What do you get when you send four explorers on a mission to recreate one of the biggest expeditions of the 1800s? You get an educational drama filled with enough danger and humor to make the original “Survivor” look like a cliché knock-off.
Expedition Africa, the newest 8-part series to hit the History Channel, takes four modern-day explorers on a dangerous mission deep into the interior of Tanzania. Their goal is to relive famous expedition of American journalist Henry Morton Stanley to find Dr. David Livingstone in 1871. Armed with only a compass and basic maps, these explorers will try to complete Stanley’s nine-month long expedition in thirty days. Starting at Zanzibar and ending Ujiji, a small village on the shore of Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania, the explorers must overcome dangerous terrain, harsh weather and twenty-nine deadly poisonous to reach their goal.
On the surface, you may expect this to be simply an educational fact finding show. But, that’s not the case. History has inadvertently (or not) put together four explorers with egos large enough to rival those of “The Bachelor” or “Flavor of Love.” Pasquale Scaturro takes the helm as the team’s undeclared leader and navigator. His claim to fame is leading a blind climber to the summit of Mt. Everest. But, is that enough to deserve the leadership role over the wildlife expert, Dr. Mireya Mayor, or the survivalist, Benedict Allen? And, what of the author and multi-media journalist, Kevin Sites, who bears the most similarity in occupation to Stanley? Emotions will boil as these four explorers battle Africa and each other.
If you’re going to watch one reality TV show series this summer, make Expedition Africa that show. The clever mix of education, drama and humor makes this a delight for the entire family. You’ll also get a few funny moments from the African porters assisting the explorers, as they laugh at the group’s lack of donkey management skill.
My only problem with the show is the spoilers before each commercial break. The previews of what follows the commercial ruins the tension that was built up before the commercial. You’ll see the explorers in a difficult situation, but then have a preview showing that they’ve already made it past that obstacle.
Be sure to check out the premiere of Expedition Africa Sunday, May 31 at 10PM ET/PT on History.
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