I'M BEAR GRYLLS,
AND I'M GONNA SEEK OUT SOME OF THE MOST EXTREME CHALLENGES
IN THE MOST DANGEROUS LOCATIONS ON EARTH,
WHERE HAVING THE RIGHT SURVIVAL SKILLS
CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.
WHOO!
NOW I'M IN PANAMA, CENTRAL AMERICA,
TANGLING WITH THE MOST INHOSPITABLE RAINFOREST
IN THE WORLD.
IT'S SO REMOTE, MOST OF IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN CHARTED.
THIS STUFF IS HORRIBLE.
YOU'VE GOT TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.
I DON'T KNOW HOW DEEP IT IS.
[ BRANCH SNAPS ]
THAT'S WHY I DON'T WANT TO FALL OFF THIS THING.
HOLD YOUR NERVE...
EAT WHATEVER YOU CAN.
KEEP FOR LATER.
...LEARN SURVIVAL SKILLS WITH THE EMBERA TRIBE,
AND PUSH YOURSELF TO THE LIMIT IN A SCRAMBLE TO BE RESCUED.
YEAH, THAT'S DEFINITELY A CHOPPER.
I'M GONNA SHOW YOU HOW TO STAY ALIVE HERE.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
PANAMA HAS THOUSANDS OF SQUARE MILES OF JUNGLE
TEEMING WITH VENOMOUS SNAKES, INSECTS, AND BIG CATS.
IT'S NOT THE SORT OF PLACE YOU'D WANT TO BE STRANDED IN.
THE JUNGLE WOULD JUST SWALLOW YOU UP.
EVEN AT THIS HEIGHT, IT'S SO DENSE,
I CAN'T EVEN SEE THE GROUND BELOW.
I'M LOOKING FOR A CLEARING TO SET DOWN.
BELOW ME, THE GREEN CANOPY LOOKS SMOOTH,
BUT THIS IS A MOUNTAINOUS REGION.
IT'S GNARLY, ROCKY, AND VERY UNFORGIVING.
I'VE GOT A FEW BASIC SURVIVAL TOOLS,
AND MY CAMERA CREW ARE COMING WITH ME.
AS SOON AS I DISAPPEAR INTO THE TREES,
I'M KNOW I'M IN FOR A TOUGH RIDE.
[ INSECTS CHIRPING, BIRDS SINGING ]
Grylls: IT'S THAT EASY.
LITERALLY JUST A DROP OFF THE RADAR IN THESE JUNGLES.
AND ONCE YOU'RE LOST OUT HERE, YOU'RE GONNA STAY LOST.
I'VE GOT TO MAKE A PLAN.
HARDLY A SOUL LIVES HERE,
SO FINDING PEOPLE ISN'T AN OPTION.
IF YOU'RE LOST IN THE JUNGLE, YOUR BEST HOPE FOR SURVIVAL
IS TO HEAD HIGH AND SIGNAL FOR HELP.
I'M MAKING FOR THE NUSAGANDI AREA --
THE HIGHEST PART OF THE REGION.
THERE REALLY IS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO SURVIVE IN THE JUNGLE.
JUST ALL AROUND YOU,
AND THERE'S AN ABUNDANCE OF WATER, FOOD, AND ALSO MEDICINES.
OUT HERE, WHAT YOU KNOW CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE,
BUT WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW COULD KILL YOU.
AH, BUT THE KEY TO IT IS KNOWLEDGE.
CHECK OUT THIS MONSTER GRASSHOPPER HERE.
AND THESE ARE SO FAST.
YOU'VE GOT TO GRAB THESE QUICKLY,
AND AFTER YOU TRY AND GO FOR IT OR IT JUMPS,
YOU WANT TO AIM ABOVE IT.
[ GROANS ]
LOOK AT THAT.
HE'S NOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S QUITE A... QUITE A WHOPPER.
I'M JUST GONNA TAKE HIS HEAD OFF.
THERE YOU GO.
AND THEN THE REST OF HIM NOW IS EDIBLE.
BUT REALLY IN THE WILD, IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION,
YOU'VE GOT TO LEAVE YOUR PREJUDICES BEHIND.
AND THAT IS ENERGY.
ENERGY MEANS MOVEMENT,
AND MOVEMENT IS VITAL IF YOU'RE GONNA SELF-RESCUE.
SO, HERE WE GO.
UGH.
[ CRUNCHING ]
THAT TASTED JUST KIND OF CREAMY GOO.
[ GRUNTS ]
[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]
HE'S GONE DOWN, AND I'M ON.
GAINING ANY GROUND IN THIS STRENGTH-SAPPING MUD
IS EXHAUSTING.
THIS IS WHY IT'S SO HARD TO MAKE ANY SORT OF PROGRESS
IN DENSE JUNGLE.
[ SPITS ]
YEAH, IT'S SLIPPY. LOOK AT THAT UNDERFOOT.
SOLDIERS, YOU KNOW,
WOULD NORMALLY RECKON ON MOVING IN DENSE JUNGLE
NOT MUCH MORE THAN A MILE -- MAYBE A MILE AND A HALF A DAY.
AND THIS IS WHY.
YOUR CLOTHES JUST STICK TO YOU LIKE DAMP GLUE
IN THE 100% HUMIDITY,
AND IT MAKES THE TEMPERATURE FEEL LIKE 120 DEGREES.
YOU CAN'T FIGHT THE JUNGLE.
YOU'VE GOT TO GO WITH THE FLOW,
AND I'M ALWAYS LOOKING TO HEAD UP...
...EVEN IF FIRST I'VE GOT TO GO DOWN.
[ WATER RUSHING ]
THE WATER LEVEL'S DEFINITELY INCREASING,
AND YOU CAN TELL IT'S BEEN RAINING HERE.
AND WHAT HAPPENS --
ALL OF THE RAIN FALLS AND GETS FUNNELED INTO THESE GULLIES,
AND THAT WATER LEVEL RISES AND FALLS HERE VERY FAST.
AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR,
THESE TORRENTS CAN TURN ON LIKE A LIGHT SWITCH,
WIPING OUT EVERYTHING IN THEIR PATH.
GOOD TECHNIQUE IS THE KEY TO CLIMBING THIS.
MAKE SURE YOU PLAN YOUR ROUTE FIRST.
BUT BE CAREFUL -- THESE ROCKS CAN BE RAZOR-SHARP.
RIVERBEDS CAN HELP YOU COVER MORE GROUND
AND GIVE YOU A BREAK FROM BATTLING WITH THE RAINFOREST,
BUT WHEN THE TERRAIN OPENS UP,
YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE YOUR CHANCES.
THE STREAM'S STARTING TO PETER OUT A BIT NOW,
AND THESE BANKS ARE LOOKING MUCH CLEARER.
SO I'M GONNA KEEP HEADING UP HERE --
TRY TO GET TO HIGHER GROUND STILL.
THE TERRAIN HERE IS SO DECEPTIVE.
YOU CAN'T SEE FURTHER THAN A FEW YARDS IN FRONT OF YOU,
AND THERE ARE NEW OBSTACLES LURKING AT EVERY TURN.
LOOKS LIKE IT'S A MASSIVE DROP AHEAD. LOOK.
THERE'S NO WAY I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO CROSS THAT.
WHAT I'M GONNA TRY AND DO...
[ GRUNTS ]
THIS LIMESTONE IS NASTY...
ALL RIGHT.
...SHARP AS CORAL AND FLAKY AS WAFER.
EVERYTHING IS JUST SO LOOSE AROUND HERE.
BE REALLY CAREFUL ALONG THIS EDGE.
LOOK.
LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A BIG, FALLEN TREE ACROSS THIS GORGE.
YEAH, LOOK AT THIS.
YOU SEE THAT?
THAT'S COME STRAIGHT DOWN,
STRAIGHT ACROSS THIS, LIKE, RAVINEY THING.
AND THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT 30 FOOT STRAIGHT ACROSS,
BUT THE ACTUAL LOG ITSELF LOOKS PRETTY SOLID.
YEAH, I RECKON THIS IS DOABLE.
GIVE US THE LITTLE CAMERA.
THIS SHORTCUT CAN SAVE YOU MILES OF UPHILL STRUGGLE,
BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
LET'S GIVE THIS A QUICK GO.
THE KEY IS NOT TO RUSH THIS.
THE SLIGHTEST SLIP,
AND IT'S A LONG DROP TO YOUR DEATH.
IT MUST BE 90 FEET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS RAVINE.
WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY -- HALFWAY ACROSS HERE,
AND THERE'S ALL THIS MOSS AND LICHEN
THAT'S MAKING IT REALLY SLIPPY.
AND ALSO, IT'S MUCH SPRINGIER THAN I THOUGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
BUT YOU CAN SEE ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE.
IT'S MUCH FURTHER THAN I THOUGHT. HAVE A LOOK.
THERE'S ALSO THIS DEAD BRANCH, LIKE, HANGING ON IT.
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS TO GO.
[ BRANCH SNAPS, WATER SPLASHES ]
THAT'S WHY I DON'T WANT TO FALL OFF THIS THING.
Grylls: I'M IN PANAMA, BATTLING THROUGH IMPENETRABLE RAINFOREST.
I'M HALFWAY ACROSS A FALLEN TREE
WEDGED ABOVE A 90-FOOT RAVINE.
[ BRANCH SNAPS, WATER SPLASHES ]
THAT'S WHY I DON'T WANT TO FALL OFF THIS THING.
OKAY, I NEED TO GET ACROSS NOW.
I'M TAKING A SHORTCUT ACROSS THE GORGE.
IN THE JUNGLE, YOU'VE GOT NO HOPE OF BEING SPOTTED
UNDER THE DENSE FOREST CANOPY,
SO I'M HEADING FOR THE NUSAGANDI AREA --
THE HIGHEST PART OF THE REGION, WHERE I CAN SIGNAL FOR RESCUE.
THE TERRAIN IS GETTING STEEPER,
AND THE HEAT, COMBINED WITH 100% HUMIDITY,
IS TAKING ITS TOLL ON MY BODY.
ONE THING YOU NEEDN'T BE SHORT OF IS WATER.
YOU SWEAT SO MUCH YOU NEED AT LEAST 11 LITERS A DAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE THAT.
RUNNING ALL THE WAY UP THE TREE HERE IS A WATER VINE.
SEE THAT -- IF I GIVE IT A SHAKE?
AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS
IS THAT IT CONTAINS FRESH DRINKING WATER.
AND THE WAY TO GET AT THE WATER IS TO CUT THE TOP ONE,
AND THEN KEEP IT HORIZONTAL.
CUT THROUGH THIS...
AND THEN HOLD IT UP.
AND THERE YOU GO.
MMM.
IT JUST SHOWS, YOU KNOW,
IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IN THE JUNGLE,
YOU CAN GET ALL THE FRESH WATER YOU NEED.
I'VE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME IN THE JUNGLE,
AND I WAS ALWAYS TAUGHT IN THE MILITARY
NOT TO FIGHT IT, BUT TO TUNE INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND I ALWAYS THINK THAT THERE ARE, LIKE,
THREE PHASES THAT PEOPLE GO THROUGH
WHEN THEY ARRIVE IN THE JUNGLE.
AND THE FIRST IS WHEN THEY ARRIVE
WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE DANGERS.
AND THEN THE SECOND IS THEY SUDDENLY
GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF JUST HOW ALIVE THE JUNGLE IS --
WHERE THE SNAKES ARE, WHERE THE SCORPIONS ARE.
BUT THEN THE FINAL STAGE IS REALIZING
IF YOU'RE GONNA MAKE ANY SORT OF PROGRESS HERE,
YOU NEED TO JUST RELAX AND GO WITH IT.
AND THAT'S THE PHASE YOU WANT TO GET TO.
BUT I'VE GOT TO KEEP MOVING,
AND KEEPING YOUR ENERGY AND SPIRITS UP
ARE VITAL IN THIS PLACE.
EVERY LITTLE FIND IS A VICTORY.
THIS IS A CACAO TREE.
THE PODS FROM THIS ARE USED TO MAKE CHOCOLATE.
OKAY, LET'S HAVE A LOOK INSIDE THIS.
IT'S THESE SEEDS THAT GIVE GOOD VITAMIN C, GOOD ENERGY,
BUT IT'S ALSO INSIDE THE SEEDS THAT WHEN IT'S RIPE,
THEY'RE PURPLE, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY MAKE THE CHOCOLATE FROM.
AND THE GOOD THING ABOUT IT IS THE CHEMICALS IN HERE
WILL RELEASE ENDORPHINS IN MY BRAIN,
AND THAT'S WHAT GIVES YOU THE FEEL-GOOD FACTOR OF CHOCOLATE.
EVEN IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING,
DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE DANGERS IN THE JUNGLE.
JUST NICKED MYSELF ON ONE OF THESE BRANCHES.
THAT'S THE THING ABOUT THE JUNGLE --
EVERYTHING HERE IS JUST SO SHARP AND THORNY AND SPIKY.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S SMALL,
IT'S OFTEN THE SMALL THINGS THAT CAN BE THE REAL KILLERS,
AND ULTIMATELY THAT'S AN OPEN WOUND --
GET FULL OF BACTERIA AND GO SEPTIC.
I ACTUALLY HAD A FRIEND WHO WAS OUT IN THESE JUNGLES IN PANAMA.
GOT A LITTLE NICK LIKE THIS, AND IT WENT SEPTIC VERY QUICKLY.
AND HE ALMOST HAD TO BE AIR-EVACED
JUST 'CAUSE A TINY, LITTLE CUT.
SO I NEED TO FIND SOMETHING TO TREAT THIS.
THE PANAMANIAN RAINFOREST HAS OVER 10,000 PLANT SPECIES.
MANY ARE DEADLY, BUT WITH THE RIGHT KNOWLEDGE,
YOU REALIZE YOU'RE WALKING THROUGH NATURE'S DRUGSTORE.
THIS PLANT CAN ACTUALLY HELP ME.
IT'S CALLED A "DESTROYER."
IT'S CALLED A DESTROYER NOT 'CAUSE IT DESTROYS US,
BUT BECAUSE IT DESTROYS BACTERIA.
AND ALL I NEED TO DO WITH THIS --
TAKE A LEAF OFF AND THEN CRUSH THIS UP.
AND WHAT IT WILL DO -- IT WILL ACT AS AN ANTISEPTIC,
BUT IT WILL ALSO HELP THE WOUND AND THE BLOOD COAGULATE.
SO, YOU GOT TO SQUEEZE ALL OF THAT SAP ON,
AND THAT WILL HOPEFULLY HELP PROTECT IT.
OVER 100 PEOPLE DIE EVERY YEAR IN PANAMA'S JUNGLES
FROM CUTS AND INFECTIONS.
SO IF YOU GET ONE, YOU'VE GOT TO ACT FAST.
[ GRUNTS ]
THIS IS THE MOST ENERGY-SAPPING,
NERVE-RACKING PLACE YOU'D NEVER WANT TO BE LOST IN.
A DAY IN THE JUNGLE FEELS LIKE A LIFETIME.
WHEN YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY AND IT'S SAFE,
GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK AND RECHARGE.
JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE, GUYS. GIVE ME A MINUTE.
[ PANTING ]
OH, THIS IS SO NICE
TO FIND A BIT OF A CLEARING IN THIS PLACE, YOU KNOW?
AND THE OTHER GOOD THING ABOUT HERE IS THAT THERE'S WATER.
IN FACT, ACTUALLY,
THIS WOULDN'T BE A BAD PLACE TO MAYBE SET UP CAMP.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE JUNGLE,
WHEN YOU WANT TO SET UP CAMP,
IS TO GIVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TIME TO DO IT.
YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE WHEN IT GETS DARK IN THE JUNGLE,
IT GETS DARK HERE SO FAST.
AND THE LAST PLACE YOU WANT TO BE TRAPPED OUT AT NIGHT
IS THE JUNGLE.
AS NIGHT FALLS, IT'S A BATTLE TO FIND FOOD AND SHELTER
BEFORE THE JUNGLE CLOSES IN.
Grylls: I'M IN THE PANAMANIAN JUNGLE,
MAKING CAMP FOR THE NIGHT AND ON THE HUNT FOR FOOD.
ONE THING THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF IN THE JUNGLE ARE TERMITES.
AND LOOK, YOU SEE THIS TERMITES' NEST HERE,
AND ACTUALLY, THEY'RE PRETTY FUNDAMENTAL TO THE JUNGLE.
I LIKE TERMITES JUST 'CAUSE THEY DIGEST SO MUCH
ALL THE ROTTING WOOD.
LOOK, YOU GO. SEE THEM ALL CRAWLING OUT THERE?
BUT ACTUALLY, ALL OF THESE ARE EDIBLE.
AND THEY TASTE LIKE A LITTLE BIT ZINGY, YOU KNOW,
LIKE KIND OF NOT VERY NICE CITRUS.
BUT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO WITH THESE
THAT'S GONNA HOPEFULLY BRING ME MUCH MORE ENERGY.
OKAY, I'M GONNA TAKE A BIT OF THIS WITH ME.
THERE WE GO.
I'M GONNA TAKE...
THAT AND THAT WITH ME.
I'VE GOT AN IDEA.
BUT IT WILL HAVE TO WAIT.
OUT HERE, IT CAN GO FROM DAYLIGHT TO PITCH-BLACK
IN JUST HALF AN HOUR, AND I'VE STILL GOT TO MAKE CAMP.
WHEN YOU'RE MAKING SHELTER,
ONE OF YOUR MOST IMPORTANT GOALS MUST BE
JUST TO TRY AND RAISE YOURSELF UP OFF THE JUNGLE FLOOR
'CAUSE THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO
IS HAVE TO SHARE YOUR BED WITH ALL OF THE SNAKES AND SCORPIONS
AND ANTS THAT LIVE ON THE JUNGLE FLOOR.
AND THESE TWO TREES WOULD BE A PRETTY GOOD PLACE --
ABOUT THE RIGHT DISTANCE APART TO MAKE A HAMMOCK.
BUT FIRST OF ALL, YOU'D NEED THE MATERIALS FOR THAT.
AND THIS IS CALLED "BAJUCA REAL,"
AND IT'S REALLY COMMON IN THE JUNGLE.
THE LOCAL INDIGENOUS TRIBES WOULD USE THIS
FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, JUST BECAUSE IT'S STRONG,
BUT ALSO IT GROWS IN DIFFERENT THICKNESS.
AND THIS STUFF IS PRETTY THIN. IT WILL BE GOOD FOR MY HAMMOCK.
BUT YOU CAN TELL -- LOOK -- IF I JUST SCRAPE IT HERE,
YOU CAN TELL THAT'S BAJUCA REAL
JUST 'CAUSE IT'S GOT THAT REDDISH TINGE UNDER THE BARK.
IF I CUT IT DOWN HERE, AND THEN YOU CAN SEE.
IT JUST UNWRAPS.
THERE WE GO.
THIS COULD TAKE A WHILE ON YOUR OWN, BUT IT'S WORTH IT.
AND THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO DO
IS MAKE LIKE TWO CROSSES AT EACH END
THAT'S GONNA SUPPORT THE HAMMOCK.
AND YOU CAN JUST USE A BIT OF BARK STRIPPED FROM A TREE
THAT WILL ACT AS GOOD LASHING,
AND THAT'S GONNA SUPPORT ONE END.
THE CROSS ENDS WILL CARRY MOST OF THE WEIGHT,
SO THEY NEED TO BE SECURE.
AND THEN WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS TAKE THIS VINE,
THREAD IT BEHIND THE TREE, AND TIE THESE TIGHT.
AND THAT THEN IS GONNA BE THE OUTER FRAME OF THE HAMMOCK.
AND THEN ALL YOU NEED TO DO THEN
IS INTERWEAVE CROSS ONES ALL THE WAY THE LENGTH OF THIS.
AND HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL TAKE MY WEIGHT.
[ GRUNTS ]
[ VINE SNAPS ]
ONE LITTLE SNAP, BUT THAT'S NOT TOO BAD.
AND BEFORE I BED DOWN,
I'M GONNA TRY MY BIG IDEA WITH THOSE TERMITES.
WHAT I'M GONNA TRY AND USE THESE TERMITES FOR
IS BAIT FOR FISH.
AND WHAT I CAN DO IS JUST PUT THEM OVER THE WATER,
GIVE IT A SPRINKLE,
AND HOPEFULLY THEN THE FISH WILL GO FOR IT.
BUT WHAT I'M GONNA ALSO NEED IS A NET,
AND WHAT I CAN USE IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SAPLING I'VE GOT.
AND ALL I NEED TO DO IS BEND THIS 'ROUND
AND THEN TIE IT AND PUT MY SHIRT OVER IT.
AND THEN YOU'RE READY FOR A BIT OF FISHING.
AND LOOK -- YOU CAN SEE THEY'RE STARTING TO JUMP AND TAKE THEM.
SEE ALL THAT? HERE.
OKAY, JUST COME ABOVE MY NET.
[ Chuckles ] IT'S ALL ABOUT BEING PATIENT.
I'M NOTORIOUSLY IMPATIENT.
COME ON, TAKE THE ONES ABOVE MY NET.
LOOK, LOADS OF DELICIOUS TERMITES.
AT THE MOMENT, THEY'RE FEASTING OFF MY TERMITES,
AND I'M NOT GETTING ANY.
OH, I THINK WE'VE GOT ONE HERE.
OH, NO. WHERE'S HE GONE?
[ Chuckles ] LOOK, THEY'RE JUST, LIKE, MOCKING ME HERE.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'VE BEEN AT THIS AWHILE, AND I THINK THIS IS ONE TIME
WHERE THE FISH HAVE HAD THE BETTER OF THE BEAR.
GOING HUNGRY IS A REAL SETBACK OUT HERE,
BUT A FIRE HAS TO BE MY PRIORITY NOW.
THERE'S ONLY ABOUT AN HOUR LEFT
BEFORE IT'S PITCH-BLACK AND THE TEMPERATURE PLUMMETS.
BUT EVEN WHEN YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY WOOD,
A FIRE'S NOT THAT EASY.
FINDING TINDER IN THE RAINFOREST IS NOTORIOUSLY HARD,
AND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IS DEAD WOOD THAT'S DRY.
ALTHOUGH, IN THIS CASE -- LOOK AT THAT.
IT'S ALL SOAKING WET. LET'S TRY ANOTHER ONE.
HERE WE GO. THIS IS LOOKING BETTER.
SEE ALL THAT?
THAT IS DRY, AND THAT'S GONNA MAKE GREAT, GREAT TINDER.
SOME SURVIVAL EXPERTS RECOMMEND
THAT YOU DON'T EVEN TRY TO LIGHT A FIRE
BECAUSE THE CHANCE OF FAILURE ARE GONNA BRING YOU DOWN.
BUT I WANT A FIRE.
TRY AND GET THIS GOING.
THE MOSQUITOES ARE GETTING BAD ALREADY.
THE AIR IS SO DAMP IT'S A REAL STRUGGLE JUST TO LIGHT THIS.
[ FLINT SCRAPING ]
OKAY, WE'VE GOT FIRE.
IT'S BARELY ENOUGH TO KEEP ME WARM,
BUT IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING.
AND WHATEVER LIFTS YOUR SPIRITS IS GONNA HELP YOU.
I ALWAYS THINK ALMOST HALF THE BATTLE OF SURVIVAL
IS BEING ABLE TO KEEP YOUR HOPES UP AND YOUR SPIRITS ALIVE.
THERE'S A LITTLE PICTURE OF MY FAMILY
THAT I ALWAYS KEEP WITH ME WHEREVER I GO.
I KEEP IT LAMINATED IN THE SOLE OF MY BOOT.
AND...I PULL IT OUT.
I HAVE THAT -- MY LITTLE BOY.
AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE -- MY WIFE AND MY OTHER LITTLE SON.
AND THAT'S HELPED ME, YOU KNOW,
SO MUCH THROUGH SO MANY DIFFERENT ADVENTURES.
HUNGRY, COLD, AND EXHAUSTED, MY THOUGHTS OF MY FAMILY
ARE WHAT I HOLD ONTO THROUGH THE NIGHT.
IT'S EASY TO FEEL JUST PRETTY VULNERABLE HERE,
AND IF I'M HONEST,
I'M QUITE LOOKING FORWARD TO DAYBREAK NOW.
[ WILDLIFE CHIRPING ]
Grylls: I'VE JUST SPENT A NIGHT OUT IN THE PANAMANIAN JUNGLE,
ONE OF THE MOST INHOSPITABLE PLACES ON EARTH.
HEY.
WELL, IT WASN'T A BAD NIGHT.
THE GOOD NEWS IS, THIS HAMMOCK HELD UP.
THERE WAS ONE MOMENT IN THE NIGHT WHERE THIS POPPED OUT,
AND I SORT OF FOUND MYSELF HANGING OUT OF IT,
BUT IT BASICALLY HELD UP.
THE ONLY THING IS, I DID GET REALLY COLD AT ABOUT 3:00
JUST 'CAUSE MY CLOTHES WERE STILL WET,
AND I STARTED TO GET REALLY, REALLY SHIVERY.
SO I JUST PUT A LOAD OF THIS GREEN ON IT
TO TRY AND INSULATE ME, BUT TO BE HONEST,
IT DIDN'T REALLY, YOU KNOW, DO THAT GOOD A JOB.
THE BEST WAY TO GET OUT OF HERE ALIVE
IS TO HEAD UP TO HIGHER GROUND IN THE NUSAGANDI REGION.
BUT BEFORE I GET GOING, I NEED BREAKFAST.
LOOK AT THIS.
SEE THIS HERE?
THAT IS IVORY PALM.
[ GRUNTS ]
YEAH, NOW, THIS STUFF IS EDIBLE IF I CAN JUST GET INTO IT.
THERE WE GO. I'M INTO IT.
NOW, LOOK AT THIS STUFF.
SEE ALL OF THAT?
THAT, WHEN IT SETS, GOES ABSOLUTELY ROCK-HARD LIKE IVORY,
AND ACTUALLY, LOCAL, INDIGENOUS TRIBES
WILL USE THIS FOR, LIKE, CARVINGS.
AND IT SHOULD BE GOOD CARBOHYDRATE...
AND TASTY.
MMM.
IT'S LIKE KIND OF --
IT TASTES LIKE COCONUT BUT IT'S REALLY GOOEY.
IT'S LIKE SORT OF GLUE THAT HASN'T QUITE SET.
AND REALLY ALL OF THAT IS LIKE A MEAL IN ITSELF ALMOST.
COOL.
THAT'S ME SET OUT FOR A DIFFICULT CLIMB AHEAD.
IT'S SO HARD GETTING UP.
ALL OF THIS IS JUST SO SLIPPY.
AND WHEN IT'S STEEP LIKE THIS,
I WANT TO JUST USE THIS STICK LIKE AN ICE AX
'CAUSE IT'S THE ONLY THING I CAN PULL ON
AND KICK A STEP IN.
[ PANTING ]
GETS A BIT BETTER HERE.
JUST GET YOU OVER THAT.
ONE THING THAT THERE'S NO RELIEF FROM
IS THE RAVENOUS MOSQUITOES.
I'M GONNA NEED A JUNGLE REMEDY.
THERE, YOU SEE ALL OF THIS?
THIS IS ALL -- THIS IS ALL THE SPOIL FROM LEAF-CUTTER ANTS.
THIS IS WHAT THEY DO.
THEY STRIP ALL THE LEAVES, TAKE IT UNDERGROUND WHERE IT ROTS,
AND THEN THEY FEED OFF THE FUNGUS FROM THIS.
BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.
THEY'VE OBVIOUSLY EITHER MOVED ON
OR THEY MIGHT JUST BE HAVING A SIESTA.
BUT EITHER WAY, WHAT I CAN DO IS ACTUALLY USE SOME OF THIS SPOIL,
AND THIS ACTUALLY CONTAINS MASSES OF FORMIC ACID
FROM THE ANTS.
AND FORMIC ACID IS GOOD FOR MOSQUITO REPELLENT,
AND I'M GETTING DEVOURED AT THE MOMENT.
SMEAR THIS ALL OVER.
OKAY, MOVING ON.
THE HIGHER I GET, THE COOLER IT BECOMES,
AND THE TEMPERATURE DROPS NEARLY 2 DEGREES
WITH EVERY 500 FEET.
BUT WITH HEIGHT COMES RISK.
LOOK AT THIS.
THIS WHOLE AREA'S JUST COMPLETELY COLLAPSED INTO, LIKE,
JUST A GIANT MUDSLIDE.
AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS IN THE JUNGLE
WHEN YOU'RE GETTING THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN FALLING.
BUT YOU CAN JUST IMAGINE LITERALLY
THOUSANDS OF TONS OF MUD AND TREES
AVALANCHING DOWN THIS FACE.
IT WOULD JUST WIPE OUT EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH.
IT'S LOOSE AND IT'S SLIPPERY,
BUT IT'S A QUICKER WAY UP THAN DOING BATTLE WITH THE TREES.
I CAN JUST WHACK MY HAND IN LIKE THIS AND GET QUITE A GOOD HOLD.
IT FEELS LIKE ONE STEP FORWARD AND TWO STEPS BACK.
[ GRUNTS ]
ONCE IT STARTS TO GO, IT GOES.
TO GET TO THE TOP OF THIS, YOU NEED CALVES LIKE STEEL.
I MADE QUITE A GOOD PROGRESS UP THIS,
BUT IT'S SUDDENLY BEGINNING TO RAIN.
AND I DO NOT WANT TO BE ON THIS IF THIS TURNS INTO A DOWNPOUR,
ALL OF THIS MUD WOULD JUST BECOME, LIKE, SLICK.
BUT THERE'S NO TIME TO REST.
I'VE GOT TO PUSH ON TO THE HIGHEST POINT
TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF BEING SPOTTED BY THE HELICOPTER CREW.
I RECKON THIS TREE'S CLIMBABLE.
YOU'VE GOT THIS VINE RUNNING ALL THE WAY UP THE SIDE OF IT.
THE CHOPPER'S DUE, AND IF I GET UP HERE,
I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO SEE IT.
THE THING IS, THEY'RE GONNA STRUGGLE TO SPOT ME
IN THIS CANOPY.
SO, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS JUST MAKE A BIT OF A SIGNAL FIRE.
THERE'S A NICE PATCH OF CLEAR SKY ABOVE ME WITH NO CANOPY,
AND THE SMOKE WILL BE ABLE TO RISE STRAIGHT UP THERE.
[ FLINT SCRAPING ]
THIS IS GONNA NEED TO BE A SMOKY ONE.
I'VE PILED IT WITH GREEN WOOD AND LEAVES
SO IT CAN BE SEEN FOR MILES.
ONE LAST BURST OF ENERGY,
AND I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET UP THIS TREE.
JUST THE LAST FEW FEET.
[ Panting ] WHAT A VIEW.
AND THAT'S THE CARIBBEAN COAST ABOUT 30 MILES AWAY.
SPECTACULAR!
AND IT'S THE SORT OF VIEW THAT SIR FRANCIS DRAKE
WOULD HAVE SEEN WHEN HE CAME HERE TO PLUNDER GOLD.
AND LEGEND ACTUALLY HAS IT THAT HE CLIMBED A TREE
TO GET A VIEW ACROSS PANAMA.
IT'S JUST AMAZING.
YEAH, THERE'S A GOOD AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING UP NOW
THROUGH THE CANOPY.
I JUST HOPE THEY SEE THIS.
YEAH, LISTEN.
YEAH, THAT'S DEFINITELY A CHOPPER.
[ HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING ]
I THINK IT'S COMING IN NOW!
YEAH, THEY'VE SPOTTED ME!
AND I'M OUT OF HERE.
IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE,
BUT I'M ABOUT TO MEET THE PEOPLE
WHO'VE LIVED AND SURVIVED IN THIS JUNGLE FOR CENTURIES --
THE EMBERA.
Grylls: I'M IN PANAMA ON THE CHAGRES RIVER
WITH EMBERA HUNTERS.
THESE GUYS HAVE LIVED HERE FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS,
AND WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT SURVIVAL ISN'T WORTH KNOWING.
IN FACT, NASA TURNED TO THE EMBERA
TO TEACH THE FIRST ASTRONAUTS HOW TO SURVIVE
IF THEIR CAPSULE LANDED IN THE JUNGLE.
SO, WE'RE HEADING DOWNSTREAM NOW,
AND WE'VE GOT ASIROY, WHO'S AT THE FRONT NAVIGATING FOR US.
AND THEN HIS SON, EDITO,
WHO'S LIKE THE CHIEF OF THE TRIBE.
AND THEN RUBÃ©N, WHO'S HANDLING THE BOAT AT THE BACK.
THE YOUNG MEN OF THE TRIBE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MARRY
UNTIL THEY HAVE MASTERED THE SKILLS OF SURVIVING
IN THE RAINFOREST.
NOW I'M GOING HUNTING WITH THEM TO LEARN SOME OF THEIR SKILLS.
NO GUNS HERE,
BUT INSTEAD TRADITIONAL BOWS, ARROWS, AND BLOW DARTS.
WHAT WE'RE PUTTING ON JUST THE TIPS OF THESE BLOW DARTS --
THIS LITTLE POISON DART FROG
WILL SECRETE TOXINS ONTO THE BLOW DART.
AND, YEAH, DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THIS GUY.
THEY'LL KEEP THIS WITH THEM
'CAUSE IT WILL ALWAYS SECRETE THIS TOXIN.
BUT IF YOU GOT SOME OF THAT TOXIN INTO YOUR BLOODSTREAM,
THAT WOULD REALLY, REALLY PUT YOU IN DANGER.
THE SLIGHTEST PINPRICK FROM A POISON DART
WILL SHUT DOWN AN ANIMAL'S NERVOUS SYSTEM,
KILLING IT STONE-DEAD, BUT IT WILL STILL BE SAFE TO EAT.
THIS IS WICKED STUFF.
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
Grylls: You can just see Asiroy up there ahead.
And, you know, so much of jungle movement
normally is you want to make noise.
You want, you know, snakes and animals to move out of your way.
You want to let them know you're coming,
but this is really about slowing down,
tuning in your senses, and being as quiet as you can.
And one of the most important things
is to make sure you can find your way back
to where you've come from
'cause it's so easy in this jungle just to get lost,
especially when you spot an animal
and you charge off after it.
So they have a technique to make sure they don't get lost.
PARA HACER SEÃ‘A QUE NOSOTROS VINIMOS EN ESTE MISMO RUTO.
Okay, in every 20 yards or so,
they'll turn over some leaves in a very obvious fashion,
and then when they come back,
they can recognize the way they've got to follow.
Okay.
THEY DON'T JUST STALK THEIR PREY,
THEY LURE IT TOWARDS THEM.
And what they're doing here
is just simulating the noise of an agouti,
[ HIGH-PITCHED SQUEAL ] just with a leaf between their mouth.
They want me to have a go at making this noise with the leaf,
but I have a dreadful feeling this is not gonna resemble
the sound of agouti -- what comes out of my leaf.
