Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 3, Episode 9 - Dominican Republic - full transcript

I'M BEAR GRYLLS.

I'M GONNA SHOW YOU
WHAT IT TAKES TO SURVIVE

SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS
PLACES ON EARTH.

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

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

WITHOUT THE RIGHT
SURVIVAL SKILLS.

I'M IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC,

IN THE HEART
OF THE CARIBBEAN...

YOU DO NOT WANT THIS GOING UP
YOUR TROUSER LEG.

...WHERE I'LL TAKE ON
RAGING WATER POOLS...

WE'RE NEVER GONNA GET UP THERE!



...ENDURE TROPICAL STORMS...
[ THUNDER RUMBLING ]

...AND JUNGLES FULL
OF AGGRESSIVE GIANT SPIDERS.

THIS ISLAND PARADISE
WILL BE NO WALK IN THE PARK.

[ HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING ]

I'M FLYING TOWARDS AN ISLAND

OFF THE SOUTHERN SHORES
OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

THIS IS A BREEDING GROUND

OF THE TROPICAL STORMS
AND HURRICANES

THAT BATTER THE COAST
OF THE UNITED STATES.

WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH
THE STORMY SEASON HERE NOW,

AND ALREADY EXPERTS RECKON IT'S
GONNA BE ONE OF THE WORST EVER!

I'M USING A TACTIC
SPECIAL FORCES CALL

A RAPID MARITIME INSERTION,
FLYING IN LOW AND FAST.

I'VE JUST SEEN A BIG SHARK!



AND WITH SHARKS IN THE AREA,

I WANT TO GET AS CLOSE TO LAND
AS POSSIBLE.

I'M GONNA JUMP FROM 40 FOOT,
AND AT THAT HEIGHT,

YOU'VE GOT TO GET IT RIGHT.

I DON'T WANT TO HANG AROUND LONG
IN THIS WATER.

WANT TO HEAD STRAIGHT INTO
THE NEAREST POINT OF LAND,

STRAIGHT IN THERE.

WE NEED TO MOVE. LET'S GO.

CARIBBEAN WATERS ARE PATROLLED
BY GREAT WHITE, HAMMERHEAD,

AND TIGER SHARKS.

IN 1987, A BOAT CARRYING 160
DOMINICAN REFUGEES CAPSIZED.

AS THEY CLUNG TO THE WRECKAGE,

THEY WERE ATTACKED
BY OVER 40 SHARKS.

EVENTUALLY, THEY WERE RESCUED
BY THE COAST GUARD,

BUT 100 OF THEM WERE MISSING,
PRESUMED DEAD.

AAH, THIS IS RAZOR --
RAZOR-SHARP.

A 50-FOOT LIMESTONE CLIFF
IS THE FIRST OBSTACLE

I'VE GOT TO CONTEND WITH.

LOOK AT THIS COASTLINE THERE.

IT'S LOOKING
PRETTY IMPENETRABLE.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN
FIND A WAY UP THIS.

THESE LIMESTONE CLIFFS
WERE FORCED OUT OF THE SEA

OVER 2 MILLION YEARS AGO.

AND THEY'VE LEFT ME WITH AN
AWKWARD OVERHANG TO GET PAST.

THIS ROCK REALLY IS...

HARD AND SHARP,

WHICH MAKES IT
GOOD FOR CLIMBING,

BUT PAINFUL FOR CLIMBING.

[ GRUNTS ]

HIGHLY ABRASIVE,

THE ROCK STRIPS THE SKIN
OFF YOUR FINGERS.

THIS STUFF IS JUST RAZOR-SHARP.

OKAY, THAT'S AT THE TOP,
UNDER THIS LIP.

LET'S SEE WHAT IS INLAND.

LET'S GET OUT THERE.

YOU CAN GO THREE WEEKS
WITHOUT FOOD

BUT ONLY THREE DAYS
WITHOUT WATER.

DEHYDRATION CAN BE A KILLER.

FINDING WATER
IS AN ABSOLUTE PRIORITY.

IF IT LOOKS QUITE GREEN,

YOU THINK ACTUALLY THERE'S GONNA
BE WATER IN ALL OF THIS STUFF.

BUT IT'S NOT.

IT'S ALL BONE-DRY.

WATER'S JUST GONNA RUN
STRAIGHT THROUGH THIS ROCK.

LAST YEAR,

TWO AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS
GOT LOST ON THIS ISLAND.

AFTER GOING 'ROUND IN CIRCLES
FOR THREE DAYS,

THEY CRAWLED OUT ONTO A BEACH,
WHERE, NEARLY DEAD FROM THIRST,

THEY WERE RESCUED
BY PASSING FISHERMEN.

THERE'S LIKE A NATURAL LINE
OF ROCK THROUGH THIS BRUSH.

I'M GONNA FOLLOW THIS,

AND AS LONG AS I KEEP THE SUN
ROUGHLY AT MY LEFT-HAND SIDE,

I KNOW I'M NOT
GOING 'ROUND IN CIRCLES.

I'VE CROSSED THE ISLAND, AND AS
I APPROACH THE NORTHERN SHORE,

THERE'S STILL NO SIGN
OF FRESH WATER.

I'M RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS.

THERE'S A SHIP. SEE THAT?

I'M GOING TO CHECK THIS OUT.
WATCH YOUR FOOTING.

WITHOUT A SOURCE OF FRESH WATER
ON THIS BARREN ROCK,

SELF-RESCUE
IS YOUR ONLY CHOICE.

AND THIS SHIPWRECK
CAN HELP ME PLAN MY ESCAPE.

THE WRECK IS A GRIM REMINDER

OF HOW FEROCIOUS
THESE WATERS CAN BE.

HEADING OUT TO SEA HERE
CANNOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.

IF I CAN GET
UP INTO THE CROW'S NEST,

I SHOULD BE ABLE
TO GET A REALLY GOOD VIEW

OF EXACTLY WHERE I'VE GOT TO GO.

CLIMBING UP JUST 30 FOOT

EFFECTIVELY DOUBLES
THE DISTANCE I CAN SEE.

IT'S A GREAT VIEW,
BUT IT'S BAD NEWS.

THAT IS THE MAINLAND...

WHICH IS QUITE
A DEPRESSING SIGHT.

I MEAN, THAT MUST BE ALMOST
FIVE MILES OF WATER

BETWEEN HERE AND THERE.

IF YOU'RE GONNA SELF-RESCUE,
THAT'S WHERE YOU NEED TO GO,

AND I KNOW
EXACTLY HOW TO DO THIS.

OKAY, WE NEED TO GET DOWN.

THE ONLY WAY OFF THIS ISLAND
IS BY SEA.

LOOK AT ALL THIS RUBBISH!

THE VICIOUS STORMS THAT TOSSED
THE SHIPS ONTO THE SHORE

HAVE ALSO WASHED UP
HUGE AMOUNTS OF DEBRIS.

I CAN USE IT TO MAKE A RAFT,

BUT IT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE
A GOOD ONE.

THIS IS REALLY
THE ULTIMATE IN RECYCLING.

LENGTHS OF BAMBOO DRIFTWOOD
WILL MAKE THE FRAME

AND AN OUTRIGGER FOR STABILITY.

I CAN TIE THESE THREE TOGETHER
TO MAKE ONE HULL

AND THEN DO EXACTLY THE SAME
HERE TO MAKE THE SECOND ONE,

AND I'LL HAVE
A MAKESHIFT CATAMARAN.

PLASTIC CONTAINERS WILL GIVE
MY RAFT VITAL BUOYANCY.

THE PLAN'S GOOD,
BUT THE ONLY THING IS,

MOST OF THESE BOTTLES
DON'T HAVE TOPS ON THEM.

I WAS JUST TRYING
TO FIND ONES THAT MATCH HERE.

OH, COME ON. THERE WE GO.

I NEED ALL THE BUOYANCY
I CAN GET,

AND WITH GREAT WHITES
PATROLLING THE CHANNEL,

I WANT TO BE AS FAR OUT
OF THE WATER AS I CAN GET.

I'M RIGHT ON THE HIGH-TIDE MARK
AT THE MOMENT.

YOU SEE, AS IT TURNS,
I WANT TO USE IT TO TAKE ME OUT.

THE EBBING TIDE WILL PULL ME
OUT TOWARDS THE MAINLAND,

BUT THERE'S AN ONSHORE BREEZE
WORKING AGAINST ME.

I'M JUST RELYING
ON THE TIDE PULLING ME OUT

MORE THAN THE WIND'S
BLOWING ME BACK.

IT'S OVER FOUR MILES
TO THE MAINLAND.

EVEN WITH THE TIDE, IT CAN TAKE
YOU SEVEN HOURS TO GET THERE.

WITH SHARKS AROUND,
THAT'S SEVEN HOURS TOO MANY,

BUT STAYING PUT ON A BARREN,
WATERLESS ISLAND

WOULD BE SURVIVAL SUICIDE.

IT'S ALWAYS SO HARD
TO JUDGE DISTANCES AT SEA.

YOU KNOW, SOMETHING MIGHT LOOK
QUITE CLOSE.

A GOOD RULE OF THUMB
IS WHATEVER YOU THINK IT IS,

DOUBLE IT AT SEA.

THE MAINLAND'S CLOSE NOW,

BUT IF THE WIND
GETS ANY STRONGER,

I COULD BE BLOWN OUT TO SEA.

AS YOU SEE FROM
THE TIP OF THAT PENINSULA,

DEFINITELY SLOWING DOWN A BIT.

JUST OFFSHORE LIE HUGE
SANDBANKS AND BIG SURF.

MY RAFT IS BREAKING UP.

TIME TO ABANDON SHIP.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS LANDED
ON THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

500 YEARS AGO

AND ESTABLISHED
THE FIRST EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT

IN THE NEW WORLD.

I'M ON THE MAINLAND. BLECH.

THIS IS NOT
WHAT I WAS HOPING FOR.

ALL OF THIS IS JUST MANGROVE.

I'VE BEEN IN THIS STUFF BEFORE,
BUT REALLY THIS IS A WHOLE --

WHOLE NOTHER LEVEL.

THIS MANGROVE STRETCHES
FOR 17 MILES ALONG THIS COAST.

YOU COULD WORK YOUR WAY ALONG
TO FIND AN INLET

OR JUST PUSH ON THROUGH.

IT'S A TOUGH CHOICE,

BUT COASTAL MANGROVE IS USUALLY
WIDER THAN IT IS DEEP,

BUT IT'S NEVER EASY.

IT TRULY IS A HELLHOLE
IN THIS PLACE.

[ GRUNTS ]

AAH!

MANGROVE IS A BREEDING GROUND
FOR THE MOSQUITOS

THAT SPREAD DEADLY MALARIA
AND DENGUE FEVER.

BITE PREVENTION IS VITAL.

REACH DOWN
AND USE SOME OF THIS MUD.

AND IT STINKS LIKE HELL,

BUT IF YOU RUB IT ON YOURSELF
AND LET IT DRY...

[ EXHALES ]

...IT'S GONNA
ACT LIKE A BARRIER.

MANGROVES ARE A VITAL PART
OF THE ECOSYSTEM

AND HAVE EVOLVED AERIAL ROOTS

THAT ENABLE THEM TO THRIVE
IN SALT WATER.

I'M GONNA USE THEM
TO GET THROUGH

THIS BLOODSUCKING SWAMP.

ACTUALLY, LOOK.

IT'S GONNA BE EASY TO ACTUALLY
GET OUT OF THE WATER.

THERE YOU GO.

CLIMB ON TO THIS BIT AND THEN
START USING -- USING THESE.

THAT'S GONNA HELP US
MOVE MUCH FASTER.

THEY DON'T LOOK STRONG ENOUGH,

BUT THESE ROOTS
ARE SO INTERTWINED

THEY EASILY TAKE MY WEIGHT.

EVEN THROUGH THE MUD THESE
MOSQUITOES ARE GETTING --

[ SNIFFS ] -- GETTING ME.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ACTUALLY

BEGINNING TO OPEN UP
A BIT OVER THERE.

EVENTUALLY, THE MANGROVE
STARTS TO THIN OUT.

NOW I CAN COVER SOME GROUND.

WE NEED TO KEEP GOING,
PUSH THE PACE A BIT.

OH, GOD.

HANG ON.

IF YOU'RE STUCK IN QUICK MUD,
DON'T PANIC.

KEEP MOVEMENT TO A MINIMUM.

USE THIS ROOT.

[ GRUNTING ]

THESE SORT OF BOGS,
THEY'RE JUST NASTY

BECAUSE THE MORE YOU FIGHT THEM,
THE MORE THEY SUCK YOU IN.

THAT'S ONE MANGROVE ROOT
I'M QUITE GRATEFUL FOR.

[ SPITTING ]

THE MANGROVE EVENTUALLY
GIVES WAY TO SALT MARSH,

BUT BETWEEN ME AND THE INTERIOR

LIE A SERIES
OF SAVAGE ESCARPMENTS.

IN HURRICANE SEASON, YOU MUST
LEAVE THE COAST AND GET INLAND,

TO HIGH GROUND.

THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT I PLAN TO DO.

THIS ESCARPMENT'S REALLY
THE FIRST BIT OF HIGH GROUND

I'VE COME ACROSS.

I KIND OF WANT
TO TRY AND USE THAT,

SEE IF I CAN GET UP A BIT HIGHER
AND GET AN IDEA OF MY BEARINGS.

THESE RIDGES
HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND

BY SUCCESSIVE FALLS
IN SEA LEVEL.

IF YOU'RE HEADING NORTH,

IN SEARCH OF FRESH WATER
AND CIVILIZATION,

YOU'VE GOT TO GET OVER THEM.

WE SHOULD BE ABLE
TO GET UP HERE.

THIS IS ALL THE DEVIL'S --
DEVIL'S-TEETH ROCK, THIS STUFF.

YOU CAN SEE WHY --
ALL JUST RAZOR-SHARP.

CAN RIP YOU TO SHREDS
IF YOU FALL ON THIS.

IF THE ROCK DOESN'T GET YOU,
AROUND HERE, THE CACTUS WILL.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

WOW.

AND THAT'S JUST THE SORT OF VIEW
THAT COLUMBUS WOULD HAVE SEEN

WHEN HE FIRST CAME ASHORE
IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

THAT'S PRETTY SPECTACULAR.

[ EXHALES HEAVILY ]

YEAH, I JUST GOT CAUGHT,
AS WELL.

LOOK. WATCH OUT ON THESE.

BET BY THE TIME COLUMBUS
GOT TO THIS STAGE, THOUGH,

WITH ALL OF THESE CACTUS,

HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN HAVING
SECOND THOUGHTS.

OW.

[ SPITTING ]

AAH. RIGHT IN THE SHINS.

I NEED TO FIND SOMETHING
TO HELP WITH THIS.

GONNA BE MAD OTHERWISE.

EVERYTHING HERE
IS SHARP AND PRICKLY.

ANY CUTS WILL QUICKLY
BECOME INFECTED.

BUT ONE PLANT HERE
WILL OFFER ME SOME PROTECTION.

THIS IS GONNA WORK -- A TREAT.

A PIECE OF AGAVE, CUT AND
PLACED UNDER THE TROUSERS,

MAKES A GREAT SHIN PAD.

THIS IS GONNA GIVE ME
A BIT OF PROTECTION.

BUT OUT HERE
IT'S NOT JUST THE PLANTS

THAT ARE SPIKY AND DANGEROUS.

OH, LOOK AT THIS!
SEE THIS?

THE ANIMALS HAVE ADAPTED
TO THIS ENVIRONMENT,

AND THEY CAN BE
REALLY VICIOUS, TOO.

THAT'S A GIANT CENTIPEDE.
THESE ARE BRUTES.

JUST STAND BACK A BIT.

THESE ARE MORE VICIOUS
THAN THEY LOOK. WHOA!

GIANT CENTIPEDES
ARE AGGRESSIVE PREDATORS,

DELIVERING PARALYZING VENOM
THROUGH NEEDLE-SHARP PINCERS.

AND DO NOT
UNDERESTIMATE THESE GUYS.

YOU DO NOT WANT THIS
GOING UP YOUR TROUSER LEG.

AND ACTUALLY,
THESE ARE HIGHLY VENOMOUS.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN SEE
HIS PINCERS IN THE FRONT.

THERE YOU GO.
LOOK AT THAT.

YOU DO NOT WANT TO MESS WITH IT.

HIGHLY VENOMOUS,
BIG FRONT CLAWS THERE.

AND IF THAT BITES YOU,

IT'S LIKE SOMEBODY'S STICKING
A RED-HOT POKER INTO YOU.

AND THESE GUYS
HAVE EVEN BEEN KNOWN

TO GO HEAD TO HEAD WITH MAMMALS.

LET -- LET HIM DOWN HERE.

WE'RE GONNA GIVE HIM
A VERY WIDE BERTH.

OKAY, HE'S GOING DOWN.

THESE THINGS
HAVE SO MUCH TOXIN IN THEM

THAT THEY'RE NOT SAFE TO EAT.

GIANT CENTIPEDE IS OFF MY MENU.

TEMPERATURES SOAR UP TO 40
DEGREES IN THE ARID INTERIOR,

MAKING THIS ONE OF THE MOST
INHOSPITABLE PLACES

IN THE CARIBBEAN.

THERE'S NO DRINKABLE WATER HERE,

AND DEHYDRATION CAN DECIMATE
YOUR CHANCES OF SURVIVAL.

I FEEL LIKE A FLIPPING
HUMAN PINCUSHION UP HERE.

WATCH.

CACTI HAVE ADAPTED TO STORE
WHAT LITTLE MOISTURE THERE IS,

AND THAT CAN BE A LIFESAVER.

LOOK, ALL YOU NEED TO DO --
CUT THE SPINES ALL OFF,

AND YOU JUST GET IT,
TURN IT UPSIDE DOWN,

AND SQUEEZE YOUR HAND.

AND IF THE SAP RUNS CLEAR,
IT'S USUALLY GOOD TO DRINK.

AND YOU'RE GONNA
GET MOISTURE OUT OF IT.

AND, YEAH, EVEN IN A PLACE
AS DRY AND BARREN

AND HARSH AS THIS,
IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK,

YOU CAN ACTUALLY STILL SURVIVE
AND STILL FIND MOISTURE.

[ SLURPS ]

OKAY, LET'S KEEP MOVING.

WITH LITTLE TO SUPPORT LIFE,

YOU CAN'T AFFORD
TO STAY HERE TOO LONG.

YOUR BEST BET IS TO KEEP
HEADING NORTH INTO THE HILLS,

TO FIND WATER AND CIVILIZATION.

DEFINITELY MUCH LESS ROCK
AND CACTUS,

A BIT MORE EARTH UNDERFOOT, AND
ALL THE MUCH GREENER, AS WELL.

BUT IT DOES BRING WITH IT
TWO THINGS THAT I HATE,

AND THAT'S JUST THIS HUMIDITY

AND ALSO
THESE RELENTLESS MOSQUITOES.

THE CHANGING TERRAIN
AND VEGETATION

IS A GOOD INDICATOR THE STREAMS
AND RIVERS COULD BE NEARBY.

FINALLY, SOME RUNNING WATER.

THAT'S SO NICE.

AND THIS IS JUST GONNA BE COMING
STRAIGHT OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS.

SURVIVAL MANUALS ADVISE YOU
FOLLOW RIVERS DOWNHILL

TO FIND CIVILIZATION,

BUT THAT WOULD TAKE ME BACK
TO THE DRY DESERT

AND THE SALTY MANGROVES
ON THE SOUTH COAST --

THE LAST PLACE I WANT TO BE.

WELL, I ACTUALLY RECKON
IF I CAN FOLLOW THIS STREAM,

IT'S GONNA BE MUCH EASIER GOING

THAN TRYING TO PLOW THROUGH
ALL OF THIS JUNGLE.

AND WHAT I'M HOPING --

IT'S GONNA
TAKE ME UP THE MOUNTAIN

AND CARVE A WAY
THROUGH THE JUNGLE.

SO, LET'S COMMIT TO THIS AND GO.

EVERY SURVIVAL SITUATION
CREATES HIS OWN RULES.

YOU'VE GOT TO ADAPT
TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS

AND REACT TO THE SITUATION
IN FRONT OF YOU.

I'M GONNA USE THE STREAM
TO TAKE ME UPHILL,

HOPEFULLY TO SAFETY.

ACTUALLY,
THERE'S SHRIMP IN HERE!

THERE YOU GO.

SEE THAT ONE?

STRAIGHT UNDER MY FINGER,
STRAIGHT DOWN THERE.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET HIM OUT.

GOT HIM.

AND THESE ARE JUST FINE
TO EAT ABSOLUTELY RAW.

NOW, IF I JUST GRAB
THE TAIL OF THIS,

GIVE IT A TWIST ONE WAY,
TWIST THE OTHER WAY,

YOU SHOULD THEN
JUST BE ABLE TO...

PULL OUT ITS GUTS.

THAT'S THE STUFF
I DON'T WANT TO EAT.

BUT THEN THE REST OF THIS
IS FINE TO EAT.

NOT THE HEAD,
BUT THE BODY'S NICE.

BETTER COOKED, BUT NICE RAW.

BUT FINDING THAT
IS GOOD NEWS FOR ME.

IT MEANS THAT A LOT OF THIS
WATER IS GONNA BE CLEAN

AND GOOD TO DRINK.

SHRIMP'S A REALLY GOOD INDICATOR
OF CLEAN WATER --

VERY INTOLERANT
OF ANY SORT OF CONTAMINANTS

AND OFTEN THE FIRST THING
YOU'LL LOSE IN A DIRTY RIVER.

BUT FOLLOWING A STREAM UPHILL
IS A RISKY STRATEGY

IN THE CARIBBEAN
IN HURRICANE SEASON.

YOU CAN JUST SEE THE POWER
OF WHAT THE WATER CAN DO

IN GULLIES LIKE THIS.

SEE ALL OF THAT DEADFALL?

ALL OF THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
BROUGHT DOWN

BY THIS IN FULL FLOOD
WAY ABOVE ME,

UNDERCUTTING ALL THE BANKS
AND BRINGING THE TREES DOWN.

IN HURRICANE SEASON,

A STREAM LIKE THIS COULD BECOME
A FLASH FLOOD IN MINUTES.

RAIN FALLING IN THE HILLS
MILES AWAY

HAS TURNED THE STREAM
INTO A CHURNING RIVER.

AND AS THE WATER LEVEL RISES,

MY PROGRESS UPSTREAM
GETS HARDER.

THIS IS TURNING INTO
QUITE A TORRENT NOW.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN YOU GET RAIN HIGHER UP.

ALL OF THESE STREAMS
JUST BECOME WHITE WATER.

BUT IT CAN'T -- IT CAN'T
GO ON FOREVER LIKE THIS.

IN 2008, HURRICANE HANNA
HIT THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

FIERCE WINDS LASHED THE ISLAND,

SENDING 18-FOOT STORM SURGES
ON SHORE.

THOUSANDS WERE EVACUATED,

AND IN NEIGHBORING HAITI,
600 LOST THEIR LIVES.

THIS NARROW CANYON
IS FUNNELING THE WATER,

INCREASING ITS SPEED AND DEPTH.

THE WALLS ARE VERTICAL,
SO I CAN'T GET OUT.

MY ONLY OPTIONS --

KEEP HEADING UPSTREAM
OR GO BACK THE WAY I CAME.

THIS CANYON
IS REALLY NARROWING A LOT.

THIS ACTUALLY FEELS QUITE
CLAUSTROPHOBIC IN HERE.

WHAT I'M MORE WORRIED ABOUT,
THOUGH,

IS JUST THE WATER LEVELS.

YOU SEE HOW HIGH
THE WATER GOES TO

WHEN THIS RIVER'S IN FLOOD,
RIGHT UP THERE.

THIS IS GONNA FILL UP VERY FAST.

I DON'T FEEL THAT GREAT
ABOUT BEING HERE.

WE'LL TRY AND PUSH
AROUND THIS CORNER.

THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF WATER
ARE POUNDING THROUGH THE GORGE.

THE CURRENT IS NOW TOO STRONG
TO SWIM AGAINST.

TRY AND MAKE YOUR WAY
ALONG THIS WALL HERE.

THERE YOU GO.
COME ON, THEN.

COME ON.
THAT'S IT.

OKAY. GET SAFE THERE.
GET SAFE.

OKAY, WE'RE DOING THE NEXT BIT,
ALL RIGHT? HOLD IT.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN
GET A BIT CLOSER,

DIVE ACROSS THAT WATERFALL,
AND EDGE OUR WAY UP IT.

OKAY, STICK WITH ME, THOUGH.

OTHERWISE YOU'LL JUST
GET TAKEN STRAIGHT BACK.

BUT THE FORCE OF THE WATER
IS JUST BECOMING TOO STRONG.

I LOSE MY GRIP,
AND I'M CAUGHT IN A WHIRLPOOL.

[ GROANS ]

THERE'S JUST SO MUCH POWER
IN THAT!

IT PINNED ME DOWN THERE!

THIS IS FIGHTING A LOSING BATTLE
AT THE MOMENT WITH THIS!

GIVE IT ONE MORE GO!

THE WATER IS THUNDERING
DOWN THIS CANYON,

AND WHIRLPOOLS
BENEATH THE SURFACE

ARE THREATENING
TO SUCK ME UNDER.

WE'RE NOT -- WE'RE NEVER GONNA
GET UP THERE!

WE NEED TO BACKTRACK
AND FIND ANOTHER WAY!

GOD, MAN.

I MUST HAVE SWALLOWED
HALF OF THE RIVER.

THAT WAS JUST ONE
I WAS NEVER GONNA WIN.

WE NEED TO FIND A WAY UP,
OUT OF THIS CANYON.

THIS FLOODED RIVER
IS NO PLACE TO BE

WITH WATER LEVELS
RISING SO QUICKLY.

I NEED TO GET OUT OF THIS
CANYON AND FAST.

THE JUNGLE VINES
COULD BE AN ESCAPE ROUTE,

BUT IT WILL TAKE GUTS
TO GET UP THERE.

VERY NICE IF YOU HAD TO USE --
IF WE HAD TO USE THESE CREEPERS.

SEE THERE?

SHE RUN ALL THE WAY
UP TO THE CANYON ROOF.

[ SPITS ]

I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW STRONG
THEY'RE GONNA BE, THOUGH.

LET'S TRY THIS ONE.
LET'S GET A BIG ONE.

I'M OUT OF THE WATER,

BUT THERE'S NO WAY OF TELLING
WHERE THESE CREEPERS END

OR WHAT THEY'RE ATTACHED TO.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

JUST A BIT WORRIED WHETHER THESE
ARE GONNA KEEP HOLDING ME.

BUT IT'S GETTING THINNER
AS I GET HIGHER.

[ EXHALES HEAVILY ]

I CAN'T SEE
BEYOND THE OVERHANG,

SO THERE'S NO WAY TO TELL HOW
MUCH FURTHER I'VE GOT TO GO.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

THIS IS KILLING --
KILLING ON THE ARMS.

HANGING LIKE THIS FOR SO LONG

IS PUTTING INCREDIBLE STRAIN
ON MY UPPER BODY.

MY ARMS
ARE ABSOLUTELY SCREAMING.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

STILL ABOUT TWO METERS SHORT

OF WHERE I CAN GET A GOOD...

FOOTHOLD FOR MY FEET,
AND THEN I CAN REST MY FOREARMS.

THIS IS HARD, HARD WORK.

I'M DANGLING 90 FOOT ABOVE
THE GROUND ON A THIN VINE,

AND I'M NOT EVEN HALFWAY UP.

I'VE NEVER LOOKED AT SOMETHING
AND JUST FELT SO FAR AWAY.

I'M HANGING FROM A CREEPER

90 FOOT ABOVE
A RAGING TROPICAL RIVER

IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

STILL ABOUT TWO METERS SHORT

OF WHERE I CAN GET
A FOOTHOLD FOR MY FEET,

AND THEN I CAN REST MY FOREARMS.

THIS IS HARD, HARD WORK.

CLIMBING LIKE THIS

MEANS MY ARMS ARE CONSTANTLY
ABOVE MY HEAD.

THE BLOOD DRAINS
FROM WHERE I NEED IT MOST --

IN MY ARM MUSCLES.

AND I'M GETTING WEAKER
BY THE MINUTE.

WELL, THEY ARE JUST
ON PROPER FIRE.

[ PANTING ]

I'M PROBABLY ABOUT HALFWAY
UP THIS NOW.

AND I'VE NEVER
LOOKED AT SOMETHING

AND JUST FELT SO FAR AWAY.

FROM THE BOTTOM, THIS CLIMB
LOOKED QUITE STRAIGHTFORWARD,

BUT NOW THAT I'M HALFWAY UP IT,

I REALIZE I'VE TAKEN ON
A BIT OF A MONSTER.

THE ONLY SOLUTION -- BREAK IT
DOWN INTO SMALL SECTIONS,

THEN MAKE YOUR WAY UP SLOWLY,
BIT BY BIT.

OKAY, THAT'S THE NEXT
SIX-FOOT SECTION DONE.

AND THE ARMS AREN'T ANY BETTER.

FINALLY, I REACH A PLACE
TO CATCH MY BREATH

AND REST MY ARMS.

I'M A LONG WAY UP, BUT AT LAST,
I CAN SEE THE WAY AHEAD.

THIS IS A BIT
OF A PRECARIOUS REST PLACE.

BUT AT LEAST I'M LEANING
AGAINST THESE VINES

TO GET SOME BLOOD
BACK INTO THE FOREARMS.

PROBABLY ANOTHER 30 FOOT,
I'M OVER THE TOP.

IT'S ME OVER THE LIP
OF THIS THING --

ONE VERY TIRED BEAR.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

I'VE MADE IT OUT OF THE WATER
JUST IN TIME FOR THE RAIN.

THIS IS WHERE I THOUGHT
I'D GET A CHANCE TO GET DRY.

THIS TROPICAL STORM'S MOVED IN.

[ THUNDER CRASHES ]

BUT, YOU KNOW,
THAT'S JUNGLE LIVING, EH?

NIGHT FALLS QUICKLY
IN THE TROPICS.

I WANT TO MAKE CAMP
WHILE THERE'S STILL SOME LIGHT.

WELL, IF WE TUCK IN UNDER THIS,

I'M OUT OF THE RAIN HERE.

ACTUALLY, LOOK, THIS CAN ACT
AS A BIT OF A BOLLARD.

AND ALSO AROUND HERE.

SEE IF I MAKE A JUNGLE HAMMOCK
OUT OF SOME VINES.

IT'S GETTING DARKER
BY THE MINUTE.

I NEED TO QUICKLY
SLING A HAMMOCK

TO KEEP ME
OFF THE JUNGLE FLOOR.

THIS ONE LOOKS LIKE
CLEMATIS VINE, WHICH IS GREAT.

LOOK AT ALL THIS BARK ON THIS.

IT MAKES REALLY NICE TINDER
WHEN YOU FLUFF IT UP.

I'LL GET THIS ONE OUT.
STEP BACK A BIT.

CREEPERS LIKE THIS GROW HIGH
INTO THE JUNGLE CANOPY.

WHEN YOU'RE PULLING THEM DOWN,

WATCH OUT FOR SNAKES
AND DEADFALL.

OKAY, THAT'S GONNA
DO THE JOB NICELY.

LET'S GET THIS BACK TO CAMP.

A SIMPLE REEF KNOT
TIES MY CREEPER TO THE ROCK.

AROUND THE BACK...

OH, GOD.

...WITHOUT CLOBBERING YOURSELF
IN THE FACE.

OKAY, THAT'S OUT OF FRAME A BIT.

AND THEN YOU WANT
TO START WEAVING CRISSCROSS

ALL THE WAY DOWN THIS.

AND THAT RAIN
HAS REALLY SET IN NOW.

I'M QUITE GLAD
TO BE UNDER THIS OVERHANG.

HAVE A LOOK AT THAT.

OKAY, BINGO, THAT'S WORKING.

GONNA GO AND GET A FIRE GOING.

FIND SOME FIREWOOD.

OH, LOOK, IT'S ALL KOPI FRUIT.

I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
I'M GONNA USE THAT FOR LATER.

STARTING A FIRE
IN THIS TORRENTIAL RAIN

IS GONNA BE A CHALLENGE.

BUT THERE'S A SUPPLY OF DRY
OF TINDER UNDER THE OVERHANG,

OUT OF THE RAIN.

AND LOOK, I'VE GOT ALL OF THIS.
IT'S NICE AND DRY.

DEAD WOOD
ALREADY UNDER THE LEDGE.

I USE THIS AS TINDER.

OKAY, I'VE GOT A FIRE GOING.

[ THUNDER CRASHES ]

MAN, THE HEAVENS
HAVE JUST OPENED.

AND I'M JUST GONNA
PUT SOME OF THESE KOPI FRUIT

ON TOP OF THE FIRE.

AND THIS IS WHAT
THE TAINO PEOPLE USED TO BURN

AS A WAY OF KEEPING
THE MOSQUITOES AWAY.

AND I'LL TELL YOU,
I WILL TRY ANYTHING.

I'VE GOT A HAMMOCK.

I'VE GOT FIRE.

BUT I AM ABSOLUTELY
DRENCHED THROUGH,

AND THIS TROPICAL STORM
DOES NOT LOOK

LIKE IT'S GONNA PASS IN A HURRY.

WELL,
THE RAIN'S EASED OFF A BIT.

IT'S DEFINITELY
SORT OF DRIZZLING,

AND I'M DEFINITELY
STILL PRETTY SODDEN.

AND IT'S ACTUALLY
QUITE COLD UP HERE.

YOU'RE IN THE HUMID FOREST
QUITE HIGH UP.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
HAS THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN

IN THE WHOLE OF THE CARIBBEAN.

AND WITH THE ALTITUDE
COMES THE COLD.

WHEN YOU'RE WET,
THAT'S MADE WORSE.

AND TO BE HONEST, I'M QUITE
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MORNING.

BUT THE HAMMOCK'S HOLDING UP,
WHICH IS GOOD.

SO AT LEAST
I'M OFF THE JUNGLE FLOOR.

BUT TRY AND GET SOME SLEEP.

THE IMPROVISED SHELTER
SERVED ITS PURPOSE.

WELL-RESTED, I'M READY TO FACE
ANOTHER DAY IN THE JUNGLE.

I MANAGED TO DRY OUT A BIT NOW.

STOPPED RAINING,

BUT I WAS PRETTY GLAD I WAS OFF
THE JUNGLE FLOOR LAST NIGHT.

LOOK, HE'S BEEN WANDERING AROUND
MY WOODPILE THIS MORNING.

BUT HE SEEMS QUITE HAPPY THERE.

BUT ACTUALLY, LET'S SEE IF
WE CAN GET HIM OUT TO SHOW YOU.

NATIVE TO THE CARIBBEAN,

THE GIANT BIRD-EATING TARANTULA
HAS TWO-CENTIMETER-LONG FANGS,

WHICH CAN PIERCE THE SKIN
AND INJECT PARALYZING VENOM,

WHICH LIQUIFIES BODY TISSUE.

THERE WE GO.
LOOK, YOU CAN SEE HIM THERE.

NOT AGGRESSIVE
IF HANDLED CORRECTLY,

BUT WHEN THREATENED, TARANTULAS
RISE ON THEIR BACK LEGS

AND SHOW THEIR FANGS
BEFORE STRIKING.

THEY CAN ALSO SHOOT HAIR DARTS
AS A DEFENSE MECHANISM.

WHAT CAN BE NASTY
ABOUT THESE TARANTULAS

IS JUST THESE LITTLE HAIRS
ON THEIR LEGS.

THEY'RE CALLED URTICATING HAIRS.

AND IF THEY'RE THREATENED,
THEY SHED THOSE HAIRS,

AND THEY IRRITATE, GET INTO
THE LUNGS, A PREDATOR'S THROAT.

GENERALLY, IT WILL LEAVE THEM
ALONE THEN.

I ALWAYS REMEMBER
URTICATING HAIRS

'CAUSE THEY "URT"
[ Hurt ].

WHAT HAS HE GOT.
LET'S BRING HIM DOWN OFF HERE.

AND WHEN THEY BITE, THEY HAVE
THESE PINCERS IN ITS FRONT --

LIKE THAT, TWO FANGS.

HE'LL STRIKE.
WATCH OUT.

AND BITE YOU.

WHOA, GOSH,
YOU WANT SOME OF ME THEN.

I DON'T WANT HIM TO GET AWAY.

HE, FOR ME,
IS GONNA BE BREAKFAST.

I'VE KILLED
A BIRD-EATING TARANTULA.

NOW I'M COOKING IT
FOR BREAKFAST.

IT'S NOT QUITE...DANISH PASTRIES
AND CROISSANT,

BUT...OUT HERE...

IT'S A PRETTY GOOD BREAKFAST.

THE FLAMES REMOVE
THE IRRITATING HAIRS

AND COOK THE FLESH.

AND, YEAH, ALL THOSE HAIRS OFF.

NOW LET'S TRY A BIT OF THIS.

AND JUST LOOK --
YOU CAN SEE THE MEAT...

INSIDE IT THERE.

[ CRUNCHING ]

AND, ACTUALLY, IT'S GOT
QUITE A LOT OF MEAT ON IT.

NOT BAD-TASTING...

FOR A SPIDER.

[ INHALES DEEPLY ]

THIS CAMP HAS SERVED ME WELL,

BUT IT'S TIME
TO FACE THE JUNGLE AGAIN.

THE GROUND IS STEEP HERE,

BUT I KNOW TO THE NORTH
THERE'S A LARGE PLATEAU.

WITH MILES OF FERTILE LAND,

IT'S SCATTERED
WITH SMALL FARMS.

GET LOST HERE, AND THIS
COULD BE YOUR BEST CHANCE

OF FINDING CIVILIZATION.

OH, IT'S A PRINGAMOSA.

BRUSH UP AGAINST THIS
ALONG YOUR FACE --

GONNA BRING YOU ON
A NASTY BLISTER.

YOU RECOGNIZE IT --

GOT THESE LITTLE HORNS
ALL OVER THE LEAVES.

AND IF YOU COME OUT
UNDERNEATH IT,

YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THESE SPIKES
THE WHOLE WAY DOWN THE STEM.

THAT'S WHAT YOU DON'T WANT
TO BE TOUCHING.

LET'S GIVE THAT ONE
A WIDE BERTH.

KEEP AN EYE OUT
FOR ANY MORE AROUND HERE.

THEY'LL OFTEN GROW TOGETHER.

THE PRINGAMOSA IS BAD ENOUGH,
BUT WORSE STILL,

THE THICK VEGETATION'S HOME TO
VENOMOUS SCORPIONS AND SNAKES.

AAH!

BUT AHEAD IS A CLEARING.

IT'S A DRY RIVERBED.

FORMED BY FLASH FLOODS,

IT'S LIKE NATURE'S HIGHWAY
THROUGH THE JUNGLE.

AND THIS, IN A FLOOD,
WOULD BE UP ABOVE MY HEAD.

AND THAT'S WHY THESE RAGING
TORRENTS ARE SUCH KILLERS.

BUT IT'S A PLACE TO WALK IN
TO GET UP THE MOUNTAINS.

IT'S GREAT.

YOU'LL OFTEN FIND UNDERGROUND
WATER IN DRY RIVERBEDS,

BUT DIGGING TAKES TIME
AND EFFORT.

HERE IN THE JUNGLE,

THERE'S A FAR EASIER WAY
TO GET A DRINK.

THAT'S A WATER VINE, THIS ONE.

RECOGNIZABLE
BY THEIR OAKLIKE BARK,

WATER VINES CAN BE LIFESAVERS.

WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS CUT IT
AT THE BOTTOM END...

AND LIKE THAT -- LOOK.

AND YOU WON'T SEE ANY WATER
COME OUT UNTIL --

IT'S LIKE HAVING
YOUR FINGER OVER A STRAW --

UNTIL I CUT UP HERE AND LET SOME
AIR INTO THOSE CAPILLARIES.

YOU'LL SEE THAT RUNNING OUT.

AS LONG AS THE SAP'S CLEAR...

IT'S GOOD TO DRINK.

FOLLOWING THE DRY RIVER
TAKES ME NORTH.

THE DESTRUCTION LEFT BY RECENT
STORMS IS CLEAR TO SEE.

THE FOREST FLOOR'S LITTERED
WITH HEAVY BOULDERS

AND HUGE TREE TRUNKS.

THIS RIVERBED IS JUST RUNNING
INTO A BIT OF A DEAD END.

LOOKS LIKE PROBABLY A LANDSLIDE.

ALL THE FLOODING WATER
COMES DOWN, UNDERCUTS IT --

YOU GET
HUGE BOULDERS COLLAPSING.

ACTUALLY, IT'S ONE
JUST HUGE TREE ROOT.

SEE THE TREE UP THERE
RUNNING DOWN THE OUTSIDE,

CLINGING TO ALL OF ITS ROCK?

I SEE IT'S QUITE STRONG.

BUT SLIPPY.

TREE ROOTS AND VINES
VARY IN STRENGTH,

SO TEST THEM BEFORE YOU PUT
ALL OF YOUR WEIGHT ON THEM.

COME ON.

YOU WANT TO BE PRETTY CERTAIN
OF EACH HOLD

AND ALSO WHERE
YOU PUT YOUR HANDS.

ALL OF THESE
TINY LITTLE POCKETS --

SOME OF THOSE
NOOKS AND CRANNIES,

YOU GET THE BLACK WIDOWS
AND THE TARANTULAS.

WATCH OUT FOR THAT.

OKAY, IT'S GOOD TO CLIMB
UP THERE STRAIGHT UP.

SOMEWHERE AHEAD,
THERE'S A LARGE PLATEAU.

IT'S SCATTERED
WITH SMALL HABITATIONS.

THIS MAY BE YOUR BEST CHANCE OF
FINDING PEOPLE AND A WAY OUT.

HERE YOU GO. LOOK, LOOK.

THERE YOU GO. THERE YOU GO.

THAT'S A WILD FOWL,
SEE, GOING UP THAT LOG.

IT'S NO SURPRISE
TO FIND WILD FOWL HERE.

BANISHED SETTLERS BROUGHT
EUROPEAN LIVESTOCK HERE

500 YEARS AGO.

GOATS, BOAR, AND CHICKENS HAVE
ALL MADE THE ISLAND THEIR HOME.

YOU MUST ALWAYS
GAIN MORE ENERGY FROM A KILL

THAN YOU LOSE HUNTING IT.

FOWL ARE NOTORIOUSLY
HARD TO CATCH,

BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF MEAT,
SO IT'S WORTH A GO.

[ CRACK, CLUCKING ]
WHOA!

THEY'RE CRAFTY.

LET HIM CALM DOWN A BIT.

IT'S TEMPTING
TO TRY AND RUN THEM DOWN,

BUT THE FOWL ARE TOO FAST
AND TOO NIMBLE.

[ CLUCKING ]

A SLOW, STEALTHY APPROACH
IS BEST.

JUST GET AT THE TOP OF THIS,
AND LOOK.

NOW IT'S DOWN THERE.

[ SQUAWKS ]

ONE WILD FOWL.

OH, A VICIOUS ONE.
LET'S BREAK HIS NECK.

[ BONES CRACK ]

AND HE REALLY MADE ME --

MADE ME WORK FOR THAT.

BUT THE BIT I WANT
IS JUST HIS BREAST HERE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS A KID,

I USED TO GO OUT
AND SHOOT PIGEONS, LOADS,

AND I USED TO COME BACK
WITH A BAGFUL OF THEM --

LIKE 10 OF THEM --

AND THEN JUST WHIP OUT
THEIR BREASTS LIKE THIS,

LEAVE THE REST OF IT,
LEAVE ALL THE CARCASS,

AND I'LL HAVE THE BREAST
FRIED UP FOR BREAKFAST.

IT'S ALWAYS DELICIOUS.

JUST GONNA COOK THESE UP.

THIS MEAT CONTAINS BACTERIA
AND PARASITES.

IT'S VITAL
YOU COOK THEM THOROUGHLY.

IF THERE'S STILL PINK
IN THE MIDDLE,

GET IT BACK ON THE FIRE.

IT'S GOOD, LEAN MEAT,
GOOD PROTEIN --

DEFINITELY WORTH THE HUNT.

AS I RISE HIGHER,
I ENTER A NEW LANDSCAPE.

HERE RAZOR-SHARP LIMESTONE
DOMINATES THE TERRAIN.

HAVE TO REALLY WATCH WHERE
YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR FEET.

ALL OF THIS LIMESTONE
IS SO ERODED

THAT YOU WANT
TO STICK ON THE ROCKS.

ALL OF THIS IS JUST MULCH
COVERING BIG HOLES.

LOOK AT THAT ONE THERE.

BRUTAL.

Man: [BLEEP] [BLEEP]

YOU ALL RIGHT?

YEAH.

YOU CUT IT.

JUST REALLY, REALLY STEADY
ON THAT STEP.

AHEAD, I CAN SEE A BRIGHT AREA
THROUGH THE TREES.

IT COULD BE A CLEARING.

BUT THE LAND
IS STARTING TO FALL AWAY.

IT'S SLIPPERY AND STEEP --
TOO STEEP.

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.

THAT IS MUCH BIGGER
THAN I THOUGHT.

LOOK AT THAT.
YOU SEE DOWN THERE?

THAT MUST BE 70 OR 80 FOOT
ALL THE WAY DOWN.

LONG ROOTS ARE DANGLING
DOWN THE FACE.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY REACH
ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM.

THAT COULD BE A WAY OFF HERE.

AND THIS ONE'S A NICE -- LOOK.
THIS ONE'S A NICE BIG ONE.

THEY'RE LIKE
A NATURAL FIREMAN'S POLE.

SEE THAT?

OKAY, I'M GONNA GO FOR THIS.

I CAN...

YOU CAN SEE DOWN IT --
DOWN THERE.

THE ROOT IS COVERED
IN ROUGH BARK.

IT'S NO EASY DESCENT.

WAH.

QUITE SORE ON THE...
FAMILY JEWELS.

OOH.

AY.

AS I HEAD LOWER, THE ROOT
GETS THINNER AND THINNER.

I CAN'T HANG AROUND TOO LONG,
BUT I NEED A BREAK.

WRAP YOUR LEGS AROUND,
ONE FOOT UNDER THE OTHER,

AND THEN SQUEEZE,
AND THAT JUST...LOCKS ME.

TRY AND GET SOME BLOOD
BACK INTO ME ARMS AGAIN.

ALSO, MY FINGERS ARE REALLY
PRETTY RUBBED RAW

FROM THOSE VINES YESTERDAY.

NOW FOR THE FINAL PUSH.

I JUST HAVE TO HOPE
THIS CREEPER HOLDS MY WEIGHT.

[ GRUNTS ]

OKAY, DOWN OFF THAT CREEPER.

AND IT IS LOOKING --
LOOKING CLEAR HERE.

THIS IS GOOD.

THE JUNGLE FLOOR
IS SLOPING AWAY

AND THE TREES
STARTING TO THIN OUT.

OH, THIS IS CLEARING.

AS THE LIGHT LEADS ME
OUT OFF THE HILLSIDE,

OPEN FARMLAND AHEAD

TELLS ME I'M GETTING CLOSER
TO CIVILIZATION.

THIS IS DEFINITELY
ALL FARMLAND HERE.

AND THIS PATH'S GONNA LEAD ME --
LEAD ME OUT OF HERE.

AND THERE'S EVEN AN AVOCADO.

THAT'S MORE LIKE
CARIBBEAN PARADISE.