Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 3, Episode 6 - Belize - full transcript

Despite his warnings about safety Bear takes some questionable risks in the Belize rain forest. He swings on a vine over a gorge, crosses a narrow log bridge above raging river rapids near a convergence of waterfalls and confronts a boa constrictor. But Bear finally builds a raft that doesn't sink.

I'M BEAR GRYLLS.

WHOO!

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

FROM 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.

THIS TIME
I'M IN THE JUNGLES OF BELIZE...

WHERE I'LL BE TACKLING
TERRIFYING TERRAIN...

AAH!



I ONLY JUST CAUGHT
THAT LEDGE THEN.

...FIGHTING TO FIND FOOD...

BINGO.
AND LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT.

...AND FACING OFF AGAINST SOME
OF THE MOST MENACING WILDLIFE

ON THE PLANET.

AND THAT IS
A BIG BOA CONSTRICTOR.

BELIZE IS A REMOTE COUNTRY

ON THE CARIBBEAN COAST
OF CENTRAL AMERICA.

ONCE PART
OF THE ANCIENT MAYAN EMPIRE,

IT HAS ONE OF THE LOWEST
POPULATION DENSITIES

OF ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

HALF OF BELIZE IS
JUST PRISTINE WILDERNESS.

IT'S THOUSANDS OF SQUARE MILES
OF JUNGLE

WITH ALMOST NO HABITATION.



IF YOU GET LOST OUT HERE,
YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.

THE JUNGLES OF BELIZE BOAST
OVER 5,000 SPECIES OF PLANTS

AND HUNDREDS
OF DIFFERENT ANIMALS --

CROCODILES, JAGUARS, AND EIGHT
TYPES OF POISONOUS SNAKES.

THIS IS
WHERE THE BRITISH ARMY

DO THEIR
JUNGLE-WARFARE TRAINING.

DOWN THERE IS SOME OF THE
DENSEST, MOST DANGEROUS JUNGLE

IN THE WORLD.

IF YOU CAN SURVIVE HERE,
YOU CAN SURVIVE ANYWHERE.

THIS WILL BE
THE ULTIMATE JUNGLE CHALLENGE.

BUT IN THE LOW GROUND,

THE TREES ARE TOO THICK
TO ATTEMPT AN ENTRY.

HIGHER UP,
THE VEGETATION IS THINNER.

THAT'S MY WAY IN.

I'M GONNA RAPPEL.

IT'S A CLASSIC MILITARY ENTRY
INTO HOSTILE TERRITORY

AND REQUIRES PINPOINT ACCURACY.

I'M 150 FOOT UP, WITH NOTHING
BUT HARD ROCK BELOW.

ONCE I'M SAFELY ON THE GROUND
AND I'VE CLEARED THE ROPES,

I CAN GIVE THE PILOT
THE ALL-CLEAR.

THEN HE'S ON HIS WAY.

MY FIRST PRIORITY --

GET MY BEARINGS
AND PLAN MY NEXT MOVE.

I'M PRETTY HIGH UP HERE --
PROBABLY ABOUT 2,000 FOOT.

AND THE REAL HEART OF THE JUNGLE
IS DOWN THERE.

AND PROBABLY MY BEST WAY
OF GETTING DOWN INTO THAT

IS JUST TO STICK WITH THIS WATER
COURSE AND FOLLOW THAT DOWN.

BUT LOOK AT THIS FOR A VIEW.

DOWN THERE REALLY IS
A WHOLE NOTHER WORLD.

AND BEYOND THAT JUNGLE --
THE COAST,

WHERE MOST
OF THE POPULATION LIVE,

SO THAT'S THE WAY
TO BE HEADING.

BEFORE I START MY DESCENT,

I'M GONNA ARM MYSELF
WITH SOMETHING

THAT WILL BE VITAL IN THE WET
AND HUMID FOREST BELOW.

YEAH, THIS DEADFALL IS
CARIBBEAN PINE.

AND THERE'S ACTUALLY LOADS
OF THIS UP AT THIS ALTITUDE.

LOOK AT THESE PINE TREES.

AND I CAN USE THIS TO HELP ME

WHEN I GET DOWN INTO THE JUNGLE
PROPER DOWN THERE.

IT'S GOOD.
IT'S FULL OF RESIN.

AND IT'S GOOD
FOR LIGHTING FIRES.

AND EVERYTHING DOWN THERE IS
JUST GONNA BE SO WATERLOGGED.

THE ANCIENT MAYA USED
CARIBBEAN PINE RESIN

AS INSECT REPELLENT

AND GLUE
TO REPAIR DUGOUT CANOES.

OKAY, READY TO GET
INTO THE JUNGLE PROPER.

AHEAD OF ME
LIES A 700-FOOT DESCENT

DOWN A SERIES
OF DANGEROUS WATERFALLS.

AT THIS TIME OF YEAR,
IT RAINS MOST DAYS.

THE RIVER IS A RAGING TORRENT.

WORSE STILL, IN THESE
SOAKING WET-CONDITIONS,

THE GROUND HAS TURNED TO MUD
AND ROCKS INTO AN ICE RINK.

AAH!

[ GASPING ]

AH, HEY, HEY, HEY.

HYAH. HYAH.

[BLEEP]

FLIPPING NORA.

I ONLY JUST CAUGHT
THAT LEDGE THEN.

GIVE ME A SECOND.

THAT WAS NOT
A GOOD FEELING, THAT.

WE'VE GOT TO GO MUCH,
MUCH SLOWER ON THIS STUFF.

FALL INTO THIS, AND YOU'RE NOT
GONNA COME OUT OF IT.

THE POUNDING WHITE WATER IS
FULL OF HUGE BOULDERS.

THESE RIVERS ARE KILLERS.

LOOK -- TRYING TO WORK MY WAY
AROUND THOSE ROCKS

IS JUST NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S GONNA BE LIKE
WALKING ON SHEET ICE THERE,

AND I'VE SLIPPED ONCE ALREADY.

BUT ACTUALLY, I RECKON
I CAN GET A WAY ACROSS HERE

AND FIND MY WAY AROUND THERE.

IT'S JUST HOW TO GET
ACROSS THIS THING.

I PLAN TO BRIDGE THE GAP
WITH THIS LOG.

BUT GETTING IT
OVER THE TREACHEROUS ROCKS

IS NO EASY TASK.

YOU REALLY GET A SENSE

OF THE POWER OF THE WATER
NOW DOWN HERE.

AND ACTUALLY,
THERE WERE SOME STUDENTS

A FEW YEARS AGO
ON A JUNGLE FIELD TRIP

OUT HERE IN BELIZE,

AND THEY CAME ACROSS
A WATERFALL JUST LIKE THIS.

AND ONE OF THEM WAS
TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE,

SLIPPY ROCK,
WENT STRAIGHT IN.

A FRIEND TRIED TO GRAB HIM,
WENT IN AS WELL,

AND THEY WERE
BOTH KILLED IN IT.

YOU KNOW, DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE

JUST HOW LETHAL
THESE SORT OF THINGS ARE.

IN SOME WAYS,
THIS IS ALMOST JUMPABLE.

THE THING IS, THAT ROCK
IS GONNA BE SLIPPY,

AND IF I GO ON THAT,

IT'S A ONE-WAY TICKET
STRAIGHT DOWN THERE.

TWO WATERFALLS MEET HERE,

CREATING A MAELSTROM
OF DEADLY WHITE WATER

AND A DEATH SLIDE BEYOND.

I'VE GOT TO CHOOSE
MY SPOT CAREFULLY.

IF THE LOG SLIDES
ON THE GREASY ROCK,

I'LL BE STRAIGHT
IN THAT WHITE WATER.

OKAY, LOOK,
IT'S GOOD AND SECURE THAT SIDE,

WEDGED IN THERE AGAINST THAT.

BUT THIS SIDE IS
A BIT PRECARIOUS. LOOK.

FOUR INCHES OF WOOD
IS ALL THAT SEPARATES ME

FROM THE RAGING TORRENT.

REALLY, I NEED TO TRY AND KEEP
MY FEET OUT OF THE WATER,

'CAUSE WITH THE AMOUNT
OF WHITE WATER COMING DOWN HERE,

IF MY FEET GO IN,
IT'S GONNA TAKE ME.

THE FORCE OF THIS WATER
WOULD SPIN ME OFF THE LOG

AND DOWN THAT WATERFALL.

OKAY, THAT'S ME ACROSS.
LET'S GET YOU.

NOW TO GET THE CREW ACROSS.

OKAY, JUST REALLY TAKE YOUR TIME
ON THIS.

IT'S OFTEN THESE SHORT CROSSINGS
ON SLIPPY, OLD LOGS

THAT ARE
THE MOST DANGEROUS ONES.

THAT'S IT, NICE.
WELL DONE, MAN.

AHEAD OF ME LIES
MILES OF DENSE JUNGLE.

I'VE DESCENDED 500 FOOT,

BUT I'M NOT DOWN YET.

WHOA.

WATCH IT HERE. LOOK,
THAT'S A BAD PLACE TO FALL.

TRYING TO SEE
IF I CAN WORK MY WAY AROUND

DOWN TO THIS LEDGE HERE.

THIS IS A TIGHT SPOT,

BUT IT'S THE QUICKEST WAY DOWN
TO THE JUNGLE FLOOR.

THERE'S NO TURNING BACK.

SEE, THE PROBLEM WITH CLIMBING
IN THE JUNGLE --

EVERYTHING IS MUD
OR ROTTEN.

[ SPITS ]

ON A STEEP, ROCKY WALL,

THERE'S LITTLE TOPSOIL
FOR THE TREES TO CLING ONTO,

SO I DON'T WANT TO PUT
MY WEIGHT ON ANY OF THESE,

JUST IN CASE.

MOSS AND LICHEN GROW
ALL AROUND THE WATERFALLS,

MAKING THE ROCK SLIMY
AND SLIPPERY UNDERFOOT.

BUT AT LEAST
THE LANDING IS SOFT.

OKAY, JUST WAIT HERE.

I'LL TRY AND GET ACROSS THIS.

THERE'S A TURBULENT WHIRLPOOL
BENEATH THIS WATERFALL.

I COULD GET TRAPPED
AND DRAGGED UNDER,

SO I'M LOOKING
FOR ANOTHER ROUTE ACROSS.

WHOO.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET
BEHIND THE WATERFALL HERE.

GONNA WORK MY WAY AROUND.

THE TREMENDOUS POWER
OF THE WATER

HAS ERODED THE ROCK,

BUT THERE'S A LEDGE
BEHIND THE WATERFALL,

WHICH I CAN USE TO CROSS.

WHAT A MAD PLACE TO BE.

IF I WASN'T
IN A STINKING JUNGLE RIVER

FULL OF CREEPY-CRAWLIES,

THIS COULD BE
QUITE A ROMANTIC PLACE.

TIME TO PUSH ON
TO THE OTHER SIDE.

WITH THOUSANDS OF GALLONS
OF WATER THUNDERING OVERHEAD,

THIS IS NO PLACE
TO HANG AROUND.

THE FOREST FLOOR IS NOW
TANTALIZINGLY CLOSE.

BUT BETWEEN ME AND IT
LIES ONE FINAL OBSTACLE --

ANOTHER WATERFALL --
AND IT'S A BIG DROP.

IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT A 30-FOOT
DROP DOWN TO THE NEXT POOL.

THERE'S NO EASY WAY TO CLIMB
AROUND THIS.

BUT ACTUALLY THIS IS A HEIGHT
THAT'S PROBABLY JUMPABLE.

BUT YOU NEED TO BE SO CAREFUL
IN JUNGLE RIVERS

JUST WITH THE DEPTH,

SO I'M GONNA NEED SOME WAY
OF JUST CHECKING --

CHECKING HOW DEEP THAT IS.

THIS JUNGLE VINE
ATTACHED TO A ROCK

MAKES A SIMPLE DEPTH GAUGE.

OKAY, I FEEL THAT
ON THE BOTTOM THERE.

ALL I THEN NEED TO DO IS MEASURE

UNTIL I SEE IT
OUT OF THE WATER.

AND THE TIP OF ONE FINGER
TO THE TIP ON THE OTHER

IS ABOUT YOUR HEIGHT,

SO THAT'S 6 FOOT...

12 FOOT,

18 --
SHOULD BE FINE TO JUMP.

LEGS TOGETHER
TO PROTECT MYSELF,

ARMS SPREAD SO I DON'T
GO TOO DEEP.

WHOO!

FINALLY I'VE REACHED
THE BOTTOM OF THE WATERFALLS.

THE NEXT BIG CHALLENGE
IS THE JUNGLE.

DOWN HERE,
THE VEGETATION IS DENSER,

AND IT'S HARD GOING.

ONE OF THE REASONS
THIS PLACE IS SO TOUGH

IS A LOT OF THE BELIZE JUNGLE

IS SECONDARY,
OR WHAT'S KNOWN AS DIRTY JUNGLE,

AND THAT'S THE REALLY DENSE,
GNARLY STUFF.

AND BASICALLY WHAT'S HAPPENED

IS THAT WHERE THE JUNGLE
HAS BEEN CLEARED,

SUDDENLY THE SUN CAN REACH
THROUGH THE CANOPY,

AND IT ALL GROWS BACK
TWICE AS THICK

AND TWICE AS NASTY.

IT'S WET
AND SLIPPERY UNDERFOOT,

AND IT'S TEMPTING TO GRAB
THE NEAREST TREE FOR SUPPORT,

BUT BEWARE.

OH, YOU WANT TO WATCH OUT
FOR THIS GUY.

CHECK THIS TREE OUT.

AND THIS IS
WHAT BRITISH SOLDIERS,

WHEN THEY ARE TRAINING
IN THE JUNGLES OF BELIZE,

CALL THE [BLEEP] TREE.

YOU CAN SEE WHY.

LOOK, IF YOU REACH OUT
AND TRY AND GRAB HOLD OF THAT,

YOU'RE GONNA KNOW ALL ABOUT IT.

BUT IT'S ALSO KNOWN, THIS TREE,
AS THE GIVE-AND-TAKE TREE.

AND LIKE SO MUCH IN THE JUNGLE,
IT HAS A BAD SIDE,

WHICH IS ALL OF THESE
SPIKES AND THORNS,

BUT IT ALSO HAS A GOOD SIDE.

THE INNER BARK OF THE TREE

CONTAINS
AN EFFECTIVE PAINKILLER.

SO, IF YOU DID REACH OUT
AND GRAB THAT,

YOU CAN CHEW A BIT OF IT
AND THEN PUT THAT STRAIGHT ON

TO WHERE YOU'VE BEEN PRICKED
BY THIS STUFF.

AND IT'S LIKE SO MUCH
IN THE JUNGLE --

YOU MIGHT LOOK AT IT

AND THINK EVERYTHING HERE IS
JUST OUT TO GET YOU.

BUT IF YOU KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE DOING,

YOU CAN USE IT ALSO TO HELP YOU.

SO, YES, IT'S A [BLEEP] TREE,

BUT IT'S ALSO PRETTY COOL.

MOVING THROUGH SECONDARY JUNGLE
IS HARD AND HELLISH.

ALWAYS BE ON THE LOOKOUT
FOR ALTERNATIVE ROUTES.

AND KEEP YOUR OPTIONS OPEN.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SEE THAT.

STRAIGHT THROUGH THERE,

IT LOOKS LIKE SOME SORT OF CAVE
OR SOMETHING.

LET'S GET DOWN THERE
AND HAVE A LOOK.

BELIZE IS RIDDLED WITH MILES

OF SUBTERRANEAN
LIMESTONE TUNNELS.

THESE MIGHT BE EASIER TO
NAVIGATE THAN THE DENSE JUNGLE.

THIS IS WORTH INVESTIGATING.

LOOK AT THAT FOR A DROP-OFF.

PULL THAT OFF. [ GRUNTS ]

[ CRASH ]

THAT'S WHAT I CALL A DEATH DROP.

AND REALLY,
ANYTHING OVER 30 FOOT,

ESPECIALLY ONTO ROCKS LIKE THIS,

YOU'RE JUST NOT
GONNA WALK AWAY FROM.

AND THIS MUST BE AT LEAST
60, 70 FOOT DOWN HERE.

AND IT'S GOT A CAVE
JUST RUNNING STRAIGHT --

LOOK, STRAIGHT UNDER,
UNDER THE HILL.

THERE'S ALSO A RIVER
RUNNING THROUGH IT.

AND RIVERS ARE OFTEN YOUR BEST
WAY TO GET OUT OF A JUNGLE.

IT'S JUST GETTING DOWN.

ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE CHASM,
THERE LOOKS TO BE A WAY DOWN.

AND THIS VINE COULD BE
MY ROUTE ACROSS.

AND REALLY, THIS SORT OF VINE
JUST GROWS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

AND REALLY, IT'S LIKE --

IT'S LIKE
THE CABLE OF THE JUNGLE.

IT'S SUPER STRONG.
THAT'S WHY TARZAN USED IT.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE
YOU PICK THE LIVING STUFF.

IF YOU DON'T
AND PUT SOME WEIGHT ON IT,

IT'S JUST GONNA POP.

A STRONG VINE SHOULD SUPPORT
A MAN'S WEIGHT,

BUT WITH A DROP LIKE THIS
AT STAKE,

IT MUST ALWAYS BE TESTED.

[ GRUNTS ]

THAT'S ALL MY WEIGHT ON IT,
AND IT'S HOLDING.

OKAY, LET'S GIVE THIS
A FIELD TEST.

JEEPERS.

[ GRUNTS ]

THE FORCE OF THE SWING

SLAMS ME INTO THE ROCK FACE
ON THE OTHER SIDE.

I ONLY JUST GRAB HOLD
OF ANOTHER VINE

TO STOP MYSELF
FALLING DOWN INTO THE ABYSS.

WHEW.

WELL, I'M ACROSS,
BUT I STILL GOT TO GET DOWN.

THIS CLIFF FACE IS
COVERED WITH VINES.

THEY REACH ALL THE WAY
DOWN TO THE CAVERN FLOOR

SOME 60 FOOT BELOW ME.

THIS VINE IS SLIPPY.

[ GRUNTS ]

THAT WAS MORE LUCK
THAN GOOD JUDGMENT

THAT I HIT THAT LEDGE.

NOW TO CHECK OUT THIS CAVE.

Grylls:
THIS WHOLE CAVE SYSTEM

JUST RUNS STRAIGHT THROUGH
THESE LIMESTONE CLIFFS.

YOU KNOW, THESE THINGS CAN GO ON
FOR MILES AND MILES.

BELIZE IS HOME TO THE LONGEST
CAVE SYSTEM IN SOUTH AMERICA.

THE LIMESTONE LANDSCAPE HAS
BEEN ERODED INTO A LABYRINTH

OF NARROW PASSAGES
AND DARK TUNNELS.

THERE'S ACTUALLY
QUITE A GOOD FLOW OF WATER

PUSHING ME ALONG THROUGH HERE.

BUT ALL OF THIS STUFF
IS RAZOR-SHARP.

AND ESPECIALLY AROUND MY LEGS,

IT'S LIKE LOADS OF JAGGED ROCKS
TO STUMBLE OVER.

PROLONGED IMMERSION IN WATER
MAKES SKIN SWELL.

IT BECOMES SOFTER
AND EASIER TO CUT.

IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, SMALL CUTS
SOON BECOME INFECTED.

ONE OF THE BIG DANGERS
OF PLACES LIKE THIS

IS JUST RISING WATER LEVELS.

AND IT'S RIGHT BANG IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE RAINY SEASON

AT THE MOMENT,

AND WATER CAN RISE
LITERALLY A FEW FEET

IN A MATTER OF HOURS
IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.

THAT'S A FEW FEET
THAT I DON'T REALLY HAVE.

I'M BEING FUNNELED BY THE FLOW
OF THE SWOLLEN RIVER

INTO NARROWER TUNNELS

WHERE THE WATER LEVEL LEAVES ME
NO ROOM FOR MANEUVER.

IT'S STARTING TO GET
VERY, VERY TIGHT HERE.

HANG ON. HANG ON.

LOOK, THERE IS STILL LIGHT
THROUGH THERE.

THAT SUNLIGHT MEANS

THERE MUST BE AN EXIT
NOT FAR AWAY.

I'VE JUST GOT TO GO FOR IT.

OKAY, JUST FOLLOW ME IN.
OKAY, GO.

THE RAINS HAVE FILLED
THIS CAVE TO THE ROOF,

AND THERE'S NOWHERE TO SURFACE
FOR AIR.

BUT THERE'S LIGHT DEAD AHEAD.

THAT'S WHAT
I'VE GOT TO AIM FOR.

[ SPITS ]
NICE ONE.

WELL, THAT'S US OUT OF THAT CAVE
AND ON OUR WAY.

WHEW.

HEADING UNDERGROUND IS
ALWAYS A RISKY STRATEGY,

BUT THIS TIME IT'S WORKED.

I'VE MADE GOOD PROGRESS.

THE JUNGLE IS THINNER HERE.

IT'S TEMPTING TO GO FAST
AND COVER GROUND WHILE I CAN,

BUT RUSHING THROUGH THIS PLACE
IS A DANGEROUS GAME.

AND THESE JUNGLES IN BELIZE

HAVE SOMETHING LIKE
EIGHT DIFFERENT TYPES

OF POTENTIALLY LETHAL SNAKES,

INCLUDING THE FER-DE-LANCE,
WHICH GROW UP TO 8 FOOT LONG.

AND THEY ARE
PARTICULARLY AGGRESSIVE SNAKES.

AND IF THAT'S NOT BAD ENOUGH,
THIS PLACE ALSO HAS

ONE OF THE HIGHEST POPULATION
OF JAGUARS

OF ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

SO YOU DON'T WANT
TO RUSH STUFF.

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN
AND KEEP YOUR SENSES AWARE.

BUT KNOWING YOUR ENVIRONMENT

ALWAYS IMPROVES
YOUR SURVIVAL CHANCES.

AND THE JUNGLE IS NO EXCEPTION.

CHECK THIS TREE OUT.

THIS IS A BULLHORN ACACIA.

AND, LOOK, IT NOT ONLY HAS
ALL OF THESE SPIKES ON IT,

BUT IT ALSO -- I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU CAN SEE --

HAS ALL OF THESE ANTS THAT LIVE
INSIDE OF THE SPIKES.

AND IF YOU MESS WITH THE TREE,

ALL OF THESE ANTS WILL COME OUT
TO TRY TO PROTECT IT,

AND THEY WILL START BITING YOU.

THE ANTS ARE
A STRONG DETERRENT,

BUT THEY'RE NOT GONNA STOP ME
GETTING TO THIS BARK.

WHAT THE BARK HAS
IS SOME PROPERTIES IN IT

THAT IS GONNA
SLOW YOUR HEART RATE.

AAH,
AND THESE ANTS DO BITE.

SO IF YOU GET BITTEN
BY A SNAKE,

IT'S GONNA SLOW THE SPEED THAT
THE VENOM GOES AROUND YOUR BODY.

TAKE A COUPLE MORE STRIPS
OF THIS

JUST IN CASE I COME A CROPPER
WITH A SNAKE.

JUNGLE REMEDIES CAN BE USEFUL,

BUT IT'S BEST TO AVOID GETTING
BITTEN IN THE FIRST PLACE,

SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT.

COME IN. COME CLOSE.

NICE, STEADY, NICE AND STEADY.

WE'VE GOT A SERIOUS,
PROPER-SIZE SNAKE HERE.

THERE.
NO CLOSER, NO CLOSER.

SEE HIM?

AND THAT IS
A BIG BOA CONSTRICTOR.

HE'S NOT LIKING ME
BEING THIS CLOSE.

AND THIS GUY IS GONNA...

FEED OFF SMALL MAMMALS --

RATS, RODENTS, MONKEYS.

AND HE IS
A FORMIDABLE PREDATOR.

A CONSTRICTOR --
IF HE GETS 'ROUND YOU,

HE'S GONNA TRY AND WRAP AROUND

AND JUST SQUEEZE THE LIFE
OUT OF WHAT HE'S AFTER.

I'M GOING TO AVOID THE HEAD

AND TRY TO GET HOLD OF IT
BY THE TAIL.

THERE WE GO.

WELL, THEY ALWAYS SAY

THAT SNAKES
DON'T BRUSH THEIR TEETH.

AND YOU CAN NOT ONLY SMELL IT
FROM HERE,

BUT IF IT GOT HOLD OF YOU,

EVEN IF THE BITE
DIDN'T KILL YOU,

IT'S GONNA GET INFECTED.

AND THAT'S HOW YOU END UP
IN A LOT OF TROUBLE.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF MEAT
ON THIS SNAKE.

I'M GONNA TAKE THE RISK.

AND THIS IS ONE SHOT
YOU WANT TO GET RIGHT.

IT'S DEAD, BUT WITH SNAKES,

YOU CAN'T AFFORD
TO TAKE ANY RISKS.

THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN
REALLY BE CERTAIN

IS JUST TO GO THROUGH
THAT SPINAL COLUMN.

AND THAT IS
A GOOD LENGTH OF SNAKE,

AND IT'S GONNA BE
A GOOD DINNER,

BUT, MAN,
MY HEART IS THUMPING.

I WANT TO GUT THE SNAKE
IMMEDIATELY

TO PREVENT ANY OF THE MEAT
BECOMING INFECTED.

AND ONCE YOU'RE THROUGH IT ALL,

YOU CAN THEN START TAKING
THE GUTS OUT.

THE SNAKE'S GUTS CONTAIN

HALF-DIGESTED FOOD, FECES,
AND PARASITES.

AND IN A BIG BOA CONSTRICTOR,
THERE IS A LOT OF GUTS.

THE BOA'S DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

CAN MAKE UP A THIRD
OF ITS BODY WEIGHT.

AND THAT'S WEIGHT
I DON'T WANT TO BE CARRYING.

OKAY, LET'S GET MOVING.

THIS IS WHERE YOU DON'T WANT
TO BUMP INTO ITS BIG BROTHER.

IT'S 4:00. I'VE GOT
TWO HOURS' DAYLIGHT LEFT.

IT'S TIME TO CALL IT A DAY
AND SET UP CAMP.

ACTUALLY, THIS WOULDN'T BE
A BAD PLACE JUST TO SET UP CAMP,

AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT
TO LEAVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TIME

WHEN YOU'RE IN THE JUNGLE.

ONCE THAT LIGHT GOES,
IT GETS DARK SO FAST.

YOU DO NOT WANT
TO BE HERE WITH NO SHELTER

WHEN IT'S NIGHTTIME.

AND LOOK, I'VE GOT SOME GOOD
UPRIGHT TREES HERE.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
IS TO MAKE SURE

YOU BUILD YOUR SHELTER
UP OFF THE JUNGLE FLOOR.

AND THIS IS WHERE ALL
THE LIFE OF THE JUNGLE IS,

WITH ANTS, SNAKES, YOU NAME IT.

SO I RECKON I CAN BUILD
A BIT OF A PLATFORM HERE.

LIGHT BUT STRONG,

THESE COHUNE PALMS MAKE
A GREAT FRAME FOR THE SHELTER.

JUST CLEAR ALL
OF THESE LEAVES OFF IT.

COHUNE PALM GROWS
ALL OVER BELIZE.

IN THE PAST,

IT WAS A FAVORITE BUILDING
MATERIAL OF THE MAYA.

AND THAT'S GONNA BE
ABOUT THE RIGHT HEIGHT

FOR THE BED PLATFORM.

THEN JUST USE THIS MOHO BARK.

MOHO BARK IS
ALSO PLENTIFUL HERE --

LONG, SUPPLE, AND VERY STRONG.

IT JUST HELPS IF YOU TWIST
THIS BARK AS YOU WRAP IT.

IT JUST ADDS STRENGTH TO IT.

IT'S ALREADY GETTING
A BIT DARKER, YOU SEE.

TRYING TO DO ANYTHING
IN THE NIGHTTIME IN THE JUNGLE

IS JUST IMPOSSIBLE.

IT'S BLACK
AS A WITCH'S CALDRON.

THERE'S NO TIME TO LOSE,

SO I'M USING MORE MOHO BARK
TO WEAVE MY BED.

WANT TO MAKE SURE THE WEAVE
OF THIS IS CLOSE TOGETHER

SO YOUR WEIGHT
DOESN'T RIP THIS THING,

WHICH IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT.

MY BED IS STRONG.

NOW TO MAKE IT COMFORTABLE

BY SPLITTING THESE PALM LEAVES
FOR BEDDING.

AND JUST LAY THEM ONE ONE WAY

AND THEN THE OTHER
THE OPPOSITE WAY.

AND AS IT'S THE RAINY SEASON,
I'M GONNA NEED A ROOF.

OKAY, THAT'S GONNA BE THE CROSS
STRAP FOR THE ROOFING.

I JUST NEED TO FIND SOME
BAY LEAF PALM TO GO ON THERE.

THIS IS ALSO ACTUALLY CALLED
THATCHING PALM,

AND THE REASON IS

IT WORKS PERFECTLY
AS THATCHING FOR A SHELTER.

IT'S WHAT THE MAYANS
WOULD HAVE TRADITIONALLY USED

TO THATCH THEIR BUILDINGS WITH.

THERE'S NO TIME
TO WEAVE THESE LEAVES TOGETHER,

BUT THIS SHOULD BE OKAY
FOR THE NIGHT.

JUST CHECK THIS WORKS ALL RIGHT.

AND YEAH, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

JUST FINISH OFF THE THATCHING
AND THEN GET A FIRE GOING.

FIRE IS CRUCIAL.

I CAN COOK, DRY CLOTHES,

AND IT WILL KEEP
PREDATORS AWAY.

SOME OF THIS DEAD INNER STEM
FROM THE COHUNE PALM

SHOULD TAKE A SPARK.

THERE WE GO.

EVERYTHING'S DAMP HERE,

SO THIS FIRE REQUIRES
SPECIAL ATTENTION.

GOOD FIRE MAKING IS ALL ABOUT

LOOKING AFTER THE FIRE
WHEN IT'S LITTLE.

DO THAT, AND IT WILL THEN LOOK
AFTER YOU WHEN IT GROWS BIG.

I'M USING THE RESINOUS
CARIBBEAN PINE THAT I COLLECTED

BEFORE COMING DOWN
INTO THE JUNGLE.

AND IT'S FINALLY WORKING.

LET'S GET THIS SNAKE COOKED UP.

I'M GONNA ROAST THE BOA MEAT

SKEWERED ON GREEN STICKS
SO THEY DON'T BURN.

I ONCE HEARD
A STORY ABOUT A GUY

WHO FEEL ASLEEP
IN HIS JUNGLE SHELTER,

AND HE HAD HIS ARM HANGING
DOWN FROM THE BED PLATFORM.

AND HE WOKE UP IN THE MORNING
WITH A REALLY NUMB ARM,

AND HE LOOKED DOWN.

AND A BOA CONSTRICTOR,
DURING THE NIGHT,

HAD ACTUALLY SWALLOWED
ALL OF HIS ARM

ALL THE WAY UP TO THE SHOULDER.

AND WHEN THEY EVENTUALLY KILLED
THE SNAKE AND PEELED IT OFF HIM,

THE STOMACH JUICES
HAD ACTUALLY STARTED

TO DIGEST THE MAN'S FINGERS.

AND I ALWAYS USED TO THINK THAT
WAS A BIT OF A JUNGLE MYTH,

BIT OF A STORY,

BUT WHEN YOU COME ACROSS
A BOA CONSTRICTOR

AS BIG AS I HAVE TODAY,
YOU DO START TO WONDER.

IT'S BEEN COOKING
FOR 35 MINUTES.

THE FLESH HAS TURNED WHITE.
IT'S READY TO EAT.

ACTUALLY, WHEN YOU GET
DOWN TO THE SKELETON,

IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE BONY --

A BIT LIKE JUNGLE --

JUNGLE SPARE RIBS.

AS DARKNESS FALLS, THE FOREST
TAKES ON A NEW FACE.

NOW THE PREDATORS
BECOME ACTIVE.

IT'S NOT JUST THE SNAKES

YOU NEED TO WORRY ABOUT
OUT HERE.

ONE OF THE BIG DANGERS
ACTUALLY IS VAMPIRE BATS,

AND THEY CAN SUCK YOUR BLOOD
FROM YOU AS YOU SLEEP

WITHOUT YOU EVEN
KNOWING ABOUT IT.

AND THE BIT THEY'RE
MOST LIKELY TO GO FOR

IS JUST THE TIPS
OF YOUR FINGERS.

WHEW.

THE RAINY SEASON IN BELIZE,
AND, MAN, DOES IT RAIN.

YOU CAN OFTEN GET UP TO SIX
INCHES OF RAIN IN AN HOUR --

WATCH OUT FOR THAT
NASTY TREE.

YOU KNOW, I SOMETIMES TRY
TO EXPLAIN TO MY KIDS

WHAT IT'S LIKE IN THE JUNGLE
WHEN IT POURS.

AND THIS IS IT.

IT'S LIKE BEING
IN A HUGE, OPEN SHOWER,

AND YOU CAN HARDLY HEAR
YOURSELF THINK.

BUT IT'S A GOOD RELIEF
FROM THE HUMIDITY.

WHOO!

AND WHEN YOU'RE IN THE JUNGLE,

YOU JUST HAVE TO ACCEPT

YOU'RE GONNA BE
WET, WET, WET.

TRUDGING THROUGH THIS SODDEN,
GREEN MAZE IS DISORIENTATING.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE
TO SEE FAR AHEAD

AND SO EASY TO GET LOST.

TO GET YOUR BEARINGS,
LOOK OUT FOR HIGH GROUND.

THERE YOU GO. YOU SEE
THROUGH THE TREES THERE?

THERE'S LIKE A RIDGE AND A ROCK
FACE LEADING UP TO IT.

BUT ACTUALLY I CAN USE THAT.
LET'S TRY AND GET A BIT CLOSER.

YOU CAN SEE ALL
OF THIS CLIFF HERE IS LIMESTONE.

BUT I RECKON IF I CAN GET UP
TO THE TOP OF IT,

I MIGHT WELL BE ABLE TO GET
A VIEW UP OVER THE JUNGLE CANOPY

AND GET AN IDEA OF MY BEARINGS.

IT'S 100 FOOT
STRAIGHT UP VERTICAL VINES.

DRENCHED BY TORRENTIAL RAIN,

THEY'RE GREASY AND VERY SLIPPY.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS ASCENT.

[ GRUNTS ]

YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO BE
STICKING YOUR HAND

IN A LOT OF THESE
NOOKS AND CRANNIES.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN THEM.

THERE COULD BE SNAKES,
POISONOUS SPIDERS, OR EVEN BATS

HIDING IN THIS ROCK FACE.

SO, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND
A WAY UP THE NEXT BIT.

THIS IS RUNNING
STRAIGHT INTO THE ROCK FACE.

TRY AND GET ACROSS.

BUT THE RAIN IS GETTING HEAVIER
BY THE MINUTE.

PROBLEM IS ALL OF THIS
LIMESTONE IS SO SLIPPY.

I'M 100 FOOT UP,

I'VE BEEN CLIMBING
FOR 10 MINUTES,

AND I'M EXHAUSTED.

LAST BIT. MAN, MY FOREARMS
ARE BURNING ON THAT.

AND YOU JUST FEEL EVERYTHING
IS SO PRECARIOUS.

WHETHER YOU PICK A LIVING ONE
OR A DEAD VINE

IS REALLY A BIT OF A --
BIT OF A LOTTERY.

AS I REACH THE SUMMIT,
I FIND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR,

THE PERFECT VANTAGE POINT.

I CAN SEE FOR MILES.

YOU CAN GET A GOOD VIEW UP HERE
ABOVE THE JUNGLE CANOPY.

IT'S PRETTY SPECTACULAR.

BUT IT IS JUST JUNGLE, JUNGLE,
AND MORE JUNGLE.

WHAT I KNOW IN BELIZE

IS THE PREVAILING WIND
COMES FROM THE EAST,

AND EAST IS THE DIRECTION
OF THE COAST.

I CAN FEEL THAT WIND HERE.

SO THAT'S THE WAY
I WANT TO KEEP GOING.

[ SIGHS ] OKAY.

AFTER THE BRIEF REST,

IT'S BACK DOWN INTO THE DARK
AND DAMP JUNGLE FLOOR.

THERE'S A CAVE.
LET'S HAVE A LOOK.

HAVE A LOOK IN.

CAVES ARE ACTUALLY GOOD PLACES
TO LOOK FOR --

TO LOOK FOR FOOD.

YOU'LL OFTEN GET THINGS
LIKE RODENTS LIVING IN THEM.

LET'S GET SOME SORT OF --
SOME SORT OF TORCH.

AND WHEN IT'S RAINING,

IT MAKES TORCH BUILDING AND
TORCH LIGHTING ALL MUCH HARDER.

BUT I'VE GOT
SOME CARIBBEAN PINE LEFT --

HIGH IN RESIN --

THAT SHOULD BE FLAMMABLE
EVEN IN THE WET.

AND THEN JUST USE THE MOHO
TO TIE THAT TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S GONNA GIVE ME
A REALLY ROUGH-AND-READY TORCH

THAT'S GONNA BURN FOR A WHILE.

THIS CARIBBEAN PINE IS
SO RESINOUS,

IT'S GONNA KEEP A FLAME GOING.

AND THESE PINE SHAVINGS
ONLY NEED A SPARK

TO GET THEM ALIGHT.

THERE YOU GO.
WE'VE GOT FIRE.

THESE DARK CHASMS ARE HOME
TO ALL SORTS OF CREATURES.

THE ANCIENT MAYA BELIEVED
THESE DARK CATACOMBS

WERE THE GATEWAY
TO THE UNDERWORLD.

IT WAS HERE
THAT THEY CARRIED OUT

MANY OF THEIR RITUALS,
INCLUDING HUMAN SACRIFICE.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE
THE WATER HERE

COMING STRAIGHT
THROUGH THE ROCK.

IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO FILL
A WATER BOTTLE.

AND THIS IS GONNA BE
ABSOLUTELY CLEAN, FILTERED,

FILTERED BY THE ROCK.

AND ACTUALLY THE MAYA
USED TO BELIEVE

THEIR RAIN GOD
LIVED IN THE CAVES.

AND THE REASON FOR THIS --
THEY THOUGHT,

WHEN THEY SAW WATER
COMING OUT LIKE THIS,

IT WAS ACTUALLY BORN
FROM THE ROCK.

THEY WEREN'T
A MILLION MILES WRONG.

IT IS PURE.

IT'S NOT BORN OF THE ROCK, BUT
IT IS PURE AND GOOD TO DRINK.

LET'S KEEP MOVING THROUGH THIS.

THE SEEPING WATER HAS
FLOODED MOST OF THIS CAVE,

BUT FURTHER IN,
I FIND HIGHER GROUND.

SO, IT'S DRY HERE.

AND UP OUT OF THE WATER
IS JUST THE SORT OF PLACE

THAT RODENTS WILL MOVE TO
WITH THE RISING WATER LEVEL.

IT'S A GOOD SPOT
TO CONTINUE MY HUNT.

COME OVER HERE. LOOK.

LIKE A GIANT RAT.

SEE THAT?
SEE IF WE CAN GET HIM.

THIS AGOUTI IS A FAVORITE PREY
OF BIG CATS LIKE JAGUARS.

IT'S LEAN AND TASTY, BUT FAST.

AH, MISSED HIM. HEY!

HEY, WHERE'S HE GOING?

HE SHOT UP THAT LITTLE TUNNEL.

GOT HIM BY THE BACK LEGS,
AS WELL.

NO, HE'S NOT COMING
OUT OF THAT.

BUT NO LUCK THIS TIME.

THAT WOULD HAVE MADE
A GOOD, GOOD MEAL AS WELL.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS
TO EAT HERE,

BUT THEY'RE
MUCH LESS APPETIZING.

FLIPPING NORA.

LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT.

YOU SEE,
THAT'S A WHIP SCORPION.

IT'S LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN
A SCORPION AND A SPIDER.

LET'S SEE IF I -- LET'S SEE
IF I CAN GET HIM. HOLD ON.

WHIP SCORPIONS ARE FOUND
IN CAVES AND ROCK CREVICES.

THEY'RE WEIRD-LOOKING,
BUT THEY'RE NOT VENOMOUS.

I'VE EATEN SCORPIONS BEFORE,
BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS.

OHH!

BINGO.
AND LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT.

UGH.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE YOU
BEGIN TO EAT IT.

PROBABLY THE BACK END
IS WHAT BIT I GOT.

UGH.

AND THAT'S A BIG MEAL.

THAT WASN'T
WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR,

BUT ANY FOOD IS GOOD FOOD

WHEN YOU'VE GOT
DIFFICULT TERRAIN AHEAD.

THE JUNGLE FLOOR IS
GETTING WETTER.

THIS COULD BE THE OVERSPILL
FROM A RIVER.

I HEAD INTO THE DEEPER WATER
TO SEE WHAT I CAN FIND.

LOOKS LIKE OPEN WATER
AHEAD -- LOOK.

YEAH, I CAN SEE IT FLOWING.

THERE YOU GO.

AND THAT'S GONNA BE THE START
OF A WATER COURSE,

AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT
TO FOLLOW.

THAT WATER IS DEEP ENOUGH

TO HIDE BIG PREDATORS
LIKE CROCODILES.

BUT A RAFT SHOULD KEEP ME
OUT OF HARM'S WAY.

AND THERE'S PLENTY OF WOOD HERE
TO BUILD ONE.

GET A LOAD
OF THESE STRAIGHT ONES.

ACTUALLY, LOOK.

THIS IS GUV APPLE TREE,

AND YOU RECOGNIZE THAT

FROM THESE LIMBS THAT ALL SEEM
TO JOIN TOGETHER.

STILL, IF I FIND A DEAD ONE
OF THOSE, THAT WILL HELP ME.

JUST LIKE BALSA, GUV APPLE WOOD
CAN BE INCREDIBLY USEFUL.

THIS IS SO BUOYANT.

LOOKS HEAVY, SUPER LIGHT.

PUSH IT DOWN, AND IT JUST RISES,

SITS RIGHT ON TOP OF THE WATER.

BUT IT ONLY WORKS, REALLY,
BASICALLY, ONCE THEY'RE DEAD.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE CORK.

AND GET A LOAD OF THOSE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA MAKE
THIS RAFT OUT OF.

FIRST JOB IS THE FRAME.

USING LONG, STRAIGHT BRANCHES
TIED TOGETHER WITH MOHO BARK,

IT'S QUICK TO BUILD.

AND IT SHOULD BE STRONG ENOUGH
TO TAKE MY WEIGHT.

AND THEN IT'S JUST A QUESTION

OF PUTTING THESE GUV APPLES
UNDER THE FRAME.

LOOK HOW BUOYANT THAT IS.

ALREADY
THAT'S LIFTING THE FRAME

RIGHT UP OUT OF THE WATER.

BUOYANCY IS USUALLY
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM

WHEN BUILDING A RAFT,
BUT NOT THIS TIME.

THIS IS LIFTING IT RIGHT UP,

AND LOOK HOW THAT KEEPS ME
OUT OF THE WATER.

OKAY, I'LL PUT A FEW MORE IN
AND THEN LASH THEM DOWN,

AND THAT'S GOOD TO GO.

LET'S SEE IF THIS RAFT
HOLDS ME OKAY.

I'M ON A JUNGLE RIVER
IN BELIZE,

HEADING SLOWLY
TOWARDS THE COAST,

WHERE I'M HOPING TO GET
PICKED UP.

Grylls: THIS RIVER IS REALLY
WIDENING OUT NOW.

BUT IT'S ALSO BEGINNING
TO GET DARK,

AND THIS IS NOT A GREAT PLACE
TO BE AT NIGHTTIME.

THERE'S CROCS IN THIS RIVER
AND ALSO BULL SHARKS.

BULL SHARKS SWIM UP
THESE RIVERS FROM THE OCEAN

LOOKING FOR EASY PREY.

SO I'M KEEPING MY BODY
WELL OUT OF THE WATER

AND MY EYES PEELED.

BUT THIS IS GONNA TAKE ME --

JUST TAKE ME
DOWNSTREAM TO THE COAST.

IT'S JUST TRYING TO WORK OUT

QUITE HOW FAR THAT'S GONNA BE.

NIGHT IS APPROACHING FAST,

AND THERE'S NO OBVIOUS PLACE
TO PUT ASHORE.

I MEAN, LOOK AT ALL THIS STUFF.

IT'S PRETTY IMPENETRABLE.

AND THE MOON'S OUT, AS WELL.

THE TRUTH IS I'M PRETTY
COMMITTED TO THIS RIVER NOW.

BUT ONE THING'S
WORKING IN MY FAVOR.

THE FLOW IS
DEFINITELY PICKING UP.

I'M MOVING FASTER NOW,

WHICH MEANS I'M GETTING
NEAR TO THE COAST.

THE COAST IS
WHERE MOST PEOPLE LIVE,

SO IT'S THE MOST LIKELY PLACE
TO GET PICKED UP.

BUT IN THE DARK, THERE'S MUCH
LESS CHANCE OF BEING SEEN.

I NEED TO PUT THIS
ONTO NIGHT VISION.

OKAY.

LET'S GET PADDLING.

THE BIG CONCERN ON THIS RIVER

IS THAT YOU COULD MISS
THE MOUTH

AND DRIFT STRAIGHT OUT
INTO THE DARK OCEAN.

THE THING IS I CAN HARDLY
EVEN SEE WHAT'S AHEAD NOW,

AND THAT'S NOT A NICE --
NOT A NICE FEELING.

I'VE BEEN ON THE RIVER
FOR THREE HOURS NOW,

AND IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD,
BUT THEN I ROUND A BEND.

THIS IS THE MOUTH
OF THE RIVER HERE,

AND THERE'S A PINPRICK
OF LIGHT STRAIGHT OUT.

THAT'S THE SEARCHLIGHT.

STAND UP
AND MAKE SURE I'M SEEN.

HEY!

AT LEAST IF THEY CAN'T SEE ME,

I'LL MAKE SURE
THEY CAN HEAR ME.

THEY'RE DEFINITELY
TURNING THIS WAY.

LOOK, YOU CAN SEE THE PORT
AND STARBOARD LIGHTS.

HEY!

THEY'VE SEEN ME.
HELP IS ON ITS WAY.

THIS IS THE END OF MY BELIZE
JUNGLE ADVENTURE,

AND IT'S TIME TO GO HOME.

HEY.