Episode 4 Safari 8

This is Kruger National Park in South Africa,

home to some of the biggest, fastest and deadliest animals on the planet.

CBBC have brought four British and four South African children

to spend a month here, training to be rookie game rangers.

Leading them on the adventure are their mentors - trail ranger Rudi...

It's taken me years to learn to be a ranger, they have a month.

..and guide Frankie.

Danger can be around any corner. They have to be alert and ready.

Eight kids, two mentors and one massive challenge -

to lead two celebrity guests on the safari of a lifetime.

The rookie rangers had a close encounter with one of the Big Five.

-Just push it.

-I'm going to be sick!

And they settled into their new home.

The treehouse is just amazing!

Today, the rookie rangers leave the treehouse for good,

replacing luxury for camping.

I don't like it here!

The team experience an unforgettable sighting...

It was the most incredible experience ever!

..and there's tension brewing in camp.

Let me finish this one!

It's a week into their training and, so far, the rookie rangers

have had the comfort of a roof over their heads,

but mentors Rudi and Frankie have some news.

All right, we have decided we are going to take you deep into the bush

so that you can experience what we experience every single day.

ALL: Amazing!

15 minutes, guys. Go and pack.

News of the departure has left the Safari 8 with mixed feelings.

-I'm going to miss my bed so much!

-And the bathroom.

-And the showers.

I really want air-conditioning in the next place cos I'm sweating!

If I had to choose between luxury and camping, I'd pick luxury.

I'm looking forward to moving to a new environment.

I don't have any concerns other than wildlife biting our heads off.

My nice, neat and tidy bed... that I will miss very much!

As the Safari 8 bid farewell to the treehouse,

they have no idea where they're heading, but Tomas has some ideas.

Some rundown shack! No air-con, and it's like 40 degrees!

The mentors are taking the Safari 8 deeper into the bush

to a remote spot where tourists are not allowed.

The Safari 8 have nearly arrived at their new home.

The last leg of the journey is on foot,

so keeping quiet and walking in single file is essential

as the team are deep in the bush and dangerous animals could be anywhere.

This will be the rookie rangers' base for the rest of their stay.

An electric fence surrounds the camp to keep the wild animals outside...

..and the Safari 8 safe inside.

The team get their first glimpse of their new home.

And they like what they see.

-It's amazing!

-Cool.

-Oh, my goodness!

A buffalo head.

What do you guys think about the view?

Their camp overlooks the river bed - a prime spot for animal sighting.

-I'm speechless!

-I can see that.

OK, guys, welcome to your new camp. Do you know what the camp's name is?

-No.

-Sikhaya.

-Means home.

-It's home. Sifisu, it's Zulu, eh?

We have a bit of an insect problem. You have to get used to that.

Keep your tents closed, the zips closed.

You will have to pitch your own tent now.

-What?!

-We will help you with that.

It's part of your final challenge.

In their final challenge,

the team will lead their guests on a two-day safari, set up camp

and even provide the entertainment!

Ok, let's go to the camp sites.

The mentors have decided who shares the tents

to make sure the Brits and the South Africans get to know each other.

It's just a grasshopper.

It's a grasshopper!

-Open the whole tent.

-I'm really excited to camp.

I think it's going to be fun.

Not everyone shares Manya's excitement.

I've never been camping before.

I don't like sleeping close to someone, I like my space.

But I suppose you have to get over it.

Good, there we go.

I think we're going to have our tent up first.

Putting their tent up is bringing Tomas and Manya closer together.

But how is everyone else bonding?

I'm doing that! Getting it out the way! This is one end...

Me and Kushal were getting on very well and I think...

enjoying one another's company. All of a sudden, he just changed.

You're bending it! No, don't do that!

Kushal tries too hard. He doesn't know how to deal with his anger.

I got a bit annoyed that he didn't help me as much as I wanted.

Help me. It's hooked into that.

I feel so sad for somebody shouting at me. It feels so...irritating.

Oh! Silly thing! Ow!

Noma and Caroline have their tent up first,

but how much did they do themselves?

I did really... But there was loads of wee bugs and beasties and...!

Oh! Look! They're crawling all over it!

For Kushal, it's a frustrating experience.

It doesn't stay straight! The whole thing should be flat!

It's just in a bundle!

I'm really...not understanding anything. I feel SO angry just now.

Someone's not very happy with who they're with.

Kushal may be getting frustrated, he wanted to be with Manya.

Can you come and help someone who needs help now, please?!

I wanted to be with Manya cos I've talked to him a lot.

I wasn't that worried,

but then I think Sifiso felt it a bit offputting cos I'm quite loud

and quite in your face a bit and he's quite quiet and laid-back.

While Kushal and Sifiso are finding it tricky, Manya and Tomas are glad

they're second to get their tent up.

Caroline, on the other hand, is not as happy.

I hate bugs! They're so creepy and crawly and they're all over our tent!

I just hate them so much. I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight.

They're everywhere - in my tent and in my sleeping bag.

I don't like it! SQUEALING

Aagh!

-It's just a...

-I don't like it here!

Yay!

Ashleigh and Ella finish next.

They lend a hand to Kushal and Sifiso who are still struggling.

Oh!

There we go! Well done!

They finally have their tent up, but Kushal is still frustrated.

I'm going to let out my anger here.

This is extremely good therapy cos all my anger is being let out

beating some pegs into the ground.

It may be therapeutic for Kushal, but less so for Sifiso.

With camp pitched, Rudi and Frankie head off with the rookie rangers.

But one member of the group has decided not to go.

Sifiso wants some time out so he stays in the camp with ranger Jacob.

Sifiso overheard me saying that I didn't want to share with Sifiso

and I think he was upset about that.

It made me sad. I was so upset. I was so hurt, truly hurt,

because of this kind of comment. But I think I'm going to be OK.

Kushal is quite a vocal little guy.

The kids need to work as a team and have to sort these things out now.

I think Sifiso, even though he is quiet,

he's a strong guy, yeah.

And Sifiso's family know better than anyone how determined he is.

He's a go-getter. Very stubborn.

If he wants something, he makes sure he gets it. He's a hustler.

He's doing very well at school.

He knows how to socialise with people and makes friends very easily.

I have learnt a lot from him.

I'm from a loving and caring family.

They put through that love so I spread it.

Aren't you forgetting to introduce the rest of your family, Sifiso?

I have seven chickens.

Three are male and four are female chickens.

What I like about my chickens is that they make noise in the morning.

-CROWING

-They wake me up sometimes.

His dad owns a hardware store

and Sifiso loves to help out.

He's helping me with writing invoices

and explaining the product to the customers.

Outside of work and play, he's a regular on a local radio station.

..Sifiso, our very own kids' talk co-host.

He's joining us today for a very different reason - Safari 8.

It's going to be a show that will be broadcast...

We debate things like politics in South Africa, teenage pregnancy -

things that affect us as teenagers.

I'll miss home, but it'll be nice cos it's an experience.

With Sifiso back in camp,

it's up to Safari 7 to take on Rudi and Frankie's latest challenge.

If you are stranded in the bush and can't get food, you have a problem.

There is an insect, it's called the mopane worm.

This worm is actually the larvae of a mopane moth.

This is the worm when it's dried.

When you're in the bush, you haven't eaten for two or three days,

this is going to look like a 500g steak. Who is up for trying one?

OK, Tomas. Just wait. Just keep it in your hand.

-We'll just hand it out...

-CAROLINE: Oh, it stinks!

Just take it. Noma? Come on, I'll make you a deal.

-If you eat one, I will eat one.

-As if you haven't eaten one before...

-It looks like barbecue!

-You guys ready?

-I'll take the first one.

-CRUNCHING

-Tomas?

-Did you eat the whole thing?!

It doesn't taste bad!

RUDI AND FRANKIE LAUGH >

-Kushal.

-I can't bite into it!

Put it in your mouth.

It's not too bad, is it?

Noma!

Noma, come on! You made a deal with me!

Well done. You've done something

that some other guys I know have never tried and will never try.

-< Is it Rudi?

-No, I never said Rudi.

-< But is it Rudi?!

-CHANTING: Rudi! Rudi!

CHANTING: Eat it! Eat it! Eat it!

Still to come. The Safari 8 are left speechless at an elephant encounter.

You don't realise how big they are.

Teamwork is tested as the Safari 8 tackle a local team at footie.

It's the first night in camp for Safari 8

and, for some of the rookie rangers, it's going to be a challenge.

I can't touch the ground. Noma keeps telling me

there's bugs and beasties everywhere.

I've got toothpaste, but no toothbrush.

It's like buying a car with no petrol.

-You see, I just took another bug off.

-Ohh, it doesn't help!

I think Caroline is making it worse, because every second,

if someone touches her, she freaks out,

so because everyone is a bit tired, I have to join in the frenzy

and be hyped myself.

-Jeez!

-Did you see that?

Impala, they're everywhere.

I think that 90% of all animals in Kruger are impala.

I reckon we should take all the impalas out of Kruger

and put them somewhere else, so even if you see an animal,

it's rare, in our eyes. Because all you see is impala.

Everyone seems to be enjoying their tent buddy,

but after today's earlier tensions, how is Sifiso feeling about Kushal?

By the look of things, it's getting better.

I think me and Kushal will be friends in the end,

because we'll probably spend a lot of time together.

So I think we're going to be friends.

HE SIGHS

Tough day.

Kushal is trying to make it up to Sifiso,

and he's even named their tent after him.

-We call it the Hustler House.

-The Hustler House.

-The H House!

-The Hustler House!

-Only hustlers allowed here.

It's early morning in Kruger and after their first night in camp,

how are the rookie rangers feeling?

My first night in the bush was exciting,

because I had to, like, sleep like a baby, I'd had a long day.

I'm getting to know Kushal better,

and I think we're trying to sort out our problems,

-and I think it's getting better.

-I've learned you need to relate

to the person quite calmly, and I think by the end of the week,

or maybe tomorrow, we'll be really good friends.

Life in the bush is still proving difficult

for one person in particular.

My first night's sleep was a disaster.

It's not the best experience when you're sitting in your bed

and crawling all over you are massive big bugs.

Today, Caroline will be relieved

that small creatures will be replaced by the largest land mammal,

as the mentors are taking the Safari 8 tracking for elephants.

Frankie is in the traditional "spotter" position

on the front of the game viewer,

so he can see any signs of elephants more easily.

The team have spotted elephants in the distance,

so Frankie and Rudi are going ahead to check if it's safe.

All rangers carry rifles with them for safety

when walking in the bush.

The elephant means a lot to me,

because when I was watching a documentary,

years ago, they always used to look straight at me,

and I'd usually think it was a sign.

I like elephants because they have big brains, like me -

I always say that, every time! And they are so clever.

They're so big and unique.

Back from the bush, the rangers nominate the leader

for today's important role.

I want Noma to be in charge of the Safari 8 group,

and make sure that everybody's quiet, OK?

Keep in line, keep the group nice and tight.

If anything happens, you listen to myself and Rudi,

we will tell you exactly where to go and direct you to safety.

Seriously, no loud noises, OK?

OK.

OK, you guys can see he's been walking that way,

and see how fresh it is.

We just saw it now, and see how well defined these cracks in his foot.

We'll try and follow it on the grass, but as soon as you see

that it goes into the grass, it's very difficult to pick up the spoor.

Spoor is animal tracks or trails it's left behind.

And what do you check then? Check this. Check the wind.

See the wind, OK? Basically, you want to approach the elephant up-wind,

so he doesn't smell you, OK? So always remember where the wind is.

(This part's good, being the person in charge today.)

I turned back and I told them to keep it low,

to be quiet, to walk in a line,

and they listened and looked straight and did as they were told,

which was very good.

I think Noma did quite well in controlling the kids.

She took responsibility really quickly and kept them in check.

-(Right, sit down.)

-(Oh, wow!)

(He's right through there.)

Honestly, I think they were more excited than scared.

If you look at little Ella, she was just over the moon.

I've never seen a kid's face like that,

when the elephant was standing there.

(So what we're going to do now is how to approach an elephant, OK?

(You can still feel the wind. Feel the wind.

(Where's it going?)

-(That way.)

-(Going that way.

(You have to look at where to approach it, where is it safe?

(So, basically, you find a nice structure to stand behind,

(let the elephant not see you.)

(He saw us. Did you see him?

(He lifted up his head, made himself like this.

(He's listening. When they stop feeding,

(then you know that they're seriously listening

(to what's going on around them. OK?)

-(Not a threat?)

-(He doesn't see us as a threat, yet.)

Guys, what I want to do now is to get behind this tree, OK?

Because at the moment, he can see us.

But he's very relaxed.

That's the difference between your cows, that's in a herd,

and a bull, OK? The bulls are normally quite relaxed.

(Fine, OK.

(Now, if an animal moves, that's when you stop

(and you see what it's doing.

(Now I think we can go closer.)

It's so big, you don't realise how big they are

until you see one up close, so it's really, really cool.

(OK, guys, listen up, listen.

(This is now the safe position. We're not going closer than this.

(You give the animals always an escape route,

(if he wants to go, he can go,

(he's got the whole river bed that he can cross,

(so he can get away from us. Always look at his posture.)

What he's doing with his body. If he stops feeding,

if he's keeping his trunk still and he's listening,

then that, you need to be wary of, OK?

So, always look at his posture.

And you can see, he's quite relaxed, he's feeding,

he's flapping his ears, and that's all nice for us,

that's a perfect position, a perfect body posture.

It was the most incredible experience ever,

because it was right there and you had to keep quiet,

because it's not like when you go and you pay to see a tame one,

it could charge you.

It's not one of those things that you see and go, "That was nice,"

it's really, like, it makes a huge impact.

OK. Stay still, stay still.

It's getting more agitated, hey?

We're going to move out of the area now.

If an animal gets too agitated, at one stage he's going to turn on us,

and he might charge, OK? So, basically, what we need to do now

is listen, walk in single file,

keep on this pathway that we came through,

quietly move out, no talking. I knows it's exciting,

but no talking now.

That was my first experience of seeing an elephant in the wild.

It was amazing, it really was just mind-blowing.

Ella may be elated,

but the potential dangers of tracking elephants

has hit home for Tomas.

I still don't feel very confident about taking people

out on safari, because we still don't know a lot about animals,

all the tricks of the trade and stuff.

All right, kids, good afternoon, welcome to Skukuza soccer pitch.

Rudi and Frankie are keen to see the Safari 8 work as a team,

so they've arranged a football match with some local children.

Today we're looking at teamwork.

The mentors have chosen a leader for the challenge.

And we've decided to designate Sifiso as captain today.

He's going to set up the field,

and everyone listen to Sifiso on the pitch, all right?

-OK, guys...

-Sifiso, we chose him as a captain

because I think he's quite quiet at the moment, but there's some

really good leadership characteristics in him.

The rookie rangers fear they're up against stiff competition.

It was scary meeting the other children,

because they looked a bit older and so mature,

and they looked like they knew what they were doing.

Team Safari 8!

THEY CHEER

-High-five!

-Seriously, I'm so embarrassed!

Come on, Team Safari 8, show them what you're made of!

WHISTLE BLOWS

Caroline, when she did the kick-off,

she just kicked it straight to them!

Oh, dear. Can it get any worse?

Ella got a ball in her face, it was so sad!

The ball came flying into her head,

but she didn't cry or start screaming.

Ooh, close call, but no goal!

Sifiso makes a run for it,

but he's brought down by the opposition.

It's a penalty kick for Safari 8, but will Sifiso score?

THEY CHEER

What a sublime goal from the Safari 8 captain!

But the Safari 8 can't hang onto the lead for long,

as the opposition score to equalise.

With the clock ticking, will either team win?

And it's a late goal for the opposition,

which means the Safari 8 have lost the match.

CHEERING

The rookie rangers are defeated 2-1,

but who is everyone's man of the match?

Sifiso was absolutely brilliant. He scored our one and only goal,

and he was our captain, which made it even better.

He was the one who scored our goal, he told us all what to do,

he did play really well, so I think he did a good job.

-Glad you enjoyed it.

-Yeah!

Being a captain was very exciting and I felt very special,

I was a leader.

It's been a mixed couple of days for Sifiso,

but after his performance as captain,

how does his tent buddy Kushal rate him?

Sifiso was really good as captain.

He positioned us well, his goal was fantastic,

he put it right into the corner. He's a really good captain.

It was really nice to do something all together as a team.

It's helped us all co-operate more,

and we need to do that right now as a group,

because we'll get closer together the more things we do together.

Next time - the Safari 8 become at one with the bush...

It's a different make-up from what I'd usually wear!

Feel like the SAS!

-..Have a heart-stopping encounter...

-I want everybody to follow me.

We realised that there was another one coming towards us.

..And cleaning up in camp gets very dirty.

Oh, that is not fair!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd