TV Review: Expedition Africa, Ep. 2

Man Down!

This week's episode of Expedition Africa introduced new troubles for our modern-day explorers. Ironically, their biggest problem stems from within. As most have probably noticed, Pasquale, the team leader, has a head the size of a watermelon, and in the first 10 minutes of episode 2, viewers witnessed the cost of his inflated ego.

The show picks up on day 6 of the expedition, fast forwarding through several days and some mileage. They have 900 out of 970 miles to go, and for a challenge, they have decided to deviate from Stanley's original course. Rather than snake their way around the Uluguru Mountains (as wise, Mr. Stanley once did), they will climb straight over them. But these mountains are tough. And with Pasquale unwilling to slow his reckless pace, the team suffers. Only 10 minutes into their ascent of the Uluguru's, a porter collapses from severe heat exhaustion. This is just moments after Kevin, the journalist, asked Pasquale to slow down, for fear the porters would be left in the dust, to which the self-declared leader responded, "Dude, we're fine!"



In this moment, viewers witness a transformation. Kevin, the least experienced "expeditionist" of the group, bolts into action, his Emergency Technician training coming into play. He knows exactly how to care for the exhausted porter. Later, Benedict, the team's survivalist, remarks that it was a sight to behold, witnessing Kevin's call to action. Earlier in the show, Kevin states to viewers how - unsure of his expedition skill set, yet wanting to contribute in a unique way - feels a draw to the porters. Therefore, he has taken it upon himself to become their voice, their say in the expedition. He will be the link between them and the team leaders. They are his self-inflicted responsibility. Indeed, we see this acted out over the course of the episode, as he is in constant communication with them, making sure they are fed, have water, and enough rest.

Thankfully, the porter survives, and the team moves on, but the event calls Pasquale's "all-or-nothing" attitude into question. Someone suggests Mireya take the front, so she might set a slower, steadier pace for the group, but Pasquale refuses. "The expedition must go on!" he claims, stating that the group's mission outweighs an individual's personal position. Not to be harsh, he says, but that's just the way it is on an expedition. Some may not agree with Pasquale's mission philosophy, but he is certainly confident and unmovable. These are both qualities and flaws in a leader.



That night, the team endures severe winds so loud and strong, they hardly catch a wink of sleep. The following morning, Benedict starts a fire with a tampon, which he always carries in his survival pack for just this purpose. It acts as valuable tinder, he explains, and sure enough, he provides a roaring fire on which the team can cook their breakfast.

Later in the show, the expedition comes across a giant cliff, which must be circumvented, and through this unexpected obstacle, Kevin's insecurities are revealed. In this moment, he shows his fear and uncertainty, and Benedict states, rather frankly, if Kevin cannot adapt to the needs of the expedition, they're going to have a problem. Luckily, navigating around the cliff face is not as difficult as it first appears, and Kevin's fears are in vain. But his uprooted insecurity could present problems in the future...

Episode 2 ends with the team arriving at a native village, where they are welcomed as heroes. Exhausted and starving, the explorers enjoy some unique foods. Mireya, for one, has her first taste of goat kidneys. Yummy. The natives throw a huge celebration that night, full of exotic food, dancing, fires, and massive pythons!

Now that the Uluguru Mountains have been traversed, the expedition is headed for the African plains, where they'll have to fend off new kinds of predators. Lion country awaits!

If you missed this week's episode, you can watch full episodes at History Channel's website!

TV Review: Season Premier of Expedition Africa

This past Sunday, another night of prime time television came and went, and with it, History Channel's premiere of Expedition Africa, a new reality series. While it's always difficult to tell about a show from a single episode, Expedition looks to promise real life adventure.

The show begins in Zanzibar off the east coast of Africa, where we meet our four modern day adventurers. We have Pasquale, the navigator and self-declared leader of the group. Also vying for the leader role is Benedict, the team's survival expert. Mireya is a strong woman who does not always voice her opinion but serves the team well through her wildlife expertise. Already in the premier, she locates a spitting cobra and instructs the team on how best to avoid its deadly spray. Lastly, there is Kevin, the team's war correspondent journalist, who is the least experienced in the "wilderness" field. Early on, viewers get the distinct impression these individuals will not always see eye to eye.

To reach the mainland, the team charters an old fashioned skiff, just like H.M. Stanely did in the original expedition this show tries to emulate. After enduring violent waves, they reach shore, and the real journey begins!

They have 970 miles of dangerous terrain to cover and only a rudimentary map and compass to guide them. From the offset, clashing personalities plague the expedition. Pasquale wants control of the team, while Benedict thinks he is also up to the challenge. Kevin, the most inexperienced, poorly suggests they not fill up on water until the expedition is underway, while Pasquale knows this is a bad idea. Water is life in Africa. But he is outvoted, and the team, consisting of the four core members, in addition to their porters, embark into the wilderness.

Only miles in, the team members realize they are out of water, severely dehydrated, and far from a viable water source. Already, this expedition is in trouble. Together, the four members decide it wise to send "runners" to the nearest source. They cannot go on without precious water. Once they are re hydrated, they vow never to make this mistake again. And, as expected, Pasquale is angry, since he told them so.

Later in the show, the team must ford the crocodile-infested, Ruvu River, in old, dug-out canoes, and trek through knee-high mud. To make matters worse, Kevin is lost for a brief time, and Pasquale has a difficult time orienting himself in the dense undergrowth. At one point, Benedict and Mireya even call his skills into question. Ultimately, though, he finds his way and leads the team in the right direction. It seems Pasquale is to be trusted; he simply has his own way of going about things. Time will tell how his strong personality will contribute to the expedition...

Overall, Expedition Africa looks to be an exciting, realistic portrayal of a famous wilderness adventure. It has it all: bickering team members, porters, epic mileage, severe conditions, predatory wildlife, and even native warrior protectors. So if you enjoy a little history, learning about foreign places, and - of course - adventure, you won't want to miss Expedition Africa next Sunday on the History Channel!

Expedition Africa.... A New Kind of Reality TV

"Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"

On May 31st, a new television show comes to the History Channel. Expedition Africa will take viewers on the legendary journey of Sir Henry Morton Stanley, the extraordinary individual charged with the task of finding fellow explorer, Dr. John Livingstone, who vanished in the African wilderness in the later 19th century.

In 1866, Livingstone, the most popular explorer and adventurer of his time, set course from Zanzibar into the African frontier. His mission was to locate the source of the Nile River, a task other explorers had failed to achieve. Over the course of his journey, his team members deserted him, leaving his fate unknown. This turn of events would ultimately lead fellow explorer and journalist, Stanely, to lead an expedition in search of his whereabouts.

On May 31st, viewers will watch 4 modern day explorers attempt an unique journey. They will travel in Stanley's footsteps, using primitive technology, much like the exploration equipment of the 19th century. With only a map and compass to guide them, they will get a true taste of what it was like for the original explorers.



The modern day expedition will consist of 4 core team members. Each of them brings a unique and essential skill to the mission. You can view their profiles below.












It looks like the History Channel is taking their turn at "Adventure Reality" television, which has worked for some channels, like Discovery's "Man vs. Wild" and "The Alaska Experiment," so we will have to wait and see if they can pull it off, too. Check back later for a review!

Expedition Africa airs on the History Channel on Sunday, May 31st, at 10:00 pm.