But let's give it a go.
[ SHRILL SQUAWKING ]
I'm not sure what animal that was.
[ CHUCKLES ]
[ Chuckling ] But we'll see
what comes charging out of the jungle.
BUT OUT HERE,
EVEN THE MOST EXPERIENCED HUNTERS CAN MAKE MISTAKES.
ASIROY'S GOT A BIT OF THE POISON FROM THE BLOW DART
ONTO HIS HAND.
AND LOOK, YOU CAN JUST SEE HIS FINGERS.
THEY'RE BEGINNING TO SWELL UP.
AND IT'S SO EASY TO DO
WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO WORK YOUR WAY THROUGH THE JUNGLE,
JUST TO RUB AGAINST THAT VERY BRIEFLY
AND GET A LITTLE BIT ON YOUR HAND.
BUT YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT THAT THEN WILL DO
TO A LITTLE ANIMAL.
BUT THE ANTIDOTE HE WAS SAYING FOR THIS IS HONEY.
HONEY IS A POWERFUL MEDICINE,
AND THE EMBERA USE IT FOR A VARIETY OF PROBLEMS.
ASIROY IS OKAY,
BUT HE'LL HAVE TO WAIT TILL HE GETS BACK HOME TO TREAT IT.
JUST AS WE'RE ABOUT TO RETURN FOR VILLAGE, I SPOT SOMETHING.
MIRA, MIRA, MIRA, MIRA, MIRA!
[ WHISTLES ]
A LITTLE IGUANA.
IGUANITA AQUÃ­.
AGÃ¡RRALE A LA CABEZA, AGÃ¡RRALE A LA CABEZA.
BRAVO!
[ LAUGHS ]
AGÃ¡RRALE A LA CABEZA, AGÃ¡RRALE.
NO ONE'S MORE SURPRISED THAT I HIT IT THAN ME,
BUT I KNOW THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD TO EAT.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH INDISTINCTLY ]
I JUST SAW HIM OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE
JUST WHERE HE WAS PICKING UP HIS DART.
AND THAT IS -- THAT'S GREAT. THAT'S A REAL THRILL.
BUENO, VAMOS A COMER SOPA DE ESTE IGUANA.
[ SIGHS ]
SO IT'S LIZARD SOUP FOR SUPPER AND HIGH FIVES ALL AROUND.
ASIROY.
WHEW. THAT IS DEFINITELY BEGINNER'S LUCK.
IT'S HARDLY GONNA FEED THE 5,000,
BUT I KNOW IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING
AS WE WEND OUR WAY BACK TO THE VILLAGE.
HE SAID I'VE GOT THE ARM HERE.
[ CRUNCHES ]
I KNOW THEY ALWAYS SAY EVERYTHING TASTES LIKE CHICKEN,
BUT IT DOES TASTE A LITTLE BIT LIKE CHICKEN.
AND THEY'VE GOT JUST THE THING TO SWILL IT DOWN -- SOME CHICHA.
THIS ONE'S MADE FROM FERMENTED PALM,
AND IT PACKS QUITE A PUNCH.
Man: TÃº PRIMERO.
WOW.
IT'S LIKE A GREAT COCKTAIL.
SÃ­.
MMM.
I HAVE AN EMBARRASSING WEAKNESS FOR PIÃ‘A COLADAS,
AND THIS IS I THINK GONNA RIVAL THE PIÃ‘A COLADAS.
MMM.
OKAY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
WHAT THEY DIDN'T TELL ME
IS THAT THEY ADD THE SALIVA FROM THE VILLAGE ELDERS
TO HELP IT FERMENT.
I THINK I NEED SOMETHING TO CLEAR MY HEAD.
WHOO!
AND IT DID JUST THE JOB.
REALLY, FOR ME, TODAY HAS JUST BEEN --
IT'S JUST BEEN AMAZING AND A REAL PRIVILEGE
JUST TO BE ABLE TO HANG OUT WITH THESE GUYS
AND SEE SOME OF THEIR SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES.
AND IT JUST REMINDS ME, ONCE AGAIN,
THAT THERE'S SO MUCH THAT I COULD STILL LEARN
ABOUT ALL OF THIS.
SO, THANK YOU, GUYS.
IN THE MORNING, I'M GONNA LEAVE THE EMBERA
AND TRY TO PUT INTO PRACTICE
SOME OF THEIR SURVIVAL SKILLS --
HOW TO HIDE IN AN AREA NOTORIOUS FOR KIDNAPPING...
IF YOU THINK I'M EXAGGERATING THE DANGERS OF THE DARIEN GAP,
THINK AGAIN.
...AND DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET OUT ALIVE.
Grylls: I'VE SPENT 24 HOURS WITH THE MASTERS OF JUNGLE CONCEALMENT,
THE EMBERA TRIBE.
NOW I'M STRIKING OUT INTO THE JUNGLE ONCE MORE,
BUT THIS TIME I DON'T WANT TO BE FOUND.
HERE YOUR LIFE MAY ACTUALLY DEPEND ON STAYING UNDETECTED.
I'M NEAR THE DARIEN GAP AREA OF PANAMA
THAT BORDERS COLOMBIA,
AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS THERE, IN RECENT YEARS,
HAS BEEN KIDNAPPING BY THE F.A.R.C. GUERRILLAS
THAT STALK THAT AREA.
COLOMBIA ITSELF
ACTUALLY HAS THE HIGHEST KIDNAP RATE IN THE WORLD --
3 A DAY AT THE LAST COUNT.
AND THEREFORE,
CONCEALMENT ACTUALLY BECOMES A KEY TO STAYING ALIVE.
AND THE HUMAN BODY ACTUALLY HAS A VERY DISTINCT SHAPE,
ESPECIALLY THE SHOULDERS, HEAD, AND SHOULDER.
THEREFORE, YOU WANT TO TRY AND BREAK UP THAT SHAPE,
AND THAT'S WHAT I GOT JUST WITH THESE PALMS.
IT'S JUST BREAKING UP THAT OUTLINE,
AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS SHINE.
ANYTHING THAT'S GONNA GLISTEN AND REVEAL YOUR POSITION
LIKE A WATCH OR EVEN LIKE THE RINGLETS IN YOUR BOOTS --
GET SOME MUD ON THOSE AND ALSO YOUR FACE.
JUST PUT A FEW LINES DOWN IT JUST TO TAKE THE GLISTEN AWAY.
BUT ACTUALLY, WITH CONCEALMENT, OFTEN LESS IS MORE.
AND A COMPLETELY CAKED FACE IS PROBABLY JUST AS DISTINCTIVE
AS A COMPLETELY BARE FACE.
MY TRAINING WITH THE SPECIAL FORCES
TAUGHT ME HOW TO CONCEAL MYSELF...
AND THE EMBERA TRIBE
TAUGHT ME THAT YOUR SMELL WOULD ALSO BETRAY YOU
LONG BEFORE YOU'RE SEEN OR HEARD.
NEVER COOK FOOD --
THE SMELL CARRIES FOR NEARLY A MILE.
WAH! GOFF! HE JUST BIT ME!
WHATEVER AND WHENEVER YOU EAT, EAT IT RAW.
IT'S A LITTLE VINE SNAKE JUST WORKING HIS WAY UP THIS.
AND THESE ARE PRETTY COMMON AROUND HERE.
LOTS OF THESE.
THIS IS ALL EDIBLE,
BUT WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO CONCEAL YOURSELF,
YOU WANT TO DO AS LITTLE COOKING AS POSSIBLE.
IF YOU'RE MAKING FIRE,
THAT, SORT OF, TRACE THAT YOU'VE BEEN THERE, AND ALSO SMELL.
LET THE MUSCLES STOP TWITCHING.
[ CRUNCHES ]
PRETTY CHEWY.
I MIGHT KEEP THIS LITTLE BIT
EVEN THOUGH IT'S STILL WIGGLING AROUND.
WRAP THAT UP, AND KEEP FOR LATER.
THAT'S NOT ALL THAT THE TRIBE TAUGHT ME.
WHEN YOU'RE BEING HUNTED,
THE SLIGHTEST MISTAKE PUTS YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE.
THE EMBERA TRIBE ARE FAMOUS
FOR BEING ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH THESE JUNGLES SILENTLY
AND WITHOUT LEAVING A TRACE.
AND THE WAY THEY USED TO TEACH THE AMERICAN G.I.'s
THEIR JUNGLE SURVIVAL WAS TO SAY, "MOVE LIKE A TIGER."
YOU KNOW, EFFORTLESSLY AND REALLY CAREFULLY.
BE REALLY CAREFUL ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
GRABBING TREES 'CAUSE A LITTLE MOVEMENT DOWN HERE
IS A BIG MOVEMENT UP THERE.
IF YOU THINK I'M EXAGGERATING THE DANGERS OF THE DARIEN GAP,
THINK AGAIN.
AND I KNOW OF TWO AMERICANS
WHO WERE TAKEN HOSTAGE BY DRUG TRAFFICKERS,
AND THEY DEMANDED $5 MILLION IN RANSOM.
AND THERE WERE A FEW BRIEF EXCHANGES OF DIALOGUE.
THEN IT WENT QUIET, AND THEY'VE NEVER BEEN HEARD OF AGAIN.
IF YOU FEEL THAT SOMEBODY IS FOLLOWING YOU,
WHAT YOU NEED TO TRY AND DO IS THROW THEM OFF YOUR TRACK.
AND THE WAY TO DO THAT IS AVOID JUST WALKING IN A STRAIGHT LINE.
STRAIGHT LINES ARE VERY DISTINCTIVE
AND YOU VERY RARELY GET THEM IN NATURE,
SO INSTEAD YOU WANT TO TRY AND SNAKE YOUR WAY THROUGH.
ANYTHING WITH AN IRREGULAR PATTERN TO IT IS GOOD.
ONLY MAKE A FIRE IF YOUR LIFE REALLY DEPENDS ON IT.
OTHERWISE, THE SMOKE AND FLAMES
WILL SERVE AS A BEACON FOR MILES AROUND.
IF YOU DO HAVE TO LIGHT ONE,
TRY AND CONCEAL IT IN THE BUTTRESS OF A TREE.
AND IF YOU JUST HAVE A FIRE LITERALLY OUT IN THE OPEN,
ALL THE SMOKE JUST GOES EVERYWHERE,
BUT IF YOU TUCK INTO A TREE, WHAT HAPPENS --
ALL THE SMOKE THEN CLINGS TO THE TRUNK AS IT GOES UP,
AND IT SORT OF GETS LOST IN THE FOLIAGE
AND THEN GOES STRAIGHT UP INTO THE CANOPY.
AND IT'S MUCH BETTER HIDDEN THAN JUST BEING OUT IN THE OPEN.
EVEN WHEN YOU'RE CLOSE TO BEING RESCUED,
YOU JUST CAN'T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN.
MY PICKUP POINT IS JUST OVER THE BROW AHEAD,
AND AT THE MOMENT, I'M REALLY WELL-HIDDEN HERE.
BUT AS SOON AS THAT HELICOPTER ARRIVES,
ALL OF MY COVER IS GONNA BE COMPROMISED,
AND I WAS ALWAYS TAUGHT IN THE SPECIAL FORCES
THAT YOU'RE AT YOUR MOST VULNERABLE
AT THAT POINT OF PICKUP.
SO AS SOON AS THAT HELICOPTER LANDS, YOU NEED TO MOVE FAST.
YOU NEED TO BE ONTO IT AND THEN AWAY.
[ HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING ]
THE JUNGLES, TRIBES, AND TRAILS OF PANAMA
HAVE BEEN A VERY MUDDY BUT HUMBLING EXPERIENCE,
AND I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT HOW TO STAY ALIVE
IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.
BUT FOR ME, IT'S TIME NOW TO GO HOME.