Expediton Africa premieres on History Channel
Stanley and Livingstone Path Explored by Modern Day Adventurere
May 30, 2009
Expedition Africa: Stanley & Livingstone premieres on May 31, 2009 for an eight episode run on History Channel on cable television. The series follows four adventurous explorers as they set out the explore that land that Stanley may have followed to find Livingstone 130 years ago. The story of the exploration told by Stanley coined the memorable line “Dr. Livingstone, I presume.”
Explore Africa - Stanley Searched for Livingstone
The narrative explained that Livingstone was a hero in his day, as a man with a goal of ending slavery. When Livingston disappeared, Stanley set out through the wilds of Africa to search for him. Stanley was not really an explorer, but a journalist.
When Stanley searched for Livingstone in the African wilderness, his journey took nine months. The modern day explorers set an ambitious goal of making the same journey, 970 miles, in just 30 days. They did not use modern day navigation systems, or GPS systems. Instead they relied on old fashioned compasses, just as Stanley would have used.
Four Modern Day Explorers
The four explorers, each with a different specialty, met for the first time in Tanzania, caught on tape in the first episode. There was some friction, as the alpha males vied for the leadership position of the group. The explorers consisted of three men and one woman.
- Pasquale – As a navigator, Pasquale was accustomed to being in charge and assuming the leadership role.
- Mireya – The lone woman on the expedition was a wildlife expert.
- Benedict – Survivalist and explorer.
- Kevin – As a journalist, Kevin was not as experienced at exploration as the other three members of the group, but his role may be closest to the original Stanley, who was a journalist.
The Expedition Begins
In episode one, the explorers met in Tanzania and prepared for their journey. They had to shop for supplies and hire porters to carry their goods.
They set out on their adventure in a sailboat, from Tanzania, which was the base of the slave trade in Livingstone’s time. Once they started their journey on land; the explorers faced the dangers of poisonous snake bites and dangerous animals, such as crocodiles.
The photography in Expedition Africa was visually magnificent. The sweeping vistas of the ocean, jungles and mountains were vividly captured on film. The mysterious beat of African drums accompanied the show and added to the intensity of the feeling of danger around every curve.
Expedition Africa: Stanley & Livingstone offers a different perspective on a terrain that there is much to learn about. The History Channel series is an eight week adventure series, premiering on May 31 at 10 PM ET.
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