0:00:01 > 0:00:03Eight young explorers are about to take on
0:00:03 > 0:00:05the biggest challenge of their lives -
0:00:05 > 0:00:08an epic adventure in the heart of Africa.
0:00:08 > 0:00:14It'll take them far from civilisation, encountering endangered wildlife...
0:00:14 > 0:00:18- Such an adrenaline rush!- ..witnessing unique tribal ceremony...- Oh, wow!
0:00:18 > 0:00:21And trekking where none have been before.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24- So amazing.- They'll be following in the legendary footsteps
0:00:24 > 0:00:27of the great Scottish explorer Dr David Livingstone.
0:00:27 > 0:00:32And the demanding expedition will push them to the very limit.
0:00:32 > 0:00:33It is a wake-up call.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36- Horrible.- I hate it.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48Deep in the British countryside, an exceptional group of children
0:00:48 > 0:00:54compete in a gruelling boot camp, each determined to earn their place on the Serious Explorers team.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59They're the last 16 out of more than 12,000 who applied,
0:00:59 > 0:01:03and their fate is in the hands of the expedition leaders.
0:01:03 > 0:01:04Go, go, go!
0:01:04 > 0:01:06Ben Major, a former army officer,
0:01:06 > 0:01:10and Polly Murray, the first Scottish woman to climb Mount Everest.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15All are desperate to be one of the eight chosen to go to Africa.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19I really, really want to go on this expedition!
0:01:19 > 0:01:22To get this far and be knocked out would just be horrible.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29At stake is a life-changing trip to Tanzania,
0:01:29 > 0:01:33full of astounding adventures that few will ever experience.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38The 16 finalists gather for the moment of truth.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42They know only half of them will be going.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46I'm going to split you into two groups. David, X.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49Jo, Y.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53- The finalists head into two separate rooms.- Beth, Y.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56Sian, X.
0:01:56 > 0:02:02Neither group know if they're in or out. Emotions are running high.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Guys, it's been a fantastic weekend.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12It's been like an expedition in itself and I hope you've enjoyed it.
0:02:12 > 0:02:17- Cos you're going to experience some more! You're our Serious Explorers! - ALL SCREAM AND CHEER
0:02:23 > 0:02:26I just can't believe it! I'm so excited!
0:02:27 > 0:02:28So happy!
0:02:29 > 0:02:31- Oh, it feels great!- I can't...
0:02:31 > 0:02:33I don't know what to say.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35I'm pretty speechless.
0:02:39 > 0:02:45The team will retrace some of the greatest adventures of Dr David Livingstone in the 1800s.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49The legendary Victorian explored and mapped vast areas of Africa,
0:02:49 > 0:02:52and was the first to trek thousands of miles from coast to coast.
0:02:52 > 0:02:57Wherever he went, he kept a diary of his unique experiences.
0:02:57 > 0:03:02"No one can imagine the beauty of this splendid country from anything witnessed in England."
0:03:04 > 0:03:08On his final expedition in Tanzania, a very sick Livingstone disappeared
0:03:08 > 0:03:13for years, leading to one of the best known encounters in history.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16He was found by an adventurer called Henry Stanley,
0:03:16 > 0:03:21who greeted him with the famous line, "Dr Livingstone, I presume".
0:03:28 > 0:03:32The Serious Explorers team are heading to remote parts of Tanzania to follow in his footsteps.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36But there's an early blow. Sadly, one of the eight will not be joining them.
0:03:36 > 0:03:41Abbey has just heard she needs an emergency tonsil operation.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43I'm gutted that I can't go.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45My condition's just deteriorated.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48So going on the expedition is completely out of the question.
0:03:48 > 0:03:53It means there'll be just three girls on the trip.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56I was really distraught, because me and Abbey were the closest,
0:03:56 > 0:03:59and I was looking forward to spending a month with her.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04The remaining seven explorers have a nine-hour flight through the night,
0:04:04 > 0:04:09heading south from Britain over the equator to Dar es Salaam, in Tanzania.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11From there, it's a short hop to the island of Mafia,
0:04:11 > 0:04:15very close to where Livingstone started his expedition.
0:04:16 > 0:04:22To get to Mafia, the explorers transfer to a 12-seater light aircraft,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25far smaller than any of them are used to.
0:04:25 > 0:04:26The take off...
0:04:26 > 0:04:29for the plane, I was really nervous because in other planes,
0:04:29 > 0:04:34they just say, "Your exits are here, here, here..."
