Episode 5 Serious Explorers: Livingstone

Seven young explorers have taken on their biggest challenge,

an epic adventure in the heart of Africa.

It'll take them far from civilisation,

-encountering endangered wildlife...

-Such an adrenaline rush!

..witnessing unique tribal ceremony...

-Ah, wow!

-..and trekking where none have been before.

It's so amazing!

They're following in the footsteps

of the great Scottish explorer, Dr David Livingstone.

And the demanding expedition will push them to the very limit.

It is a wake-up call.

-It's horrible!

-I hate it.

Have they got what it takes to be serious explorers?

Coming up...

battling the blisters...

It is ridiculous, I give you that.

..a rare day of pampering...

Can't get it off.

..and who will be chosen as the top three explorers?

Any single one of you could have gone forward.

Previously, the seven explorers set out on a superhuman trek,

an 11-day hike of more than 100 miles

across Tanzania's remote Mbarika Mountains.

No expedition has ever crossed the mountains before,

and it's so tough that all but the strongest turn back after two days.

We're going to be taking three people forward. Only three.

Sian struggled to cope with trekking up to ten miles a day...

I hate not being able to do it.

..and an old knee problem gave Ashleigh serious grief.

Part of me wants to give up but I know that if I do, I'll regret it.

Yay! It's so exciting!

But surprise packages from home helped raise team morale.

I'm happy that everyone back home's rooting for me.

It has definitely given me the strength I need.

It's 5am on Mbarika trek day two,

and assistant leader Polly has to wake the team.

It's time to get up. Are you feeling a bit tired?

GRUNTS

-How are we doing?

-Good.

-Tired.

-Are you ready for another day?

-No! I'm never ready for another day!

Yesterday's long, hot trek has left them exhausted,

but expedition leader Ben is not impressed with the lack of action.

You've had 40 minutes and you haven't even got a tent down yet.

An hour is plenty of time to get packed up.

Who's in there?

It's not good enough. Should be five minutes, outside, tents down.

As usual, James is the only one who's managed to get organised.

James is too good in the morning!

I know! By the time I sit up, he's out of his tent

-and putting the tent down.

-Yeah, I know!

Today is the explorers' last chance to show they've the right stuff

to tackle the entire record-breaking trek.

David Livingstone himself had amazing determination,

trekking for years on end into unexplored territory.

His diary shows he found it very rewarding.

"The effect of travel on a man whose heart is in the right place

"is that the mind is made more self-reliant and confident."

His last expedition lasted five years and saw him

cross Tanzania all the way to Lake Tanganyika.

The three young explorers who trek right across the Mbarikas

will also be going where no expedition has been before.

But who will be in the elite team of three?

With the big decision looming,

today's nine-mile trek is a last chance to impress the leaders.

-Fresh pooh!

-Yep.

Conditions are much cooler than yesterday, with thick cloud cover.

THEY SING A MARCHING SONG

As they approach their first break, the team's spirits are much higher.

It's the first walk I've enjoyed because of the temperature.

We had the choir as well.

-We are so good.

-We must have gone through so many songs!

But it's about to get tougher, as the route gets steeper and steeper.

We've only been walking downhill so hopefully it's uphill

we'll feel the same but hopefully it may be a little, tiny bit harder!

The leaders are watching their every move to see who's got the mental

and physical strength to spend nine more days in the mountains.

Uh-oh.

I've just seen where we'll first be climbing up to.

It's like a cliff edge! I don't know how we're going to get up there.

I have a bit of a blister on my little toe

that I'm about to tape up to stop it getting worse.

After four hours of trekking,

the team need to dig deep for the final steep push to camp.

Look down there, to the left.

Incredible view. I think we'll get such a sense of achievement.

Several of the team struggled yesterday, especially Sian...

..but today they all finish strongly to reach their camp site.

Woo!

-Did you enjoy that?

-Yeah, that was brilliant.

That was brilliant, team. Really, really cool.

Sian is overwhelmed by her achievement.

I'm so happy I did that.

I think even the fittest would struggle with that.

I'm so proud of myself and everyone here.

I thought I'd struggle more than that. I'm sweaty and my shirt stinks.

They loved it. I really didn't think they'd all make it up so fast

and in such high spirits.

It leaves Ben and Polly with a difficult decision.

Which three earned the Serious Explorers badge of honour,

capable of achieving a world first by crossing the Mbarikas?

What's amazing is today, every single one of them stepped up to the mark.

And worked really, really hard and they could all do it.

I would love to do the mountain-walking.

I think it would create a bigger high at the end of the experience.

I'm quite nervous because I really want to get into the nine-day walk.

Even Sian who wasn't that happy yesterday...

-you know, at the top of that hill, she was beaming smile.

-I know.

And really proud of what she'd done.

I think there's people here who are stronger than me

but if they chose me, I'd give it my best shot.

I'd like to get chosen but if I didn't, I wouldn't be too upset

cos I know it's just going to be so hard.

I'll be happy for anyone that gets in.

I think we all deserve it but I'd love to do it.

They're a strong, strong team.

The young explorers gather together to hear their fate.

Any single one of you could have gone forward. All right?

Polls is starting us off and we will tell you who is going where and why.

Those chosen by Polly will head back with her

to work on a tribal building project.

The first person I'm going to choose is Ashleigh.

You're fit as a fiddle but we don't want to damage your knees.

Next, Ben reveals the first explorer who's made it on to his team.

Coming with me is James.

I think you have worked incredibly hard over the last few days.

And I think you are going to be an asset to the team.

I am going to take David as well. Um...

Don't look so excited(!)

So who's next for the elite trekking team?

Cassie, you're going to come with me.

No complaints, just get on with it.

And I'll follow up with Sian. I think you could do it.

You shone through today.

But your mental attitude is still a little bit up and down.

Which leaves the final place in Ben's top team between Ali and Matt.

Who is it going to be? Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Moe.

Matt.

Oh! No, only joking.

You're coming with me, mate. Physically, strong guy.

-We can load you up like a donkey with loads of kit.

-Yeah, cheers(!)

The guys who are going forward, congratulations,

cos you are going to have the most incredible journey,

but the guys who are with me, we're going to be working very hard.

Polly's team will be flying to the north of Tanzania

to live with the Masai tribe,

building a lion-proof enclosure to protect their animals.

And there's an extra surprise.

We're also going to be doing a darting project with lion.

OK? And tagging it with a GPS.

-We get to see a lion!

-We get to trek all day and night!

Lucky Cassie(!)

Most are really pleased with the leaders' decisions.

When Ben was going to pick, I was like, James, James!

I really wanted to get in. I'm so happy.

Last night, I wanted to go and then this morning, I didn't.

And then in the middle I kind of did and then I didn't want to any more.

So I'm quite happy.

But Ashleigh's disappointed she's lost the chance to test her limits.

I am pretty gutted. I really wanted to do the walk.

Because there's so much I need to learn about myself.

Though Matt has made it onto the team, he seemed less than ecstatic.

It makes me feel happy they think I'm the right man for the job but...

well, we'll see!

That's for the team going forward, obviously to plot the route,

-can someone pop it in a bag and look after it?

-I'll lose it.

You won't lose it, mate.

-Matt, it's yours.

-It's yours.

You're the man for the job!

As Matt's mood worsens, he refuses to talk to anyone.

So, David and Ali decide to try and guess how he's feeling.

Depressed... Unhappy...

Sad...

-Scared?

-I think Matt was looking forward to the trek

until he figured out how much pain he's going to be going through.

I think Ali summed it up the best, really. Yeah.

It's the team's last night together before they spend nine days apart.

It's going to be so weird not being in a big group,

just being in a three, and I'm going to be the only girl.

So I'm going to embrace all my girlie-ness now!

I'm going to miss you, Cassie.

-You'll see me soon.

-Who's going to sew my trousers?

Worryingly, James has found a sore patch on his feet.

He decides to treat it himself, confident he has it sorted.

I taped them up and everything is ready to go for a hard walk tomorrow.

It's going to be tough but I think my body can take it.

-Good night, everyone.

-Good night, everyone.

Thanks for a great time so far, cos we won't be with you.

-Guys, I hate all of you.

-Love you too, man!

Nice not spending nine days with you!

-Nine days in hell!

-It's going to be hardcore, though, isn't it?

No choice. Up! Up!

5am on the day of the split.

Last morning together for a little while.

As usual, James leads the way, raring to get going.

James is on the move.

Six minutes and he'll be dropping the tent.

I'm getting kicked out!

Get out of Hurricane James's way!

They say he can take down a tent in 0.3 seconds.

THEY LAUGH

I got up early, I still have packing. But he still won!

Last to get up, first to get out.

The moment has arrived. The porters are ready for us to set off.

-I don't want to go.

-I've got to hug you.

-Bye.

-Bye bye.

-Enjoy the lions.

-Take care.

-Enjoy the lions, yeah?

-Good luck, guys.

-Good luck!

See you, guys.

Good luck!

Ben's team face a further nine-day trek over 100 miles

across the Mbarika Mountains,

while Polly's group have a two-day journey

retracing their steps back to the Selous before flying north

to the Tarangire National Park, to work on their lion projects.

Ben's marathon trekking team is almost 40 strong,

including several armed guards and 20 porters.

Even so, Matt, Cassy and James have to carry their heaviest loads yet.

Even this hill, with this weight, the weight really makes a difference.

It makes it a lot harder.

It's OK at the moment. The uphill gets a bit strenuous on your legs.

Meanwhile, Polly's team are heading in the opposite direction.

It is kind of depressing to be walking back

in the same way that we came

but I still get to do something that's really fun.

I'm sure the other guys will enjoy the walking 100 miles a lot...

but I'm going to so much more enjoy what I'm about to do.

Deep in the mountains, Matt's still finding the scale

of what he's taken on pretty daunting.

I've just seen what's in front of us and there's a million hills,

all steeper than the one we just climbed.

By early afternoon, they complete their day's ten miles

and James winds down with some stretching exercises.

I'm finding it fine today.

It's pretty good at the moment. I'm excited about making camp tonight.

But his team-mates, Cassie and Matt, are in low spirits.

I'm just thinking about people at home and things now.

But, I'm like, happy at the same time,

because today, it's the halfway point and it's like...

..it's two and a bit weeks until I see everyone again.

Which is good.

Every day is, like, exactly the same.

It's just get up, walk, get to camp, sleep, get up again.

It's like nothing changes.

And just as they're are about to make camp, Ben has some bad news.

I know people are suffering all the streams are dried up,

we've got to hunt for water.

I'm sorry, but we're pushing on and pushing on until we find water.

On long expeditions, it's impossible to carry all the water you need,

so Livingstone and his men spent much of their time searching for it.

"No-one knows the value of water until he is deprived of it.

"I have drunk water swarming with insects, thick with mud,

"and putrid with rhinoceros urine and buffalo's dung."

Without modern ways of purifying it,

the filthy water gave him many diseases.

We've got to conserve what little what we've got left

and share it out amongst us.

Have you got any water left?

None at all. Have you, James?

-A litre-plus.

-A litre-plus?

Could you give a third of a litre, or whatever, to Matt? Yeah?

Cos Matt's the guzzler.

I'm just thankful that James has actually given me some because...

you know, we've all had the same. I've just...drunk it all.

-Cheers.

-Don't drink it now.

Meanwhile, Polly's group complete their day's nine-mile journey,

arriving back at a familiar campsite.

Everything's set up, so literally we have to get a new fire on the go,

tents back up, that's pretty much it.

It brings back memories from when we got our passes

and we had such a good night that night.

THEY CHATTER AND LAUGH

It's just exciting to be back.

Unfortunately, some unpleasant neighbours have moved in.

So, just like Ben, Polly has some bad news for her team.

There's millions and millions of ants.

We can't stay up here, cos we'll get eaten alive.

The only safe option is to continue all the way back

out of the mountains to their original base camp in the Selous.

We'll head down to the fig tree camp.

It does mean that tomorrow, we might have a little bit of a free day.

Yay!

It is another 6.5 miles. It's quite a big ask,

they're not enthusiastic but we need to go. It'll be dark in three hours.

My feet are aching, but I just say get on and do it.

Ben's team have got a second wind,

piling on more punishing miles in a desperate search for water.

And Polly's group are also rising to the challenge of their extra trek.

Urgh!

After hiking a total of 12 miles,

there's a welcome sight at last for Ben's parched team!

End of a long day's trek.

We all wanted to see some water, we all really needed it.

I don't know if it's running or not, but...it's still good.

Polly's team have trekked even further than Ben's group

by the time their original base camp is in sight.

I feel so relieved that we're, like literally there,

and I can't wait to eat.

I can't believe we've walked 15 miles today. It's been incredible.

Good effort. That was not easy. Well done.

The stream found in the Mbarikas is stagnant and dirty,

so the explorers dig down to find cleaner water, filtered by the sand.

Unlike Livingstone, they use chemicals to purify it

and make it safe to drink.

It's really interesting to see how we take water for granted,

it just shows you how much,

when we glug down water at home,

how much these people really do need it.

It's been a hugely demanding day

but Ben has news of even tougher times ahead.

Their route will soon take them over a 4,000-ft peak.

This is the highest point along our route.

And we want to go up it.

So, it's just over 1,000 metres.

And hopefully, if we get our timing right,

we might see the other group fly over the top of us.

Oh, that would be so good!

As David Livingstone trekked into the unknown,

he was the first explorer to tackle many mountains.

It enabled him to check out the way forward

and also the breathtaking scenery.

"We looked with never-failing delight on fertile plains, numerous hills,

"and majestic mountains."

And in the true spirit of Livingstone,

the peak faced by the explorers has never been conquered before.

Now that we're climbing a massive mountain, that scaring me a bit.

It's bad enough just going up and down and up and down.

I think it's really hit home for the others.

It's not going to be a walk in the park. This is tough.

Matt is still struggling to see the point of the endless trekking.

It was hard.

Hills just up, down, up, down, up, up, up, up, up,

down, up, down, up, down.

Up. Down.

Just the whole way.

With Matt, he finds it boring, you know?

At the moment, is he enjoying it? I don't think he'd admit it

but I think he will come round and suddenly go,

"Actually, yeah. This is special."

James has always been supremely confident in the wild

but next morning he wakes up with a problem all of his own making.

Oh, that's a goodie. We'll have to drain that.

So the Hurricane might be walking slightly slower today.

Medic Fiona treats the huge blister.

A tiny little hole there

and the fluid's going to drain out of its own accord.

Urgh! I can feel it dripping down my leg!

So Hurricane's out the window today. It's now James Tenderfoot.

Hopefully it won't be too sore.

I did put something on it before

but not in the right area, I put it too high up.

So, yeah, it just shows, get the tape on before anything happens.

You can just feel the heat of the sun coming up, can't you?

With the temperature already rising,

they set off on their day's 11-mile hike.

While Polly's group are having a lie in for the first time in two weeks.

Ali?

Can you wake up now?

My God!

I woke up and it was still dark, I was like,

"Oh no, Ben's going to be telling me to get up in a second."

Then I realised, "Oh, no, wait a second, I can relax today!

Unlike the Mbarika team.

As the trekking continues, James is having problems with his blisters.

That's the area of pressure.

Out with the tape. Look at the state of this.

It is ridiculous, I give you that.

-Where is it sore? Here?

-On the edge, then along the top there.

We all knew he wasn't really strong, he was just putting it on.

Old Tenderfoot James?

He tries to power on but all you hear is whinge, whinge, whinge.

He used to be the strongest in the group but now...

Humiliation is complete.

With the tropical sun burning down, the others cool down in the river,

getting their first proper wash in a week.

I do feel for the other guys because they are walking through this

but, yeah, we're having a brilliant day.

The Mbarika party are sweating it out in incredibly tough terrain.

We're just chopping things out the way.

It's amazing to be thinking no-one's actually ever been here.

Back at base camp,

it's an expedition first of a different kind.

It feels horrible!

They're cleansing their skin

using face packs sent in Sian's parcel from home.

Quite sticky on your eyelashes.

Don't get it on your eyebrows, eyelashes, in your eyes

Now you say that!

THEY ALL LAUGH

These guys are wimps, they don't like it.

I wonder if Livingstone did this.

-Can't get it off!

-You look like something out of a horror movie.

This is the last time you are going to see us peeling my face off.

The trekkers are having a more serious time,

battling up more steep slopes.

And just as they clock up their day's 11 miles,

they get their first glimpse of the peak they'll be tackling tomorrow.

It's huge!

Imagine what the view will be like when we get to the top.

It's going to be hard.

Despite the challenge to come,

the day has left Matt feeling more positive.

I think I've kind of changed my outlook on things a little.

I'm trying not to look forward to the end because I want to enjoy this.

Matt suddenly realised,

"Hang on a minute, we are off the beaten track here,

"we are exploring and actually it's quite exciting."

It's nice to see that change.

James has shown his usual strength of mind to battle on

with his terrible blisters. But it's been a painful lesson.

Small problems can become big problems very quickly.

The big blister that caused dramas to start with was caused yesterday

and he didn't actually... put his hand up

and say, "You know what, I've got a problem, can we stop?"

I'm worried about the steep stuff because if it gets bad at that stage,

I won't be able to walk on. Then that's the trip ruined, really.

It's the morning of the big climb, and the explorers are nervous.

I want to go back to sleep

and not have to climb up a big, fat mountain thing.

I'm trying to keep a positive mental, kind of like, mind

but I don't know how long that's going to last.

I'm looking forward to it just to get to the top and see the view.

It's going to be such a good feeling.

Let's do it, gang.

They face a 4,000-foot ascent, up seriously steep slopes,

with the temperature already 30 degrees and rising.

Suddenly, an unexpected hazard brings the expedition to a halt.

THE PORTERS CHATTER

A dangerous snake has been disturbed at the front of the line.

Someone stumbled across a huge snake. We're trying to establish where it is

and try and get a safe route through.

It's on the tree, yeah?

Black mamba.

They're like really poisonous.

He just needed to smell the air and get out of our way, really.

We're going to move through, underneath, out of its way.

It's one of the deadliest snakes in Africa

so it's not the snake you mess around with.

I'm really scared about where I'm stepping

in case I step on one and get bitten.

The higher they climb, the steeper the route

and the more stunning the scenery.

-Whoa!

-What a view!

See how steep it is off the side.

-Big drop off.

-Woo!

Polly's team are about to fly to the north of Tanzania.

But they'll divert over the Mbarikas,

in the hope of catching sight of the climbers.

So exciting! I can't wait to see all the rest of the group.

It would be so cool to see them.

Meanwhile, the three young climbers

are starting their final push up the mountain.

And after three gruelling hours, Matt, James and Cassie

become the first explorers ever to reach the summit.

Woo!

THEY SING

Woo!

There aren't many unclimbed peaks in the world. You guys just done one.

No-one else has ever been here before, so that's so amazing.

I can't find any words to describe how good it feels

just to be the first people up here.

-Can you see them?

-Look.

There they are! There they are!

Oh, there they are. There they are!

Woo! Yay!

-Woo!

-Woo!

-That was brilliant!

-So good!

It's amazing seeing them all, I'm so proud of them!

Such an achievement, all the hard times

over the last couple of days has been forgotten.

They genuinely are explorers because this has never been done before.

They're only 12, 13, 14. Doesn't matter, they're still explorers.

Everyone back home will be so proud of me,

and I'm proud of me, too.

Next time on Serious Explorers...

darting endangered lions...

..the record trek takes its toll...

I'm staying here!

..and living with an African tribe.

I'm going to come back soaking!

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