Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 5, Episode 2 - Northern Australia - 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.

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 ARNHEM LAND,
NORTHERN AUSTRALIA...

...WHERE THE MAN-EATING,
SALTWATER CROCODILES

DOMINATE THE FOOD CHAIN.

MAN,
DID YOU SEE THE SIZE OF THAT?



I'M HANGING ON
TO CRUMBLING SANDSTONE.

AAH!

AND I BATTLE TO STAY OUT
OF THE WATER

AND AWAY FROM
THOSE HUNGRY CROCS.

THIS OLD WORLD WAR II DAKOTA

IS GONNA DROP ME INTO
THE NORTHERN TIP OF AUSTRALIA

INTO A PREHISTORIC LANDSCAPE.

THAT'S ARNHEM LAND.

I CALL IT PREHISTORIC

BECAUSE ARNHEM LAND
IS ONE OF THOSE RARE PLACES

THAT'S REMAINED UNALTERED
SINCE TIME BEGAN.

[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]

WITH SCORCHING HEAT
AND DEADLY SNAKES,

IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT PEOPLE
HAVE STRUGGLED TO SURVIVE HERE.



THEN AT THE TOP
OF THE FOOD CHAIN --

THE FLESH-EATING CROCODILE,

AND THERE'S OVER A 100,000
OF THEM HERE.

AND SOME OF THOSE CROCS
CAN WEIGH OVER A TON.

MAKE ONE CARELESS MOVE AND
YOU'RE GOING TO END UP AS LUNCH.

DESPITE THE HARSHNESS
OF THIS ENVIRONMENT,

ONE GROUP DEVELOPED
SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES

THAT ENABLED THEM TO LIVE HERE.

THE ABORIGINAL PEOPLE

HAVE ADAPTED
TO THIS DANGEROUS TERRAIN.

AND THEY'VE HAD OVER 50,000
YEARS TO HONE THOSE SKILLS.

MY TASK IS TO USE SOME
OF THEIR SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES

AND MAKE IT OUT OF HERE ALIVE.

IF YOU'RE GONNA SURVIVE
THE NORTHERN TERRITORIES,

YOU'VE GOT TO THROW YOURSELF
INTO IT 120%.

HERE WE GO.

YAH!

MAN: Jumper's away.

He's gone.

NORTHERN TERRITORY,
HERE WE COME.

MAN, THE FIRST THING
THAT HITS YOU ABOUT THIS PLACE

IS JUST THE HEAT
AND THE HUMIDITY.

I COULD FEEL IT JUST COMING IN
CLOSE TO THE GROUND.

IT'S LIKE BEING IN
A VERY HOT STEAMER.

OKAY, LET'S GET THIS THING
LAID OUT.

YOU CAN USE THIS
AS AN AIR MARKER.

SO IF SEARCH AND RESCUE
ARE LOOKING FOR ME,

SOMETHING BIG AND BRIGHT
FOR THEM TO SEE FROM THE AIR.

WHEN SOMEONE IS LOST
IN THE WILDERNESS,

AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE IS VITAL.

MAKE YOURSELF SEEN FROM THE
AIR, AND IT MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE.

MIGHT WELL BE, THROUGH,
THAT NOBODY KNOWS YOU'RE MISSING

AND NOBODY IS OUT THERE
EVEN LOOKING FOR YOU.

AND IF THAT'S THE CASE,

THEN YOU NEED TO WORK OUT
WHICH DIRECTION TO GO.

AND IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORIES,

YOUR BEST OPTION
IS TO HEAD NORTH TO THE COAST.

90% OF AUSTRALIANS
LIVE ON THE COAST.

BUT IF YOU DO HAVE TO MAKE THAT
DIFFICULT DECISION TO TRAVEL,

BE CERTAIN OF THE DIRECTION
YOU'RE HEADING IN

AND DON'T DEVIATE.

I'M GONNA USE A SHADOW STICK

TO WORK OUT
WHICH DIRECTION IS NORTH.

CAST A SHADOW
STRAIGHT DOWN HERE,

AND I'LL MARK THE END
OF THAT SHADOW WITH A ROCK,

WAIT 15 MINUTES OR SO,
SHADOW WILL MOVE,

AND WE'LL GET AN IDEA
OF OUR DIRECTION.

SEE THE SHADOW,
THE STICK HAS MOVED A BIT,

PUT A ROCK ON THE OTHER END,
AND YOU GET A LINE HERE.

IF YOU STAND ON THAT LINE,

FACE THE STICK,
YOU'RE GONNA BE HEADING NORTH.

AND OBVIOUSLY
THE LONGER YOU LEAVE IT,

WIDER THE LINE,
THE MORE ACCURATE IT'S GONNA BE.

WHAT I DON'T HAVE
IN MY FAVOR, THOUGH, IS TIME.

I DON'T WANT TO WAIT
IN THIS HEAT ANY LONGER.

WANT TO GET MOVING.

BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT, LEAVE A
MARKER FOR RESCUERS TO FOLLOW.

USE WHATEVER YOU FIND
AROUND YOU TO MAKE AN ARROW.

NORTH TOWARDS
THAT ROCKY OUTCROP.

IT'S HOT, HOT, HOT.