0:04:34 > 0:04:37You feel really safe. But then, if you're on this little plane,
0:04:37 > 0:04:42you kind of feel, "Oh, gosh, what if I fall out of the sky?"
0:04:42 > 0:04:47They soon get a first glimpse of their amazing tropical destination.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51Looking out, you can see coral reefs, like a change in the water
0:04:51 > 0:04:54from light blue to dark blue. It's just awesome.
0:04:55 > 0:05:01But so close to the equator, they'll have to acclimatise to some extremely high temperatures.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04It's really, really hot.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07I'm not used to the sun at all, cos I'm from Scotland.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10The final leg of their marathon journey
0:05:10 > 0:05:15takes them into a world hardly changed since Livingstone's time.
0:05:15 > 0:05:20Till at last, they arrive at a completely deserted beach.
0:05:20 > 0:05:21Wow. Oh, my God!
0:05:21 > 0:05:26Welcome to paradise!
0:05:26 > 0:05:29It's the first time they've seen leaders Ben and Polly in three months.
0:05:29 > 0:05:30It's not bad, is it?
0:05:32 > 0:05:38This is where they'll do their tropical training, to prepare for the Livingstone expedition.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41OK. This is home for the next two nights.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43- Two nights?- Yeah.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45Oh, wow, look at that.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49- We're going to wake up to that every morning!- Luxury camp, or what?
0:05:49 > 0:05:53Unlike many camps later in the trip, it comes complete with a shower...
0:05:53 > 0:05:57James, are you going to go for a bucket of water over the head?
0:05:57 > 0:05:59..and a toilet.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02- How does that feel?- Awkward!
0:06:02 > 0:06:05- Awkward?- Yeah, it's like digging into the sides.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09That is probably going to be the most luxurious loo you will get.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11Enjoy it.
0:06:15 > 0:06:21As they try out the local coconuts, Sian is still struggling most with the tropical conditions.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25It's been a lot more tiring than I expected.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28Especially the walking down to here.
0:06:28 > 0:06:33I know that's not even anything, but I still need to get acclimatised.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36They cool down with a sunset dip in the ocean.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38I doubt it can get much better than it has been.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41To go swimming in the Indian Sea,
0:06:41 > 0:06:44with the sun setting behind you, is just amazing.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46I don't... I can't describe it.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49It's a hundred times better than anything you can imagine.
0:06:49 > 0:06:54Every minute you can pick something that could be on a postcard.
0:06:54 > 0:06:59Getting here, acclimatising and stuff, was kind of hard.
0:06:59 > 0:07:04But now we're in paradise, it definitely lives up to expectations.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09The tired team are looking forward to an early night.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11They'll be sleeping in hammocks...
0:07:11 > 0:07:14if they can actually stay in them.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16Whoa!
0:07:18 > 0:07:20I'm so confused!
0:07:20 > 0:07:23I wouldn't rock around, if I was you.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26I'll just lie and wait till I'm balanced!
0:07:26 > 0:07:30Can't wait to hear the thuds in the night as people fall out of their hammocks!
0:07:32 > 0:07:35Ashley's scared that if she moves, she's going to fall out.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39- I feel itchy.- No, you'll be fine. My sleeping bag is slipping on me.
0:07:42 > 0:07:43I just fell out!
0:07:45 > 0:07:47Comfortable bunk!
0:07:49 > 0:07:51I've just embarrassed myself!
0:07:56 > 0:07:59This is going to be a fun night!
0:07:59 > 0:08:03- See you in the morning, sleep well. - Sleep well, everyone.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07- Nighty-night.- Do you mind us waking you up every ten minutes?!
0:08:07 > 0:08:09Bye!
0:08:09 > 0:08:11I'm stuck.
0:08:11 > 0:08:12I'm uncomfortable.
0:08:14 > 0:08:19In the end, they're so exhausted they get through the night without further problems.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26I'll just try and get out. Oh, boy!
0:08:31 > 0:08:37I nearly fell out a few times, but it wasn't bad, actually. Really quite comfortable.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39James isn't even awake.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41Oh, don't rock it, don't!
0:08:41 > 0:08:43I can't roll, I'll fall!
0:08:46 > 0:08:51David Livingstone's last expedition began just north of Mafia.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54He loaded up traditional Arab dhows for an expedition which
0:08:54 > 0:09:00he knew could last many years, as he explored parts of Tanzania unknown to the outside world.
