETTY GROSS,
BUT IT WILL KEEP YOU GOING,

AND BECAUSE HE'S JUST A MORSEL,

HE'S MORE OF A LIFESAVER
THAN YOU MIGHT THINK.

EAT LITTLE AND OFTEN,
AND YOU'LL BE FINE.

EAT TOO MUCH, AND YOUR
DIGESTION BURNS UP WATER,

MAKING YOU EVEN MORE VULNERABLE
TO DEHYDRATION.

IT CAN COME ON IN JUST HOURS,
AND IT'S A KILLER.

I'VE ONLY GOT ABOUT A LITER
OF WATER IN THIS BOTTLE.

BUT REALLY IN THIS HEAT,
I NEED TO BE DRINKING

A MINIMUM OF A LITER
OF WATER EVERY HOUR.

BUT ONE WAY I CAN MAKE
THIS WATER LAST LONGER

IS JUST TO KEEP IT IN MY MOUTH,

AND THEREFORE KEEP MY MOUTH
AND MY THROAT MOIST.

IT'S A SIMPLE SURVIVAL TRICK

BUT ONE THAT WILL
BUY YOU A FEW EXTRA HOURS,

WHICH IS CRUCIAL IF YOU'RE
GONNA STAY ALIVE OUT HERE.

YOU CAN LAST FOR
UP TO THREE WEEKS WITHOUT FOOD,

BUT WITHOUT WATER
IN THE DESERT,

YOU'LL BE LUCKY
TO LIVE BEYOND 24 HOURS.

IT'S VITAL TO FIND
A SOURCE OF FRESH WATER.

YOU HAVE TO GET
AS HIGH AS YOU CAN

TO SPOT ANY CLUES
OF WHERE YOU MIGHT FIND SOME.

IT'S JUST...

HORRIBLE TO CLIMB.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

IT'S LIKE TRYING TO CLIMB
A MOUNTAIN OF TREACLE.

YOU KNOW,
YOU TAKE ONE STEP FORWARD,

AND THEN YOU SLIDE BACK TWO.

AHH.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

YOU SEE THAT ON THE HORIZON?
IT LOOKS LIKE SOME TREETOPS.

SO THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING TO GO.

YOU NEED TO BE QUICK
BEFORE THE WIND PICKS UP.

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE,
THIS HARSH HEAT

CAN TURN INTO A VICIOUS,
BLINDING SANDSTORM.

THERE ARE TWO WAYS DOWN THIS.

THERE'S A SLOW, PLODDING WAY
THAT'S GOING TO TAKE FOREVER,

OR THERE'S A FAST WAY.

WHEN IT'S THIS WINDY UP HERE,
I JUST WANT TO BE DOWN.

LEAN BACK AND TAKE BIG STRIDES.

WELL, THAT TOOK ABOUT
45 MINUTES TO CLIMB UP,

DOWN IN ABOUT 5 SECONDS.

GOOD. ON MY WAY.

THE SAHARAN WINDS
SCULPT THE SAND DUNES

INTO THEIR DISTINCTIVE SHAPES,

AND YOU CAN USE THEM TO WORK
OUT WHICH DIRECTION TO HEAD IN.

WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT
THE PREVAILING WIND

COMES FROM THE NORTHEAST,
FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN,

AND IT BLOWS THE WINDWARD SIDE
OF ALL OF THESE DUNES

INTO LONG, SHALLOW SLOPES.

AND THEN ON THE LEEWARD SIDE,
IT'S SHORTER, SHARPER, STEEPER.

SO I CAN TELL
NORTHEAST IS OVER THERE,

WHICH MEANS
NORTHWEST IS THAT WAY.

THAT'S THE DIRECTION YOU TRAVEL
TOWARDS THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS.

BUT DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO
BE ABLE TO WALK THAT FAR.

YOU NEED TO FIND WAYS
OF JUST STAYING ALIVE

AND HOPE THAT
SOMEONE RESCUES YOU.

IN QUITE A PRECARIOUS POSITION
UP HERE.

Grylls: I'M IN THE SAHARA DESERT
IN NORTH AFRICA.

YOUR CHANCES OF WALKING
OUT OF HERE ARE SLIM.

THE BATTLE
IS JUST TO STAY ALIVE,

AND IF YOU REACH
ONE OF THESE PALM TREES,

IT COULD BE A LIFESAVER.

FOOD, WATER,
AND ABOVE ALL, SHELTER.

ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST ENEMIES
IN THE DESERT

COULD BE HEAT STROKE,

AND IT CAN COME ON SO FAST --

LITERALLY IN LIKE
JUST OVER AN HOUR.

AND I'VE SEEN
SOLDIERS GET IT BEFORE,

AND THEY'RE JUST
COMPLETELY INCAPACITATED.

BUT THE FIRST SIGNS OF IT,

ARE HAVING A HEADACHE
AND JUST BEING REALLY FATIGUED.

AND IF YOU DON'T FIND YOURSELF
A SHADY SPOT SOON,

THAT'S GOING TO GET WORSE,

YOU'RE GONNA STOP SWEATING

AS YOUR BODY
TRIES TO CONSERVE FLUIDS,

AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA GET DIZZY.

AND IF YOU DON'T GET TREATMENT,
YOU CAN DIE.

AND ALREADY WE'VE HAD ONE
OF OUR CREW GET HEAT STROKE.

HE'S HAD TO BE EVACUATED.

AND REALLY, THIS DESERT
IS PROVING, IN MANY WAYS,

ONE OF MY
TOUGHEST ASSIGNMENTS YET.

IN THIS SORT OF HEAT,

YOU CAN LOSE NEARLY
A LITER OF WATER AN HOUR,

AND YOU WOULDN'T EVEN NOTICE.

IF YOU DON'T DRINK,
YOU WON'T HAVE A HOPE.

YOU NEED WATER WHENEVER
AND WHEREVER YOU CAN GET IT.

I KIND OF THOUGHT
FROM A DISTANCE

THAT MAYBE THERE'D BE AN OASIS
OR SOMETHING HERE.

BUT THERE'S NOT.

BUT THE MOROCCANS DO SAY
ABOUT THESE DATE PALMS,

THAT THEY HAVE
THEIR HEADS IN FIRE

AND THEIR FEET OFTEN IN WATER.

SO I DON'T KNOW
IF IT MIGHT BE WORTH

TRYING TO DIG DOWN A BIT HERE.

THE ONLY RISK OF DOING THIS

IS YOU END UP JUST SWEATING MORE

AND LOSING MORE VALUABLE FLUIDS.

LOOK, IT'S JUST
ALL BONE-DRY DOWN HERE.

BUT NEVER GIVE UP.

BONE-DRY.

JUST A DROP OF WATER
IS BETTER THAN NOTHING,

AND AN OLD ARMY TECHNIQUE I
USED MIGHT DO THE TRICK --

A DEW TRAP.

SCRAPE A HOLE
ABOUT 1 1/2 FEET DEEP

AND LINE IT
WITH A FEW PALM LEAVES.

THE NEXT THING I'LL DO IS,
PUT ROCKS IN ON TOP OF THESE.

AND IT'S THESE THAT ARE GONNA
ACTUALLY COLLECT THE MOISTURE.

AND THE WAY IT WORKS IS AS THESE
ROCKS COOL DOWN OVERNIGHT

AND THEN THE SUN COMES UP,

YOU GET A CONTRAST BETWEEN
HEAT OUTSIDE AND THE COOL ROCKS,

AND THAT CAUSES CONDENSATION.

TO FINISH THE TRAP,
ADD MORE LEAVES ON TOP.

WHAT LITTLE WATER
THERE IS IN THE PARCHED AIR

WON'T EVAPORATE,

AND OVERNIGHT THE STONES SHOULD
COLLECT A FEW PRECIOUS DROPS.

THAT SHOULD DO.

ROCKS ARE DANGEROUS, THOUGH.

THEY'RE GREAT HIDING PLACES
FOR DEADLY SCORPIONS.

AH. HERE'S ONE.

THIS IS ACTUALLY
A FATTAIL SCORPION,

AND THESE ARE ONE OF
THE MOST POISONOUS SCORPIONS

IN THE WORLD.

LOOK AT THIS.
IF I PUT THAT THERE --

IT'S TRYING TO STRIKE AT IT.

AND ACTUALLY THIS HAS
ENOUGH VENOM TO KILL A MAN.

IF I WAS STUNG
BY ONE OF THESE SCORPIONS

AND I DIDN'T GET ANY HELP,

I COULD BE DEAD
WITHIN SIX HOURS.

THE VENOM ATTACKS
YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM,

WHICH MEANS CONVULSIONS
AND ULTIMATELY HEART FAILURE.

AT LEAST 100 PEOPLE
DIE EVERY YEAR IN MOROCCO

FROM SCORPION STINGS.

AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY EAT THESE.

EVEN THOUGH
THEY'RE SUPER, SUPER DEADLY,

YOU CAN EAT THEM.

BUT THE FIRST BIT
I WANT TO GET RID OF...

IS HIS STINGER.

AND LOOK.
STRIKE, STRIKE, STRIKE.

I'LL HOLD HIM DOWN,
TAKE HIS HEAD OFF,

AND THEN YOU CAN EAT THIS BIT.

[ SPITS ]
GOD.

PEOPLE OFTEN THINK
IF YOU GET BITTEN BY A SCORPION

OR A SNAKEBITE,

THAT YOU SHOULD CUT THE WOUND

AND THEN TRY
AND SUCK THE POISON OUT.

BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY ONE
OF THE WORST THINGS YOU CAN DO.

WHAT IT DOES IS THEN CREATE
AN OPEN WOUND

FOR THE VENOM TO GO INTO.

NOW, YOU'RE MUCH BETTER OFF
JUST STAYING CALM IN THE SHADE,

KEEP THE WOUND CLEAN,
AND IF POSSIBLE,

TRY AND APPLY A LITTLE BIT
OF PRESSURE ABOVE THE WOUND

TO SLOW THE RELEASE OF THE VENOM
TOWARDS YOUR VITAL ORGANS.

AH, BUT THE NOMADS
HAVE A REALLY GOOD WAY

OF GETTING RID
OF SCORPION STINGS.

AND WHAT THEY'LL DO,
THEY'LL TAKE THE WOUND,

AND THEY'LL PUT IT INSIDE
THE STOMACH OF A DYING DOG,

AND THEN THE ACID
FROM THE STOMACH

WOULD DRAW OUT THE ALKALI
FROM THE STING.

COOL WAY OF DOING IT.

I SPOTTED SOME DATES
IN THE TOP OF THIS PALM TREE,

RIGHT OVERTOP.

AND THOSE WOULD BE
REALLY GOOD ENERGY,

IF I CAN JUST GET TO THEM.

HEY, LET ME GRAB THAT CAMERA.

IF YOU'VE GONE HOURS
WITHOUT FLUIDS,

YOU'VE GOT TO GET
SOMETHING TO REPLACE THEM FAST.

THERE ARE DATES
AT THE TOP OF THIS PALM TREE

WHICH SHOULD DO THE TRICK.

HOPEFULLY I'LL GET
MYSELF SOME SUPPER.

IT'S ABOUT 30 FOOT TALL,
BUT I RECKON I CAN SHIM UP IT.

BUT WATCH OUT FOR LOOSE BARK.
IT CAN CUT YOU TO RIBBONS.

LOOK -- THIS IS THE STUFF.

YOU GOT TO KEEP YOUR FEET
PRESSED INTO IT LIKE THAT

AND NOT PUT ALL YOUR WEIGHT
ON ONE OF THEM.

IT'S HARD WORK ON THE ARMS.

[ BREATHING DEEPLY ]

OKAY, I'M JUST
GOING TO CUT THESE DOWN.

I'M IN QUITE A PRECARIOUS
POSITION UP HERE.

MY ARMS HAVE BEEN
RUBBED RAW BY THIS BARK.

BUT I FOUND A GOOD NUMBER
OF THESE DATES.

AND THEY DON'T LOOK VERY RIPE,

BUT ACTUALLY DATES
ARE THE BEST DESERT FOOD.

MASSIVE SUGAR, LOTS OF ENERGY,
VITAMIN C,

BUT ALSO LOTS OF MINERALS

TO REPLACE THE SALTS
THAT I'M LOSING

WHILE SWEATING HERE.

SO I'LL TRY IT.

UGH, REALLY, REALLY BITTER.

BUT I WANT TO EAT
AS MANY OF THESE AS I CAN.

OH.

OW.

CUT MYSELF.

AND FOR ONCE,
THE DESERT'S ON YOUR SIDE.

THE HEAT CAN HELP
TO HEAL ANY WOUNDS.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO
MAKE CAMP HERE,

THE FIRST THING
YOU NEED TO DO

IS FIND YOURSELF SOMETHING
TO INSULATE YOURSELF.

OW.

THE HEAT'S
ATTACKED YOU ALL DAY,

BUT JUST WHEN YOU COULD DO
WITH IT AT NIGHT,

THE DESERT HAS OTHER PLANS.

A MATTRESS OF WOVEN PALM FRONDS
SHOULD HELP YOU SURVIVE.

SAND IS A NOTORIOUSLY
BAD INSULATOR.

IT'LL TAKE A LOT
OF YOUR HEAT AWAY.

SO THAT WOULD JUST
KEEP YOU OFF THE SAND.

TEMPERATURES CAN PLUMMET
TO FREEZING AT NIGHT,

SO IF YOU WERE TO SLEEP OUT,
YOU NEED A FIRE.

THERE'S NO SHORTAGE
OF DRY WOOD,

AND IT'S WORTH TRYING
A FRICTION FIRE LIGHT.

AND ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS
BREAK IT LIKE HERE.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE MY BASE.

AND THEN OUT OF THIS.
JUST MAKE LIKE A SPINDLE.

SMOOTH OFF THE SPINDLE,
NICK A HOLE AT THE BASE,

AND START SPINNING THE STICK
TO TRY AND GET AN EMBER.

THE KEY WITH THIS IS NOT
RUSHING THE EARLY STAGES OF IT.

JUST TAKE YOUR TIME,
AND YOU WANT TO DO

AT LEAST A MINUTE,
MAYBE TWO MINUTES,

AND JUST STEADILY
BUILDING UP THE HEAT

AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS SPINDLE.

AND THEN YOU NEED TO REALLY
GO FOR IT TO GET IT GOING.

LET'S SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE.

AH! YOU DOG!

AH. IT'S GONE OUT.

ALL THAT EFFORT,

AND THIS TIME IT HASN'T WORKED.

AND, YOU KNOW, IN MANY WAYS,

I NEED TO CONSERVE MY ENERGY.

IT'S NO GOOD JUST SITTING HERE
POURING OF SWEAT

GOING THROUGH THAT AGAIN.

THIS TIME I WAS GONNA
TRY THE FLINT

AND HOPE THAT MAKES IT WORK.

AND IF YOU WERE TO SPEND
THE NIGHT OUT HERE,

THIS WOULD BE
REALLY A GREAT CAMP.

AND YOU'VE GOT A BIT OF BEDDING,

THE SUN SETTING,
AND YOU'VE GOT NATURE'S TV.

BUT NEVER FORGET,
THE FORBIDDING SAHARA

IS ALSO HOME
TO SOME OF THE WORLD'S

DEADLIEST CREATURES.

COME IN VERY GENTLY.

WE'VE GOT A COBRA.

Grylls: I'M IN THE SAHARA DESERT
IN NORTH AFRICA,

SHOWING HOW TO STAY ALIVE
IN THE HOTTEST PLACE ON EARTH.

IF YOU KEEP CALM
AND USE SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES,

YOU CAN MAKE IT THROUGH
THIS RELENTLESS HEAT

AND MAXIMIZE YOUR CHANCES
OF BEING RESCUED.

ONE OF THE BEST WAYS
OF AVOIDING

THE REAL KILLER HEAT OF THE DAY

IS TO GET UP EARLY
AND GET MOVING

BEFORE THE SUN GETS TOO STRONG.

OUT HERE, EVEN BY 9:00 A.M.,

IT IT CAN BE OVER 120 DEGREES.

AND ALSO,
WHEN YOU'RE GETTING DRESSED,

CHECK ALL YOUR CLOTHES
AND ALSO YOUR BOOTS

FOR SCORPIONS.

WHEN THE SUN COMES UP,

THEY SEEK SHADY,
HIDDEN-AWAY, DARK PLACES.

THEY'RE NOCTURNAL, AND A PAIR
OF SHOES IS IDEAL FOR THEM.

WATER IS ALWAYS
YOUR MAIN PRIORITY,

SO I NEED TO CHECK MY DEW TRAP
TO SEE IF I'VE GOT ANY.

JUST A DROP WILL HELP.

WHAT I'M HOPING HERE IS THAT
BECAUSE THIS STUFF IS HEATED UP,

THAT THE ROCKS UNDERNEATH
SHOULD HAVE STAYED COOL.

AND THEN THAT CONTRAST

SHOULD GIVE A LITTLE BIT
OF CONDENSATION.

AND YOU CAN SEE.

IT'S NOT MUCH,

BUT IT'S BETTER
THAN NOTHING.

[ SLURPING ]

IF YOU'VE HAD A CAMPFIRE,

USE THE CHARCOAL TO PROTECT
YOUR EYES FROM THE SUN.

IT REDUCES THE GLARE

AND STOPS YOUR CORNEAS
FROM FRYING.

AND THIS IS WHY
YOU'LL OFTEN SEE

SPORTSMEN WITH THESE STREAKS
OF BLACK ACROSS THEIR NOSE.

COVER AS MUCH AS YOU CAN,
ESPECIALLY YOUR HEAD.

THE LAST THING YOU NEED
IS HEAT STROKE.

COME ON. ALMOST THERE.

THE SAHARA HAS TO BE THE
EMPTIEST LARDER IN THE WORLD,

BUT RESIST THE TEMPTATION
TO SATISFY YOUR HUNGER

WITH JUST ANYTHING,
LIKE THE DESERT GOURD.

THEY LOOK LIKE REALLY
DELICIOUS WATERMELON,

BUT THEY'RE NOT.

WELL, LET'S CUT THIS OPEN.

IF YOU TRIED TO EAT THIS,

IT WOULD BE REALLY BITTER
AND MAKE YOU SICK.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO
DEHYDRATE YOU FURTHER.

BUT WHAT THEY DO HAVE

IS GOOD ANTISEPTIC AND
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES,

SO IF YOU GOT, LIKE,
BITTEN BY A SNAKE

OR STUNG BY A SCORPION,

YOU COULD PUT THIS ON IT,
AND IT WOULD HELP.

AND ACTUALLY,
THE LOCAL NOMADS OUT HERE,

THEY'LL USE THIS,
WIPE THEIR BACKSIDE WITH IT

AND HELP THEIR HEMORRHOIDS.

BUT I DON'T NEED THAT.

WHERE SOME PLANTS
MIGHT MAKE YOU SICK,

YOU'VE GOT TO
KNOW WHERE TO LOOK

TO FIND SOMETHING SAFE TO EAT.

BETWEEN US,
THE CREW HAVE MANAGED

TO CATCH ONE OF THESE
LITTLE SAND FISHES.

AND THESE ARE LIKE
LITTLE LIZARDS,

BUT WHAT'S AMAZING
ABOUT THIS GUY

IS THAT HE USES
HIS ARMS AND LEGS

TO ACTUALLY SWIM UNDER THE SAND.

AND IF I LET HIM GO,
IF I'M IN DEEP SAND,

HE WOULD JUST SHOOT AWAY
STRAIGHT INTO THE SAND

AND BURROW LIKE A METER DEEP,

AND THAT'S HIS WAY
OF GETTING AWAY FROM PREDATORS.

BUT LET'S LET HIM GO HERE
AND SEE WHAT HE DOES.

THIS SAND IS HOPEFULLY
NOT TOO DEEP,

SO HE SHOULD PROBABLY
HEAD FOR THE DEEPER SAND.

BUT THEY'RE FAST.

LOOK, YOU CAN SEE HIM ALREADY
BURROWING HIS WAY IN HERE.

SEE THAT? AMAZING.

OH, THERE HE IS.

GOT HIM AGAIN.

THAT'S HOW FAST
THIS LITTLE FELLOW IS.

HE JUST DISAPPEARS
INTO THE SAND.

BUT ACTUALLY
HE'S ALSO GOOD FOOD.

I'LL JUST GET
RID OF THE HEAD --

PERSONALLY
I FIND THEM OVERRATED --

BUT THE REST OF THE BODY
LOOKS DELICIOUS.

[ CRUNCHING ]

OH, IT'S LIKE A BIG MIX...

OF BLOOD, GUTS, AND SCALES.

AH.

[ GROANS ]

BETTER THAN NOTHING.

A PICK-ME-UP IN THE BAKING HELL
OF THE DESERT.

THE SUN IS NOW
AT ITS HIGHEST AND HOTTEST,

AND IT'S A HEARTLESS ENEMY.

REALLY, THE HEAT OUT HERE
IS JUST RELENTLESS.

AND WE'VE JUST HAD TO EVACUATE
ANOTHER OF THE CREW

WITH HEAT STROKE,

AND IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE
THEY'RE DROPPING LIKE FLIES.

BUT REALLY,
IT'S LIKE TRYING TO LIVE

AND SURVIVE ALL DAY AND NIGHT

INSIDE A VERY HOT OVEN.

FINDING SHADE FOR ME
AND THE CREW IS CRITICAL,

BUT THE DESERT IS ALWAYS FULL
OF DEADLY SURPRISES.

WE'VE GOT A COBRA.

COME IN VERY GENTLY.

OF THE FOUR KINDS OF SNAKES
IN THE SAHARA,

THE EGYPTIAN COBRA
IS ONE OF THE MOST VENOMOUS.

THIS ONE'S BEEN BROUGHT
HERE FROM NEARBY

FOR ME TO SHOW YOU
HOW TO STAY SAFE.

THE FIRST THING
YOU'VE GOT TO DO

IS JUST KEEP ABSOLUTELY STILL.

[ HISSING ]

THIS ONE'S
AROUND FOUR FOOT LONG,

AND IF YOU DIDN'T STAY STILL,
THIS IS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.

IT CAN STRIKE UP TO HALF HIS
BODY LENGTH IN UNDER A SECOND.

[ HISSING ]

THERE YOU GO, SEE THAT HOOD
COMING RIGHT OUT?

AND THESE GUYS MOVE SO FAST.

THEY KILL ALMOST 100 PEOPLE
A YEAR IN AFRICA.

THERE YOU GO.
SEE HIM STRIKE THAT?

ALWAYS BACK OFF SLOWLY,

AND NEVER CORNER A COBRA,

BUT GIVE IT ROOM
TO MAKE A GETAWAY.

THAT'S WHY I WANT TO GIVE
THIS GUY A REALLY GOOD BERTH NOW

AND LEAVE HIM ALONE.

COME ACROSS THIS
IN THE NIGHT, THOUGH,

AND IT COULD BE ALL OVER
FOR SOMEONE.

BUT IT'S THE MERCILESS HEAT
OUT HERE

THAT IS ALWAYS
THE MAJOR KILLER.

AND THE SAHARA STILL
HAS PLENTY TO THROW AT YOU

IN YOUR STRUGGLE TO STAY ALIVE.

THE MORE
YOU FIGHT THIS THING,

THE MORE IT'S GOING TO
PULL YOU IN.

Grylls: I'M IN THE SAHARA DESERT
IN NORTH AFRICA.

THE HEAT'S A KILLER,
THERE'S HARDLY ANYTHING TO EAT,

AND THERE'S BARELY A DROP OF
WATER TO HELP YOU STAY ALIVE.

AND RIGHT NOW I'M SEARCHING
FOR SHADE, ANY SHADE.

SEE THAT LITTLE TREE OVER THERE?

WE'VE GOT TO GO THERE.
THIS HEAT IS JUST KILLING.

WE'VE GOT TO FIND SHADE.

AHH, THIS SHADE
REALLY IS A LIFESAVER.

THAT SUN IS SO STRONG...

SO STRONG.

CAN ALREADY FEEL
IT'S COOLER, MUCH COOLER.

IT'S WEIRD,
JUST THIS ONE TREE GROWING

IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS DESERT
OF JUST DUNES AND DUNES.

I DON'T KNOW HOW
THIS THING EVEN SURVIVES.

THIS TAMARISK TREE IS PERFECTLY
ADAPTED TO THE DESERT.

ITS ROOTS BURROW DOWN
AS DEEP AS 50 FEET --

WAY, WAY TOO FAR
TO BE ABLE TO DIG FOR WATER.

BUT AT LEAST THE LEAVES
PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING SHADE.

ONE THING I CAN DO TO COOL
MYSELF DOWN EVEN MORE

IS JUST DIG DOWN INTO THE SAND

AND MAKE A TRENCH TO LIE IN.

ACTUALLY IF YOU JUST DIG DOWN
JUST LITERALLY HALF A FOOT,

IT CAN BE UP
TO 60 DEGREES COOLER.

SO IT'S WORTH A LITTLE BIT OF
EFFORT JUST TO TRY AND GET DOWN.

NEED TO GET MYSELF
SOMETHING TO DIG WITH.

SUDDENLY THERE'S
A REAL DIFFERENCE

IN THE TEMPERATURE OF THE SAND.

THIS STUFF IS ROASTING.

THIS IS COOLER.

BUT THIS
IS SIGNIFICANTLY COOLER.

GET DOWN A BIT MORE.

SO I CAN ACTUALLY GET IN IT.

OH. HEAVEN.

WHEW!

AVOID MOVING IN THE HOTTEST
PART OF THE DAY,

A FEW HOURS
EITHER SIDE OF NOON.

IF YOU TRAVEL
ONLY AT DAWN AND DUSK,

YOU'LL PROBABLY SURVIVE
FOR A DAY LONGER,

EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE WATER.

WHAT WATER THERE IS,

IS OFTEN OUT OF YOUR REACH,
DEEP UNDERGROUND.

BUT SOMETIMES TINY DESERT
SPRINGS BUBBLE TO THE SURFACE.

BUT DON'T BE FOOLED.

THIS COULD BE LETHAL QUICKSAND.

IT'S BEEN KNOWN TO SWALLOW
PEOPLE AND VEHICLES WHOLE.

WE'VE SET THIS UP

SO I CAN SHOW YOU
HOW TO GET OUT OF IT ALIVE.

AND WHAT'S NASTY
ABOUT THIS STUFF IS,

THE MORE YOU FIGHT IT,
THE MORE IT PULLS YOU IN.

AND THEN YOU SUDDENLY REALIZE

IT'S NOT JUST THIS CRUST OF SAND
THAT YOU THOUGHT,

BUT ACTUALLY IT'S ALL
THAT CLAY AND WATER.

AND EACH TIME YOU TRY
AND PULL YOUR LEG UP,

THE SUCTION
JUST PULLS IT BACK IN.

THAT IS WHY THESE THINGS
ARE SO DANGEROUS.

AND THE REASON THESE CAN
ACTUALLY KILL PEOPLE

IS NOT BECAUSE THEY SWALLOW YOU.

IT'S BECAUSE THEY JUST
DON'T LET YOU OUT OF IT.

AND THE KILLER IS THAT, THE SUN.

OKAY, I WANT TO TRY
AND GET OUT OF THIS PLACE NOW.

THE QUICKSAND IS TWICE
AS DENSE AS YOUR BODY,

SO IN THEORY, IT SHOULD
BE IMPOSSIBLE TO DROWN.

BUT IF YOU PANIC,
YOU JUST GET SUCKED IN FURTHER

AND YOU WON'T HAVE
A HOPE OF GETTING OUT.

IT'S REALLY TEMPTING JUST
TO REACH OUT AND GRAB A HAND.

BUT ACTUALLY, IN MANY WAYS,

THAT'S THE LAST THING
YOU WANT TO DO.

THE DANGER IS YOU THEN
PULL SOMEBODY ELSE

INTO THE SAME SITUATION
YOU'RE IN.

OR YOU COULD
DISLOCATE YOUR SHOULDER.

BUT GETTING OUT OF HERE
IS A BATTLE.

ONLY LAST YEAR,
TWO YOUNG TEENAGERS

WERE OUT LOOKING FOR FOOD
ON THE BOTTOM OF A MUDDY LAKE,

AND BOTH DIED IN QUICKSAND.

SO, THE WAY TO GET OUT
OF THIS IS TO TRY...

AND PULL YOUR LEGS UP...

TOWARDS THE SURFACE.

REALLY, THE NUMBER-ONE RULE
IS KEEP CALM.

DON'T FIGHT IT.

THE MORE YOU FIGHT THIS THING,

THE MORE IT'S GOING TO
PULL YOU IN.

SO JUST TRY
AND CONTROL YOUR BREATHING...

AND TRY AND MANEUVER YOUR CHEST
ONTO THE SURFACE.

I'LL TRY AND GET A LEG OUT.

AND THEN JUST
MONKEY-CRAWL YOUR WAY OUT.

[ GROANS ]

GOD, IT FEELS LIKE
I'VE GOT LEAD BOOTS ON.

THE FIRST THING YOU'VE GOT TO DO

IS GET THESE MUDDY CLOTHES OFF.

IF YOU TRY
WALKING FAR LIKE THIS,

YOU'RE JUST GOING TO GET

MASSIVE RUBBING
ALL THE WAY UNDER YOUR ARMPITS

AND INSIDE YOUR LEGS,

AND YOU'LL BE RUBBED RED RAW
IN HALF AN HOUR.

JUST STRIP OFF

AND TRY AND GET AS MUCH
OF THE GRIT OFF YOU AS YOU CAN.

IF YOU DON'T, THE GRIT
IN YOUR ARMPITS AND GROIN

WILL MAKE YOUR SKIN ERUPT

INTO HORRIBLE INFECTIONS
AND BOILS.

AND IF SAND
CLOGS UP YOUR SWEAT GLANDS,

YOU COULD END UP WITH
PAINFUL, PRICKLY HEAT RASH,

WHICH IS UNBEARABLY ITCHY.

NEVER GIVE YOURSELF ANY
MORE TROUBLE THAN YOU NEED.

ONCE YOU'VE GOT
MOST OF THE GRIT OUT,

QUICKLY GET
YOUR CLOTHES BACK ON

SO THE SUN
DOESN'T SEAR YOUR FLESH.

TO STAY ALIVE IN THE DESERT,

YOU CAN COVER MORE GROUND
IF YOU TRAVEL AT NIGHT,

BUT THERE ARE HIDDEN DANGERS.

THIS PLACE IS IDEAL FOR
SCORPIONS AND FOR SNAKES.

Grylls: I'M IN THE SAHARA DESERT
IN NORTH AFRICA,

IN ONE OF THE MOST EXTREME
ENVIRONMENTS ON EARTH,

ACROSS VAST SAND DUNES
WHICH CAN BE 10 TIMES

THE HEIGHT
OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.

NOW I'M IN THE ROCKY DESERT
KNOWN AS HAMADA.

IT'S MILE AFTER MILE
OF DESOLATION

SPANNING A FIFTH OF THE SAHARA,

AND IT'S A PLAYGROUND
OF DEADLY CREATURES.

I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU
HOW TO STAY ALIVE.

WE GOT QUITE A LOT
OF THESE ACACIA TREES

DOTTED THROUGHOUT THE SAHARA.

AND I CAN TELL
IT'S ACACIA JUST BY --

LOOK AT THE BRANCH HERE.

YOU'VE GOT THESE
VERY THORNY BRANCHES.

THIS IS REALLY
CLASSIC AFRICAN TREE.

BUT WHAT I WANT FROM THIS TREE
IS THE GUM ON IT.

LET'S BREAK THIS OFF.

THIS IS ACACIA GUM,

AND THEY USE THIS ACTUALLY
AS A BASE

IN SYRUPS AND CANDIES
AND CHEWING GUM.

WHAT I CAN DO IS
JUST POP IT IN MY MOUTH,

AND IT WILL GIVE ME
SOMETHING TO SUCK

AND GET THE SALIVA GOING.

MY MOUTH IS DRY, DRY.

THE ACACIAS ARE A GOOD
INDICATOR THAT YOU'RE CLOSER

TO THE FOOTHILLS
OF THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS,

AND THEY'RE
YOUR ONLY WAY OUT OF HERE,

IF YOU CAN MAKE IT THAT FAR.

NOW THE HEAT OF THE DAY
IS DYING.

THIS IS A MUCH BETTER TIME

FOR YOU TO BE MOVING
THROUGH THE DESERT.

AND ALL OF THIS AREA HERE
IS CALLED HAMADA,

WHICH MEANS THERE'S DESERT
LITTERED WITH THESE,

LIKE, FIST-SIZE,
TENNIS-BALL-SIZE ROCKS.

BUT THE DANGER OF MOVING
THROUGH HERE AT THIS TIME OF DAY

IS THAT THIS PLACE
IS IDEAL HIDING

FOR SCORPIONS AND FOR SNAKES.

IF YOU CAN CONQUER YOUR FEARS

OF WHAT MIGHT
BE LURKING OUT THERE,

WALKING AT NIGHT
MORE THAN DOUBLES YOUR CHANCES

OF SURVIVAL IN ANY DESERT.

BUT YOU'LL FEEL
MORE ISOLATED THAN EVER

IN THE SILENCE OF THE DARK.

GOOD THING
ABOUT MOVING AT NIGHTTIME

IS AT LEAST
IT'S GOING TO KEEP YOU WARM.

AND ON THE WHOLE,
THE PROS OF MOVING AT NIGHT

OUTWEIGH THE CONS, I RECKON.

YES, THERE ARE
GONNA BE MORE SNAKES,

ESPECIALLY IN THIS HAMADA AREA,

BUT AT LEAST YOU DON'T GET
THAT SCORCHING HEAT OF THE DAY.

WALK WITH A HEAVY FOOTFALL

SO THAT VIBRATIONS
LET ANY SNAKES KNOW

THAT YOU'RE AROUND.

HOPEFULLY
THEY'LL GET OUT OF YOUR WAY.

THE BEST WAY OF NAVIGATING
AT NIGHT IN THE DESERT

IS JUST TO USE THE STARS.

AND IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE,

THE MOST RELIABLE ONE TO USE
IS THE NORTH STAR.

BUT THE WAY
TO FIND THE NORTH STAR

IS TO USE
THE BIG DIPPER, OR THE PLOW.

AND WHAT YOU DO,
YOU TAKE THE START OF IT,

FOLLOW THE HANDLE
AROUND DOWN TO THE BOTTOM,

AND THEN YOU TAKE THE LAST TWO,

AND THE DISTANCE
BETWEEN THE LAST TWO,

YOU MULTIPLY IT FOUR TIMES --

ONE, TWO, THREE, AND FOUR.

POINTS DIRECTLY
AT THE NORTH STAR.

THERE'S A RUNNING RACE
THAT GOES THROUGH THE SAHARA

CALLED THE MARATHON DES SABLES.

IT'S ONE OF THE TOUGHEST
FOOT RACES ON EARTH.

THERE'S A STORY OF ONE GUY
WHO GOT LOST IN A SANDSTORM.

HE WAS OUT ON HIS OWN
FOR NINE DAYS.

HE STAYED ALIVE
BY DRINKING BAT'S BLOOD.

BUT EVENTUALLY, IN DESPERATION,

HE TRIED TO END HIS LIFE
BY SLITTING HIS WRISTS.

BUT HE WAS SO DEHYDRATED,
HIS BLOOD WAS SO CONGEALED,

IT WOULDN'T EVEN RUN OUT OF HIM.

HE WAS EVENTUALLY
RESCUED BY DESERT NOMADS,

AND IT WAS THEM
THAT SAVED HIS LIFE.

NIGHT TEMPERATURES
DROP TO FREEZING,

SO IF YOU NEED
SHELTER AND WARMTH,

DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE
IT'S TOO COLD OR TOO DARK.

WHAT YOU CAN USE IS JUST
WHAT NATURE'S PROVIDED.

ALL OF THESE ROCKS.

AND ALL OF THESE
HAVE BEEN BAKED BOILING HOT

BY THE SUN DURING THE DAY.

THEY'RE REALLY GOOD INSULATORS,

AND THEY'RE GONNA
HOLD THEIR HEAT WELL.

SO YOU JUST NEED TO
LOOK FOR A GOOD AREA

TO BUILD A BIT OF
A ROCK WALL AROUND YOU.

TRY AND MOVE SOME OF THESE.

IDEALLY, YOU SHOULD
DO THIS IN DAYLIGHT

SO YOU CAN SEE ANY SCORPIONS

WHICH LOVE
THIS TYPE OF TERRAIN.

AND JUST AS AN EMERGENCY
FORM OF SHELTER,

THE BERBERS WILL
USE THIS AS WELL.

IT'S JUST A WAY OF KEEPING THEM
WARM THROUGH THE NIGHT

IF THEY'RE CAUGHT OUT.

THE BLACK ROCKS OF THE HAMADA
GET HOTTER THAN THE SAND

DURING THE DAY,

AND THEY RETAIN THEIR HEAT.

NATURE'S OWN RADIATOR AND
PERFECT IF YOU NEED TO REST.

IT'S PRETTY BASIC,
BUT IT SHOULD DO.

AND IF I WIGGLE MY WAY
INTO THIS...

...CAREFULLY, WITHOUT
DISLODGING EVERYTHING...

...I CAN ACTUALLY ALREADY
FEEL THE WARMTH OF THAT.

AND I'M SHELTERED
FROM THE WIND BEHIND ME

IF I NESTLE DOWN INTO THAT.

THERE'S HEAT RADIATING
OFF ALL OF THESE ROCKS.

AND IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE
THE BEST NIGHT YOU'D EVER SPEND,

BUT IT COULD WELL SAVE YOUR LIFE

IF YOU'RE CAUGHT OUT
IN THIS HAMADA.

OKAY, I'M GOING TO KEEP WALKING.

WE'LL LEAVE THAT.

YOU NEVER KNOW --
SOMEBODY ONE DAY MIGHT USE IT.

KEEP YOUR WITS ABOUT YOU,

AND YOU CAN COVER MORE GROUND
AT NIGHT THAN IN DAY,

POSSIBLY AROUND 20 MILES.

BUT THERE'S
MORE TROUBLE TO COME --

SOME OF THE DESERT'S
MOST POISONOUS PLANTS.

THESE ARE DEADLY.

Grylls: I'M IN THE SAHARA
IN NORTH AFRICA,

SHOWING HOW TO SURVIVE IN THIS
EXTREME DESERT ENVIRONMENT.

IF YOU WERE LOST
IN THIS PART OF THE SAHARA,

YOUR ONLY WAY OUT IS TO HEAD
FOR THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS,

BUT IT'S MILES AND MILES OF
DEADLY TERRAIN TO REACH THEM.

SOMEHOW YOU'VE
GOT TO STAY ALIVE.

VIRTUALLY NOTHING
GROWS IN THE DESERT,

AND WHAT LITTLE THERE IS

ISN'T ALWAYS
WHAT IT MIGHT SEEM.

HOWEVER TIRED YOU ARE,
HOWEVER HUNGRY YOU ARE,

UNLESS YOU KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE DOING,

YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR LIFE
ON THE LINE.

YOU'RE MOVING
THROUGH THE DESERT,

AND SUDDENLY YOU COME
ACROSS THESE SORT OF BUSHES --

YOU MIGHT THINK, "GREAT, FOOD."

LOOKS LIKE MANNA FROM HEAVEN.

BUT YOU'D BE WRONG.
THESE ARE DEADLY.

AND WHAT THEY'RE CALLED
IS CALITROPIS.

YOU CAN TELL THAT
FROM THESE BIG LEAVES

AND THESE FRUIT
THAT LOOK LIKE AVOCADOS.

BUT LOOK, IF I BREAK THIS,

YOU GET THIS MILKY SAP,

AND YOU DO NOT
WANT TO GET THAT ON YOURSELF.

GET THAT IN YOUR EYE,
IT WILL BLIND YOU.

TRY AND EAT ANY OF THIS, YOU'LL
PROBABLY BE SICK FOR DAYS.

EVEN CAMELS, THE ULTIMATE
DESERT SURVIVAL MACHINES,

CAN'T TAKE THESE.

ONE BITE OF A CALITROPIS PLANT,

AND THEY'VE BEEN KNOWN

TO STAGGER AROUND IN CIRCLES
FOR HOURS.

TO STAY ALIVE OUT HERE
MEANS GETTING WATER.

DRIED-UP RIVERBEDS ARE RARE,

BUT THEY COULD BE
THE ANSWER TO YOUR PRAYERS.

WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR AS

I'VE BEEN MOVING
THROUGH THIS GULLY --

ARE JUST AREAS OF TELLTALE
SIGNS OF WATER,

THINGS LIKE
THE VEGETATION AROUND HERE,

ANY GREENERY THAT
NEEDS WATER FOR LIFE.

ALSO, I'VE BEEN
LOOKING FOR AREAS

WHERE THE RIVER AT ONE
POINT WOULD RUN IN

BUT THEN STRUGGLE TO RUN OUT OF.

AND YOU CAN SEE HERE,
AT ONE POINT,

THE RIVER
WOULD HAVE FLOWED ALONG,

AND THEN THERE'S
THIS, LIKE, DIP,

AND THEN IT BEGINS
TO GO UP HERE.

SO WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED,

A POOL OF WATER
WOULD COLLECT HERE,

AND AS IT DRIED, IT WOULD
SOAK INTO ALL OF THIS.

YOU CAN SEE THE COLOR
OF THE SAND HERE.

IT'S MUCH DARKER
THAN AROUND HERE.

SO I RECKON IF
I DIG DOWN INTO THIS,

I MIGHT WELL FIND WATER.

THE BEST PLACE TO DIG IS
SANDY SOIL ON AN OUTSIDE BEND.

RAIN SOAKS IN VERY QUICKLY,

BUT DEEPER DOWN
YOU MIGHT FIND WATER.

YOU'VE ALREADY SIGNS
JUST A FEW INCHES UNDER IT.

LOOK AT THE COLOR DIFFERENCE.

THERE'S DEFINITELY
MOISTURE DOWN HERE.

REALLY, IN A DESERT THIS DRY,

EVEN TO FIND THIS SORT OF STUFF,
COOL, PRETTY MOIST SAND,

IS A REAL RESULT.

BUT HOW AM I GOING TO
GET THE WATER?

LET'S KEEP DIGGING
AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS,

TRY AND THINK OF A PLAN.

MAYBE JUST USE MY T-SHIRT.

WRAP THAT UP...

AND THEN JUST
START TO WRING IT.

AND ANY MOISTURE IN THIS

WILL GET FORCED TO THE BOTTOM

AND THEN HOPEFULLY OUT.

[ SQUEAKING ]

NOT VERY MUCH, BUT I'M
DEFINITELY GETTING ENOUGH

JUST TO WET MY LIPS,
WET MY MOUTH.

WELL, BETTER THAN NOTHING.

OKAY. LET'S KEEP MOVING ON.

ALL OF THESE FOOTHILLS HERE

ARE THE SOUTHERNMOST TIP
OF THE ANTI-ATLAS,

WHICH IS THE GIANT
VOLCANIC RANGE

THAT EXTENDS OUT
FROM THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS.

BUT FROM HERE,
THERE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE

ANY OBVIOUS ROUTE
THROUGH THEM.

BUT THERE ARE CLUES THAT NOW
YOU MAY NOT BE FAR FROM HELP.

DON'T KNOW
IF YOU CAN SEE THAT,

BUT SOMEBODY HAS
DEFINITELY CARVED MAYBE --

LOOKS LIKE MAYBE A GAZELLE.

AND THESE ARE PROBABLY
OLD BERBER DRAWINGS.

AND THIS IS WHAT
THESE GUYS WOULD DO.

THEY'D CARVE INTO THE ROCK

THE IMAGES OF THE ANIMALS
THEY WERE HUNTING.

WHAT I JUST FIND AMAZING

IS THAT THESE DRAWINGS
HAVE SURVIVED FOR THAT LONG

AGAINST SUCH POWERFUL FORCES
OF NATURE OUT HERE.

ALL THIS AREA
IS HUNTING GROUND

FOR THE LEGENDARY BERBERS,

NOMADS WHO HAVE LIVED
IN THE SAHARA

FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS

AND WHO ARE THE MASTERS
OF DESERT SURVIVAL.

WHILE I'VE BEEN HERE,
I'VE NEEDED TO RELY

ON SOME OF THOSE
VERY SAME SURVIVAL SKILLS.

BUT DON'T GET ME WRONG.

DESPITE THE BEAUTY
OF THE SAHARA,

IT IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S
MOST DANGEROUS

AND LIFE-SAPPING WILDERNESSES.

GET IT WRONG HERE,
AND YOU DIE.