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Expedition Africa Series Premiere - Sunday, 5/ 31 at 10pm/9C

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georgiapeach:
Darn, I missed it....

RHR:
They're airing replays all week so you should be able to catch it if you're still interested, peach.

I watched it a few hours ago and thought it was alright. With it being a Mark Burnett show I was hoping for a pseudo throwback to Eco-Challenge, but Eco-Challenge it was not. I've read that the interpersonal drama gets toned down in episode two and we get more of a focus on the journey, so I'm looking forward to that.

apskip:
The History Channel has started a new series last Sunday night at 10pm and repeating at 11pm EDT. It is retracing the route of U.S. newsman Henry Stanley to meet British explorer David Livingstone in 1871. It took that expedition from March 12 to Nov. 10 (8 months) in 1871 to go from the coast of Tanzania to Ujiji on the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika. This expedition is attempting to do 950 miles on land in shorter time. The team of 4 is expedition leader Pasqual (a famous expedition guide), Mireya (actually Dr. Mireya the anthropologist), Benedict(explorer) and Kevin (journalist), plus a team of about 12 porters. The first show started with the expedition hiring a dhow to transport them 20 miles from Zanzibar Island to Bagamoyo Tanzanian shore across the Zanzibar Strait. This is almost the exact opposite of the trip taken by all AR11 teams from north of DarEsSalaam to Zanzibar Island by dhow. Next they hired a team of porters, testing each individual for ability to handle the load. The one critical decision to make was the water supply. Pasquale wanted to carry a large supply in, but Kevin vetoed that. How he had the authority to do so is an interesting question.  There was a moment of panic, but Kevin came up with the idea of going to the nearest habitation and getting some there,a s they must have a well. The team is following a pre-planned route initially almost identical to that of Stanley. Going through dense vegetation and crossing rivers and occasionally heavy mud are a challenge, but they manage. Their only navigation instrument was a compass. GPS was not invented by 1871. A lot of the angst in this episode is teh interpersonal conflict between the memebers of the team. Pasquale is typically not a dictator but at times he has to be to keep the expedition on track. Kevin gets lost briefly, but is found. Mireya, despite her past as a Miami Dolphins cheerleader, seems a tough resourceful person who can overcome the challenges of this sort of trip.

This show is not for everyone. The expedition is continuously dealing with challenges regarding snakes, water supply, bugs, disease, sunburn, etc. The bickering between Benedict, Kevin and Mireya and Paqual also seems to be constant. The plethora of wildlife they view along the route can make up for that. I can give this show a positive recomendation.

Try it. You'll probably like it. You can go to the History Channel Expedition Africa site to catch the full first episode.

TexasLady:
Thanks everyone, and thanks Apskip for the summary. I saw a blurb for this show and it did look interesting. What with the TV wasteland I'm faced with at the moment, I'm going to see if I can catch up with this show.  :tup:

Snooky:

--- Quote from: TexasLady on June 03, 2009, 07:30:55 AM ---Thanks everyone, and thanks Apskip for the summary. I saw a blurb for this show and it did look interesting. What with the TV wasteland I'm faced with at the moment, I'm going to see if I can catch up with this show.  :tup:

--- End quote ---
I know!  With all of Survivor, TAR, AI, and Biggest Loser over!

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