TEMPERATURES HERE
ARE IN THE HIGH 90s,

BUT IT'S THE HUMIDITY LEVELS
THAT MAKE THE HEAT SO INTENSE.

KEEP HEADING NORTH.
WE NEED TO GET OVER THIS.

HUMIDITY REDUCES A BODY'S
ABILITY TO COOL ITSELF

BY SLOWING
THE EVAPORATION OF SWEAT.

THE MORE PHYSICAL THE ACTIVITY,

THE GREATER THE CHANCES
OF HEATSTROKE.

I'LL NEED AT LEAST A GALLON
OF WATER A DAY TO SURVIVE HERE.

THE SCORCHING HEAT
AND HIGH HUMIDITY LEVELS

MEAN THUNDERSTORMS
ARE COMMON HERE,

BUT EVEN NATURE'S MOST POTENT
FORCE CAN WORK IN YOUR FAVOR.

LOOK, YOU CAN SEE
THERE'S BEEN FIRE HERE.

PROBABLY A LIGHTNING STRIKE
HIT THAT...

SET IT ALIGHT.

ACTUALLY, CHARCOAL IS OFTEN
A GOOD THING TO TAKE WITH YOU.

THERE'S LOTS YOU CAN DO
WITH THAT --

FILTER WATER WITH IT,
EVEN HELP YOU WITH FIRE.

YOU DRIVE A SPARK
INTO BITS CHARCOAL,

YOU'LL OFTEN GET AN EMBER THAT'S
GONNA HELP YOU GET THE FIRE LIT.

LET'S TAKE SOME OF THIS WITH US.

THE LANDSCAPE IS RIDDLED
WITH HIGH RIDGELINES

AND TOWERING CLIFFS.

TO KEEP HEADING NORTH,

YOU'LL NEED TO FIGHT YOUR WAY
AROUND THEM

OR TAKE THE SHORTER ROUTE
AND GO STRAIGHT OVER THE TOP.

BUT THIS SANDSTONE IS SOFT.

ERODED BY THE ELEMENTS,

A PATH HAS BEEN CUT
STRAIGHT THROUGH THE FACE.

THIS IS NO EASY OPTION.

LET'S HAVE A LOOK DOWN HERE.

AHEAD OF ME LIES
A SHEAR 80-FOOT DROP.

I RECKON WE CAN WORK OUR WAY
DOWN THIS.

CHIMNEY DOWN THIS BIT,
BRIDGE ACROSS IT.

I NEED TO STAY IN TIGHT
TO THIS CHIMNEY.

USE JUST OPPOSING FORCES --

BACK AND LEGS -- DOWN THIS.

THAT'S AN AWKWARD LITTLE GULLY,
ACTUALLY.

[ GRUNTS ]

OH, LOOK. A SNAKE.

WHERE'S HE GONE NOW?

DON'T WANT TO MESS AROUND
WITH HIM.

THERE HE IS.

KEELBACK SNAKE.

THEY'RE NOT -- NOT DEADLY,

BUT YOU CERTAINLY WOULDN'T WANT
TO GET BITTEN BY ONE.

SNAKE LIKE THAT OUT HERE
IS BAD NEWS.

LAST BIT JUST DOWN THIS VINE.

THE CAVE CLIMB
HAS WORKED FOR ME.

IT'S TAKEN ME RIGHT UNDER THE
CLIFF AND OUT THE OTHER SIDE.

CHECK THIS OUT.

JUST GET DOWN HERE.

THERE'S A BIT OF WATER.

IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE
RAINWATER

THAT'S COME DOWN HERE
AND COLLECTED.

THE THING IS,
BECAUSE IT'S SHADY,

THE WATER'S NOT GONNA EVAPORATE.

COME ON, THEN.

I'VE STILL GOT THIS CHARCOAL.

I CAN MAKE A REALLY SIMPLE
SORT OF FILTER WITH THAT.

THE BIGGEST DANGER IS DRINKING
WATER CONTAINING BACTERIA

THAT WILL CAUSE DIARRHEA
OR VOMITING,

AND THAT CAN LEAD
TO SEVERE DEHYDRATION.

CRUNCH THIS UP
INTO NICE, SMALL GRANULES.

GOT A BIT OF GRAVELY,
BIGGER STUFF,

THEN ON TOP OF THAT,
JUST SOME OF THESE GRASSES.

YOU SEE HOW DIRTY THAT WATER IS?

PUT IT THROUGH HERE.

LET THAT JUST RUN, JUST GET
ANY OF THE DIRT OUT OF IT.

GIVE IT A COUPLE OF GOS BEFORE
WE START DRINKING FROM IT.

FOR ME, THIS IS WHAT SURVIVAL
IS ALL ABOUT --

A SIMPLE IDEA USING NATURAL
RESOURCES, AND IT WORKS.

YOU SEE HOW CLEAR
THAT IS COMING OUT.

IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE 100%,

BUT IT TAKES
A LOT OF THE DIRT OUT.

AND THE CARBON AND THE CHARCOAL

FILTERS OUT A LOT
OF OTHER IMPURITIES AS WELL

THAT YOU CAN'T SEE.

[ GULPING ]

AAH.

OH, MAN.
THAT IS GOOD.

YOU GOT A DESERT THIS HOT,

YOU FIND A LITTLE HOLE
LIKE THIS WITH RAINWATER IN IT,

YOU GOT TO MAKE USE OF IT.

YOU OUGHT TO STAY HERE
TILL YOU'RE WELL-HYDRATED

BEFORE YOU MOVE ON AGAIN.

I'VE HAD MY FILL.
NOW IT'S TIME TO GET GOING.

SEE IF WE CAN GET AROUND
THIS CORNER.

[ GRUNTING ]

[ GRUNTS ]

I CAN GET MY FOOT BACK ON IT.

[ GRUNTING ]

I'VE GOT IT.

NOT GOING TO BE GOING AROUND
THAT WAY.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

OKAY. BACK UP.

IN TOUGH COUNTRY LIKE THIS,
YOU'LL NEVER WIN EVERY BATTLE.

THERE'S NO SHAME
IN MAKING ANOTHER PLAN

AND SEARCHING OUT
AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE DOWN.

LOOK,
THERE'S A MAD OLD CAVE HERE.

GOES ALL THE WAY IN THERE.

SEE, IT'S MORE THAN LIKELY
GONNA BE ABORIGINAL, THIS.

SEE ALL THE SOOT RIGHT HERE
ON THE CEILING FROM THE FIRES?

IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD PLACE,
THOUGH, JUST TO SHELTER

FROM THE HEAT OF THE DAY,
GET OUT OF THE SUN A BIT.

OKAY, SO, USE THIS AS A BASE.
GONNA TRY AND FIND SOME FOOD.

GENERATIONS
OF ABORIGINAL HUNTERS

GOING BACK TO THE STONE AGE

HAVE LEFT A RECORD
OF THEIR PREY

ON THOUSANDS OF SITES
ACROSS ARNHEM LAND.

THERE'S CAVE ART HERE.

LOOKS LIKE A FISH --
A BARRAMUNDI.

SORT OF LIKE A TURTLE THERE.

THIS IS WHAT THE ABORIGINALS
WOULD DO --

PAINT THEIR PREY ONTO WALLS
LIKE THIS AND CAVES.

BELIEVED IF THEY THEN RUBBED IT,

WOULD ENCOURAGE
THE PREY TO MULTIPLY

WHEN THEY NEXT PASSED THROUGH.

JUST AMAZING.

SOME OF THIS STUFF
COULD BE UP TO 40,000 YEARS OLD.

A BARRAMUNDI
IS A REALLY POSITIVE SIGN.

IT MEANS
THERE MUST BE WATER NEARBY

AND A CHANCE OF CATCHING
SOME FOOD.

IT'S A WHOLE RIVER.

STILL WANT TO BE A BIT CAREFUL
WITH RIVERS,

EVEN THIS FAR INLAND.

STILL GOT SALTWATER CROCODILES
HERE.

BUT LOOK.

IT'S ONLY KNEE-DEEP,
AND IT'S CRYSTAL CLEAR.

FOR THE SURVIVOR, LOST IN
THIS HOT-AND-DRY ENVIRONMENT,

IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER
THAN THIS --

COOLS YOU DOWN
AND MAKES LIFE BEARABLE AGAIN.

VERY, VERY, VERY NICE.

THIS IS PROBABLY WHY
THAT ABORIGINAL CAMP WAS THERE.

THEY WERE CLOSE
TO A WATER SOURCE.

OKAY, I NEED A REFILL.

OH, SIMPLE PLEASURES.

ARNHEM LAND'S
FRESHWATER STREAMS

ARE HOME TO BLACK BREAM
AND JUNGLE PERCH.

BUT OTHER CREATURES
ALSO PATROL THESE SHALLOWS.

WATER SNAKE!

YEAH, YOU CAN JUST SEE HIS TAIL
UNDER HERE.

WHOA.

GOOD-SIZED ONE.
GET HIM UP ON THIS BANK.

IT'S A FILE SNAKE.

LOOK.
THAT REALLY ROUGH SKIN.

THAT'S WHY THEY'RE CALLED THAT.

AND THESE GUYS, WHAT THEY DO,

USE THEIR TAIL, WRAP AROUND --
LOOK --

LIKE HE'S TRYING TO DO
TO MY FINGERS --

CLING ON TO A BRANCH,

AND AS HE GETS HIS PREY,

WILL CONSTRICTS IT
AND THEN SWALLOW IT.

THAT'S A GOOD FIND.

ACTUALLY,
WHAT THE ABORIGINAL WOMEN

WOULD OFTEN DO WITH THESE SNAKES

IS BITE THE HEAD, GIVE IT A YANK
TO BREAK THE NECK.

BE A BIT CAREFUL DOING THIS,
THOUGH,

THAT YOU DON'T GET BITTEN
YOURSELF IN THE PROCESS.

THE WAY TO DO IT IS QUICKLY
IN AND OUT SO THE NECK'S BROKEN.

OKAY, GOOD.

THAT'S FOOD.

I'M ARNHEM LAND,

NORTHERN AUSTRALIA.

I'VE JUST PLUCKED A FILE SNAKE
FROM THE RIVER.