0:09:01 > 0:09:07He travelled down the coast from Zanzibar to the village of Pemba, before heading inland
0:09:07 > 0:09:12a journey the young explorers will begin to retrace from Mafia, starting tomorrow.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14So there's a huge amount to learn.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22They head out in two small dhows to get to grips with traditional sailing skills.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26- That's it. OK.- That's amazing!
0:09:26 > 0:09:29All the way up, all the way up.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32That's good. Fantastic.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35Don't they just look wonderful?
0:09:35 > 0:09:39It's just the shape of the sail, you know, that's so unique.
0:09:39 > 0:09:45The local sailors don't speak English, so the Explorers also get a lesson in Swahili.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48THEY REPEAT WORDS IN SWAHILI
0:09:50 > 0:09:53It's so confusing, learning all the different poles and ropes and stuff.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55I'm just quite confused.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58I don't even know them in English, let alone in Swahili!
0:10:01 > 0:10:03Steering, OK? You understand the steering, yeah?
0:10:03 > 0:10:07There's a lot to remember.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11It's really weird, cos as soon as you feel the surge of power and wind,
0:10:11 > 0:10:15you have to tug it straight away just so the boat doesn't tip.
0:10:16 > 0:10:17Like that!
0:10:19 > 0:10:23The design of the dhow has hardly changed in more than 1,000 years,
0:10:23 > 0:10:28and the boats are still used all down the coast of Africa.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31It's incredible. You seem really at one with the sea, almost.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35And there's no noise, apart from the ripples.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38It's so peaceful and quiet.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42It's really cool, nice and cold because of the wind and everything. It's really good.
0:10:44 > 0:10:49Manoeuvring the sail to change the dhow's direction needs everyone to pull together.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52I think it's difficult. There hasn't necessarily been
0:10:52 > 0:10:54the team work that we're going to have to show tomorrow.
0:10:54 > 0:10:59Everyone is beginning to learn the individual tasks. We've got to bring it together, later today.
0:10:59 > 0:11:05A final row into shore in the noonday sun leaves the team exhausted, but exhilarated.
0:11:05 > 0:11:06Good stuff.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14That was amazing. I really enjoyed it.
0:11:14 > 0:11:19It was definitely an experience of a lifetime, seriously. It was so good.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24As Dr Livingstone travelled away from civilisation,
0:11:24 > 0:11:29the only way he could get fresh meat or fish was to hunt for it.
0:11:29 > 0:11:35His local guides were experts with spears, able to kill animals with one deadly throw.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44And two of the explorers, Cassie and David, are taking part
0:11:44 > 0:11:48in a traditional hunt for an unusual supper.
0:11:48 > 0:11:53They're joining local fishermen, who use spears to catch octopus.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57David has never been snorkelling before.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01Snorkelling's actually quite easy. I'd recommend it to anyone.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04It's really fun.
0:12:04 > 0:12:10The tropical undersea world is full of life, from spiky urchins to colourful starfish.
0:12:12 > 0:12:13Oh, my goodness!
0:12:13 > 0:12:16How beautiful is that?
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Whoa! Awesome!
0:12:24 > 0:12:28But so far, there's absolutely no sign of their octopus supper.
0:12:28 > 0:12:34We haven't seen an octopus at all yet, which is a little bit disappointing.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36But then we've seen so many other things,
0:12:36 > 0:12:39you forget about the fact that we're looking for an octopus.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42While the search goes on, the rest of the team are out for
0:12:42 > 0:12:45a late afternoon sail, sharpening up their team working skills.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49Bring it all the way to the back of the boat. Straight to the back.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54Now get ready to receive it. That's it, you've got it.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56Pull it back tight.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58Oh! Help him, that's it.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02They practise their sail changes over and over,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05till they finally begin to learn the ropes.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09The more times we do it, the better it's going to be.
0:13:10 > 0:13:15Meanwhile, David and Cassie have found a beautiful parrot fish to go on the supper menu.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18Look at the colours on that. That's pretty sensational.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21And that's a big one!
0:13:21 > 0:13:26But three hours in, they're still struggling to find their octopus.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28The octopus hunt isn't going very well.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32We've been swimming around for quite a while now, and we haven't seen any.
0:13:34 > 0:13:39Time is running out, but suddenly, one of the fishermen spots something.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43I think we've just found an octopus!
0:13:43 > 0:13:47The creature is hiding in the rocks.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55A GIRL SCREAMS He got it! He got it!
0:13:55 > 0:13:57Wow!
0:13:57 > 0:13:59That's a beaut!
0:14:00 > 0:14:04'When it was captured, the octopus let out an inky cloud
0:14:04 > 0:14:05'to try and defend itself.'
0:14:05 > 0:14:10- Did you see all the ink?- It went everywhere!- It's a big octopus.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12- It's really strong.- I know.
0:14:16 > 0:14:17That is really sticky.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21When you touch it, it just wraps itself around you.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23It's so sticky.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25It really is.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28'As they return with their catch,
0:14:28 > 0:14:33'the other explorers have been given full control of the dhow for the first time.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40'Ashleigh takes the helm to sail into the sunset.'
0:14:40 > 0:14:41You're doing all right,
0:14:41 > 0:14:44it's fine. Just keep along like that.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48- Worrying, isn't it, having everyone depending on you?- Don't say that!
0:14:58 > 0:15:02- I'll just show you what we've got. - Wow, that's huge.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06- OK, so this is the octopus. So, do you fancy eating this?- Yes.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10- Perfect.- No, but when you touch the tentacles they all stick to you.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12You can't get it off, it's so difficult.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14Do this. A little bit of battering.
0:15:14 > 0:15:19'Before cooking, the octopus needs to be made less rubbery.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22'Cassie and Ashleigh volunteer for the job.'
0:15:22 > 0:15:24It goes all brown when you hit it.
0:15:24 > 0:15:31I'll try anything, but it just looks so unappetising. It's disgusting.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34'Sian is more hesitant about gutting the parrot fish.'
0:15:34 > 0:15:40Next bit, stick your hands right in there and pull it all out.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43- You really don't like that. - But it's not coming...urgh!
0:15:45 > 0:15:48Oh! I felt like I was going to be sick.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50Oh!
0:15:50 > 0:15:54'I really don't want everybody to think I'm a big drama queen but I did make quite a fuss.'
0:15:54 > 0:15:58My fingernails will never be the same again.
0:15:58 > 0:15:59That sounds quite shallow but...
0:15:59 > 0:16:01ugh!
0:16:01 > 0:16:05- That looks gorgeous. - It's going to be good.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08Right, it is very nice.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12- 'So how will the freshly grilled octopus go down?'- It's a bit chewy.
0:16:12 > 0:16:18- That is truly disgusting.- Not good, Ali?- That was not nice.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20It tastes like chicken.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23- Does anybody want a big bit? - I like the octopus.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26I mean, I've had other people's scraps
0:16:26 > 0:16:28that they don't actually want.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30I'm really enjoying it.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33The octopus had such a weird texture.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36You get loads of, like, suckers in your mouth.
0:16:36 > 0:16:37The fish is really nice.
0:16:37 > 0:16:44'It's their last night in training camp before they head off in Livingstone's footsteps.'
0:16:44 > 0:16:49We're going to start going mobile tomorrow and start our expedition, proper.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52To that end, we'll be getting up at about five o'clock.
0:16:54 > 0:16:59Yeah, you've had a nice lie-in this morning. You don't need more than that.
0:16:59 > 0:17:04I'm a bit worried now because everyone is saying this is when the expedition really begins.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07I'm really looking forward to it. I think it's going to be
0:17:07 > 0:17:09a really hard, physical and mental challenge for me.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13The expedition
0:17:13 > 0:17:15is going to be hard now.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17It's been quite easy.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19We thought it was hard, but it's really not.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27- HE PRETENDS TO SNORE - You can hear some snores.
0:17:27 > 0:17:32Time to wake up. OK? It's just gone five.
0:17:32 > 0:17:33Ali. Are you awake?
0:17:33 > 0:17:36Are you all right?
0:17:36 > 0:17:40Oh, look at that grumpy face.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42- I can't open my eyes. - HE LAUGHS
0:17:45 > 0:17:49'Everything has to be packed up in time to sail at high tide at 7am.'
0:17:49 > 0:17:52This isn't such a great invention as the sleeping bag.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55This thing is oversized.
0:17:55 > 0:17:59'Ashleigh's so tired she's trying to pack her mosquito net in her hammock bag.'
0:17:59 > 0:18:03- Read the label.- Tropical hammock? - And what are you putting into it?
0:18:03 > 0:18:05- A hammock?- No, what is it?
0:18:06 > 0:18:08- Oh, yeah! - SHE LAUGHS
0:18:09 > 0:18:12That took so much work as well.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18Livingstone's Tanzania expedition was to last five years,
0:18:18 > 0:18:20and would include incredible hardship.
0:18:20 > 0:18:25But he was a true explorer and loved setting out on a new adventure.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27"I feel quite exhilarated.
0:18:27 > 0:18:32"The pleasure of travelling into a wild, unexplored country is very great."
