Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 4, Episode 9 - China - full transcript

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.

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 GONNA BE

IN THE TYPHOON-HIT MOUNTAINS
OF SOUTHERN CHINA,

WHERE I'LL BE BATTLING
WITH THE LANDSCAPE...

OKAY. MOMENT OF TRUTH
TO COMMIT TO THIS BRANCH.

...DESCENDING
INTO THE DARKEST RECESSES



OF CHINA'S VAST CAVE NETWORK...

HOLY MACKEREL!
JUST BATS EVERYWHERE!

...AND SHOWING YOU
HOW TO SURVIVE

ON WHATEVER JUNGLE CREATURES
I CAN HIT UPON.

WHOO!

CHINA IS ONE COOL
AND CRAZY PLACE.

THE LAST TIME I SET FOOT
IN THE COUNTRY

WAS ON THE SUMMIT OF EVEREST.

THIS PLACE FEELS
A MILLION MILES AWAY FROM THERE.

CHINA HAS JUST BEEN HIT
BY TYPHOON PARMA,

AND ALL AIRCRAFT ARE GROUNDED.

THE ONLY WAY
I'M GONNA GET OUT OF THIS TOWN

IS BY HITCHING A RIDE
IN A TRUCK.

JUMP.



PIGS!

CHINA IS ONE OF THE MOST
DENSELY POPULATED COUNTRIES

IN THE WORLD,

BUT WHERE I'M HEADING,
YOU'RE GONNA BE ON YOUR OWN.

SO, I'M OFF TO THE REMOTE
MOUNTAIN RANGES OF THE SOUTH.

THE JUNGLES THERE
ARE WILD AND UNTAMED,

JUST LIKE THE WEATHER.

MY MISSION IS TO SHOW YOU
HOW TO SURVIVE

IN THE AFTERMATH
OF A TROPICAL STORM.

CHINA GETS HIT BY MORE TYPHOONS
THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY ON EARTH,

AND IT'S THE SOUTHERN PART
THAT GETS THE MOST BATTERED.

GET WINDS IN EXCESS
OF 100 MILES AN HOUR,

AND ONE STORM CAN DUMP
OVER 3 FOOT OF RAIN.

GUESS WHAT --

I'VE ARRIVED
BANG IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE.

TYPICAL!

TYPHOON PARMA
HAS ALREADY KILLED

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
IN THE PHILIPPINES

BEFORE MAKING ITS WAY HERE
ACROSS THE SOUTH CHINA SEA.

WITH ALL THIS RAIN, THE RIVER
IS JUST AT BURSTING POINT.

THE WATER LEVEL IN THIS RIVER

HAS RISEN BY 20 FEET
IN LESS THAN A DAY.

WITH RIVERS IN FLOOD

AND THE MOUNTAINS BATTERED
BY RAINSTORMS,

STAYING ALIVE
IN THIS WILDERNESS

JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT TOUGHER.

I'M GONNA REALLY GO FOR THIS.

WHOO!

THERE'S THE TRUCK GONE.

WE NEED TO GET INTO THIS.

WITH THE AMOUNT OF RAIN,

THIS WATER
IS GONNA BE RISING FAST.

WE WANT TO GET UP
INTO THIS CREEK.

DURING WORLD WAR II,

THE MOUNTAINS HERE BECAME A
REFUGE FOR COMMUNIST GUERRILLAS

WHO WERE FIGHTING THE JAPANESE

IN THIS FORGOTTEN THEATER
OF THE WAR.

JUNGLES LIKE THIS
CAN BE A SANCTUARY

OR A LIVING NIGHTMARE.

RIGHT NOW, IT FEELS LIKE
THE SECOND OPTION.

YOU'RE NOT HUMAN

IF YOU DON'T FIND
A PLACE LIKE THIS

A LITTLE BIT EERIE.

IT'S ABOUT AS DARK AND DANK
AND SINISTER-LOOKING

AS YOU'RE EVER GONNA FIND.

JUST CALL IT OUR WELCOME
TO OUR FIRST CHINESE JUNGLE.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

SO, THIS IS
THE END OF THE CREEK.

WE NEED TO GET UP THIS.

THE MOSSY, VERTICAL ROCK FACE
EITHER SIDE OF THE WATERFALL

IS UNCLIMBABLE,
SO MY BEST BET IS THIS VINE.

SEE, THIS RUNS
ALL THE WAY UP THERE.

IT'S A GOOD
80 FOOT UP THE VINE,

WHICH IS GONNA BE
A TOUGH CLIMB.

GIVE IT A GOOD SHAKE.

BUT IT'S GONNA BE THE BEST BET
TO GET ME TO THE TOP.

SEE IF THIS TAKES MY WEIGHT
OR NOT.

WELL, IT'S TAKING MY WEIGHT,

BUT THERE'S THE DANGER
OF TAKING SOME ROCKS DOWN.

I'LL JUST GO FOR IT.
LET'S GO.

REALLY, THIS IS JUST ALL ABOUT
TRYING TO USE LEG STRENGTH

RATHER THAN ARM STRENGTH,

'CAUSE YOUR ARMS
WILL TIRE FIRST.

I GOT QUITE A GOOD GRIP
ON THIS VINE.

PROBABLY ABOUT ANOTHER 20 FOOT
TO THE TOP OF IT.

SO FAR...

IT'S HOLDING.

I'VE GOT TO PACE MYSELF HERE.

THE LAST FEW FEET
ARE ALWAYS THE HARDEST.

YOU'VE GOT TO
CONSERVE YOUR ENERGY.

THE LAST LITTLE BIT OF STRENGTH.

THE VINE HAS TAKEN ME
UP ABOVE THE WATERFALL

AND INTO THE JUNGLE.

FOR CENTURIES, THIS WAS
A WILD AND UNRULY PLACE.

REBELLIOUS TRIBES ADAPTED
TO THE HARSH ENVIRONMENT

OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

BUT THESE MOUNTAINS
REMAIN UNTAMED.

STILL TODAY,
THERE ARE STORIES OF TIGERS

PROWLING AROUND
THE JUNGLES HERE.

AAH!

EEW!

ANTS.

MAN, LOOK AT THIS -- LOOK.

WEAVER ANTS.
THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE. HANG ON.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

RIGHT DOWN THE NECK.

THESE THINGS ARE BRUTISH.

YOW!

THE BITES REALLY PACK A PUNCH

BECAUSE THE ANTS SPRAY
FORMIC ACID INTO THE WOUND.

SEE, IT'S WHY THEY'RE
CALLED WEAVER ANTS.

THEY'VE WEAVED
ALL OF THESE LEAVES TOGETHER.

THEY HAVE THIS, LIKE, GLUE
THAT HOLDS IT ALL IN PLACE.

BUT THESE ARE NASTY ANTS.

THESE ANTS ARE SO AGGRESSIVE

THAT THE ANCIENT CHINESE
USED NESTS OF WEAVER ANTS

TO PROTECT THEIR FRUIT TREES
FROM HARMFUL BUGS.

IT'S THE OLDEST EXAMPLE
OF BIOCONTROL IN THE WORLD.

THEY'RE NOT GONNA LIKE THIS
ONE BIT.

BUT THE LARVAE ARE PACKED
WITH PROTEIN,

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M AFTER.

YEAH, THAT IS MASSIVE.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!

YA YA!

LET'S TRY AND GET
SOME OF THIS STUFF THERE.

LOOK. THERE YOU GO.
THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.

SEE THAT?

ALL THOSE LITTLE RICE GRAINS
ARE ACTUALLY -- PBHT!

OHH! YOW!
I'M GETTING DEVOURED HERE.

HERE YOU GO. SOME LARVAE
I'VE KNOCKED OFF THERE.

GOOD JUST TO PICK UP AND EAT.

POUND FOR POUND, THE LARVAE
CONTAIN MORE PROTEIN THAN BEEF.

BUT I'D HAVE TO
GATHER HUNDREDS OF THEM,

AND THAT WOULD MEAN
BEING EATEN ALIVE.

IT'S NOT WORTH PERSEVERING
WITH THIS ONE.

OKAY. THAT'LL DO ME.
I'M OUT OF HERE.

AHEAD OF ME, THE GROUND
STARTS TO RISE SHARPLY.

THE JUNGLE
JUST TENDS TO BE RIDDLED

WITH THESE SORT OF GORGES.

NOW, THEY BLOCK YOUR PATH,

AND TRYING TO FIND A WAY ACROSS
THEM IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE.

YOU KNOW,
IT'S JUST SHEER WALLS THERE

AND A LOT OF WHITE WATER,
AS WELL.

GETTING ACROSS THIS
COULD SAVE HOURS

OF TRAVERSING THROUGH THICK,
OVERGROWN JUNGLE.

THIS IS DEFINITELY,
DEFINITELY AN OPTION.

HAVE A LOOK AT THIS FELLA.

SEE, THIS TREE PROBABLY GOES AT
LEAST HALFWAY ACROSS THIS GORGE,

BUT THERE'S A LONG WAY DOWN THAT
AND ONTO ROCKS

IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG.

BIG BRANCH REACHED ACROSS.

HOW STRONG THAT IS,
I DON'T KNOW,

BUT I'M NOT GONNA GET
BETTER THAN THIS.

OKAY, LET'S TRY THIS.

SEE, IT'S STARTING TO WOBBLE
A LITTLE BIT OUT HERE.

A DEAD, FULL BRANCH
BROUGHT DOWN BY THE TYPHOON

IS WEDGED IN THE FORK
OF THE TREE TRUNK.

THAT'S MY NEXT MOVE.

OKAY. MOMENT OF TRUTH
TO COMMIT TO THIS BRANCH.

THERE'S A LOT OF BEND IN THIS.

THIS MONKEY CLIMB
IS TOUGH ON THE SHOULDERS,

AND IT'S A LONG DROP DOWN.

BUT EVEN WHEN I'M ACROSS,

IT'S A STRUGGLE
TO GET ANY KIND OF FOOTING

ON THE SHEER ROCK WALL
OF THE GORGE.

AND CHINESE TRIBAL WOMEN
USED TO DO THAT AND MONKEY-CLIMB

AS A WAY OF TRYING
TO IMPRESS THE MEN.

THEY WOULD SHOW OFF
THEIR STRENGTH AND AGILITY.

TELL YOU WHAT.

THAT WOULD HAVE IMPRESSED
THE MEN IF THEY'D DONE THAT ONE.

STRONG WOMEN.

STILL NEED TO BE HEADING
THIS WAY, REALLY.

WE NEED TO GET ACROSS THIS.

YOU CAN SEE THIS RIVER IS IN
FULL FLOOD WITH ALL THE RAINS.

AND I KNOW THESE JUNGLE RIVERS.

THEY CAN BE
DECEPTIVELY FAST-FLOWING

AND ALSO DECEPTIVELY WIDE.

AND THERE YOU SEE

THERE'S A LOAD OF DEBRIS
COMING DOWN THE RIVER.

OKAY, WE NEED TO
STICK TOGETHER IN THIS.

YOU CAN FEEL THERE'S ACTUALLY
A STRONG CURRENT IN HERE,

WHIPPING ME DOWN.

BUT AS I GET OUT
TO THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER,

TYPHOON PARMA
CATCHES UP WITH ME.

WHERE THE HELL
DID THAT COME FROM?

THE DOWNPOUR IS A REMINDER
OF THE DANGERS IN THIS RIVER.

IT'S FULL OF FALLEN TREES
AND LOGS.

I WANT TO GET ACROSS THIS
AND FAST.

I'M IN A SWOLLEN CHINESE RIVER,

TRYING TO FIGHT MY WAY
OUT OF THE JUNGLE.

THE STORM IS STILL OVERHEAD,

AND THE WATER LEVEL
KEEPS RISING.

WE NEED TO SWIM NICE AND STEADY
ACROSS THIS RIVER.

DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT RAIN
HAS SUDDENLY COME FROM AS WELL.

OKAY, STAY WITH ME.

WE'LL GET OUT
INTO THE MAIN FLOW.

JUST WATCH OUT FOR STUFF
GOING DOWNSTREAM.

LOGS AND WHOLE TREES ARE
FLYING PAST ME ON ALL SIDES,

BROUGHT DOWN BY THE TYPHOON.

I'VE JUST GOT TO
KEEP MOVING HERE.

WATCH OUT FOR THIS ONE.

IT'S NOT THE STUFF
ON THE SURFACE YOU
WANT TO WATCH OUT FOR.

IT'S THE ONES UNDER THE WATER.

THE DANGER, JUST THE AMOUNT
OF FLOW COMING DOWN.

YOU GET PINNED AGAINST BRANCHES
THAT'S UNDERNEATH.

FIGHTING THE CURRENT
AND DODGING THE DEBRIS

IS EXHAUSTING.

I'VE GOT TO USE SOMETHING
TO KEEP ME AFLOAT.

JUST GONNA GRAB THIS.

USE THIS BRANCH
TO GIVE ME A BIT OF BUOYANCY.

I'M QUITE STRUGGLING IN THIS.

LET'S GET IN TO THE SHORE.

I'M PRETTY BEAT FROM THAT RIVER.

KIND OF DRAINING, YOU KNOW?

IT'S A MIX OF COLD WATER AND
ADRENALINE AND CONCENTRATING.

AND A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF FEAR
IN THERE, AS WELL.

I WANT TO TRY AND FIND SOME FOOD

AND GET THE ENERGY LEVELS
BACK UP A BIT.

CAVES, ACTUALLY, LIKE THIS
ARE NEVER BAD PLACES TO LOOK,

IF WE CAN HAVE A LOOK IN IT.

BUT BEFORE I GO IN,
I NEED A LIGHT SOURCE.

TRY AND GET SOME OF THIS BAMBOO
TO MAKE A TORCH OUT OF.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S QUITE
A DEEP-LOOKING CAVE IN THERE.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO GET INTO.

I'M GONNA MAKE
A SIMPLE BAMBOO TORCH.

GET THAT,
AND YOU CAN THEN FILL THAT

WITH JUST LOADS OF DRY TINDER.

ANY OF THIS STUFF WOULD BE GOOD.

THESE LEAVES HAVE BEEN
SHELTERED FROM THE RAIN

BY OVERHANGING ROCKS.

JUST USE A BIT OF THIS VINE
TO HOLD IT ALL TOGETHER,

AND KEEP PACKING IT.

AND I WANT IT TO BE
PACKED GOOD AND TIGHT.

JUST TIE IT OFF AT THE TOP,
GET IT LIT.

OKAY.

WHOA!

BATS JUST SHOT OUT, AS WELL.

IT LOOKS PRETTY MAN-MADE, THERE.

LOOK, YOU SEE THEY CHISELED IT
OUT OF ALL THE MUD.

THE SORT OF THING
THAT WAS MAYBE USED

BY CHINESE GUERILLA FIGHTERS,

MAYBE TO STORE OR CACHE --
CACHE AMMUNITION, MAYBE.

THE THING IS,
THERE ARE BATS IN THERE.

THAT MEANS FOOD.

LET'S NOT FREAK THEM OUT
WITH THE SMOKE.

JUST BACK UP A BIT.

YOU SMELL ALL THE AMMONIA,
AS WELL, FROM THE GUANO.

I WANT TO BE A BIT CAREFUL
OF BREATHING THAT STUFF IN.

YOU GET SPORES INTO YOUR LUNGS,

WHICH CAN BE
REALLY NASTY AND DANGEROUS.

NEED TO COVER UP MY FACE
TO GO IN HERE.

I'M GONNA USE MY SHIRT
AS A MAKESHIFT BREATHING MASK,

AS BAT GUANO CAN GIVE YOU
A DEADLY LUNG DISEASE

CALLED HISTOPLASMOSIS.

I WANT TO CHECK OUT THE BATS
IN THERE,

BUT THE LIGHT AND THE SMOKE
FROM MY TORCH WOULD SPOOK THEM,

AND THEY'D ALL DISAPPEAR
IN SECONDS.

THAT LOOKS A PRETTY NASTY,
SINISTER HOLE.

LET'S GET INTO THIS.

HANG ON. YOU NEED TO PUT
THE NIGHT VISION ON THIS.

PUT THE NIGHT VISION ON THIS.

BATS HAVE BEEN ON THE PLANET
FOR ABOUT 50 MILLION YEARS.

THEY DON'T NEED LIGHT
TO HUNT BY.

THEY USE A BIOLOGICAL SONAR
SYSTEM CALLED ECHOLOCATION

TO JUDGE DISTANCES
AND TO FIND INSECTS TO FEED ON.

YOU CAN HEAR THE SQUEAKING.

THEY'RE JUST BEATING
THEIR WINGS.

YOU CAN SEE THEM ON THE CAMERA.

HOLY MACKEREL!

JUST BATS SITTING THERE!
LOOK.

THAT JUST MAKES ME
GO COLD, YEAH.

I HATE BATS.

WHEW!
MUST BE HUNDREDS OF THEM.

ICK!

I WANT TO GET OUT AND WORK OUT
A PLAN TO CATCH SOME OF THESE.

I'M GONNA TRY A TECHNIQUE

EMPLOYED BY THE LEE TRIBE
FROM SOUTHERN CHINA,

WHO USE SMOKE AND NETS
TO CATCH BATS.

CLOVE HITCH AROUND THE TOP,
AND THEN INTERLACE...

A BIT OF A WEB OF VINE.

GONNA BE LIKE A NET.

THE IDEA IS
TO THEN SMOKE THESE BATS OUT

AND CATCH THEM.

LET'S GET THIS TORCH
RIGHT IN THERE DEEP...

WHEW!
WHERE DID THAT ONE GO?

GOT IT.
GOT ONE THERE.

WHOO!

LET'S TRY AND GET US ANOTHER.

YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!

SEE IF WE CAN GET ONE MORE.

WHEW! LET'S GET THESE
PICKED UP AND STOWED.

THAT IS SUCH A RESULT.

WHEW!

AND I'VE TRIED JUST SO MANY
TIMES TO CATCH BATS IN CAVES.

I'VE NEVER MANAGED IT,
SO THIS IS GOOD NEWS FOR ME.

THAT'S GONNA BE
A REALLY GOOD DINNER.

THE CHINESE WORD FOR "BAT"
IS ACTUALLY "HAPPINESS."

THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT I'M FEELING NOW.

I'VE GOT FOOD,
BUT IN MY NEXT CHALLENGE,

I'M BACK ON THE MOVE
THROUGH THE JUNGLE.

STEADY, STEADY, STEADY, STEADY.

IT'S A CHINESE COBRA.

I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF THE JUNGLE
IN SOUTHERN CHINA.

MOUNTAIN RIVERS LIKE THIS
LEAD TO THE COAST,

WHICH COULD PROVIDE YOU
WITH AN ESCAPE ROUTE.

THESE RIVERS ARE JUST LIKE
THE HIGHWAYS THROUGH THE JUNGLE.

REALLY, THE BEST THING I CAN DO
IS KEEP FOLLOWING IT.

I'M GONNA MOVE FAST
ON THESE DRY ROCKS,

AND WITH PROPER TECHNIQUE
AND BALANCE,

YOU CAN COVER MUCH MORE GROUND

THAN FIGHTING
THROUGH THE JUNGLE.

BUT FOLLOWING A RIVER
HAS ITS DANGERS.

STEADY HERE.
IT'S A LONG, LONG WAY DOWN.

QUITE SLIPPERY, ALL THIS STUFF.

I RECKON
OUT OF ALL THE PLACES I GO TO,

ALL THE DIFFERENT TERRAINS,

THE BIGGEST SURPRISES
ARE OFTEN IN THE JUNGLE.

THAT'S WHY EVEN THOUGH
I MOVE QUICKLY,

I ACTUALLY MOVE
QUITE CAUTIOUSLY.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHY.

THE WAY DOWN NOW IS BLOCKED
BY THIS SHEER ROCK FACE.

THE BEST PLAN FOR ME
IS TO GO BACK INTO THE JUNGLE.

IT'S A CHINESE COBRA.

STEADY, STEADY, STEADY, STEADY.

I GOT HIM.
I GOT HIM THERE.

YEAH.
PRETTY DEADLY SNAKE, THIS.

WHOA! DON'T GET
ANY CLOSER THAN THAT.

THAT'S HIS HOOD RIGHT OUT
AS A SIGN TO STAY CLEAR.

DON'T GO INTO HIS KILLING ZONE.

[ HISSES ]

GET STRUCK BY HIM,
HE'S GONNA INJECT YOU

WITH HIS MIX OF HEMOTOXIC
AND NEUROTOXIC VENOM.

YOU GET HIT,
YOU PROBABLY GOT HALF A DAY

BEFORE YOU'RE BROWN-BREAD DEAD.

OKAY, HE'S COMING BACK YOUR WAY.
I WANT YOU TO COME BACK, OKAY?

WE'RE GONNA MOVE TOGETHER
ON 3 --

1...2, 3.

LET'S GO.
LET'S GO.

TELL YOU WHAT.

GET AN ENCOUNTER LIKE THAT,

AND IT DEFINITELY
JUST SLOWS YOUR PACE A BIT.

MAKES YOU
A LITTLE BIT MORE WARY.

OKAY.
NICE AND STEADY TOGETHER.

WE'LL MOVE.

IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE I COME ACROSS

AN ALL-TOO-FAMILIAR
CHALLENGE --

ANOTHER WATERFALL
SWOLLEN BY THE TYPHOON.

SEE IF WE CAN
CLIMB DOWN THIS BIT.

GO REAL STEADY.

USE THE VINE.

HANG ON. THIS HASN'T
QUITE GONE TO PLAN HERE.

STILL AN OVERHANGING.

IT IS QUITE A LONG WAY DOWN,
AS WELL.

PROBLEM IS, I DON'T KNOW
HOW DEEP THAT WATER IS.

THERE'S GOOD CLARITY IN IT,
YOU KNOW?

GONNA HAVE...

[ STAMMERING ]

I'M GONNA HAVE TO JUST GO!
HAVE TO GO FOR THIS!

AT LEAST I KNOW
IT'S DEEP ENOUGH!

GO ON, THEN!

YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO PREPARE
FOR THE UNEXPECTED IN THE WILD,

BUT SURVIVAL IS ABOUT TURNING
WHATEVER CONFRONTS YOU

TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

ALL THOSE FROGS UP HERE.

MISSED IT.

WHERE'S HE GONE?

THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.
THERE'S LOADS AROUND HERE.

HERE WE GO.

GOT A GOOD-SIZED FROG.

WHOO!

AND A FROG LIKE THAT,
IT'S FINE JUST TO EAT RAW.

YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL
WITH TOADS.

YOU DON'T WANT TO EAT THEM.

YOU CAN TELL WHEN THEY HAVE

A REALLY SCALY,
WARTY BACK TO THEM.

BUT A FROG, AS LONG
AS IT'S NOT BRIGHTLY COLORED,

WHICH IS GONNA MEAN
IT'S PROBABLY POISONOUS,

A FROG LIKE THAT
IS FINE JUST TO EAT.

I'M GONNA CUT DOWN ITS BACK...

AND THEN YOU CAN JUST PEEL IT.

NOW, WHAT WILL HAPPEN...

IS YOU GET RID OF ALL
OF THE GUTS AND THE SKIN.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE
TAKING ITS TROUSERS OFF.

AND SHOES.

AND YOU'RE LEFT WITH ALL THE BIT
THAT'S FINE TO EAT.

[ CRUNCHING ]

COLD, FROGGY, AND FULL OF BONES.

JUST MOVING THROUGH
THIS SORT OF JUNGLE

BURNS UP TO 1,000 CALORIES
AN HOUR --

NEARLY HALF
OF WHAT A MAN NEEDS IN A DAY.

YOU'VE GOT TO BOOST
ENERGY LEVELS WHENEVER YOU CAN.

NEED TO START THINKING
ABOUT MAKING CAMP.

IT'S STARTING
TO GET A BIT DARKER.

AND WHEN IT DOES GET DARK IN
THE JUNGLE, IT HAPPENS SO FAST.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE PREPARED.

BUT THE MAIN THING IS
YOU GET OFF THE JUNGLE FLOOR

WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR CAMP.

THIS IS WHERE IT ALL HAPPENS.

ALL THE SNAKES, THE ANTS,
THE SCORPIONS, ARE DOWN HERE,

SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE
YOU'RE RAISED UP A LITTLE BIT.

OKAY.
SEE WHAT WE FIND AROUND HERE.

BUT IN THE JUNGLE,

YOU NEED TO CHECK WHO
YOU'RE SHARING YOUR BED WITH.

LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT
FOR A CENTIPEDE.

THAT IS JUST A MONSTER ONE.

I'M DEEP IN THE JUNGLES
OF SOUTHERN CHINA.

NIGHT IS SETTING IN,
AND I WANT TO MAKE A CAMP

AND COOK THE BATS
THAT I CAUGHT EARLIER.

FIRST, I WANT TO BUILD
A BAMBOO HAMMOCK

TO KEEP ME OFF
THE FOREST FLOOR.

IT'S AMAZING STUFF, THIS BAMBOO.

IT'S INCREDIBLY STRONG.

THEY USE IT FOR LITERALLY
HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS,

FROM SHELTER BUILDING
TO ROOFING, WATER COLLECTION.

THEY EVEN USE IT
FOR SCAFFOLDING.

BUT THEY ALSO USE IT
FOR WEAPONRY,

AND THE REASON FOR THAT
IS BECAUSE IT'S SHARP,

AND THAT'S WHY YOU NEED TO
BE CAREFUL WITH THIS STUFF.

WHAT I WANT TO DO HERE
IS SPLIT IT DOWN INTO STRANDS.

I'M CUTTING STRIPS
FROM THESE BAMBOO SECTIONS

THAT WILL FORM THE FRAME
OF THE HAMMOCK.

AND YOU KIND OF LOOK AT IT NOW,
AND YOU THINK,

"HOW THE HELL
IS THAT GONNA BE THAT?"

BUT THE GREAT THING ABOUT BAMBOO
IS THAT IT'S FLEXIBLE.

WHEN YOU GET IT LIKE THAT,

YOU CAN SEE HOW FLEXIBLE
THIS STUFF IS.

YOU CAN SEE HOW
THE HAMMOCK SHAPE COMES FROM IT.

THEN ALL I NEED TO DO
IS WEAVE SOME VINE

TO KEEP THESE STRANDS
OF BAMBOO APART,

AND THIS WILL GIVE THE HAMMOCK
ITS SHAPE.

AND TWO HOLES IN THE SECTIONS
AT EITHER END

WILL ALLOW ME
TO THREAD VINE THROUGH.

I CAN THEN SECURE IT
TO THE TREES

WITH A SIMPLE OVERHAND KNOT.

THAT'S GONNA KEEP ME
OFF THE JUNGLE FLOOR.

THAT'S GONNA BE FINE.

MY BOYS WOULD LOVE IT
IF THIS COLLAPSED,

BUT I'VE GOT ABSOLUTE FAITH.

[ SIGHS ]

COOL.

WELL, IT'S NOT ROOMY,
BUT AT LEAST I'M OFF THE GROUND.

AND THEN IF I MAKE SOMETHING

JUST TO GIVE ME A BIT
OF COVERAGE FROM THE RAIN,

WE'RE DONE.

THERE'S EVERY CHANCE
I'M GONNA GET RAIN AGAIN,

SO I'M GONNA BUILD
A SIMPLE LEAN-TO SHELTER,

WHICH IS VERY QUICK
TO ASSEMBLE.

THESE BRANCHES ARE GONNA BE
THE RAFTERS AND BATTENS,

JUST LIKE A CONVENTIONAL ROOF.

AND PALM LEAVES ARE GONNA BE
PERFECT TO KEEP THE RAIN OFF.

I'M STARTING TO LAYER THEM
FROM THE BOTTOM UP.

LIKE MOST THINGS,

NATURE KIND OF DOES IT BEST.

THESE LAST FEW ON.

ACTUALLY,
IT'S PRETTY SNUG IN HERE.

IT'S HOME, ANYWAY.

OKAY. NEED FIRE.

GOT SOME BATS FOR DINNER.

I SEE QUITE A LOT OF RODENT
TRAILS, THOUGH, DOWN HERE.

I'LL TRY AND MAKE A TRAP,
SET SOME OF THOSE,

SEE IF I GET ANYTHING OVERNIGHT.

AND THEN WE'RE DONE
FOR THE NIGHT.

THIS WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE HERE
TO SET A TRAP.

THERE'S A NATURAL FUNNEL BETWEEN
THE ROCK AND BETWEEN THE TREE.

THIS WOULD MAKE
A GOOD KILLING ZONE.

I'M GONNA SET
A SIMPLE DEADFALL TRAP.

I'M GONNA ACTUALLY
USE THIS LOG HERE.

THAT'S A GOOD,
HEAVY BIT OF WOOD.

IT'LL ACT AS A DEADFALL.

IF THIS LANDS ON TOP OF YOU,
YOU'RE GONNA KNOW ABOUT IT.

THIS IS GONNA BE
THE TRIGGER FOR IT.

BALANCE OVER THAT,

AND THEN THIS
JUST SLIPS UNDERNEATH

AND LOCKS THAT TRIGGER IN PLACE.

AND IF ANYTHING STANDS ON THIS
TO TRY AND GET THE BAIT...

IT'S GONNA GET CRUSHED BY THIS.

I'M USING SOME GUTS
FROM MY BATS AS BAIT.

IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA
TO SET A FEW TRAPS

TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES.

THE TYPHOON HAS BROUGHT
YET MORE HEAVY RAIN,

WHICH HAS TURNED DAY INTO NIGHT

AND SOAKED EVERYTHING
AROUND ME.

TRY AND GET SOME FIRE GOING.

FIRE IN THE JUNGLE
IS ALWAYS SUCH A NIGHTMARE.

COME ON!

THERE YOU GO.

EVERYTHING JUST GETS SO WET,
SODDEN THROUGH.

BUT I SPLIT
THESE LITTLE BITS OF BAMBOO.

OKAY.
GET THESE BATS ON HERE.

I RECKON WITH THESE,

I'LL JUST GUT IT
BY PULLING ITS HEAD OFF, REALLY.

AND SKEWER IT ON THIS...

ON THIS BIT OF BAMBOO.

THERE'S ONE.

BATS ARE CARRIERS OF RABIES,

SO THEY NEED TO BE WELL-COOKED
TO KILL THE VIRUS.

OKAY.

LET THAT COOK.

THIS MIGHT NOT LOOK
LIKE VERY MUCH.

THEY DEFINITELY DON'T LOOK
VERY TANTALIZING.

BUT GOOD JUNGLE SURVIVAL IS
JUST ABOUT HAVING THE MENTALITY

THAT YOU'LL EAT
ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING

THAT'S GONNA HELP YOU SURVIVE.

TASTES LIKE SOMETHING

THAT'S BEEN LIVING IN A DARK,
DANK CAVE FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT IT'S WARMING.

GOT TO CHECK THIS GUY OUT.

LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT
FOR A CENTIPEDE.

THAT IS JUST A MONSTER ONE.

WHOO!

I WAS JUST ABOUT
TO GET INTO MY HAMMOCK, AS WELL,

BUT THAT IS WHY YOU WANT TO BE
OFF THE JUNGLE FLOOR.

DO NOT WANT TO BE SHARING
YOUR BED WITH THAT.

THAT'S THE DANGER OF HAVING AN
OPEN-DOOR POLICY IN THE JUNGLE.

PUT HIM IN THE FIRE, ACTUALLY.

THIS GIANT CENTIPEDE PACKS
A SERIOUSLY VENOMOUS BITE,

AND EATING HIM
IS NOT A GOOD IDEA.

BEST LEFT WELL ALONE.

WELL, AT LEAST I'M DRY
UNDER HERE...ISH.

[ SIGHS ]
MAD DAY. MAD DAY.

WHOO!

THERE'S AN OLD CHINESE PROVERB
THAT SAYS,

"TOMORROW WILL ALWAYS BE
A BETTER DAY,"

SO HERE'S HOPING TO THAT.

I SPENT A SOAKING NIGHT
IN THE CHINESE JUNGLE.

THE RAIN HAS EASED
FOR A MOMENT,

AND I'M CHECKING THE TRAPS TO
SEE IF THEY'VE CAUGHT ANYTHING.

I'VE GOT A RAT
THAT'S SQUASHED UNDER THIS.

IT'S FUNNY, 'CAUSE, ACTUALLY,

THE MORE ELABORATE,
BIGGER DEADFALL TRAP

DIDN'T GET ANYTHING,

BUT THIS REALLY SIMPLE
FIGURE-OF-FOUR TRAP

THAT I'VE USED
LOADS OF TIMES BEFORE

HAS WORKED.

BUT I'M GONNA KEEP THE RAT
FOR LATER.

NOW THE RAIN HAS STOPPED,
I WANT TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS

THROUGH THIS JUNGLE
WHILST THE GOING'S GOOD.

THE JUNGLE HAS THINNED
A LITTLE NOW,

AND I CAN MAKE
QUICK PROGRESS HERE.

IT'S IMPORTANT
TO READ THE TERRAIN

BY LOOKING THROUGH THE TREES

SO YOU CAN PICK UP FEATURES
AHEAD OF YOU.

SOMETIMES MOVING
THROUGH THE JUNGLE EFFICIENTLY

IS JUST ABOUT
FINDING YOUR RHYTHM.

YOU CAN SEE LOADS OF RAINWATER
HAS COLLECTED

JUST IN THE BOWL OF THIS TREE.

IT RAINED LOADS LAST NIGHT.

IN THE JUNGLE,

WHERE YOU'RE SWEATING SO MUCH
AND IT'S SO HUMID,

YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP DRINKING.

THE EASIEST WAY
OF GETTING THIS OUT --

USE A BIT OF BAMBOO.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

AND IT'S A TECHNIQUE THAT THE
SAN BUSHMEN IN AFRICA SHOWED ME.

JUST DRINK IT STRAIGHT UP.

YOU SHOULD ALWAYS AVOID
DRINKING FROM STAGNANT POOLS,

BUT I KNOW THIS WATER IS FRESH

BECAUSE IT RAINED SO MUCH
LAST NIGHT.

I'M GONNA TAKE THE STRAW
WITH ME.

THE ANCIENT FOREST
WHERE I MADE CAMP

QUICKLY CHANGES TO UNRELENTING,
THICK SECONDARY JUNGLE,

AND IT BECOMES IMPASSABLE.

IT'S DEFINITELY GETTING THICKER,
ALL OF THIS STUFF.

A NIGHTMARE.

PHEW!

THAT IS KIND OF THE REALITY,
ALSO, OF JUNGLES, YEAH?

CONSTANTLY CHANGING,

AND SOMETIMES
YOU JUST FIND YOURSELF

IN THESE PITS OF PLACES

WHERE YOU JUST KIND OF
GRIND TO A HALT.

I'VE COMPLETELY LOST
MY SENSE OF DIRECTION HERE.

LET'S LOOK.

TRY TO GET TO THE TOP
OF THAT ROCK THERE.

TRY AND SEE IF I CAN GET
A BETTER VIEW FROM UP THERE.

LET'S GET UP THIS THING.

YEP.

AND YOU QUITE OFTEN GET
THESE SORT OF GRANITE OUTCROPS

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE JUNGLE,

BUT IF WE CAN GET UP THIS AND
GET A GOOD IDEA OF OUR BEARINGS,

THEN, ACTUALLY,
IT'S QUITE A WELCOME RELIEF

FROM ALL OF THAT STUFF.

AND I'LL ACTUALLY JUST USE
ALL OF THESE VINES UP THE ROCK

TO PULL MYSELF UP.

WHEW!

AFTER THAT CLIMB,
IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY

FOR A QUICK FIRE
AND TO COOK UP MY RAT.

NORMALLY, YOU'D SKIN AND GUT
A RAT LIKE THIS.

THE PROBLEM WITH DOING THAT

IS YOU LOSE A LOT OF THE GOOD
NUTRIENTS THAT'S IN THE SKIN.

SO, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS
ACTUALLY JUST COOK IT WHOLE --

AND THIS IS WHAT THE LOCALS
WILL DO --

AND THEN GUT IT AFTERWARDS.

AND THEN I'LL JUST SINGE
ALL THE HAIRS OFF IN THE FLAMES.

THERE YOU GO.

YOU CAN SEE THE BODY
JUST BEGINNING TO SWELL,

WHICH MAKES IT EASIER TO GUT,
AS WELL.

IT MEANS I'M JUST GONNA POP IT,

AND THE GUTS
WILL JUST COME OUT NICELY.

ACTUALLY, THE OTHER THING
THE LOCALS OFTEN EAT...

IS THE HEAD,

AND THAT'S GIVEN TO THE HUNTER
AS A PRIZE.

THEY'LL ALSO OFTEN EAT
THE BRAIN OUT OF IT, AS WELL.

A RAT BRAIN HORS D'OEUVRE.

OVERRATED.

[ CRUNCHING ]

OH.

THAT'S THE BACKBONE.

AS I GET HIGHER, THE LANDSCAPE
IS CHANGING DRAMATICALLY.

SEEING A LOT MORE PINE NOW
UP HERE.

A GOOD INDICATOR
OF GETTING ONTO HIGHER GROUND.

THESE THINGS GROW
ON EXPOSED TERRAIN, ROCKY SOIL.

ALSO, IT'S MUCH THINNER,
THE SOIL, AS WELL.

DEFINITELY GETTING TOWARDS
THE TOP OF THIS RIDGELINE.

WHAT A VIEW.

YEAH, BUT WHAT'S HARD
ABOUT JUNGLE NAVIGATION

IS JUST GETTING
ANY SENSE OF YOUR BEARINGS

WHEN YOU'RE DOWN
AMONGST ALL OF THAT STUFF.

SO, WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE FOR
A VIEW OVER THE JUNGLE CANOPY,

LIKE HERE,
YOU GOT TO MAKE USE OF IT.

I ALWAYS USED TO TALK
ABOUT MIND MAPS,

MAKING A MENTAL IMAGE OF WHAT
YOU'RE SEEING AHEAD OF YOU.

YOUR RIDGELINE.

AND BEYOND IT, MEANDERING RIVER
DOWN TO THE SEA.

IT MIGHT NOT LOOK FAR,
BUT I TELL YOU,

REACHING THAT
IS GONNA BE A FORMIDABLE TASK.

OKAY.
LOCK THAT IMAGE AWAY.

I'VE MADE MY WAY
TO THE TOP OF A RIDGE

IN THE MOUNTAINS
OF SOUTHERN CHINA.

WHAT A VIEW!

AND I'M GONNA FOLLOW
A STREAM DOWN.

OW! OW!

LOOK -- A FRESHWATER CRAB.

LOOK AT HIS CLAWS
ON THE FRONT THERE.

SEE HOW HE GOT ME THEN.

I SPENT MY LIFE GETTING BITTEN
BY CRABS WHEN I WAS A KID.

THEN I WORKED OUT,
ACTUALLY, LOOK.

IF YOU PUT THEIR CLAWS
TOGETHER LIKE THAT

AND THEN HOLD THAT,

YOU'RE SAFE TO HANDLE IT.

WANT TO TRY AND PULL THIS
BACK OF HIM OFF, THIS BIT.

LET YOU SEE ALL OF THE --

WHAT THEY CALL
THE DEAD MAN'S FINGERS --

THESE GILLS.

THAT'S WHAT THEY FILTER ALL THE
BAD STUFF IN THE RIVER THROUGH,

SO YOU DON'T WANT TO EAT THAT.

CRABS OFTEN CONTAIN PARASITES

AND SHOULD ONLY BE EATEN RAW
IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION.

BUT THE MEAT AROUND IT
AND THEN ALL AROUND THE SIDES

IS THE MEAT THAT YOU CAN EAT.

THE OTHER PLACE, OF COURSE,
THERE'S MEAT ON IS THE CLAWS.

OW! GAH!

HE'S STILL GOT
A LOT OF PINCH IN HIM.

SMASH IT UP.

AND THEN, LOOK --
YOU GOT ALL OF THAT NICE STUFF.

LET'S KEEP MOVING.

THIS IS SUCH CHALLENGING
TERRAIN HERE,

AND SUDDEN DROP-OFFS
ARE OFTEN CONCEALED

BY THE DENSE SECONDARY JUNGLE.

STEADY HERE.

IT'S A SHEER DROP
ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE RIVER.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT
TO TRY AND GET DOWN TO.

YOU CAN SEE IT'S JUST CLIFFS
ALL THE WAY ALONG HERE.

AND THAT MUST BE ABOUT --

THAT MUST BE 80-PLUS FOOT
DOWN TO THAT.

BUT LOOK -- YOU CAN SEE, ALSO,
LOTS OF LEDGES ALL THE WAY DOWN

AND VINES GOING DOWN IT.

MIGHT WELL BE ABLE
TO WORK MY WAY TO THE RIVER.

HOLD ON.

VERY LOOSE STUFF.

IT'S GONNA BE
A TOUGH CLIMB DOWN,

BUT I'M GONNA RISK IT.

I KNOW THIS RIVER
FLOWS TO THE COAST,

AND THAT WOULD BE OUR BEST
CHANCE OF GETTING OUT OF HERE.

THE ROUTE DOWN, THOUGH,
IS DIFFICULT,

WITH FEW FOOTHOLDS,

AND THE ROCK'S STILL SLIPPERY
FROM THE RAIN.

WHAT'S MORE,

THE VINE ISN'T REACHING
ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM.

I NEED A DIFFERENT PLAN.

THIS ROCK IS SO SLIPPERY.

I WAS TRYING TO PENDULUM
OVER TO THAT LEDGE.

I'M GONNA MAKE THIS A BIG ONE.

HERE WE GO.

WHOA!

OKAY. PBHT!

I'M ON THE LEDGE.

WHEW!

JUST!

RIGHT IN THERE, RIGHT IN.

OKAY, WE'RE ON
A HALF-DECENT LEDGE HERE.

BUT IT'S STILL A LONG WAY UP.

THEN SUDDENLY, UPRIVER,

THERE'S THE SOUND
OF A BOAT ENGINE.

ON SECOND LOOK,
LET'S JUST JUMP THIS.

IT'S STILL HIGH.

WHEN YOU LAND,

HANDS BY YOUR SIDE,
FEET TOGETHER.

GOOD, CLEAN ENTRY.

WE NEED TO MAKE THIS.
LET'S GO.

COME ON! IT'S FINE!
JUST JUMP!

THIS FISHING JUNK
IS GONNA BE MY WAY

OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS
AND THE JUNGLES.

CHINA HAS DEFINITELY SHOWN ME
ITS WILD SIDE.

THE MOUNTAINS
AND THE RAINFOREST,

AS WELL AS THE TYPHOON,
HAVE TESTED ME TO THE LIMIT,

BUT RIGHT NOW,
I'M JUST GLAD TO BE GOING HOME.