0:00:02 > 0:00:05Seven young explorers have taken on the biggest challenge
0:00:05 > 0:00:08of their lives, an epic adventure in the heart of Africa.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11It'll take them far from civilisation,
0:00:11 > 0:00:14- encountering endangered wildlife... - Such an adrenalin rush.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18- ..witnessing unique tribal ceremony...- Ah! A rifle!
0:00:18 > 0:00:22- ..and trekking where none have been before. - It's so amazing.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24They're following in the legendary footsteps
0:00:24 > 0:00:28of the great Scottish explorer, Dr David Livingstone.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32And the demanding expedition will push them to the very limit.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36- It is a wake up call.- Horrible. - I hate it.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40Have they got what it takes to be Serious Explorers?
0:00:44 > 0:00:47Coming up., Darting endangered lions...
0:00:50 > 0:00:54- The record trek takes its toll... - Ben, I'm staying here.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56And living with an African tribe...
0:00:56 > 0:00:58I'm going to come back soaking!
0:01:00 > 0:01:03As the adventure reaches a climax, three of the strongest explorers,
0:01:03 > 0:01:09Matt, James and Cassie, have won places on a gruelling record attempt,
0:01:09 > 0:01:14aiming to be the first expedition to cross Tanzania's remote Mbarika mountains.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17Under leader Ben Major, an ex-army officer,
0:01:17 > 0:01:23they've got to trek over 100 miles in 11 days, and Matt is finding it a daunting challenge.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27There's a million hills, that are all steeper than the one we've just climbed.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31While outdoor enthusiast James is suffering from terrible blisters.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33It is ridiculous, I'll give you that!
0:01:33 > 0:01:40Early in their route, the three had to scale an unclimbed 4,000 foot peak, a huge achievement in itself.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44Everyone back home will be so proud of me.
0:01:44 > 0:01:50As the other four explorers flew out of the area with assistant leader, Polly, they spotted their team mates
0:01:50 > 0:01:53- at the summit.- There they are!
0:01:55 > 0:01:57I'm so proud of them.
0:01:57 > 0:01:58THEY CHEER
0:02:04 > 0:02:10The Serious Explorers are travelling in the spirit of David Livingstone's last marathon African expedition.
0:02:10 > 0:02:17The famous explorer trekked into unknown territory as he headed across Tanzania in the 1860s.
0:02:17 > 0:02:23Ben's team have now reached almost half way in their quest to conquer the uncharted Mbarika mountains.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29Record attempt, day six, 5am.
0:02:29 > 0:02:34And while the three are still on schedule, the long days of trekking are catching up on them.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36Wakey wakey, rise and shine.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41Waking up at four o'clock in the morning for a week is pretty tough.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43Especially as we're doing all that walking.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46So yeah, it's starting to wear us all down a bit.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49- Cassie, you're dead, aren't you? - I can't see anything.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53Why? Is what I think of it all.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57Supposed to be in bed when it's dark and up when it's light.
0:02:57 > 0:03:04Waking up, it's not good, because you realise that you've got whole days ahead of walking.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08And you've got another 24 hours until you have to wake up again!
0:03:08 > 0:03:10It's just a never-ending circle.
0:03:10 > 0:03:15I'd love a lie-in about half six, that'd be nice!
0:03:16 > 0:03:21Meanwhile, Polly's party have flown north to Tarangire National Park,
0:03:21 > 0:03:25to take part in projects to help endangered lions.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29The explorers are teaming up with local lion researcher, Bernard.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33There'll be a lot of hard work to come, but first, something very special.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36They're going to help him dart a lion.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39We are going to go out now,
0:03:39 > 0:03:45find some lions that we could potentially dart and attach a collar on.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48I've never been up close and personal with a lion,
0:03:48 > 0:03:49and I can't wait now.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53Just really ecstatic about being able to be so close to a lion.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57I didn't expect to be able to see one, but not really to touch it.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00I'm a wee bit worried it's going to eat me!
0:04:00 > 0:04:05As they head off in search of a suitable lion, they find Tarangire teeming with animals.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09- Oh, look at the tiny, tiny one! - They're so cute.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16Oh! Look at its arms.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19It's eating poo!
0:04:19 > 0:04:25After an hour of searching, they locate a pride of lions.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27Can you see the male there?
0:04:27 > 0:04:31- They're going to eat us. - There's also a female there.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Oh! I see!