0:18:35 > 0:18:40The Serious Explorers will spend a month recreating key parts of Livingstone's journey.
0:18:40 > 0:18:41A little bit more, good stuff.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45The expedition is ready to relive the legend.
0:18:54 > 0:19:00They'll spend four days sailing down the coast and today's goal is to reach a tiny island 30 miles away,
0:19:00 > 0:19:04where they'll transfer from two small dhows to one much larger boat.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12They're hoping to be there well before sunset.
0:19:12 > 0:19:17Little do they know it's going to be one of the longest days they've ever experienced.
0:19:17 > 0:19:22And a few hours in, there's the first hint that it may not be a breeze.
0:19:22 > 0:19:27We've basically just slowed down at the moment because the wind's just died.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31Hopefully it'll pick up again in a minute and we'll be going off quicker again.
0:19:31 > 0:19:37'With no toilet on board, the traditional way to go is straight off the back of the boat.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40'But James finds it's easier said than done.'
0:19:40 > 0:19:42- OK?- Yes, that wasn't working.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45I didn't actually need to go for what I did.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47- You can't pee?- No.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50I was sitting there for ages.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53- It's like, no. - Did you get stage fright?
0:19:53 > 0:19:54No, I didn't actually!
0:19:54 > 0:19:58'Ali fares no better.'
0:19:58 > 0:20:01Ali, Ali... No-one's watching.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04All you've got to do is pop it out and go for a wee.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07- All right?- I can't!
0:20:08 > 0:20:11'It takes David to show them the way to go.'
0:20:11 > 0:20:13Oh, yeah, it's quite easy.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15Aim and fire.
0:20:17 > 0:20:23As they slowly sail down the coast, some of the team think they spot something swimming in the distance.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26Halfway between us and the horizon. Are we there?
0:20:26 > 0:20:29Something just sort of came over the water.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32'They decide to try to head after it.'
0:20:32 > 0:20:35We're getting closer to the spot where we last saw it
0:20:35 > 0:20:38but we can't seem to see anything popping up at the moment.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44There it is, just came up and down.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48- Oh, my God, I can see it. - Look, there it is.- That's a whale!
0:20:48 > 0:20:50That is massive!
0:20:50 > 0:20:57'In a stroke of unbelievable luck, they've come across a humpback whale playing in the water.'
0:20:57 > 0:20:58Oh, look at that.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01THEY EXCLAIM AND LAUGH
0:21:01 > 0:21:03It's just going mad out there.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16I've never seen anything like that in my life.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18You can see it moving right next to us.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20Wow!
0:21:20 > 0:21:25'Even more amazingly, there's a small calf alongside the adult.'
0:21:28 > 0:21:30Can you see him breathing?
0:21:30 > 0:21:32It's just so incredible.
0:21:32 > 0:21:37I've never seen anything like it in my life.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39They're such show-offs, though.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48They're breeding here.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51- Yeah.- Then, when they have their calves, they head south.
0:21:51 > 0:21:56So these guys will probably go down to Antarctica and then they'll feed down there.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58All that way, just for a bit of food.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00- Wow!- Yeah, wow.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09I just can't believe that we're seeing this right now.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12Whales dancing around, putting on a show.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14It's just absolutely incredible.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19To see it at ease in its natural environment.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22I've never seen anything like it before.
0:22:22 > 0:22:23It's just beautiful.
0:22:28 > 0:22:33It's been a unique experience but has left them well behind schedule
0:22:33 > 0:22:37and just when they need it most, the wind drops completely.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40We've stopped.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44At the moment, we're pretty much stationary in the middle of nowhere.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48They're becalmed in 35 degree heat.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54So far, few have braved going to the toilet,
0:22:54 > 0:22:57but the call of nature is getting hard to ignore.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59- Has no-one gone to the loo yet?- No!
0:22:59 > 0:23:03Some girls on board need the toilet, but...
0:23:03 > 0:23:08it's a bit tricky. We want to go for a quick swim.
0:23:09 > 0:23:14With the boats going nowhere, the leaders agree to a relieving dip in the ocean.
0:23:17 > 0:23:18It's just so refreshing.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25The Explorers are only half way down Mafia in their quest
0:23:25 > 0:23:29to reach the small island of Jibondo by the end of the day.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31It's going to be a close-run thing.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35At last, the wind gets up again.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39It's blowing hard, but not in the ideal direction,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42so the teams have to constantly change the sail position.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48Suddenly, one of the boats develops a problem.
0:23:48 > 0:23:53Can you see the sail's got caught? We're just going to the top of the mast to release that.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56The boat's captain has to free up the jammed sail.
0:23:56 > 0:23:57Yeah, it's coming round. Right...
0:23:57 > 0:23:59That's it, the block's moving, it's freed it.
0:23:59 > 0:24:04Now you're going to take it in. Quick, quick, quick. All the way to the back.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07The explorers have been sailing for 11 hours.
0:24:07 > 0:24:12But despite their hard work, they begin to realise they're not going to make it by nightfall.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15I think sailing in the dark should be fine. It'll be quite interesting.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17I think there'll be a lot of confusion
0:24:17 > 0:24:21and tripping up and hopefully no-one will go overboard.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23I've only got the hang of doing it in the day.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26I don't know how we're going to get on doing it at night.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28At the moment, we're all working well as a team.
0:24:28 > 0:24:34Unfortunately, Ashleigh quickly falls victim in the growing gloom.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38During a sail change, she gets whacked in the eye by a rope.
0:24:38 > 0:24:43- Can you see how many fingers I've got up?- Three.
0:24:43 > 0:24:48'She's examined by Fiona, one of the expedition medics, who confirms it's not too serious.'
0:24:48 > 0:24:52It might be just as well for the next ten minutes or so
0:24:52 > 0:24:56- if we just keep the eye closed. - It's just tears and blurry. - That's to be expected.
0:24:56 > 0:25:01In an era well before cars and planes,
0:25:01 > 0:25:04Livingstone travelled by boat whenever he could.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06But it wasn't always plain sailing.
0:25:09 > 0:25:15On many occasions his expeditions hit unexpected obstacles, from huge rapids to dried up rivers.
0:25:19 > 0:25:24And on Ben's boat, the young explorers get their first real taste of the hazards of sailing.
0:25:24 > 0:25:30They're so much later than planned that the tide has gone out and they've got stuck on a sandbank.
0:25:30 > 0:25:35Obviously we have run aground. I know that sounds really ominous and really scary that we've crashed.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39We haven't, we've just run out of water.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42All we're going to do is sit here for the tide to change,
0:25:42 > 0:25:46so that's going to take maybe two to two-and-a-half hours.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48Will we be eating when we get there?
0:25:48 > 0:25:51Yeah, definitely. Don't worry.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53We have to wait it out, it's fine.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55My main concern is tomorrow -
0:25:55 > 0:25:59getting up and not having enough sleep. That'll have an effect.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01I'm feeling quite tired just now.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04So everything seems worse than it is.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08It'll be all right. I suppose.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10Doesn't sound too confident!
0:26:10 > 0:26:14Yeah, you don't sound very confident!
0:26:14 > 0:26:16Expeditions are full of surprises, ups and downs
0:26:16 > 0:26:22and there's the old saying, "Boats have destinations - they don't have times of arrival."
0:26:22 > 0:26:24We're a classic example of that.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29On the other boat, Polly's group have fared a little better,
0:26:29 > 0:26:33making it in by 10pm for a late supper.
0:26:33 > 0:26:39I'm just so happy that we're back on dry land, though I can feel myself shaking as if I'm on a boat.
0:26:39 > 0:26:40It is so good to have some food.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44I think the others are still at sea. I feel kind of sorry for them.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47To be out for even longer must be horrible.
0:26:47 > 0:26:52We're going to need people hoisting the boom and we're going to need people trimming it.
0:26:52 > 0:26:57'After three hours on the sandbank, Ben's dhow is back afloat and they can finally sail into Jibondo.
0:27:00 > 0:27:05'It's nearly 2am when they get in, giving the exhausted explorers just a few hours' sleep,
0:27:05 > 0:27:09before they have to continue their epic voyage in the wake of Livingstone.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12It's been the longest day of my life.
0:27:12 > 0:27:17I'm hungry, tired and my eye hurts.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21I didn't expect that on the first day to have that kind of mixed luck,
0:27:21 > 0:27:28but overall it was an amazing experience, especially to see those whales, it was awe-inspiring.
0:27:29 > 0:27:34I'm sure I will look back on this day and think, "Wow, the experience was incredible."
0:27:34 > 0:27:38I just don't feel like that now because I'm very, very tired.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47Next time on Serious Explorers, life at sea hits a new low.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49I can't stop throwing up.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53A VIP welcome, African style.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55It's like we're celebrities!
0:27:55 > 0:27:57And guests of honour at a unique show.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59I've never seen anything like it.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk