Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 2, Episode 9 - Namibia - full transcript

I'M BEAR GRYLLS.

AND I'M GONNA SHOW YOU
WHAT IT TAKES TO GET OUT ALIVE

IN SOME OF THE MOST
DANGEROUS PLACES ON EARTH.

WHOO!

I'VE GOT TO MAKE IT
THROUGH A WEEK OF CHALLENGES

IN THE SORT OF PLACES
YOU WOULDN'T LAST A DAY

WITHOUT THE RIGHT
SURVIVAL SKILLS.

NOW I'M IN NAMIBIA
ON THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA --

ONE OF THE HOTTEST, DRIEST,
EMPTIEST PLACES IN THE WORLD.

IT ONLY GETS JUST OVER
2 INCHES OF RAIN A YEAR.

IF YOU DON'T FIND WATER,
YOU'LL DIE.



EVERY DAY HERE
IS A FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL.

IT REALLY STINKS.

I'M GONNA CONFRONT ONE OF THE
DEADLIEST SNAKES IN THE WORLD

AND BATTLE WITH AN ANIMAL
THAT'S OUT TO STAB ME.

I'M FLYING
OVER THE NAMIB DESERT --

ONE OF THE OLDEST AND MEANEST
IN THE WORLD.

A ROASTING
31,000-SQUARE-MILE CAULDRON

WHERE TEMPERATURES CAN REACH
A SCORCHING 120 DEGREES.

I'M ON THE WAY TO THE START
OF MY CHALLENGE --

THE INFAMOUS SKELETON COAST.

THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN
SHIPWRECKED HERE --

VICTIMS OF
THE POWERFUL CURRENTS,

TREACHEROUS ROCKS,
AND BLINDING FOG.

SHIPWRECKED SAILORS
USED TO CALL THIS COAST



"THE GATES OF HELL."

AND HUNDREDS OF SHIPS
HAVE BEEN WRECKED

AND THOUSANDS OF SAILORS HAVE
LOST THEIR LIVES ON THIS SHORE.

THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING --
INTO THOSE GATES OF HELL!

LIKE ALL THOSE
SHIPWRECKED SAILORS,

I'M GONNA BE COMING ASHORE
THE HARD WAY.

I'M FLYING OUTSIDE
THE SHORE BREAK AT 60 FOOT.

I'M CARRYING A FEW BASIC
SURVIVAL TOOLS,

AND MY CAMERA CREW'S
COMING WITH ME.

I'VE GOT TO GET ASHORE

BEFORE THE CURRENT
SWEEPS ME OUT TO SEA,

WHERE I COULD EITHER DROWN
OR BE EATEN BY TIGER SHARKS.

THAT'S QUITE A -- WHAT A PULL!

THERE'S AN UNDERCURRENT HERE.

AND I'M JUST USING THIS DAY SACK
TO HELP ME FLOAT.

AND I'M GONNA NEED IT
WHEN WE GET INTO THESE BREAKERS.

YOU CAN'T FIGHT THE SEA.

TO SURVIVE,
SWIM PARALLEL TO THE SHORE,

STAY CALM, AND ANGLE YOUR WAY
INTO THE BEACH.

YOU ALL RIGHT?

THE WAVES ARE
DECEPTIVELY POWERFUL,

AND THERE ARE VICIOUS CURRENTS.

[ SIGHS ]

THAT WAS HARD WORK.

IF THE SEA DIDN'T KILL
SHIPWRECKED SAILORS,

THIS BARREN LANDSCAPE DID.

WHEN YOU'RE SOAKING WET,

IT'S ALWAYS TEMPTING

JUST TO STRIP OFF
TO GET YOUR CLOTHES DRY.

BUT ACTUALLY, IN THIS WIND,

THEY'RE GONNA DRY QUICKER
ON YOU.

EVEN WITH THIS CLOUD COVER,

IT'S PROBABLY OVER 100 DEGREES
OUT HERE.

AND IF YOU
TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF,

YOU'RE JUST GONNA
END UP SUNBURNED.

THE SWEAT ON YOUR SKIN DRIES
IN SECONDS,

AND YOUR FIRST ENEMY
IS DEHYDRATION.

THERE'S NOT A DROP
OF FRESHWATER HERE,

AND IN THIS KIND OF PLACE, YOU
NEED AT LEAST 15 LITERS A DAY

IF YOU'RE GONNA STAY ALIVE.

THE SKELETON COAST
IS ONE BIG GRAVEYARD,

STRETCHING MORE THAN 900 MILES.

I ONCE HEARD
THAT THE HEADLESS SKELETONS

OF 12 ADULTS AND ONE CHILD
WERE FOUND HERE.

THEY HAD LAIN BURIED
IN THE SAND FOR 80 YEARS.

AND THERE ARE THE REMNANTS
OF MORE THAN 1,000 SHIPS.

YOU KNOW,
THERE ARE SHIPWRECKS LIKE THIS

ALL THE WAY ALONG THE COAST.

AND THE REALITY, YOU KNOW --

IF YOU WERE A SAILOR
COMING ASHORE HERE,

YOUR CHANCES OF SURVIVAL
ARE BASICALLY ZERO.

BUT LOOK, YOU CAN TELL THIS IS,
OBVIOUSLY, QUITE A MODERN ONE.

IT'S GOT AN ENGINE,

EVEN SOME FISHING NETS HERE,
LOOK.

AND, YOU KNOW,
SURVIVAL IS ALL ABOUT INGENUITY.

AND IF YOU COME ACROSS
THIS SORT OF STUFF --

EVEN AN OLD BIT OF ROPE
LIKE THAT --

YOU WANT TO USE IT.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THAT
MIGHT COME IN HANDY.

YOU'VE GOT TO SCOUR THE BEACH

FOR ANYTHING THAT CAN HELP YOU
MAKE IT OUT OF HERE ALIVE.

SEE, THIS IS THE HIGH-TIDE MARK

WHERE THE SAND
MEETS ALL OF THESE ROCKS.

AND THIS IS WHERE ALL THE DEBRIS
IS GONNA GET WASHED UP --

LITTLE OLD BITS OF TIMBER
LIKE THIS.

LOOKS LIKE AN OLD --
PROBABLY AN OLD SEAL BONE.

THERE'S EVEN
AN OLD RUBBISH BAG, LOOK.

JUST A BIT OF PLASTIC,
BUT IT COULD BE A LIFESAVER.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE FORAGING,
ALWAYS BE WARY.

HEY, LOOK HERE.

THAT'S WHY
YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL --

LOOK -- WHEN YOU'RE
KICKING THINGS OVER.

SEE THIS LITTLE FELLA?

A SCORPION LIKE THIS,

WITH A LARGE TAIL
AND SMALL PINCERS,

MEANS TROUBLE.

ONE STING AND THAT COULD BE
A DEATH SENTENCE.

I'LL TAKE YOUR STINGER OFF.

HE'S NOW...EDIBLE.

GETTING SOMETHING TO DRINK
IS CRUCIAL,

SO I'M GONNA USE THE SEAL BONE
I FOUND TO MAKE A SOLAR STILL.

SURVIVING OUT HERE IS REALLY
ALL ABOUT SUN AND WATER --

STAYING OUT OF ONE
AND FINDING THE OTHER.

THE PROBLEM IS,
THERE IS PLENTY OF WATER HERE,

BUT NONE THAT YOU CAN DRINK.

MY STILL IS
A SURVIVAL TECHNIQUE

WHICH MIMICS THE WAY
NATURE MAKES RAIN.

AND WHAT I DO
IS DIG A PIT LIKE THIS

AND JUST TAKE THIS RUBBISH BAG.

AND THEN JUST GET SOME PEBBLES
TO WEIGHT IT DOWN WITH.

NOW I NEED SOME SEAWATER.

BUT HOWEVER THIRSTY YOU ARE,
NEVER RISK DRINKING IT.

FOR EVERY SIP YOU HAVE,
YOU'LL JUST WANT MORE.

SECOND WORLD WAR SURVIVORS
TOLD OF SOLDIERS

WHO'D GIVEN IN TO TEMPTATION.

WITHIN TWO HOURS,

THEY WERE DELIRIOUS
AND FROTHING AT THE MOUTH.

LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS
IS THE NEXT STEP

AND, ULTIMATELY, DEATH.

AND, REALLY,
YOU WANT TO FILL THIS UP

WITH AS MUCH LIQUID...

AS YOU CAN FIND.

IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT
ANY SEAWATER TO PUT IN,

YOU CAN JUST PEE IN IT.

AND THE IDEA IS,
AS ALL OF THIS HEATS UP,

THE WATER IN IT -- FROM THE
SALTWATER, FROM THE PEE --

BEGINS TO EVAPORATE.

AND THEN AS IT HITS THE PLASTIC,

IT CONDENSES
AND DRIPS INTO THIS MUG.

PLACE A STONE IN THE MIDDLE.

THEN YOU WANT TO SEAL THE EDGES
REALLY TIGHT

SO NONE OF THAT
EVAPORATING WATER ESCAPES.

IN STRONG SUN, THE STILL COULD
BE SATURATED WITHIN TWO HOURS,

AND YOU MIGHT GET JUST UNDER
A LITER OF WATER A DAY.

BUT THE SEA MIST
COULD THWART ME.

NOW I WANT TO FIND FOOD,

AND THERE'S NO SHORTAGE
OF MUSSELS.

SO, THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY
MASSES OF THEM.

WELL, AT LEAST I'M NOT
GONNA STARVE TONIGHT.

I'M GONNA HAVE TO BE QUICK HERE.

THE TIDE'S COMING BACK IN.

MUSSELS ARE PACKED
WITH PROTEIN,

BUT RAW, THEY'RE FULL
OF HARMFUL BACTERIA.

AND FOOD POISONING OUT HERE
WOULD KILL YOU.

THERE'S NO WATER
TO KEEP YOU HYDRATED,

SO YOUR BRAIN, KIDNEYS,
AND HEART WILL PACK IN.

BUT I CAN'T COOK THEM YET.

THERE'S ONLY ABOUT
AN HOUR OF DAYLIGHT LEFT,

SO I MUST SET UP CAMP
FOR THE NIGHT.

I'M LOSING THE LIGHT
REALLY FAST NOW,

AND I'M ALSO WET.

AND IT'S GONNA GET REALLY COLD.

THE ROCKS
WILL BE LIKE RADIATORS,

HAVING BAKED IN THE SUN
ALL DAY.

I JUST NEED TO MAKE A WINDBREAK
OUT OF DRIFTWOOD

TO PROTECT ME FROM THE CHILL
OF THE NIGHT WINDS.

ONE LAST THING --
A FIRE FOR WARMTH.

AT NIGHT, THE TEMPERATURE
CAN DROP BY 60 DEGREES.

COME ON.
DON'T GO OUT.

OKAY.

THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS BEACH

IS THAT IT'S JUST BEEN MASS
AND MASS OF DRIFTWOOD AROUND.

BUT IT'S BEEN A REAL BATTLE
GETTING THIS GOING.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD GO
STRAIGHT UP

'CAUSE IT'S ALL SO DEAD,

BUT IT'S ACTUALLY JUST KIND OF
LIKE IMPREGNATED WITH SALTWATER.

SO THE MOISTURE IN IT

HAS ACTUALLY MADE IT
QUITE HARD WORK.

BUT IT'S GOING.

AND I'M SLOWLY DRYING OUT.

AND LOOK.

SEE, I'VE GOT ALL
OF THESE NICE EMBERS

TO COOK THESE MUSSELS ON.

OKAY, LET'S HAVE A LOOK
AT THIS FELLA.

AND THAT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.

THAT SET ME UP FOR THE NIGHT,

AND I'M READY FOR SOME
TOUGH CHALLENGES AHEAD.

NOW, WHEN THE SUN COMES UP,

I'M GONNA BE HEADING INLAND
INTO THE DESERT.

IF I'M HONEST,
I'M A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS

JUST ABOUT
WHAT LIES AHEAD THERE.

BUT I KNOW THE REAL BATTLE
IS GONNA BE FOR WATER.

THE BIGGEST KILLER OUT HERE
IS DEHYDRATION.

IT'S EARLY MORNING,

AND THE TEMPERATURE'S ALREADY
HEADING TOWARDS THE 100s.

YOUR BODY COULD LOSE
15 LITERS A DAY.

HERE ON THE COAST, THERE'S NOT
A DROP OF FRESHWATER.

I NEED TO SEE
IF MY SOLAR STILL HAS WORKED.

YOU KNOW, REALLY, I'D BE WANTING
TO SET LOADS OF THESE

TO GET ENOUGH WATER TO DRINK.

ALSO, THIS STARTS TO WORK WHEN
IT GETS REALLY HOT IN THE DAY,

AND THEN THE EVAPORATION
REALLY TAKES PLACE.

BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT WE GET.

ACTUALLY, DO YOU KNOW WHAT?

IT'S NOT A BOTTLEFUL,
BUT IT'S BETTER THAN I IMAGINED.

IT'S ALMOST
AN INCH OF WATER THERE.

LET'S SEE WHAT IT TASTES LIKE.

AMAZING, YOU KNOW?

YOU GET GOOD FRESHWATER
OUT OF THAT.

BUT REALLY, YOU KNOW,
I DON'T WANT TO SPEND ALL DAY

WAITING FOR THIS TO WORK
AND THIS TO FILL UP MORE.

I COULD LOSE 2 LITERS OF FLUID
JUST SITTING HERE, WAITING.

SO I'M GONNA CUT MY LOSSES,
HEAD INLAND,

AND SEE IF I'LL FIND A PROPER
SUPPLY OF WATER SOMEWHERE.

I'VE SPOTTED SOMETHING
THAT MIGHT HELP ME.

LOOK, YOU CAN SEE THE TRACKS
AROUND HERE.

AND THESE ARE PROBABLY
JACKAL TRACKS.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE MARK
WHERE THE CLAWS GO IN.

IF IT'S A CAT, IT WILL ALWAYS
RETRACT ITS CLAWS.

ALSO, JACKALS
WILL MOVE IN PAIRS --

TWO SETS OF TRACKS.

RIGHT IN FRONT OF EACH OTHER.

THAT'S HOW THEY MOVE --
VERY STEALTHILY.

I MUST HAVE SLEPT WELL, 'CAUSE
I DIDN'T EVEN HEAR THESE.

ANIMALS MEAN LIFE.

BUT THE JACKALS HERE
HAVE ADAPTED

TO LIVE ON VERY LITTLE WATER.

I CAN'T.

I'M GONNA HEAD INLAND,
GET SOME HEIGHT,

AND SEE IF I CAN FIND ANYWHERE
I MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET A DRINK.

YOU CAN SEE ON THE HORIZON THERE
THE BRANDBERG MOUNTAIN.

AND THAT'S WHERE I'M HEADING.

BUT LOOK, YOU CAN ALSO SEE --

IT LOOKS LIKE RUNNING TO IT
IS LIKE A BAND OF GREEN.

YOU SEE THAT?

AND THAT PROBABLY MEANS
THERE'S A RIVER THERE.

AND THE RIVER MEANS,
HOPEFULLY, WATER.

SO THAT'S THE ROUTE
I'M GONNA TAKE TO IT.

BUT GETTING
TO THE BRANDBERG MOUNTAIN

MEANS CROSSING OVER 60 MILES

OF THE WORLD'S
MOST TREACHEROUS DESERT.

THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN MAKE IT
WITHOUT FINDING WATER,

SO USE NATURE TO HELP YOU.

SEE ALL THESE
ANIMAL TRACKS HERE?

AND THESE ARE PROBABLY
SPRINGBOK, MAYBE ORYX.

BUT THEY'RE ALL AFTER ONE THING,
AND THAT'S WATER.

BUT LOOK, YOU CAN ACTUALLY
SEE HERE -- LOOK, YOU SEE THAT?

SEE WHERE THEY CONVERGE,

COMING TOGETHER,
AND LEADING OFF?

SO THIS IS A DEFINITE SIGN
THAT I'M HEADING THE RIGHT WAY.

WELL, IT'S NOT
THE MISSISSIPPI...

BUT THIS DRY RIVERBED

ACTUALLY WILL HAVE
THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF WATER

RUNNING DEEP UNDERNEATH.

BUT IT'S TOO DEEP FOR ME
TO BE ABLE TO GET TO.

SO I NEED TO KEEP HEADING INLAND

AND TRY AND FIND SOME WAY
TO GET TO THE WATER.

HAVING WATER IS EVERYTHING
OUT HERE.

IF YOU'RE DEHYDRATED
BY AS LITTLE AS 2%,

YOUR PHYSICAL ABILITIES
ARE IMPAIRED BY 20%.

BUT I'VE GOT TO KEEP MOVING.

IN THIS SITUATION,

YOU NEED TO USE YOUR THIRST
TO MOTIVATE YOU.

STAY STILL,

AND YOU CAN FRY ALIVE
IN THIS SEARING HEAT.

AND KEEP YOUR WITS ABOUT YOU.

THE NAMIB DESERT
IS RIDDLED WITH DANGER.

JUST GO EASY, GO EASY.

OKAY, YOU'RE GOOD THERE.

OKAY, IT'S A PUFF ADDER,

AND THESE ARE ONE
OF THE MOST DANGEROUS SNAKES

IN ALL OF AFRICA.

THE REASON THEY'RE DANGEROUS
IS THAT MOST SNAKES,

WHEN YOU APPROACH THEM,
THEY'LL MOVE OUT OF THE WAY.

THESE GUYS -- THEY'RE FAT,
AND THEY'RE LAZY.

THEY'RE REALLY WELL CAMOUFLAGED.

THEY'LL STAY TILL YOU'RE
ALMOST ON TOP OF THEM,

AND THEN THEY'LL STRIKE --

ONE OF THE FASTEST STRIKES
IN THE WORLD.

IT CAN STRIKE
IN LESS THAN A SECOND.

AND THOSE FANGS CARRY ENOUGH
VENOM TO TAKE OUT FIVE MEN.

PUFF ADDERS KILL MORE PEOPLE
THAN ANY OTHER AFRICAN SNAKE,

AND THIS IS A BIG ONE.

ONE BITE, AND YOU'LL EITHER DIE
FROM INSTANT ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK

OR GANGRENE AS THE HEMOTOXIN
ROTS YOUR BODY TISSUE.

YOU'VE GOT NO MORE
THAN FOUR DAYS TO GET HELP,

AND THERE'S NOT MUCH CHANCE OF
THAT IF YOU'RE ALONE OUT HERE.

BUT HE'S GONNA BE LUNCH.

THE VENOM IN THE FANGS

REMAINS ACTIVE FOR HOURS,
EVEN DAYS.

YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL
OF THE HEAD,

EVEN AFTER IT'S OFF.

LOOK, YOU CAN SEE
THE FANGS ON THAT,

LIKE LITTLE KIND OF HYPODERMICS.

BUT THEY'RE STILL CAPABLE
OF KILLING YOU, EVEN NOW.

THE SAFEST THING IS TO BURY IT.

BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF MEAT
ON THE BODY.

IT'S 60% PROTEIN,
AND THAT MEANS ENERGY.

[ SIGHS ]
MY HEART'S REALLY RACING.

BUT, YOU KNOW,
A PUFF ADDER LIKE THIS,

EVEN WITH THE GUTS AND SKIN ON,

YOU CAN EAT HIM
STRAIGHT LIKE THIS.

BUT IT'S EVEN BETTER COOKED.

SO I'M GONNA MAKE
A CLASSIC BUSH OVEN.

BUT FIRST, I'LL NEED TO LIGHT
A FIRE AND LET IT DIE DOWN.

IT'S A REALLY SIMPLE,
PRIMITIVE TECHNIQUE

FOR COOKING THIS SNAKE.

IF I JUST CLEAR
THESE EMBERS AWAY,

DIG DOWN INTO THE SAND,
MAKE A BIT OF A PIT,

AND THEN JUST GET THE SNAKE
AND, LIKE, JUST COIL IT IN --

YOU KNOW,
GUTS AND EVERYTHING, SKIN.

AND THEN JUST COVER THAT
IN THE HOT SAND.

AND WHAT HAPPENS
IS THAT THE SKIN

PROTECTS THE MEAT OF THE SNAKE.

PUSHING THE EMBERS BACK ON TOP

ENSURES THERE'S A HIGH, STEADY
HEAT TO COOK THE PUFF ADDER.

ABOUT HALF AN HOUR
SHOULD DO IT.

AND THIS SHOULD BE COOKED NOW.

I CAN ACTUALLY HEAR IT JUST
SIZZLING UNDER THE EMBERS HERE.

YOU HEAR THAT?

[ SIZZLING ]

SNAKE A LA NAMIBIA.

LET'S TRY IT.

FOR A SNAKE THAT'S
SO AGGRESSIVE AND LETHAL,

IT DOESN'T HALF TASTE, LIKE,
SWEET AND DELICIOUS.

BUT DON'T EAT TOO MUCH.

IF YOU'RE DEHYDRATED,

DIGESTION BURNS FLUID
YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE.

EAT JUST A LITTLE
AND THEN GET MOVING.

LOOK, YOU SEE,

THERE'S BEEN A REAL SCUFFLE
AND A FIGHT AROUND HERE.

THE VICTIM'S BEEN DRAGGED, LOOK,
THROUGH THE SAND HERE,

DOWN INTO THIS CORNER.

AND THIS IS IT --
A LITTLE SPRINGBOK.

[ GASPS ]

IT REALLY STINKS.

NOW, THIS IS PROBABLY A LEOPARD.

JUST SORT OF PLACE
THEY'D LIKE --

LOTS OF LITTLE
KIND OF CAVES FOR THEM.

THE LEOPARD WOULD GO STRAIGHT
INTO ITS SOFT UNDERBELLY,

DRINK THE BLOOD,
THE SOFT ORGANS.

AND THEN ALL THAT'S LEFT IS
THIS KIND OF ROTTING CARCASS,

BUT THIS IS TOO FAR GONE FOR ME.

WHOA.
THERE'S A LITTLE BEETLE.

SEE THAT?

NOT EXACTLY
A NICE BIT OF SPRINGBOK.

BUT THERE'S NOTHING
ON THIS CARCASS FOR ME.

AND REALLY,
I DON'T WANT TO HANG AROUND

IF THERE'S LEOPARD AROUND HERE.

OKAY.

LEOPARDS ARE ONE OF AFRICA'S
STEALTHIEST KILLERS,

AND THEY HAVE ATTACKED PEOPLE.

I'VE GOT TO GET MOVING,

BUT KEEPING MY ENERGY LEVELS UP
IS A REAL BATTLE.

YOU CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT FOOD
FOR 14 DAYS.

BUT COPING WITH THE HUNGER
IS HARD WORK.

BUT IN THIS BARREN DESERT,

THERE'S SOMETHING
THAT CAN HELP YOU.

I KNOW A FEW PEOPLE WHO COULD DO
WITH A BIT OF THIS CACTUS.

IT'S CALLED A HOODIA.

AND IT'S LIKE A NATURAL
APPETITE SUPPRESSANT.

AND BUSHMEN HAVE USED THIS
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS

AS A WAY OF KEEPING
THEIR HUNGER AT BAY.

AND WHAT YOU DO, YOU GET IN,
GET SOME OF THIS SAP.

OH, MAN.

SUPER BITTER.

IT'S LIKE JUST DRINKING...

NEAT MOSQUITO REPELLENT.

BUT, YOU KNOW,
IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION

WHERE YOU'VE GOT
LIMITED AMOUNT OF WATER,

YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO BE
EATING A LOT.

IT'S JUST GONNA DEHYDRATE YOU
FURTHER.

SO SOMETHING LIKE THIS
CAN REALLY HELP YOU.

BUT IN THIS ENVIRONMENT,

WHAT YOU NEED
MORE THAN ANYTHING IS WATER.

BY NOON,
THE TEMPERATURE IS SCORCHING.

IT'S LIKE BEING COOKED ALIVE.

OUT HERE, YOUR SKIN CAN BURN
WITHIN JUST 20 MINUTES.

AND IF YOUR CORE TEMPERATURE
RISES DANGEROUSLY HIGH,

YOU'LL GET HEATSTROKE.

I'VE BEEN OUT
SINCE FIRST LIGHT,

AND I REALLY NEED SOME SHELTER.

REALLY, MAN,
IT'S SEARINGLY HOT OUT THERE.

YOU KNOW,
IT'S PROBABLY OVER 110 DEGREES.

BUT IT'S ALSO
A DANGEROUS SORT OF HEAT.

YOU HAVE THIS WIND,
SO AS SOON AS YOU SWEAT,

IT DRIES IT, AND THEN
YOU JUST DEHYDRATE MORE.

SO, REALLY, YOU'VE GOT TO TRY
AND FIND SHADE LIKE THIS

AND JUST TAKE A BIT OF TIME
TO RECHARGE YOUR BATTERIES.

[ SNIFFLES ]

[ SIGHS ]

THIS ISN'T WASTED TIME.

USE IT TO PLAN YOUR NEXT MOVE.

RESTING UP IS CRUCIAL
FOR SURVIVAL.

BUT I SOON WANT TO BE
ON THE MOVE AGAIN

TO FIND WATER.

I'M FOLLOWING
A DRIED-UP RIVERBED,

AND THE SIGNS ARE GETTING GOOD.

THERE ARE SOME PLANTS HERE,

AND THAT CAN ONLY MEAN
ONE THING.

YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THIS WATER.

THAT'S WHERE IT'S COMING FROM.

IT'S LIKE A SPRING.

AND, YOU KNOW,
THIS IS THE LAST THING

YOU'D EXPECT TO FIND OUT HERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT.

YEAH, BUT SOMETIMES,

WHEN YOU THINK THINGS ARE
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, THEY ARE.

ALL OF THIS AROUND ME,
ALL OF THIS WHITE, IS SALT.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS --

UGH!

THAT IS SO SALTY --
MUCH SALTIER THAN SEAWATER.

SO ALL OF THIS IS UNDRINKABLE.

IT COULD BE LETHAL.

AS WATER PERMEATES
THROUGH THE ROCK,

IT BECOMES SALINATED
BY ROCK MINERALS.

AND JUST LIKE SEAWATER,
YOU MUSTN'T DRINK IT.

IT'LL JUST DEHYDRATE YOU
EVEN MORE.

OUT HERE, THIRST WILL BE
YOUR CONSTANT COMPANION.

AND IF YOU'RE THIRSTY,
YOU'RE ALREADY DEHYDRATED.

YOU NEED WATER,
BUT DON'T BE TRICKED BY NATURE.

YOU MIGHT THINK
THIS IS A CACTUS,

BUT YOU'D BE WRONG.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A EUPHORBIA,
AND THESE THINGS ARE DEADLY.

LOOK, IF I GO INTO THE --

SEE ALL OF THAT WHITE, MILKY SAP
COMING OUT?

AND AS A GENERAL RULE OF THUMB,

ANYTHING WITH A WHITE,
MILKY SAP,

YOU WANT TO KEEP WELL AWAY FROM,
BUT THIS ESPECIALLY.

THIS STUFF LITERALLY
HAS BEEN KNOWN TO KILL PEOPLE.

ONE OF OUR CREW GOT
A TINY LITTLE BIT ON HIS FINGER,

AND A BIT LATER ON,
HE WAS SWEATING,

WENT TO WIPE HIS FOREHEAD,
GOT A LITTLE BIT IN HIS EYE,

AND REALLY ALMOST BLINDED HIM.

EVEN WHEN IT'S DEAD,
EUPHORBIA'S A KILLER.

I'VE HEARD ABOUT SOME TRAVELERS

WHO USED DEAD BRANCHES
TO MAKE A FIRE.

TOXINS SEEPED INTO THE SMOKE,
WHICH POISONED THEIR FOOD,

AND THE NEXT MORNING,
ALL 16 OF THEM WERE DEAD.

BUT THERE IS A PLANT
THAT CAN BE A LIFESAVER.

THIS IS A LITTLE DOLLAR BUSH.

AND THEY'RE CALLED DOLLARS

'CAUSE, LOOK, THESE LEAVES
LOOK A LITTLE BIT LIKE COINS.

AND SOMETIMES
WHEN YOU'RE IN A PLACE

THAT LOOKS SO PARCHED AND DRY,
YOU THINK THERE'S NO WATER.

BUT THERE IS
IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK.

AND THESE PLANTS ARE ACTUALLY
A REALLY GOOD SOURCE OF FLUID.

AND IT TASTES REALLY BITTER.

YOU WOULD THINK
IT'S NOT DRINKABLE, BUT IT IS.

THIS AREA USUALLY ONLY GETS

ABOUT 2 INCHES OF RAINFALL
A YEAR,

SO THESE MUD PATCHES
IN THE DRIED-OUT RIVERBED

COULD BE GOOD NEWS.

YOU SEE A LOT MORE SIGNS
OF WATER NOW.

BUT IN MANY WAYS, THERE
SHOULDN'T BE THIS MUCH HERE.

YOU KNOW, WHAT I'VE HAD OUT HERE

IS JUST BLUE SKIES
AND THIS BURNING HEAT.

WHAT ALL OF THIS
PROBABLY MEANS, THOUGH,

IS THAT SOMEWHERE INLAND,
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF RAIN,

AND PROBABLY A FLASH FLOOD
HAS RUN THROUGH HERE.

NO ONE KNOWS
WHEN A FLASH FLOOD WILL STRIKE.

BUT JUST AN HOUR OF RAIN
IN THE MOUNTAINS

CAN CREATE A TIDAL WAVE
IN THE RIVERBEDS,

SWEEPING AWAY ANYTHING
IN ITS PATH.

I SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND WATER
IN WHAT WAS ONCE A DUST BOWL.

YOU SEE
ALL OF THESE ANIMAL TRACKS

ALL OVER THE GROUND HERE?

AND THIS IS OBVIOUSLY

WHERE THEY COME TO DRINK
WHEN THE RIVERS HAVE FLOOD.

YOU CAN SEE -- LOOK --
THE GROUND IS STILL QUITE MOIST.

I RECKON IF I DIG DOWN HERE...

...I MIGHT WELL GET WATER.

[ GRUNTS ]

OKAY.
I'M GETTING TO WATER NOW.

HERE YOU GO.
COME HAVE A LOOK AT THIS.

IT'S 18 INCHES UNDERGROUND,
AND IT'S FULL OF DIRT,

BUT I CAN SORT THAT.

OKAY.
I'VE GOT SOME GRASS.

AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS,

I'VE GOT A BIT OF
WHAT THEY CALL BUSHMAN GRASS.

IT'S A TECHNIQUE
USED BY THE SAN BUSHMEN.

THE GRASS WILL FILTER OUT THE
WORST OF THE DIRT AND SEDIMENT.

THE BUSHMAN GRASS IS HOLLOW,

SO I CAN USE IT
TO SUCK UP THE WATER.

YEAH, STILL DIRTY,
BUT IT'S REHYDRATING AND GOOD.

I'M GONNA SET UP CAMP
FOR THE NIGHT.

BUT I NEED TO FIND SOMEWHERE

THAT CAN KEEP ME
OUT OF TROUBLE.

I'M ABOUT 30 FOOT UP,

AND I THINK I'VE FOUND
JUST THE PLACE.

IT'S QUITE A NARROW LEDGE,

BUT I RECKON IF I CAN CLEAR AWAY
A BIT OF THIS SAND

AND DIG A LITTLE BIT
OF A TRENCH --

'CAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE
I'M NOT GONNA FALL OFF THIS.

IT'S NARROW, BUT AT LEAST
IT'S HIGH AND IT'S FLAT --

WELL OUT OF REACH OF FLOODS
AND PREDATORS.

I NEED TO GO AND GET
SOME FIREWOOD.

EASIER COMING UP THAN DOWN.

MY SCAVENGING
BACK ON THE SKELETON COAST

IS GONNA COME IN USEFUL.

I'VE GOT THIS ROPE
THAT I FOUND ON THE BEACH.

I KNEW THIS WOULD COME IN HANDY.

I CAN USE THIS TO WRAP
AROUND THIS BUNDLE OF WOOD

AND HAUL IT UP TO THAT LEDGE.

BUT IT'S NOT GONNA BE
LONG ENOUGH LIKE THIS.

BUT IF I JUST UNRAVEL IT,

I SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE IT --
MAKE IT REACH.

I NEED TO TRY AND GET THIS WOOD
UP TO MY CAMP

AND GET A FIRE GOING
AS SOON AS I CAN.

'CAUSE THE SUN
IS DISAPPEARING FAST.

OKAY.
LET'S GET A FIRE GOING.

[ SIGHS ]

SOMETIMES THIS CAN BE SO EASY,

AND THEN SOMETIMES
IT CAN BE SO HARD.

AND IT'S ALWAYS HARDEST
AT THE END OF THE DAY,

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE TIRED.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT?

I CAN'T REMEMBER IT TAKING
SO LONG.

30 FOOT UP ON A NARROW LEDGE

IS A NERVE-RACKING PLACE
TO SPEND THE NIGHT.

IT'S ABOUT 2:00 A.M.
IN THE MORNING.

I'M JUST FINDING IT HARD TO
SLEEP 'CAUSE I KEEP THINKING

I'M GONNA FALL OUT OF THIS
LITTLE ROCK SHELF I'M ON

ABOUT 30 FOOT ABOVE THIS RIVER.

BUT I'VE COME UP
WITH A REALLY CLEVER SOLUTION.

THAT ROPE I USED TO HAUL
ALL MY LOGS UP,

I JUST TIED IT AROUND MY WAIST.

HOPEFULLY, THAT'S GONNA
STOP ME FALLING OFF.

AND NOW I'LL TRY AND GET
SOME SLEEP.

MORNING, GUYS.

WELL, NOT A BAD NIGHT, IN THE
SENSE THAT I DIDN'T FALL OFF.

MY NEXT CHALLENGE IS TO TACKLE
THE BRANDBERG MOUNTAIN.

BUT BEFORE I HEAD OFF,

I'M GONNA HAVE ONE OF MY
MORE UNUSUAL BREAKFASTS.

YOU GET ANIMALS HERE,
THINGS LIKE THE ROCK DASSIE,

WHICH IS LIKE
A KIND OF BIG GUINEA PIG.

AND ALL OF THIS STUFF HERE
IS DASSIE DROPPINGS.

THE BUSHMEN ACTUALLY USED TO
TAKE ALL OF THIS DASSIE POO

AND MAKE TEA.

GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT THIS TEA
IS GONNA TASTE LIKE.

AS EVERY ENGLISHMAN KNOWS,

YOU GOT TO LET
A GOOD CUP OF TEA BREW.

OKAY.
LET'S GIVE THIS A TRY.

APPARENTLY,
IT'S MEANT TO BE DETOXIFYING

AND GOOD FOR THE KIDNEYS.

BUT WORKING ON THE PRINCIPLE

THAT THINGS THAT ARE GOOD FOR
YOU GENERALLY TASTE PRETTY BAD,

THIS HAS GOT TO BE
VERY, VERY HEALTHY.

UGH.

I WONDER HOW
THEY CAME UP WITH THIS.

BUT AT LEAST I'VE GOT
SOME FLUIDS ON BOARD.

NOW TO TACKLE THE MOUNTAIN.

AND AT OVER 8,500 FEET,
IT'S THE HIGHEST IN NAMIBIA.

IT'S A BIT OF A CLIMB AHEAD,
BUT IT'S AMAZING.

THESE THINGS -- FROM A DISTANCE,

THEY LOOK LIKE KIND OF TINY
LITTLE PEBBLES.

BUT THEY ARE MASSIVE.

THE BRANDBERG
ROSE THROUGH THE EARTH'S CRUST

SOME 530 MILLION YEARS AGO.

THE HARSH CLIMATE AND BAKING
HEAT HAS SHATTERED THE ROCK,

CREATING STEEP FIELDS
OF BOULDERS,

SOME AS BIG AS HOUSES.

THEY'RE FLAKY
AND TREACHEROUS TO CLIMB.

MY ONLY WAY UP
IS OVER AND THROUGH THEM.

THIS PLACE --

IT'S LIKE BEING RIGHT IN THE
KIND OF BOWELS OF THE MOUNTAIN,

AND IT'S ALL JUST BALANCING
ON ITSELF.

A KIND OF PRECARIOUS PLACE
TO BE.

LET'S MOVE OUT OF THIS.

THIS SMALL ONE IS
HOLDING UP THIS MASSIVE ONE.

DON'T TOUCH THIS ONE.

WELL, YOU CAN SEE
WHERE I'VE BEEN.

AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE
WHERE I'M GOING.

THIS FEELS A LITTLE BIT LIKE

OUT OF THE FRYING PAN,
INTO THE FIRE.

THIS ROCK IS AT LEAST
40 DEGREES HOTTER THAN THE AIR.

YOUR PAIN THRESHOLD KICKS IN
AT 130.

THIS HAS GOT TO BE
AROUND 150 OR MORE.

IT'S THIS BLACK STUFF, THE BLACK
ROCK, THAT'S REALLY HOT.

IT'S LIKE HOLDING YOUR HAND
ON A HOT, HOT OVEN.

THIS FACE IS PRETTY SHEER,
AND I'M 200 FOOT UP IT.

ONE SLIP COULD BE FATAL.

THE PROBLEM IS -- LOOK --
ALL OF THIS STUFF --

YOU THINK IT'S A HANDHOLD --
WHAM!

I'M OFF THE CLIFF FACE,
AND I'M ON MY WAY TO THE TOP.

FROM HERE, IT FEELS AS THOUGH

ALL NAMIBIA'S
STRETCHED OUT BENEATH ME.

NOW I'M HEADING EAST
TO MEET THE SAN BUSHMEN.

THE SAN ARE HUNTER-GATHERERS

WHO HAVE LIVED IN SOME OF THE
WORLD'S HARSHEST ENVIRONMENTS

FOR OVER 20,000 YEARS.

THEY'RE MASTERS OF SURVIVAL,

AND I WANT TO LEARN
SOME OF THEIR SECRETS.

I'VE SEEN FOR MYSELF

HOW HARD IT CAN BE
TO GET WATER OUT HERE.

BUT THE SAN KNOW
WHERE TO FIND IT,

EVEN WHEN IT HASN'T RAINED
FOR MONTHS.

WHEN THERE'S DROUGHT
AROUND HERE,

THIS WILL ALWAYS
HAVE WATER IN IT.

IT'S A TUBER.

THERE'S AT LEAST A CUPFUL
OF WATER IN THIS GOA PLANT.

BUT IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR,

YOU'D WALK STRAIGHT PAST IT.

SQUEEZE IT.

ALL OF THAT IS GOOD TO DRINK.

THE KNOWLEDGE
OF WHICH PLANTS WILL KILL YOU

AND WHICH WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE

HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN
FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.

WHEN IT DOES RAIN,
ANY DROP THAT HASN'T EVAPORATED

ON THIS MARULA TREE
WON'T ESCAPE THE SAN.

JUST BY TAPPING THE TRUNK,
THEY DETECT WHERE IT MIGHT BE.

AND THEY'LL ALWAYS HAVE SOME
BUSHMAN GRASS TO DRINK IT WITH.

THERE'S WATER JUST TRAPPED IN
THE HOLLOW OF THE TREE UP THERE.

THAT'S GREAT.
HE'S DRINKING IT STRAIGHT OUT.

GOOD?

HERE.
PASS THAT CAMERA.

IF I JUST SCOOP
THIS STUFF OUT...

THAT'S FRESHWATER.

IF FINDING WATER IS TOUGH,

FINDING FOOD
CAN BE EVEN TOUGHER.

I'M GOING HUNTING
WITH THE SAN BUSHMEN.

THESE GUYS KNOW
THE TRACK AND TRAIL

OF EVERY ANIMAL
THAT LIVES HERE.

AND THERE'S ONE IN PARTICULAR
THAT THEY'RE AFTER TODAY.

THEY'VE TRACKED DOWN
A HUGE PORCUPINE,

AND THEY'RE TRYING TO
DIG IT OUT FROM ITS BURROW.

THESE GUYS HAVE PULLED OUT
THEIR HEAVY MACHINERY

TO TRY AND GET THIS PORCUPINE
THAT'S SOMEWHERE UNDER HERE.

AND THEY'RE QUITE BIG,
THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW.

PORCUPINES HAVE BEEN KNOWN
TO KILL LIONS.

THEY CAN GROW
UP TO THREE FOOT LONG.

THEY'VE GOT AN ARMORY
OF QUILLS AND SPINES

THAT ARE A FOOT OR MORE
IN LENGTH,

BRISTLING
WITH HARMFUL BACTERIA.

AND TO THE SAN,
THEY'RE A DELICACY.

SO IF I HIT HIM,
HE'LL PROBABLY RUN OUT

AND TRY AND SPIKE ME
WITH THESE?

OKAY. WELL, IF YOU
HEAR ME SHOUT, PULL ME OUT.

I WILL TRY TO
PROTECT YOU THEN.

OKAY.
JUST JUMP IN AS WELL.

ARMED WITH A CAMERA
AND A TORCH, I INCH MY WAY IN.

PORCUPINE BURROWS
CAN BE 60 FOOT LONG

AND DEEP UNDERGROUND.

IT'S AMAZING.

THERE'S JUST LOADS OF BATS STUCK
TO THE ROOF OF THIS TUNNEL.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIGGING TO DO.
IT'S A BIG TUNNEL DOWN THERE.

I'LL TELL YOU, IT'S, LIKE, BIG.

IT'S TAKEN EIGHT HOURS
TO DIG THIS DEEP --

A HUGE AMOUNT OF EFFORT
TO CATCH JUST ONE MEAL.

BUT THAT'S THE REALITY OF LIFE
AS A HUNTER-GATHERER.

WHOA!

[ MEN SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

GET HIM, GET HIM, GET HIM!

LET'S HAVE A LOOK.

OKAY.
Man: YES.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN SEE HIM.

[ GROWLING IN DISTANCE ]

WE'VE YET TO SEE
HOW BIG HE ACTUALLY IS.

BUT ONE THING I DO KNOW

IS THAT A CORNERED ANIMAL
IS DANGEROUS.

[ GROWLING ]

ESPECIALLY ONE WITH SPIKES.

Man: IT'S OKAY.
YOU ARE STILL GOING?

TELL YOU,
IT'S QUITE CREEPY DOWN THERE.

YOU CAN JUST HEAR THIS THING.
[ IMITATES PORCUPINE GROWLING ]

RIGHT DOWN THE END
OF THIS TUNNEL.

AND WITH THIS...

YOU CAN REALLY FEEL HIM.

[ PORCUPINE GROWLING ]

DO YOU HEAR THAT?
HE'S GOT ALL HIS THINGS OUT.

THE PORCUPINE IS READY TO FIGHT
TO THE DEATH.

HIS TAIL SPINES ARE UP,

AND THEY'RE RATTLING
AS A WARNING.

BUT FIRST OF ALL, I'VE GOT TO
GET HIM OUT IN THE OPEN.

PULL IT OUT.

YOU WANT ME TO REACH IN --

SO YOU WANT ME TO REACH
IN THERE,

PULL THIS THING OUT
BY ITS LEGS?

YES.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE -- LISTEN.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE HAVING A LAUGH.

I'D NO SOONER DO BATTLE

WITH THAT BLOOMING,
GREAT BIG PORCUPINE

WITH THOSE QUILLS
IN THIS TIGHT TUNNEL...

OKAY. WELL, I'LL GIVE IT A GO.
WE'LL SEE.

CAN THEY RUN VERY FAST?

NO.

HEY, LOOK.
COME DOWN WITH ME.

LET'S HAVE THAT TORCH,
'CAUSE THE TORCH --

IT'S NICE TO KNOW
WHEN CERTAIN DEATH IS COMING.

[ PORCUPINE GROWLING ]

OH, PLEASE.

HE'S AS SCARED AS I AM
OF THIS THING

SPRINTING OUT OF THIS HOLE
WITH THOSE SPIKES WAVING.

[ GROWLING ]

I'VE GOT IT.

UGH!

WE GOT SOME OF HIS SPIKES,
ANYWAY.

BUT IT'S TIME TO FINISH THIS.

AND IT'S LEFT TO ME TO GET
THIS THING OUT OF ITS HOLE

AND KILLED.

[ LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE ]

IT'S BRUTAL, BUT FOR THE SAN,

WHEN IT COMES TO SURVIVAL,
THERE'S NO ROOM FOR SENTIMENT.

IF THEY DON'T KILL,
THEY DON'T EAT.

SPENDING TIME WITH THE SAN

AND LEARNING
SOME OF THEIR SURVIVAL SECRETS

HAS BEEN A HUGE PRIVILEGE.

NAMIBIA IS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST
PLACES I'VE EVER BEEN IN.

AND THE QUEST FOR WATER
CAN TEST YOU TO YOUR LIMITS,

BUT IT'S BEEN AN EXPERIENCE

THAT WILL REMAIN WITH ME
FOREVER.