0:04:33 > 0:04:38It's the female they want to put a radio collar on, to track her movements.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41And she also has a wound they'd like to treat.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45A dart is prepared to put her to sleep for a while.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49They have to wait for the perfect moment, when she's completely settled.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58It's a direct hit.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05And the drug should take full effect in under ten minutes.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08They hope the huge male lion will soon leave the area,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11otherwise it'll be too dangerous to get out of the car.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18But he turns and heads for the groggy lioness to see what's wrong.
0:05:21 > 0:05:26The lion researchers urgently need to act, before he hurts her.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29They move in and force him away.
0:05:33 > 0:05:40And with the male off the scene, they stand guard and wait till the female is completely asleep.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44Through all this, the Mbarika party just keep clocking up the miles.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47And James's blistered feet are worse than ever.
0:05:47 > 0:05:52I think I've got about 12 blisters altogether, so far.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55Two big ones and then the others are reasonably small.
0:05:55 > 0:06:01To make matters worse, they've hit some really wet and boggy terrain.
0:06:01 > 0:06:06You try and avoid the wet areas but nine times out of ten, you can't.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09And therefore it's just straight through.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11No!
0:06:11 > 0:06:14There's no hope for me, really, is there?
0:06:14 > 0:06:16And James fares even worse than Cassie.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19Oh no! Oh!
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Oooh, no! Someone help me!
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Ooooh!
0:06:24 > 0:06:27What?
0:06:27 > 0:06:31It's absolutely disgusting. Everything's squelching.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35I've got all this mud all over me, it's horrible.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38In Tarangire, the lioness is now fast asleep
0:06:38 > 0:06:41and her face is covered to help stop her waking up too soon.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Ashleigh and Ali come in to help fit the collar.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50Usually we have to make sure it's not too tight.
0:06:50 > 0:06:56The radio collar will help researcher, Bernard, track exactly where the lioness goes.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58This collar can last up to five years.
0:06:58 > 0:07:03I didn't ever think I'd get this close to a lion but she's so adorable.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06A lot of ticks but really soft!
0:07:06 > 0:07:08She's absolutely huge when you get close to her.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10Her paw is so heavy.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12Just imagine having one of them crashing into you!
0:07:12 > 0:07:17The explorers help treat the lioness's wound, which she probably got while hunting.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21I think she had a punctured wound here from a buffalo or something.
0:07:21 > 0:07:27Then all too soon, as the sleeping drug wears off, they have to return to the vehicle.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33Oh, my God. Today was so good. A few weeks ago, we were just sitting
0:07:33 > 0:07:38in school, and then today we've been stroking a lion!
0:07:38 > 0:07:42Oh, up close and personal with a lion. It's been absolutely amazing.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48In the mountains, the serious trekkers
0:07:48 > 0:07:52are still on course to be the first expedition to cross the Mbarikas.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56They've now completed more than 60 miles of the epic 100-mile journey.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59There's a lot of tired bodies this morning.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02But with just five days left, they're getting very jaded,
0:08:02 > 0:08:05and James's blisters remain a real worry.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08I don't think I'm holding up the group and I can take the pain.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12But I've just got to be sensible, because my feet are in tatters, really.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15I don't know if they're going to last the journey.
0:08:15 > 0:08:16That's the biggest worry.
0:08:18 > 0:08:23As they set off on yet another tough eight-hour trek, Polly's group are heading
0:08:23 > 0:08:27to one of the tribal villages bordering Tarangire National Park,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29to work on another lion project.
0:08:33 > 0:08:39The Maasai tribes people live a simple life, which has hardly changed in hundreds of years,
0:08:39 > 0:08:43and the explorers are going to spend three days living and working with them.
0:08:45 > 0:08:50- Home is a hut, which they'll share with Maasai children.- Whoa...
0:08:50 > 0:08:55They're made out of ash, termite nests and cow dung.
0:08:55 > 0:09:01Not bad! It's so nice in here. It's really cool, as well, getting away from the sun.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03It actually has rooms.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Not what I expected at all, this is really nice.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10The village has no electricity or running water,
0:09:10 > 0:09:15and their most prized possessions are their farm animals, which they rely on for food and milk.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19Unfortunately, lions have been coming in and killing many of the cattle.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24It's a problem that has changed little since Livingstone's time,
0:09:24 > 0:09:29and the explorer helped local tribes in the only way he knew.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33"The next time the herds were attacked, I went with the people,
0:09:33 > 0:09:37"in order to rid them of the annoyance by destroying one of the marauders."
0:09:44 > 0:09:50Even now, local Maasai kill around 30 lions each year to try to protect their cattle.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53So, starting tomorrow, the explorers will help them build
0:09:53 > 0:10:00a new, lion-proof animal enclosure, in the hope it will stop the need to slaughter endangered lions.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06But as they don't speak each other's language,
0:10:06 > 0:10:08communication is going to be tricky.
0:10:12 > 0:10:13We tried our best!
0:10:15 > 0:10:21In the Mbarikas, the trekkers have once again hit difficult terrain, and they're falling behind schedule.
0:10:21 > 0:10:28We've done about a mile-and-a-half, in an hour-and-a-half, which is not a problem.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31- But come this evening, we want to be off the side of this map.- Yeah.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34And to do that, we're going to need to put the hammer down.
0:10:38 > 0:10:43It's a big ask, to cover a further 12 miles through thick bush.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45It's just horrible terrain.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48You can't get a rhythm or anything, it's just horrible.
0:10:49 > 0:10:54The experience is testing them to the very limit. Morale is sinking fast.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58Anything other than this really would cheer me up, to be honest!
0:10:58 > 0:11:01Some nice food, a bed...
0:11:01 > 0:11:04A hug off my mum.
0:11:04 > 0:11:05Ah!
0:11:06 > 0:11:11All the water the Maasai village needs has to be brought from a nearby reservoir.
0:11:13 > 0:11:18And the explorers find the traditional way of carrying it far harder than it looks.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21I'm going to come back soaking!
0:11:25 > 0:11:27My head and my neck hurt a lot.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31I don't know how they do this, like every time.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34I had it on my head but then I spilled it like all.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37So I've gone to the tactics of carrying the bucket.
0:11:37 > 0:11:43The Maasai boys learn to throw deadly spears from a very early age
0:11:43 > 0:11:46and Ali finds it hard to compete.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49Oh, they were all laughing. That's all right, good effort!
0:11:49 > 0:11:52It's really quite difficult to get the hang of.
0:11:52 > 0:11:53But David does the Brits proud.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55Very good. See you got a clap there!
0:11:55 > 0:11:59It's pretty cool. I mean, these guys are amazing at it.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02Wooh! God, that was miles.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08With a superhuman effort, the trekkers have clocked up their
0:12:08 > 0:12:12day's 14 miles, and they've found a stunning waterfall for their camp.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14It's not bad, though.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16Even so, spirits are at a low.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19- I'm really tired. - Don't worry, that was a long day.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22That was a long day, seriously.
0:12:22 > 0:12:27I feel awful at the moment. I'm just so tired, and my shoulders are killing me.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29This has probably just been the longest day.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34Just gets you down, really.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36Now I'm crying, I said I wouldn't cry again!
0:12:39 > 0:12:42We had to put in the hard effort, all right? And I know everyone's
0:12:42 > 0:12:46exhausted, and got sore feet, but it's worth it.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50Waterfalls and a plunge pool, what more could you want?
0:12:50 > 0:12:54And the waterfall quickly washes away their blues.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59This is better than my shower at home! I love it!
0:13:06 > 0:13:09It even helps soothe James's blisters.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12My feet feel so good, it's so nice to get clean.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15And that waterfall was just like a massage, it was brilliant.
0:13:17 > 0:13:23In the evening, the two groups are hoping to get a first chance to talk to each other since they split.
0:13:23 > 0:13:28A satellite link-up has been set up between the two remote areas.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31- Yes!- Hi!
0:13:31 > 0:13:34- Hello. - What are you wearing round your neck?
0:13:34 > 0:13:38- My tribal jewellery. - Oh, they've got all Maasai gear.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Yeah, they're all behind us.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43Hello, locals.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45How many more miles have you got to go?
0:13:45 > 0:13:4860 berzillion!
0:13:48 > 0:13:51- About 30. - OK, that's cool, that's brilliant.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54- I can't stand it. - Every step is agony.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57- I have 12 blisters.- Oh, James!
0:13:57 > 0:14:01- Poor you!- Man up, James, man up.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05I'm more manly than James now, I'm the strongest in the group.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08Hurray, you go, Cassie!
0:14:08 > 0:14:11- Good luck over the next few days, guys.- Yeah, you, too.
0:14:11 > 0:14:12We miss you so much.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16- Bye! See you guys! Bye!- Take care!
0:14:16 > 0:14:19- That was brilliant.- It was lovely.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21We haven't seen them in ages.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24I kind of feel a bit jealous, just because they've got all this
0:14:24 > 0:14:28Maasai jewellery and seen lions, while we're just walking every day.
0:14:28 > 0:14:33But I suppose at the end, our triumph will be a lot bigger than theirs.
0:14:33 > 0:14:38The first day at the Maasai village has been a meeting of two very different cultures.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41It's like we're so far from civilisation at the moment.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45Such a different way of life. They're all crowding round me.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48I feel slightly intimidated!
0:14:48 > 0:14:54The Maasai children have never seen anything like the British children's cameras and computers.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58- Here we go... - And in Victorian times, local people
0:14:58 > 0:15:05were also amazed by Livingstone's strange devices, none more so than his magic lantern,
0:15:05 > 0:15:09which used an oil lamp to project painted slides while he told Bible stories.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12The ladies listened with silent awe.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15But when I moved the slide, mother, mother!
0:15:15 > 0:15:19They all shouted at once and off they rushed, helter skelter!
0:15:19 > 0:15:23Oh, it's OK, come back!
0:15:23 > 0:15:28The Maasai are so fascinated by the video camera that Ali can't continue.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30This isn't working very well.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34So instead, the tribal children get their first ever chance
0:15:34 > 0:15:36to see themselves on camera.
0:15:38 > 0:15:43As the explorers prepare for bed, it's not just Maasai children they're sharing the hut with.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47If these chickens take my flip-flops, I'm not going to be impressed.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49Leave your flip-flops in here.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53I am going to come and wake you guys at 5:30,
0:15:53 > 0:15:55ready for a long day of building.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57Whoo-hoo!
0:15:57 > 0:15:59Sleep well.
0:16:05 > 0:16:11Early next morning, David goes into the girls' hut to check out the chickens.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14But he spots something very scary under the bed.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17A large snake has slithered in during the night.
0:16:17 > 0:16:22It looks black, and it looks kind of like the black mamba but I'm not totally sure.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25That's not good, actually.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28- It's very big.- Let's get out of here.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32Everybody vacates the hut urgently.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34I want that snake out of my house.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39In the mountains, the trekkers have their own problems with dangerous creatures.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42Oh, my God.
0:16:42 > 0:16:43Oh!
0:16:43 > 0:16:46- That's quite big. - Have a look at that puppy.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49- Wow!- Would it be poisonous? - He's got some fangs on him.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53While not as deadly as some snakes, the spider has a nasty bite.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57Ben coolly removes it from the tent area.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03Meanwhile, the Maasai villagers have killed the snake with a spear.
0:17:03 > 0:17:08- Cobra.- It's a highly dangerous spitting cobra.- That's an egg?
0:17:08 > 0:17:12- Yes.- Remarkably, they retrieve a chicken egg that it's eaten whole.
0:17:12 > 0:17:17- Oh, my God!- That's gross.
0:17:17 > 0:17:23A very uneasy feeling, knowing that that's just been under your bed while we've been sleeping.
0:17:23 > 0:17:29After all the distractions, the team urgently need to begin their huge building project.
0:17:29 > 0:17:35Working with four Maasai children, they have just two days to build the lion-proof cattle enclosure.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39It's going to be 10 metres by 11 metres
0:17:39 > 0:17:42and all these dots represent holes.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45The enclosure will be made up of more than 80 big poles
0:17:45 > 0:17:49covered in mesh and each one has to go in a deep hole.
0:17:49 > 0:17:54The aim at the end of today is to have 84 holes dug.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56Quite scary. The project looks really big.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00It will be long and hard, yes.
0:18:04 > 0:18:09Working in 35-degree heat, they need to average 18 holes an hour.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11And they begin really well.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15They've been going just over an hour, and they have almost dug 20 holes.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19The thing is, it's now starting to get pretty warm.
0:18:20 > 0:18:25It is hard work now the sun's come out but it will be worthwhile.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29We are doing all right but we have slowed down in the last hour.
0:18:29 > 0:18:36We're tired, it's difficult but we're just hopefully going to get it done before dark.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44In contrast, the trekking team are so tired
0:18:44 > 0:18:46they've fallen asleep during a break.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48Love it!
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Exhaustion.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57- Cassie...- No!
0:18:57 > 0:18:59I'm staying here.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01Matty, James...
0:19:01 > 0:19:04Just getting nice then.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07I didn't want to fall asleep as well, I wanted to stay awake.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11Neither did I, because then I'll get more tired, and now I'm really tired.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Yeah, but you got what you wanted.
0:19:14 > 0:19:21After lunch, the building party find surprising reserves of strength to get ahead on the hole-digging.
0:19:21 > 0:19:26I started off really tired and then I seemed to get like a burst of energy. I'm not sure what happened.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32I've got my first blister, which obviously shows I've been working!
0:19:32 > 0:19:37We've just absolutely nailed it, so, yeah, it's brilliant.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40Even the Maasai building team can't take the pace.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46And by four o'clock, the last of the 84 holes is completed.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48Whe-hey!
0:19:48 > 0:19:50- Good effort, team. - Well done, everyone.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52Brilliant.
0:19:53 > 0:19:58In the Mbarikas, trackers and an armed guide always walk well ahead
0:19:58 > 0:20:02of the main party for safety, and they make a rare sighting.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07We've just discovered that an elephant's in front,
0:20:07 > 0:20:11so we'll all keep quiet, and hopefully we'll get a glimpse of one of them.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16For the first time on the trek, the wind is blowing directly
0:20:16 > 0:20:20towards the group, so the elephants hopefully can't hear or smell them.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25Isn't that amazing?
0:20:25 > 0:20:30It's a family group of five elephants, grazing peacefully in the forest.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37You never actually think that you'd see them up close
0:20:37 > 0:20:40and so natural, not even knowing that we're there.
0:20:41 > 0:20:47It's incredible because I've never been this close to any animal, really,
0:20:47 > 0:20:49so, yeah, it's amazing.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59It's the most magical encounter of the whole expedition.
0:20:59 > 0:21:04Never think in a million years that you'd get that close
0:21:04 > 0:21:08to seeing an elephant just out in the wild minding its own business!
0:21:08 > 0:21:14It definitely numbs the pain of having walked for eight days without seeing anything.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16It's just made my day.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24As the day's building draws to a close, the team have done a
0:21:24 > 0:21:28remarkable job, putting in 11 poles to get well ahead on the project.
0:21:30 > 0:21:35Right, team, finish your poles and then knock it on the head for the day.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39- Have some food and maybe have a little bit of a wash. - You think we need a wash?
0:21:39 > 0:21:44Yes. They're incredible, they've done a really, really good job. Well done, everyone! Whey!
0:21:44 > 0:21:45Good effort.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50Next morning, there's positive news for Ben's team too.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54The first hint at last that the end of the marathon trek may be in sight.
0:21:54 > 0:22:02Smiles, because you can see, for once, that we're nearly on the same map sheet as our end destination.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05The most important thing to focus on is getting to the Matisi River,
0:22:05 > 0:22:08because that is a big goal in itself today.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11In total, they've now walked over 90 miles,
0:22:11 > 0:22:15and if they can trek a further 11 miles to the Matisi River today,
0:22:15 > 0:22:20they'll be out of the mountains, and the Mbarikas will have been crossed
0:22:20 > 0:22:22by an expedition for the first time.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24We're really nailing the miles.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28It looks like we've got a long way to go but it's definitely doable.
0:22:28 > 0:22:34It's the final day of the building project and after yesterday's impressive efforts, the British
0:22:34 > 0:22:38and Maasai children are well on track to finish the lion-proof enclosure.
0:22:41 > 0:22:45But after three days in the village, living without any modern luxuries,
0:22:45 > 0:22:51the explorers have decided the tough tribal lifestyle is not for them.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55I feel bad saying that I don't like it, because they have to live like it.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58But it's definitely not idyllic.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02People might think it's a nice way to live, more simple, but it's poverty, basically.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08You kind of realise how spoilt and lucky we are,
0:23:08 > 0:23:11to live the way we live at home.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14It's nice to be able to experience living like them
0:23:14 > 0:23:17but I don't think I'd ever be able to live like them.
0:23:17 > 0:23:18I like my way of life.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23By early afternoon, several hours ahead of schedule,
0:23:23 > 0:23:27the explorers and the Maasai complete the building project.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29Well, finito! Fantastic!
0:23:31 > 0:23:35It's an amazing achievement - working in the tropical heat,
0:23:35 > 0:23:38they've built the whole enclosure in less than two days.
0:23:38 > 0:23:43And at last, the Maasai's valuable cattle will be protected from lion attacks.
0:23:43 > 0:23:48The tribal leader says it will make a great difference to their lives.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52He says this is very, very big for him and his family.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55So he's very, very thankful to everybody who participated here.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03It feels good, because like not only are we protecting the people's
0:24:03 > 0:24:08cattle, which is essentially their money, but we're also protecting the lions from being killed.
0:24:08 > 0:24:13It's a really good feeling to know that it's going to contribute a lot to the whole community.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15It was totally worth all the work.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21Ben's team are piling on the miles in their quest to complete
0:24:21 > 0:24:23the record-breaking crossing of the mountains.
0:24:23 > 0:24:29And as they take a break, they're confident they've broken the back of the journey.
0:24:29 > 0:24:34Starting to feel slightly better, it's just every step is just a step closer to the end.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37But they're destined not to make it.
0:24:37 > 0:24:44Just hours from conquering the Mbarikas, the expedition is hit by a rare and terrible tragedy.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47Ahead of the main group, an armed guide is involved
0:24:47 > 0:24:51in a fatal accident, attacked and killed by an elephant.
0:24:51 > 0:24:57Leader Ben immediately calls off the trek, and the explorers are airlifted out by helicopter.
0:24:57 > 0:25:02As an expedition leader, when you have a tragic accident like this, you have to literally just call
0:25:02 > 0:25:06it off, end it then and there, and that's what we did.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10Having said all of that, and having had to cut the expedition short, one can't take away
0:25:10 > 0:25:16from what those three young explorers actually achieved, because we were coming out
0:25:16 > 0:25:21of the mountains, we were heading down to the river, we'd kind of done it.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25Those three achieved so much, and for me, they've crossed the Mbarikas.
0:25:29 > 0:25:34Towards the end of his expedition, David Livingstone was in very poor health.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38People back in Britain didn't hear from him for several years,
0:25:38 > 0:25:41and had no idea what had happened to their national hero.
0:25:43 > 0:25:49Eventually, an American newspaper sent a reporter, the adventurer Henry Stanley, to try and find him,
0:25:49 > 0:25:55and after nearly eight months, he traced the great explorer to a village by Lake Tanganyika.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01Stanley wrote later of his famous encounter...
0:26:01 > 0:26:03I would have run to him, would have embraced him,
0:26:03 > 0:26:07only he being British, I did not know how he would receive me.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11So I did what cowardice suggested was the best thing -
0:26:11 > 0:26:16walked deliberately to him and said, "Dr Livingstone, I presume?"
0:26:16 > 0:26:21"Yes," said he, with a kind smile, lifting his cap slightly.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29Reliving the legend of Livingstone has given the seven young explorers
0:26:29 > 0:26:32a fresh respect for the Victorian adventurer.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36It makes me understand why he's such a great explorer, because it was
0:26:36 > 0:26:39so tough for me, and I know it would have been a lot harder for him.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41He's just awe-inspiring in what he did.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46The Serious Explorers' month-long expedition has been a rollercoaster
0:26:46 > 0:26:52ride of extreme highs and lows, and it's left a lasting impression.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56That was really tough, definitely the hardest thing I've done,
0:26:56 > 0:27:00but at the end of it, to get that amazing achievement was just fantastic.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04I don't think anything could really top it. It's just opened my mind
0:27:04 > 0:27:09to different experiences that I might want to try later on in life.
0:27:09 > 0:27:15Every night you see a sunset that could be on a postcard, you meet all these different
0:27:15 > 0:27:21people from different cultures. It just adds up to being the best thing you could possibly imagine.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Looking back on it, I've just been so inspired
0:27:24 > 0:27:29with what I've done myself, and that I didn't appreciate at the time, and I wish I'd cried less.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32I'm glad that it was that tough, because at the end of it,
0:27:32 > 0:27:36I always felt that I'd really achieved something, something special.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40When I'm older, I'll find something hard, but then I can think back,
0:27:40 > 0:27:44this is definitely easier than what I did in Africa.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47If I can climb an unclimbed mountain, anything's possible, really.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53You're so proud of yourself for what you've done, and you realise
0:27:53 > 0:27:57that it's something that's going to define you and make you what you are.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03I think it's a 10 out of a 10, definitely.
0:28:03 > 0:28:07It's probably the best thing... It is the best thing I've ever done, and I think I ever will do.