IT WILL FEED ME TONIGHT,
BUT FIRST I NEED TO COOK IT.

GONNA GRAB THIS FOR MAKING FIRE.

BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR
THAT THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME

SOMEBODY'S TRIED TO START A FIRE
IN THIS CAVE

WITH A HAND DRILL LIKE THIS.

ABORIGINALS WOULD HAVE BEEN
USING THIS

AS A FRICTION FIRE
FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS,

AND IT'S A PRETTY RARE KIND OF
CONNECTION THROUGH THE AGES.

I WANT THIS TO BE
AS SMOOTH AS I CAN

SO I DOESN'T CREATE ANY BLISTERS
WHEN I START TO SPIN IT.

WE'LL USE THIS AS A BASEPLATE,

CREATE A BIT OF A NOTCH
IN IT HERE.

JUST TO MAKE
A LITTLE INDENTATION.

START IF OFF WITH A LITTLE PINCH
OF SAND OR GRAVEL.

JUST PUT ON THERE.

THAT'S GONNA CREATE
EVEN MORE FRICTION AND HEAT.

AND THEN AS YOU CREATE AN EMBER,

IT WILL DROP DOWN INTO THE
TINDER AND YOU GET IT FLAMING.

THAT'S THE THEORY.

TRUST ME, THE PRACTICE
IS ALWAYS MUCH HARDER.

IT CAN TAKE HOURS
TO LIGHT A FIRE THIS WAY,

AND YOU OFTEN END UP
WITH MORE BLISTERS THAN EMBERS.

PATIENCE IS THE KEY.

YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR TIME
INITIALLY.

JUST BUILD UP THAT HEAT.

AND KEEP THE DRIPS OF SWEAT
OFF FALLING ONTO THE EMBER.

BUILDING UP THE HEAT
AND BUILDING UP THAT FRICTION.

AND THEN ONCE YOU'VE GOT
THAT HEAT,

YOU CAN THEN START
REALLY PUTTING IN THE EFFORT

AND START TO SPEED IT UP A BIT.

OKAY.

JUST TIP THAT IN.

GATHER THIS UP GENTLY.

THERE'S NO HURRY AT THIS STAGE.

THIS EMBER WILL KEEP BURNING
FOR A LITTLE BIT.

AND THERE'S FIRE.

OKAY.

LAY IT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

AND THEN JUST COVER HIM UP
WITH LOTS OF EMBERS

AND SOME MORE WOOD AS WELL.

OKAY,
THAT'S GOING NICELY NOW.

LEAVE THAT 15 MINUTES OR SO
TO COOK.

IN THE MEANTIME,
GO AND GRAB SOME MATERIALS

TO MAKE SOMETHING TO SLEEP ON.

JUST SO MANY PAPERBARK TREES
HERE.

STRIP SOME OF THIS BARK OFF.

AND THE ABORIGINALS WOULD USE
PAPERBARK TREE FOR SO MUCH.

THEY'D USE IT FOR TINDER
FOR FIRE,

WATERPROOFING SHELTERS,
CLOTHING, BLANKETS.

IT'S EVEN GOT ANTISEPTIC

AND ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES
AS WELL.

NORMALLY, YOU'D NEVER WANT
TO STRIP BARK

ALL THE AWAY AROUND THE TREE.

YOU CAN KILL IT.

WITH PAPERBARK TREE,

THIS IS REALLY JUST LIKE
IT'S SHEDDING ITS DEAD SKIN.

IT'S NOT JUST THE BARK
THAT'S USEFUL FOR BED-MAKING.

THE BRANCHES ARE STRONG
BUT SUPPLE

AND WILL MAKE GREAT STRUTS
TO SLEEP ON.

THERE'S A NICE NATURAL GULLY
HERE.

YOU CAN VERY EASILY JUST USE
THESE PAPERBARK BRANCHES,

PULL IT ACROSS,

AND MAKE A BED PLATFORM.

GOOD THING ABOUT THAT, IT'S
GONNA KEEP ME OFF THE GROUND,

GIVE ME ROOM UNDERNEATH, THOUGH,
TO PUT SOME EMBERS.

AND THAT'S GONNA FILTER THROUGH
THE SMOKE

AND KEEP THE MOSQUITOES AWAY.

AND THEN JUST THE PAPERBARK

IS GONNA MAKE IT
ALL A LOAD MORE COMFY.

OH, MAN.

THAT STUFF IS SO NICE.

OKAY, COME ON, THEN.

SEE IF THIS SNAKE'S READY.

AUSTRALIANS ARE RENOWNED
FOR THEIR BARBECUES.

MAYBE NOT.

THAT SORT SMELLS
AND LOOKS PRETTY BAD,

BUT IT'S ENERGY.

AND THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING.

VERY BONY.

VERY RUBBERY.

LIKE TRYING TO EAT RUBBER BANDS.

I'LL JUST LEAVE
ALL OF THOSE GUTS.

I'VE GOT FOOD, FIRE, AND WATER,

WHICH MEANS, AT LEAST FOR NOW,
I'VE GOT A FIGHTING CHANCE.

ON OUR WAY.

QUITE A MAD PLACE IN HERE.

OH, NOW, LOOK.
SPIDER IN HERE.

IT'S A HUNTSMAN SPIDER.

HE'S CALLED A HUNTSMAN --
HE WON'T BUILD A WEB.

HE'LL ACTIVELY GO OUT
AND HUNT HIS PREY.

AND THAT'S THE NASTY BIT OF HIM.

TAKE THE HEAD OFF.

TAKE THE FANGS OUT.

AND THAT REALLY IS FINE TO EAT.

IT'S NOT VERY APPETIZING,
BUT THAT'S FINE.

[ GRUNTS ]

OKAY, MOVING ON.

THIS MAZE-LIKE LANDSCAPE,
RIDDLED WITH ROCKY OUTCROPS,

IS SO DISORIENTATING.

YOU CANT SEE FAR AHEAD, AND
IT'S EASY TO STRAY OFF COURSE.

ACTUALLY, LOOK.
THAT ONE'S EVEN HIGHER.

LET'S GET UP THERE.
COME ON.

FINDING A HIGH POINT
WILL PROVIDE A MUCH-NEEDED VIEW

AND LET YOU PLAN
YOUR ROUTE THROUGH.

IT'S ALL SANDSTONE,
WELL-WEATHERED.

STILL WANT TO BE A BIT CAREFUL
OF THIS STUFF.

CAN BE PRETTY LOOSE.

THIS IS A TRICKY CLIMB --
OVER 60 FEET --

BUT IF YOU RISK NOTHING,
YOU GAIN NOTHING.

IT'S WORTH THE GAMBLE.

[ GRUNTS ]

OKAY, I'M UP.

HAVE A LOOK AT THIS PLACE.

THING IS TRYING TO KEEP
YOUR DIRECTION

AMONGST ALL OF THIS SCRUB.

PROBABLY THE EASIEST THING TO DO

IS FOLLOW BETWEEN
THAT ROCK PINNACLE AND THAT ONE.

AND THEN IN THE FAR DISTANCE...

YOU SEE LIKE A SADDLE.

PASS BETWEEN THAT,

AND THAT'S GONNA LEAD ME
DOWN TO THE FLOODPLAIN.

OKAY.
LET'S GET DOWN OFF THIS THING.

AS YOU HEAD TO THE FLOODPLAIN,

THE VEGETATION BECOMES THICKER
AND GREENER.

BUT NOW WE'RE ENTERING
MORE DANGEROUS TERRITORY.

COME HERE, COME HERE.

STRAIGHT THROUGH THERE
IS A CROCODILE.

YOU JUST SEE THE RIDGES
ON ITS BACK -- VERY DISTINCT.

DOWN, DOWN, DOWN.

YEAH, IT'S A SALTY.

YOU CAN TELL
IT'S NOT A FRESHWATER.

FRESHWATER HAVE
THAT LONG, NARROW SNOUT.

LOOK AT THE SIZE OF HIM, THOUGH.

FRESHWATER WOULD LIVE OFF
JUST FISH.

THIS GUY -- ANYTHING'S
ON THE MENU, INCLUDING US.

DON'T BE DECEIVED BY THE NAME
"SALTWATER CROCODILES."

THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN FOUND
UP TO 100 MILES INLAND.

THERE ARE LOADS AND LOADS
OF STORIES

OF CAMPERS THINKING
THEY'RE SAFE,

BACK FROM THE WATER'S EDGE,

AND THEN GETTING TAKEN
BY SALTWATER CROCODILES.

THIS IS A FIRST
I'VE SEEN HERE,

BUT THERE ARE OVER 100,000
CROCODILES IN ARNHEM LAND,

AND YOU'RE NEVER GONNA BE
FAR AWAY FROM ONE.

LOOK AT IT LIKE THAT.

IT LOOKS ALMOST DOCILE
JUST LAYING THERE.

BUT WHEN THESE GUYS GO
INTO ATTACK MODE,

YOU WILL KNOW ALL ABOUT IT.

LIGHTNING FAST, STRONG.

JUST PULL YOU, ROLL YOU,

AND TAKE YOU INTO THE WATER.

[ HISSES ]

JUST BECAUSE
THERE'S ONE OF THEM,

DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE GONNA BE
ON THEIR OWN.

IF YOU SEE ONE,
THERE ARE OFTEN GONNA BE MORE.

THAT'S WHY WE'VE GOT TO KEEP
SO VIGILANT AROUND HERE.

LET'S LEAVE HER.

THE LAND HERE IS DOTTED
WITH DEEP POOLS OF FLOODWATER

CALLED BILLABONGS --

THE CROCODILES FAVORITE
AMBUSH SITE.

I'VE JUST SEEN BUBBLES
OVER HERE.

HERE, CAUTION IS KING.

YOU LOOK AT THIS SORT OF PLACE
AND THINK IT'S PERFECT

TO COME ALONG
AND FILL UP YOUR WATER BOTTLE,

BUT YOU'LL BE DEAD, DEAD WRONG.

IF THERE'S A SALTWATER CROCODILE
IN HERE,

THEY WOULD ATTACK WITH EXPLOSIVE
SPEED OUT OF THE WATER.

SEE IF WE CAN...

WHOA!

AND LOOK. THEN HE'S JUST GONE
UNDER THE SURFACE.

ULTIMATE STEALTH PREDATOR,
JUST LAYING THERE WAITING.

AND THEN JUST GRAB ANYTHING
THAT COMES NEAR IT --

BUFFALO OR HUMAN.

GONNA WANT TO LEAVE THAT GUY
IN THERE, SKIRT AROUND THIS.

FACED WITH
AN AGGRESSIVE PREDATOR,

MY NERVES ARE ON EDGE.

EVEN THE SMALLEST RIPPLE MAKES
ME WONDER WHAT'S LYING BELOW.

NEED TO FIND A WAY
ACROSS THIS RIVER.

SOMEHOW, WAY OFF COURSE NOW.

THIS ISN'T THAT GREAT.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONLY 20,
30 YARDS WATER.

LOOK, JUST SO BENIGN.

STILL, CALM YOU THINK, "THERE
CAN'T BE ANY DANGERS IN THAT."

BUT THERE ARE
SALTWATER CROCODILES IN HERE,

AND THE CONSEQUENCES
OF OVER CONFIDENCE

BASICALLY DEATH, YOU KNOW.

LOOK.
SEE, ALL THESE TREES

ALMOST REACHING
ACROSS THE RIVER HERE.

JUST NOT QUITE.

KEEP GOING AND SEE IF WE CAN
FIND A BETTER ONE.

IT DOES GO ACROSS THE RIVER
ALL THE WAY.

GIVE US THE CAMERA.

LET'S JUST DO THIS.

SEE, IT'S PRETTY SOLID
AT THIS STAGE.

IT'S JUST IT'S GONNA GET MORE
AND MORE BENDY THE HIGHER I GET.

THERE'S A LOCAL STORY
WHERE THREE GUYS WERE SWIMMING

WHEN THEY SPOTTED A LARGE
CROCODILE IN THE WATER.

TWO OF THEM MADE IT TO A TREE,
THE OTHER WAS TAKEN.

IT THEN WENT QUIET
FOR FIVE MINUTES

UNTIL THE CROC RETURNED
WITH THEIR FRIEND'S TORSO

STILL IN ITS JAWS.

THE CROC THEN WAITED IN AMBUSH

FOR THE OTHER TWO
UNDER THE TREE FOR TWO DAYS

UNTIL, FINALLY, THEY WERE
RESCUED BY HELICOPTER.

LOOK.
THERE ARE BUBBLES THERE.

I'M WORRYING ABOUT THE CROCS,
BUT I'VE GOT TO STAY FOCUSED.

IT'S NO TIME
TO LOSE CONCENTRATION.

OKAY.

[ GRUNTS ]

ONE SLIP AND I'M HANGING ON
FOR DEAR LIFE.

THE SANCTUARY OF SOLID GROUND
CAN'T COME TOO SOON.

THIS CLIMB IS OVER,

BUT AHEAD OF ME
LIES HUNDREDS MORE RIVERS.

I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH
THAT ORDEAL AGAIN.

I NEED A BETTER PLAN.

SEEING A LOT OF THESE SORT OF
BIG, DEAD, OLD TREES.

THE GOOD THING ABOUT THESE --

THEY'RE BIG, STRONG,
AND BUOYANT.

WITH THIS SORT OF THING, I'M
GONNA BE ABLE TO BUILD A RAFT,

AND THAT'S GONNA TAKE ME
DOWNSTREAM WAY FASTER

THAN TRYING TO MEANDER ALONG
ALL THESE BANKS

AND CROSSING BACK AND FORTH
THE RIVER.

COME ON, THEN.

PROBABLY THE BEST WAY
OF MAKING THIS

IS JUST TO DO THESE BUNCHES --
THE THREE LOGS LIKE THIS.

BIND THESE TOGETHER
TO A COUPLE OF THOSE.

YOU'VE GOT, LIKE, THESE
TWO HULLS.

AND THEN JUST DO CROSS STRUTS
TO THAT.

AND THIS SORT OF BAMBOO VINE,

IT'S GONNA BE GREAT
TO LASH ALL THIS TOGETHER.

RULE OF THUMB FOR SORT OF VINE
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR

WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING
THESE TYPE OF RAFTS

IS YOU WANT TO REMEMBER
STRENGTH, LENGTH, BEND,

AND ALSO BITE.

LAY ALL THIS PAPERBARK ON TOP

LIKE THIS FOR THREE REASONS --

GETS ME EVEN HIGHER
OUT OF THE WATER,

CAMOUFLAGES ME FROM
THE SALTWATER CROCODILES...

AND...IT'S COMFY TO SIT ON.

THIS IS READY TO LAUNCH.

IT'S WORTH JUST THROWING STICKS
INTO THIS SHALLOW WATER.

IF THERE IS
ANY CROCODILE THERE...

THIS WILL JUST GIVE ME
A GOOD INDICATION.

THIS RAFT WILL TAKE ME
DOWNSTREAM TOWARDS THE COAST,

BUT YOU COULD BE ON THIS
FOR DAYS,

SO YOU NEED A WAY
TO HUNT FOR FOOD.

CHECK OUT THE BARBS ON THAT.

ACTUALLY MAKE A HOOK
OUT OF THIS.

THE FIBROUS BARBS
OF THE PANDANUS PLANT

ARE INCREDIBLY STRONG,
IDEAL FOR MAKING A FISH HOOK.

TAKE A SMALL SECTION OF IT...

JUST TIE SOME PARACORD TO THAT,
AND WE CAN FISH.

OKAY, THAT'S GONNA WORK NICELY
AS A HOOK,

AND THEN I JUST NEED SOMETHING
TO ACT AS A LURE FOR IT.

BE A BIT CAREFUL
GETTING OFF THIS RAFT

TO GO AND FIND SOMETHING.

IT'S ONLY KNEE-DEEP, THOUGH,
HERE.

OKAY, LET'S JUST BE QUICK
ABOUT THIS.

SPIDER WEBS ARE ALWAYS GONNA
MAKE A GOOD LURE.

YOU GRAB THE WHOLE THING
AND WRAP IT UP IN THE WEB.

GRAB IT LIKE THAT,
PUT IT ONTO THE HOOK,

AND THEN LITERALLY JUST WRAP IT
IN THE WEB.

THE GOLDEN ORB SPIDER'S WEB

IS SAID TO BE ALMOST AS STRONG
AS KEVLAR

AND HAS BEEN KNOWN
TO TRAP BIRDS.

OKAY,
LET'S GET BACK ON THE RAFT.

THE RAFT.

THING IS, YOU CAN NEVER
SWITCH OFF IN THESE SWAMPS.

SWITCH OFF FOR A MOMENT,

YOU SHOOT DOWN THE WRONG END
OF THE FOOD CHAIN

IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.

IT'S NOT HUMAN IF YOU DON'T FEEL
A LITTLE BIT SCARED

FLOATING DOWN A RIVER
THAT'S GOT A LOT OF CROCS IN IT

WHEN YOU'RE JUST ON
A LITTLE RAFT.

IT'S JUST 'CAUSE
YOU ARE SO VULNERABLE.

YOU'RE DEFINITELY NOT THE KING
IN WATERS LIKE THIS.

THAT TITLE BELONGS TO THE SALTY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL ABOUT
TRYING USE THAT FEAR,

USE IT TO SHARPEN YOU

AND NOT LET IT OVERTAKE YOU.

A LITTLE BIT OF FEAR
IS NO BAD THING.

THE RIVER HAS OPENED UP
TO A DEEP BILLABONG.

FISH SHOULD BE LARGER
AND MORE PLENTIFUL HERE.

TIME TO TRY MY ROD AND BAIT,

BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF CROCS
AROUND.

THERE'S A FRESHWATER CROCODILE
ON THE BANK HERE.

LOOK. JUST ON THE BANK --
A FRESHWATER CROCODILE

SUNNING ON THE ROCK.

WHEN YOU'RE FISHING IN WATER
TEEMING WITH PREDATORS,

YOU'RE NEVER GONNA BE
THE FASTEST HUNTER.

THERE'S A FISH ON THE LINE,
BUT NOT FOR LONG.

WOW. LOOK AT THAT HEAD.

TRYING TO TAKE THE FISH OFF.

THAT'S ONE BATTLE
I DON'T MIND LETTING HIM WIN.

MAN,
DID YOU SEE THE SIZE OF THAT?

OKAY.

TELL YOU WHAT --
MY NERVES ARE GONNA BE A WRECK

AT THE END OF THIS TRIP.

HE'S PRETTY DELIGHTED NOW.

I'VE BEEN RAFTING

IN THE CROCODILE-INFESTED
FLOODPLAINS

OF AUSTRALIA'S
NORTHERN TERRITORY,

BUT THE WATERWAY
HAS JUST REACHED A DEAD END.

IT'S LOOKING LIKE THE END
OF THE ROAD FOR THIS RAFT.

GETTING LOADS SHALLOWER,
AGAIN, HERE.

IT'S LOOKING PROPERLY DRY
AHEAD THERE.

WE WANT TO KEEP HEADING
THAT WAY.

LET'S DITCH THE RAFT,
GO ON FOOT AGAIN.

THERE'S A CROC SKULL.

TRY AND GET THIS OUT.

MAN,
LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT.

MAN, LOOK AT THOSE TEETH.

IF THAT CAME DOWN ON YOU,

THEY SAY IT'S THE SAME FORCE AS
A TRUCK LANDING ON TOP OF YOU.

TAKE YOU, DEATH-ROLL YOU,

AND THEN LITERALLY JUST RIP YOU
LIMB FROM LIMB.

BAD WAY TO GO.

REALLY, YOUR ONLY CHANCE
OF SURVIVING A CROC ATTACK

IS EITHER TO GET LUCKY
AND HOPE THE CROC LETS YOU GO

TO TRY AND GET
A BETTER GRIP OF YOU

OR TO TRY AND ROLL WITH IT
SO IT CAN'T SHAKE YOU

AND THEN GO FOR THE EYES.

BUT, REALLY, WITH A BIG SALTY,
YOU KNOW, SLIM CHANCES, REALLY.

JUST GOT TO TAKE YOUR TIME GOING
THROUGH THIS SORT OF STUFF.

NOT RUSH IT.

YOU WANT TO KEEP SCANNING

JUST FOR ANY SIGNS OF BUBBLES
ON THE WATER.

ALSO, SORT OF WATCH OUT FOR
ANY OF THE WATER LILIES MOVING.

THAT'S ANOTHER INDICATOR
OF CROCS.

I'M GETTING SO MANY OF THESE.

THESE LEECHES.

THERE ARE TWO OF THEM.

THE WHOLE SWAMP IS JUST RIDDLED
WITH THESE GUYS.

ALL THEY DO -- LOOK, SQUEEZE IT

AND YOU'LL SEE
WHAT THEY'RE FEEDING OFF...

MY BLOOD.

THIS IS WHAT THEY'LL DO.

THEY'LL SUCK ON AND THEN
INJECT AN ANTICOAGULANT.

IT WILL MEANS YOU JUST BLEED
AND BLEED

TILL THEY'VE HAD THEIR FILL

AND THEN THEY'LL JUST DROP OFF.

THE BIGGEST WORRY ABOUT THESE
IS YOU THEN GET THE WOUND

INFECTED IN WATER LIKE THIS.

ENVIRONMENTS
CHANGE QUICKLY HERE,

AND I'VE MOVED FROM RAINFOREST
INTO THICK TIDAL MANGROVE,

WHICH MEANS I'M CLOSE
TO THE COAST.

THERE'S 2,500 SQUARE MILES
OF IT HERE

IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY.

THE DENSE ROOTS
AND EVEN HEAVIER MUD

MAKE IT TOUGH
TO TRAVEL THROUGH.

OKAY, WE NEED TO FIND A WAY
THROUGH THIS STUFF.

OH, IT'S HORRIBLE!

ALSO, THE AIR IS JUST THICK
WITH MOSQUITOES HERE.

THE DANGER IS, IS GETTING
SOMETHING LIKE ROSS RIVER FEVER.

IF YOU GET IT FROM MOSQUITOES,

IT'S GONNA WIPE YOU OUT
FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS,

AND THIS SORT OF PLACE IS JUST
A BREEDING GROUND FOR MOZZIES.

ACTUALLY, LOOK.
JUST USE SOME MUD.

PUT THAT ON ME...

AND USE THAT TO DRY
AND ACT AS A BARRIER.

IT'S GONNA STOP THE MOZZIES
BITING.

LET'S TRY AND PICK UP THE PACE.

ACTUALLY, LOOK. LOTS OF DEAD,
ROTTEN WOOD ON THIS TREE.

ACTUALLY, OFTEN GOOD PLACES
TO FIND MANGROVE WORMS AS WELL.

YOU CAN SEE ACTUALLY BURROWS
FOR WHERE THEY'VE BEEN.

WHOA, HERE WE GO.
LOOK, SHOOING OUT OF THE END.

LET'S GRAB HIM.

THE ABORIGINALS
WOULD COLLECT DEAD WOOD

AND PILE IT UP FOR THE WORMS
TO COLONIZE IT.

WHEN THEY NEXT PASSED THROUGH
THE AREA,

THEY WOULD HARVEST THE WORMS
AND BE CERTAIN OF A GOOD MEAL.

[ GROANS ]

THE ABORIGINALS TALK ABOUT THESE
TASTING LIKE SALTY OYSTERS.

I SAY THAT'S A COMPLIMENT
TO THE WORM.

[ GROANS ]

IN THE THICK MANGROVE,
WITH FEW VISUAL REFERENCES,

FINDING A BEARING IS DIFFICULT.

USE A LONG, STRAIGHT STICK
LIKE THIS.

GONNA HELP US KEEP ON
OUR DIRECTION

AND STOP US GOING 'ROUND
AND 'ROUND IN CIRCLES.

JAM IT THROUGH
IN A STRAIGHT LINE.

AND THEN HOWEVER I WEAVE MY WAY
TO IT,

AS LONG AS I WEAVE MY WAY BACK
TO THE END OF THE STICK,

PICK IT UP,
I KNOW I'M GONNA BE ON LINE.

ALSO, PEOPLE TEND TO HAVE
A DOMINANT FOOT,

WHETHER IT'S LEFT OR RIGHT.

WHEN THEY'RE IN TERRAIN
THAT'S REALLY CONFUSING

TO STAY ON COURSE,

THEY'LL TEND TO VEER
TOWARDS THAT DOMINANT FOOT

AND JUST END UP GOING 'ROUND AND
'ROUND IN THESE SLOW CIRCLES.

[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]

FINALLY, I EMERGE FROM
THE MANGROVE INTO A CLEARING.

THERE'S FOOTPRINTS AHEAD,
AND THEY'RE NOT CROCODILE.

THESE ARE HUMAN. LOOK.

LET'S GO AND FOLLOW THEM.

HEY! WAIT UP!

MY ARNHEM LAND ENCOUNTER
IS OVER.

AN ANCIENT PLACE
WHERE ABORIGINAL HUNTERS

HAVE SURVIVED IN HARMONY WITH
NATURE FOR OVER 40,000 YEARS.

IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY PLACE,

AND IT'S BEEN
AN EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE.