0:00:02 > 0:00:06Seven young explorers are taking on the toughest challenge of their lives...
0:00:06 > 0:00:08..an extreme expedition
0:00:08 > 0:00:09in South America.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11That is mad.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13They're attempting a series of astonishing world firsts.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17- Oh my God! - ..going where no children have been before...
0:00:17 > 0:00:21- Ah! - ..to get to some of the most awesome places on Earth.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23- We've reached the top. - Land to starboard!
0:00:23 > 0:00:27The team are following in the footsteps of the great Elizabethan,
0:00:27 > 0:00:31Sir Walter Raleigh, the first Englishman to explore Guyana
0:00:31 > 0:00:34as he searched for El Dorado, the lost city of gold.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38Led by survival expert Ben Major
0:00:38 > 0:00:40and record-breaking adventurer, Polly Murray,
0:00:40 > 0:00:44the epic journey will push the seven explorers to the limit
0:00:44 > 0:00:46and beyond.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51- I can't! - It's all bad.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54I hate you so much!
0:00:54 > 0:00:55- Get them off! - Ah!
0:00:55 > 0:00:57It's just too scary.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03- Coming up... - Careful, careful, careful.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06..the expedition reaches an awe-inspiring climax,
0:01:06 > 0:01:09trekking to the bottom of an immense waterfall.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12- You can't get much better than this, really.- Whee!
0:01:12 > 0:01:14And abseiling off the top.
0:01:14 > 0:01:19That is the best view in the whole world!
0:01:19 > 0:01:24Over the last four weeks, the young explorers, all aged
0:01:24 > 0:01:29just 12 to 14, have clocked up an impressive list of achievements.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33They've become the youngest team on record to climb
0:01:33 > 0:01:36nearly 10,000 feet up Mount Maringma.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38We're at the top.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42And the first children to stand on the furthest point, known as The Prowl.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44CHEERING
0:01:44 > 0:01:45COWS MOO
0:01:45 > 0:01:47They've herded 100 head of cattle...
0:01:47 > 0:01:50SHOUTING AND CHEERING
0:01:50 > 0:01:54..endured a night surviving completely on their own in the rainforest...
0:01:54 > 0:01:56It's morning.
0:01:56 > 0:01:57I'm still alive.
0:01:57 > 0:02:03..and paddled a record-breaking 75 miles down a remote jungle river.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06Oh, it's static at the minute, just so glad that we've done it.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12Now after a month of amazing adventures,
0:02:12 > 0:02:16the explorers are entering the last week of the expedition.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20Though as yet, they have no idea what it holds.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23Obviously we're going to leave the biggest...
0:02:23 > 0:02:24till last.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29And you are going to be the youngest people ever
0:02:29 > 0:02:33to trek to the bottom of Kaieteur Falls.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36- Oh!- Oh my God!
0:02:38 > 0:02:40Cascading 741 feet,
0:02:40 > 0:02:45Kaieteur Falls is one of the most powerful single drop waterfalls in the world.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49Over the next three days, the team will attempt a groundbreaking trek
0:02:49 > 0:02:53up the gorge, to get as close to the bottom as possible.
0:02:53 > 0:02:54It's so treacherous,
0:02:54 > 0:02:58they'll be the only children on record ever to attempt it.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01I like all the parts of the rainforest no-one's been to before
0:03:01 > 0:03:03and you can't get better than Kaieteur.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06I think it's pretty amazing, I can't wait to get to the bottom.
0:03:06 > 0:03:11What they don't know is that they'll also be the first children
0:03:11 > 0:03:14to try and abseil from the top of the falls.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17ENGINE STARTS
0:03:21 > 0:03:25Kaieteur Falls sits in the heart of Guyana's unspoiled rainforest,
0:03:25 > 0:03:29so the only way to get close is by light aircraft.
0:03:31 > 0:03:36They head to a landing strip overlooking the gorge.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41All right, gang. Last phase.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44But the terrain today is very, very steep.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46You've really got to watch your footing
0:03:46 > 0:03:48and make sure that we work together, OK?
0:03:48 > 0:03:52And let's go and have the most amazing experience, all right? OK?
0:03:54 > 0:03:56It will take the explorers three days
0:03:56 > 0:04:00to trek a total of less than three miles to the falls.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04Today, they've a two mile steep descent to their first camp
0:04:04 > 0:04:06at the bottom of the gorge.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10Careful, careful, yes?
0:04:10 > 0:04:12A big step down.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16It's extremely slippery and Sammie is soon struggling.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20Sammie is ever so cautious about where her feet are going, she's frightened of falling.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22We've got to try and get her out of that
0:04:22 > 0:04:25because it gets a lot worse, the further we go down.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29Along the route, they encounter all sorts of wildlife.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31I found it on the floor.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33My baby stick insect.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35- What's that?- Is that a kangaroo?
0:04:35 > 0:04:39It's a capybara and it's the world's biggest rodent.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43I was going to say what is a kangaroo doing in the middle of the rainforest?
0:04:43 > 0:04:46Guys, go, where Sammie's going there, go left.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50Some of the boys are finding the slow pace frustrating.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53We're walking so slow, we can't get anywhere.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56It's like stop, start, stop, start.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59It's going to take forever if we keep going like this
0:04:59 > 0:05:03and we'll end up getting in to camp in darkness, which nobody really wants.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07What these guys don't appreciate is that if one was to take a slip,
0:05:07 > 0:05:11then the consequences of a slip are massive.
0:05:11 > 0:05:12Ooh.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15I feel kind of bad because I'm slowing everyone else down,
0:05:15 > 0:05:19so I'm going to try and hurry up but I find it kind of scary.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22Hold on to the roots of the trees. They'll help you down.
0:05:22 > 0:05:27With the constant hold-ups, Michael and Jake start to mess about.
0:05:27 > 0:05:32They should build a massive great slide in the park.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34Yes, and you just slide down it. Woo!
0:05:34 > 0:05:37On no! Look, I did it again!
0:05:37 > 0:05:38LAUGHTER
0:05:38 > 0:05:44Guys, if someone breaks their leg here, we're absolutely scuppered.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48Concentrate on what you're doing. Just... Sssh. Yes?
0:05:51 > 0:05:52WHISTLING
0:05:56 > 0:05:57After five hours of trekking,
0:05:57 > 0:06:00the explorers finally make it safely to their campsite.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06I think we might have arrived.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08Good effort, guys.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Shall we call this Old Man's Beard Camp, yes?
0:06:12 > 0:06:16Because of the waterfall opposite, which looks like an old man's beard?
0:06:16 > 0:06:18- Long and wispy?- Whoa!
0:06:18 > 0:06:21That's amazing.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23In Elizabethan times,
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Sir Walter Raleigh was also awestruck by the scenery
0:06:26 > 0:06:31he came across as he explored Guyana, especially the waterfalls.
0:06:31 > 0:06:32He wrote of one...
0:06:32 > 0:06:36"I think there is not in the world so strange an over fall,
0:06:36 > 0:06:38"nor so wonderful to behold."
0:06:42 > 0:06:45You know when you see on the TV when it all looks fake?
0:06:45 > 0:06:48This looks fake because it's that beautiful.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51That's literally 10 times smaller than Kaieteur Falls.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55Once we get there, that is going to be absolutely mind-blowing.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57WHISTLING It's time to do some work.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01We're going to lose the light a lot quicker because we're right in a big gorge here.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03After weeks away,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06the team are getting pretty good at setting up camp.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09But there are still the usual jungle hazards to content with.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12A cockroach crawled in my sleeve,
0:07:12 > 0:07:14I just had the biggest ant on my leg bit me,
0:07:14 > 0:07:18big, red ant bit me on the leg, that killed.
0:07:18 > 0:07:19Woo!
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Just get it light, get it started.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23As team leader for the day,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26Michael has come up with a special plan for the camp fire.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29We're going to try and get a massive fire going tonight
0:07:29 > 0:07:33so in the morning we don't have to start again, it will burn through the night.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38Regan's not feeling well so has gone off to his hammock.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40I need the toilet and I'm feeling a bit dizzy.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43I think I need to lie down for a minute, that's all.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45He needs to recover fast,
0:07:45 > 0:07:49as the route to the falls is set to get even tougher tomorrow.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57In the morning, Michael's chuffed to find his fire still smoking.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02I cannot believe that our fire has lasted the whole night.
0:08:02 > 0:08:07It was glowing red, so I blew on it a few times and put some sticks on it.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09- Is everyone up?- Yes.- Regan?
0:08:09 > 0:08:13Unfortunately, Regan's condition hasn't improved,
0:08:13 > 0:08:16raising a question over whether he can continue.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18I feel more or less the same.
0:08:18 > 0:08:23I really want to do this, I've wanted to do this for a long time.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25So I'm not going to stop now.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28It's a concern to Dr Henry.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32Regan's got a bit of diarrhoea and is a bit dehydrated.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35As a result, he doesn't have much energy at the moment.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38Give it a boost, you need the energy, all the energy you can get.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42- Try and force it down.- I don't really want to eat any of it, though.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48Today's goal is to forge a route for half a mile
0:08:48 > 0:08:51alongside the river to Sandy Camp.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55If they make it, it will be a first chance to see Kaieteur Falls.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58But unusually heavy rain over the last week
0:08:58 > 0:09:01has given them a serious problem.
0:09:01 > 0:09:06The water levels are probably two, three metres higher than normal at this time of year.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08At the moment there's no river bed,
0:09:08 > 0:09:10so we're having to cut our route through the jungle.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12We really are genuinely exploring.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15If you reckon last night was the most amazing place,
0:09:15 > 0:09:20I'm hoping tonight will beat that by a long, long way, OK?
0:09:20 > 0:09:23- Excited?- Yes.- Let's do it.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28They set off into virgin jungle
0:09:28 > 0:09:31and the terrain is incredibly tricky.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36You can just about kill yourself on anything.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40That's why you've got to be on the ball the whole time.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44There's holes, there's massive rocks,
0:09:44 > 0:09:47there's boulders, there's trees...
0:09:47 > 0:09:50There's really slippy rock, just up here.
0:09:50 > 0:09:54You do find... Keep going, yes? Big leap.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57- Good girl, brilliant. - Despite the difficulty,
0:09:57 > 0:09:59Regan is determined to keep going.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Still feeling a bit tired,
0:10:01 > 0:10:07but pushing on and on, feeling better as the day continues.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11He's been doing good so far. I wouldn't fancy doing all this if I was sick.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15Fast-flowing rapids are now right alongside their route.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17Come up here, you get a much better view.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20- Whoa. Look at that.- Amazing.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23- Quite scary, isn't it?- Just a bit!
0:10:23 > 0:10:26You wouldn't want to fall in, to be honest.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30You would not stand a chance.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35Just pass back. There's a rope that you can hold onto.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37Stop a minute!
0:10:37 > 0:10:41- Suddenly, there's a problem. - What have you done? Hold on.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43Jake has fallen badly.
0:10:43 > 0:10:44Further down.
0:10:46 > 0:10:47HE WINCES
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Push on, guys, and just sit down round the corner.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56He's hurt his wrist and Dr Henry assesses the damage.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59- Keep going, Nikita. - Can you just tell me what happened?
0:10:59 > 0:11:02My foot got caught in a vine and I tried to lift it up
0:11:02 > 0:11:05and it got caught and I just went forward.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08I landed on my wrist on there.
0:11:08 > 0:11:09And you took the fall...
0:11:09 > 0:11:10HE WINCES
0:11:10 > 0:11:15- Sorry.- You took the full weight of the fall on your wrist and it bent back?- Yes.
0:11:15 > 0:11:20He's got a bit of a nasty sprain, but fortunately hasn't hurt himself in any other way
0:11:20 > 0:11:23and we've given him some painkillers, bandaged his wrist
0:11:23 > 0:11:26and he should be fine, we'll just keep an eye on him.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29That's an indication of what the ground's like at the moment.
0:11:29 > 0:11:34It's very difficult to see where you're putting your feet and actually having good handles
0:11:34 > 0:11:36and you've just got to take your time.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40Jake bravely presses on through the pain...
0:11:40 > 0:11:45even managing to pull himself up on ropes rigged for the most dangerous sections.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51Pretty difficult when you've only got one hand.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Just use your knees, Jake, if it's a problem. That's it.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01It takes the team six hours to trek a total of just half a mile.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06But at last, they reach camp.
0:12:07 > 0:12:13That is relief, to actually be able to walk a couple of metres without tripping over.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18We have arrived. I didn't actually think we'd make it.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20Nice one, folks.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23- Well done, Joshy, well done, Jake. - We've arrived!
0:12:23 > 0:12:25That was proper pioneering.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28Today hasn't been easy at all. It's been, I mean,
0:12:28 > 0:12:32we've done a route that probably nobody's ever been down before.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36It puts the name "serious explorers" into reality, doesn't it?
0:12:37 > 0:12:40They've more than earned their first glimpse of Kaieteur Falls.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44- OK.- Don't look, don't look, don't look.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48- Now, Polly?- Yes, look up, guys.
0:12:48 > 0:12:49Oh, my God!
0:12:49 > 0:12:51CHEERING
0:12:51 > 0:12:52That's huge!
0:12:52 > 0:12:55THEY TALK OVER EACH OTHER
0:12:55 > 0:12:58- How beautiful is that?- Wow.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02Can we get right down on the boulders, yes?
0:13:02 > 0:13:06Kaieteur Falls is as high as a 75-storey skyscraper
0:13:06 > 0:13:09and it's the only place in the world where such a huge
0:13:09 > 0:13:13volume of water falls over such a vast distance.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17It is just beautiful and it's absolutely huge.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19I'd say that's definitely one of the best,
0:13:19 > 0:13:23if not the best thing I've ever seen, it's just mind-blowing.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29So worth going two days hot and sweaty to be rewarded with that view?
0:13:29 > 0:13:32- Yes.- Yes.- But we're not there yet.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36They've already come where no group of children have been before
0:13:36 > 0:13:39but the aim tomorrow is to get as close as possible to the falls
0:13:39 > 0:13:42and the only route is at the other side of the river.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46We're going to do a river crossing, so we want to be able to swim across the far side.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49From there, we're going to pick a route up and over, underneath,
0:13:49 > 0:13:53whatever we can do, to forge a route all the way up, that is our plan.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55- Is that sounding good?- Yes.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58With no way forward up the right-hand bank,
0:13:58 > 0:14:01they'll have to cross a fast-flowing river
0:14:01 > 0:14:04and then clamber along treacherous boulders as far as they can.
0:14:05 > 0:14:10But as the day draws to an end, there are ominous signs
0:14:10 > 0:14:13of yet more bad weather.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19You might be able to hear it absolutely chucking it down.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23Fingers crossed all goes to plan.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27I just hope this doesn't bring the water levels so high
0:14:27 > 0:14:32that we actually physically cannot cross the river.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35It rains on through the night, and in the morning,
0:14:35 > 0:14:39the river levels have risen, but the leaders decide
0:14:39 > 0:14:41the crossing can go ahead. Just.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45It's genuine exploration. We should be able to cross the river.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47That might be the end of it.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51But every single little bit closer, it's just the views,
0:14:51 > 0:14:56and the feeling of accomplishment is going to be even stronger.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59It'll just be the most amazing feeling, to have done all this
0:14:59 > 0:15:03and been through everything, from arriving to paddling
0:15:03 > 0:15:08and then to finally go out on a bang, basically, just complete the journey.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12The river is now flowing seriously fast.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Once we start breaking out to the left,
0:15:15 > 0:15:16we'll enter the current.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20That's when we ask you to swim strongly. Fast as you can,
0:15:20 > 0:15:23and you'll go across but the current will sweep you down.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26Michael, if you go first. Nikita, you go second.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29- I don't want to do it at all. - You don't want to do it at all?
0:15:29 > 0:15:34Although Sammie can swim, she has a fear of all but the calmest water.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37If we had the dinghy here and you in the water
0:15:37 > 0:15:40- and you held on to the dinghy... - OK, I'll do that
0:15:40 > 0:15:43but I don't want to go it alone.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46The strongest swimmer, Michael, goes first.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50With the safety boat on hand and Dr Henry also in the water,
0:15:50 > 0:15:53he strikes out into the strongest part of the current.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03Swimming hard, all the way, fantastic job. You've got to
0:16:03 > 0:16:06keep working. You get the burn in your arms and legs.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09You've got to keep driving all the way to the end.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12Polly's waiting a little downstream, where he should end up
0:16:12 > 0:16:14in the powerful current.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17Well done, Michael.
0:16:17 > 0:16:18Nice one.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21When your head comes out, you can feel the current hit you
0:16:21 > 0:16:26and it's sort of a bit of a shock, how strong it is.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29They have to allow themselves to be taken downstream,
0:16:29 > 0:16:32and not waste energy fighting the flow.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36You've got to commit. It is like a 50m sprint, maximum effort.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39- Just power through the water. - Good girl! Keep coming!
0:16:39 > 0:16:43It doesn't matter if you float down!
0:16:43 > 0:16:46Just keep going like that and you'll be fine!
0:16:46 > 0:16:50- You OK?- Yeah, fine.- Perfect.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53I had a good look at Kaieteur Falls. It's pretty cool.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57You can see all the mist bouncing off the bottom.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59Good, Megan!
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Just let the current take you! Good effort.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04You make that look so easy!
0:17:04 > 0:17:06OK, Josh!
0:17:06 > 0:17:09But Josh isn't such a strong swimmer,
0:17:09 > 0:17:12and he makes little headway in the current.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15Come on, Josh!
0:17:15 > 0:17:17You'll soon be out of the flow.
0:17:19 > 0:17:25By the middle he's struggling, and the leaders are getting concerned.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29Josh, don't go upstream. Just relax, yeah?
0:17:29 > 0:17:31Doesn't matter if you end up down there.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35But he digs deep to make it all the way across.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38It was pretty nerve-wracking in the middle.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41You're just dragged out of direction.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43But I did it and it wasn't actually too bad.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47That's it. Now hang on. Both hands on that line. Well done.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50Sammie takes a ride most of the way.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54But after getting through the worst of the current,
0:17:54 > 0:17:57she tries to swim the last few metres.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02That way. Just come up on the ramp.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04Swim forward.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07- Swim forward. - Suddenly, she has a panic attack.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09Swim forward.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11It's all right. You're doing fine.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15- And Polly has to step in to help. - Give me your hand.
0:18:17 > 0:18:22Sammie. Sammie. Give me your hand, darling.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25Oh, I spoilt it!
0:18:25 > 0:18:27Hey. Hey!
0:18:27 > 0:18:30Hey, look at me!
0:18:30 > 0:18:34- Only a tiny little bit and I couldn't even do it!- Hey. Hey.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37Don't worry. You're here.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40I'm annoyed at myself because I couldn't even
0:18:40 > 0:18:43do the tiniest little bit and that's stupid.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45I should have been able to do that.
0:18:45 > 0:18:50I'm really annoyed at myself for freaking out.
0:18:51 > 0:18:56From now on, every record-breaking step is treacherous.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03The rocks are really slippy and just like a sheet of ice.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06If you fall off, you'll go down a hole, go in the water
0:19:06 > 0:19:09or knock yourself out on one of these rocks,
0:19:09 > 0:19:11so it's pretty scary.
0:19:13 > 0:19:18It's amazing, getting this close to the waterfall. It's just there.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22Every single step that we take from now on
0:19:22 > 0:19:24has got danger written all over it.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26And I'm not hamming that up.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29So please take your time, use your hands, stay low,
0:19:29 > 0:19:31centre of gravity low.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33No leaping, no jumping.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41They inch ever closer to their goal.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49Careful, careful, careful!
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Nikita! Never again, all right?
0:19:52 > 0:19:54You're too cocky, by half.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57Don't get swept under there.
0:19:57 > 0:20:03Concentrate on what you're doing and then head up onto there, OK?
0:20:04 > 0:20:07It'll be really cool when get a lot closer
0:20:07 > 0:20:11and see a clear view of it. We can only see a bit at the minute.
0:20:11 > 0:20:12But to get still closer
0:20:12 > 0:20:15to the falls, they have to try to forge a route
0:20:15 > 0:20:18round and under giant boulders.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22It's pretty nerve-wracking, the stretch from one rock to another.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26You have to hold two hands on the rope and never let go.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30It's amazing to see it, but it's really, really, really scary.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36Eventually, they emerge from beneath the rocks...
0:20:39 > 0:20:42..and find they've reached the end of their journey.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47Come on, gang. Look at this!
0:20:47 > 0:20:49ALL: Whoa!
0:20:49 > 0:20:53They're the youngest group ever to reach the bottom of Kaieteur Falls.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55Not bad, eh?
0:21:03 > 0:21:08That is pretty much a lifetime mission. To come to Kaieteur Falls,
0:21:08 > 0:21:11you can't get better than that, can you?
0:21:11 > 0:21:14I never thought I'd say that about a waterfall,
0:21:14 > 0:21:16but it is actually beautiful.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19To come all this way and have that as your view,
0:21:19 > 0:21:22it feels absolutely amazing.
0:21:22 > 0:21:28What you guys have achieved to get here is absolutely phenomenal.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32- Amazing job. Well done. - Congratulations, guys.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36Woo-hoo! Because, we are now Serious Explorers.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38ALL: Yeah!
0:21:40 > 0:21:43What the explorers don't know
0:21:43 > 0:21:47is that it isn't quite the end of the expedition.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50As they go back out of the gorge to see the falls from the top,
0:21:50 > 0:21:55the leaders break the news of a final, remarkable challenge.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57We've got an opportunity to...
0:21:57 > 0:22:01abseil, from the point you can see where the ropes are coming down,
0:22:01 > 0:22:05and get a really good look at the waterfall.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09If you want. It's quite a brave thing to do.
0:22:09 > 0:22:14We were down there and now we'll go down the falls. It'll be great.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17You won't get to do anything like this again,
0:22:17 > 0:22:20so it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22I cannot wait to do it!
0:22:22 > 0:22:25I'd never, ever pass up anything like that.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Nikita volunteers to go first.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31Polly will be down there and she'll give you a seat
0:22:31 > 0:22:33to make you more comfortable.
0:22:33 > 0:22:38Throughout the whole trip, she's shown nerves of steel.
0:22:38 > 0:22:43Just work your feet down. Get the feel of it. Feet a little bit lower.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47You'll feel awkward. You've done the hardest move.
0:22:47 > 0:22:48Oh, that is immense!
0:22:48 > 0:22:52That is the best view in the whole world!
0:22:52 > 0:22:56Oh, my gosh!
0:22:56 > 0:23:01Oh, my goodness! I cannot believe I'm doing this!
0:23:05 > 0:23:08Oh, my gosh! The waterfall's just there!
0:23:08 > 0:23:11There's a massive rainbow.
0:23:11 > 0:23:16You can see all the valleys, and I'm literally, right,
0:23:16 > 0:23:20next to the waterfall. This is amazing!
0:23:22 > 0:23:23Wow.
0:23:26 > 0:23:27Whoa!
0:23:27 > 0:23:29Keep walking up. Good stuff.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33That was actually the best thing I've done on this whole trip
0:23:33 > 0:23:37and the fact that it was me controlling myself, it was amazing.
0:23:37 > 0:23:44For some, taking their first steps over the edge is very nerve-wracking.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46- Whoa!- I'm right here, Jake.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52- This is the worst bit. - Feet down.- All right, buddy? Cool.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54Whoa, that is cool.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56- Those waves are immense.- Oh, God.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00Regan has never been happy with heights.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Straight down the cliff. Absolutely perfect.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07But he's never let his fear get the better of him.
0:24:07 > 0:24:08Oh, my God!
0:24:10 > 0:24:14It's just incredible. Everything's just perfect.
0:24:14 > 0:24:19- Well, it would be if my feet were on solid ground, anyway.- Whoa!
0:24:19 > 0:24:20That is just...
0:24:22 > 0:24:24Woo-hoo!
0:24:26 > 0:24:31Wow. I feel like I'm in heaven, to be floating.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35It's amazing!
0:24:38 > 0:24:44It don't get much better than that. It was just so spectacular.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Wow.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53Out of 100, that is 110, definitely.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59I will always remember this. I'm never, ever going to forget it.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03It's six down, one to go, but once again,
0:25:03 > 0:25:06Sammie's getting herself into a state.
0:25:06 > 0:25:11I'm really nervous. Since I saw Megan come up, I got butterflies.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16Oh... Oh... Why am I doing this?
0:25:16 > 0:25:18OK, I can do it.
0:25:20 > 0:25:25- No, I can't, I can't, I can't. - Don't worry.- Oh, God.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29It's Sammie's final chance to prove herself.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33- Keep your legs straight.- That's it! - Now we're abseiling.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35Look at that! Check it out.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39Good!
0:25:39 > 0:25:42After you get off the edge, oh, my God.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44Can't even explain it.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49This is surreal. This is like... not even real.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52Oh, my God. It looks absolutely amazing.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54Wow.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07I was thinking I want to end this trip on a high.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11It's once in a lifetime, so I might as well take it.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16Well done, guys. Excellent.
0:26:19 > 0:26:23It's been a fitting climax to an extraordinary expedition,
0:26:23 > 0:26:27full of world firsts and unique experiences.
0:26:30 > 0:26:35It has definitely been the most amazing, brilliant, outstanding
0:26:35 > 0:26:37five weeks of my life.
0:26:37 > 0:26:41There's been tough times - it hasn't always been easy,
0:26:41 > 0:26:43but I've just loved every minute.
0:26:43 > 0:26:48This experience is the best thing I've ever done in my whole life.
0:26:48 > 0:26:53Seriously, I've never done anything so extreme or challenging.
0:26:53 > 0:26:58It's taught me that when I put my mind to something, I can do it.
0:26:58 > 0:27:02You learn so much, you see the environments,
0:27:02 > 0:27:06and just realise how special this planet is.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08It's just been mind-blowing.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11So many dreams have come true.
0:27:13 > 0:27:18If I hadn't found it so hard, it would have been so rewarding.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20I have become a stronger person, I think,
0:27:20 > 0:27:22and it's something I really want to do again.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30It's been amazing, seeing the views and the environment around you.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34And I've learned about how to make friends and not argue,
0:27:34 > 0:27:37and matured a lot since the start of the expedition.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40It's just immense.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44You can't put a price on this. It's one of those things, it's priceless.
0:27:44 > 0:27:49You'll never, ever do this again. I loved it.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52Words can't describe how amazing it was,
0:27:52 > 0:27:54to be setting world records
0:27:54 > 0:27:57and being the youngest group to get places.
0:27:57 > 0:28:01I've learned so much about myself, so much about nature.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04It was by far the best thing I've done in my life.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:06 > 0:28:08E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk