Wilderness With Simon Reeve
An epic adventure into the unknown. Simon Reeve's toughest journey yet — into the heart of Earth's last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
Wilderness with Simon Reeve takes middle and high school students into some of the world's most remote and spectacular environments, meeting the people and wildlife that call these places home. Along the way, they’ll explore how geography, climate, human activity, and conservation shape fragile wilderness areas.
Ages 11-18
In The San People’s New World, host Simon Reeve explores the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) in Botswana, a land filled with wildlife and history. He learns about the San people, who lived there for thousands of years but were forced to relocate to settlements with promises of a better life. Many San feel betrayed, believing they were pushed out for diamonds and wildlife conservation, leaving their ancestral home behind. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In How the San Track the Wildebeest, host Simon Reeve joins tracker Twee and the hunters as they track and hunt for food. Using bows with poisoned darts, they rely on stealth, silence, and avoiding strong smells that could alert animals. After shooting a wildebeest, the group follows its tracks, showing their deep connection to the land and their expert ability to read the environment in ways most people can’t. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In How Animals and Humans Coexist in the Desert, host Simon Reeve explores the Kalahari Desert with Don, a member of the San people. The Kalahari is a semi-desert and one of the largest sand basins on Earth, stretching across Africa. Despite its tough environment, animals like elephants, lions and jackals thrive here, thanks to seasonal rains that bring food. The San have lived here for thousands of years and are known for their incredible survival and tracking skills, and deep knowledge of the land. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In Hunting With the Masters: The Art of Survival in Deniui, host Simon Reeve visits a remote village in Deniui, Namibia, where some of the world’s last expert wildlife hunters live. The locals welcome Simon and teach him survival skills, like digging deep into the sand to find poisonous beetle larvae. He watches as they craft toxic darts for hunting, a skill passed down to young men as a vital part of providing for their families. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In Hunting and Camping in the Kalahari, host Simon Reeve camps with the San people in the Kalahari, learning their survival skills. As night falls, he tries his hand at making fire with sticks, a skill the San men have mastered. Around the campfire, one man explains how coffee helps him stay alert to listen for predators like lions, sharing a gripping story of waking up to a pride nearby. He reflects on the courage it takes to hunt, reminding Simon that providing for family is worth the risks. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In The Animals That Rule the Desert, host Simon Reeve journeys through the Kalahari in Botswana, where he encounters lions, elephants, and jackals. Botswana has become a safe haven for African elephants, holding nearly a third of the population after decades of poaching and habitat destruction. With only 400,000 elephants left from an original 25 million, Simon emphasizes the urgency to protect these majestic creatures. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In Can People and Wildlife Coexist? host Simon Reeve sits with Tatah, who shares his experiences living alongside elephants, including the potential dangers when they are startled or protecting their young. Despite witnessing tragic elephant encounters, he emphasizes the importance of coexistence, as people and wildlife must share the same space here. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In The Whale Sharks and Fishermen’s Bond, host Simon Reeve explores Cenderawasih Bay, where fishermen have a special bond with local whale sharks. The fishermen believe the sharks bring them good luck and have cared for the sharks for years. Simon dives into the water to see these massive creatures up close and learns that whale sharks feed on tiny fish and plankton, not humans. He also discovers how vital it is for the community to protect the ocean and its ecosystem for future generations. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In Fishing Alone in Shark-Infested Waters, host Simon Reeve joins Bari for night fishing in the pitch-black waters, where Bari must go if he has an unlucky day of fishing. Simon feels nervous about the darkness and the sharks lurking in the water. Bari faces danger each time he fishes alone, but he only takes what he needs to feed his family. Unfortunately, commercial fishing has harmed the area, making it harder for Bari to catch enough fish during the day and forcing him to take these risky trips at night. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile
In The Majestic Whale Shark host Simon Reeve sails through Indonesia’s Cenderawasih Bay, searching for the elusive whale shark. These gentle giants can grow as long as a bus and weigh up to 30 tons, yet much about them, like where they breed, remains unknown. At a fishing platform called a bagan, Simon spots one and marvels at its size and grace. He discovers how this area helps scientists study and protect these mysterious creatures. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In A Journey Through the Coral Triangle, host Simon Reeve dives into the breathtaking underwater paradise of Raja Ampat in the Coral Triangle. Home to three-quarters of the world’s coral species, this ecosystem is often called the "Amazon of the Sea." Simon explains how the ocean produces half the oxygen we breathe and reveals the critical role sharks play as apex predators in keeping the marine food chain balanced. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In Protecting Raja Ampat’s Ecosystem, Simon explores Raja Ampat, a marine paradise with over 2,000 fish species and coral reefs. While exploring, marine rangers board Simon’s boat to check permits and ensure no one is breaking the law in this protected area. The rangers share their vital work, like stopping illegal fishing of sea turtles and baby sharks which harms the ecosystem. New laws are a game-changer, saving Raja Ampat from the devastation caused by overfishing just a few decades ago. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In The San People’s New World, host Simon Reeve explores the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) in Botswana, a land filled with wildlife and history. He learns about the San people, who lived there for thousands of years but were forced to relocate to settlements with promises of a better life. Many San feel betrayed, believing they were pushed out for diamonds and wildlife conservation, leaving their ancestral home behind. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In How the San Track the Wildebeest, host Simon Reeve joins tracker Twee and the hunters as they track and hunt for food. Using bows with poisoned darts, they rely on stealth, silence, and avoiding strong smells that could alert animals. After shooting a wildebeest, the group follows its tracks, showing their deep connection to the land and their expert ability to read the environment in ways most people can’t. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In How Animals and Humans Coexist in the Desert, host Simon Reeve explores the Kalahari Desert with Don, a member of the San people. The Kalahari is a semi-desert and one of the largest sand basins on Earth, stretching across Africa. Despite its tough environment, animals like elephants, lions and jackals thrive here, thanks to seasonal rains that bring food. The San have lived here for thousands of years and are known for their incredible survival and tracking skills, and deep knowledge of the land. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In Hunting With the Masters: The Art of Survival in Deniui, host Simon Reeve visits a remote village in Deniui, Namibia, where some of the world’s last expert wildlife hunters live. The locals welcome Simon and teach him survival skills, like digging deep into the sand to find poisonous beetle larvae. He watches as they craft toxic darts for hunting, a skill passed down to young men as a vital part of providing for their families. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In Hunting and Camping in the Kalahari, host Simon Reeve camps with the San people in the Kalahari, learning their survival skills. As night falls, he tries his hand at making fire with sticks, a skill the San men have mastered. Around the campfire, one man explains how coffee helps him stay alert to listen for predators like lions, sharing a gripping story of waking up to a pride nearby. He reflects on the courage it takes to hunt, reminding Simon that providing for family is worth the risks. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In The Animals That Rule the Desert, host Simon Reeve journeys through the Kalahari in Botswana, where he encounters lions, elephants, and jackals. Botswana has become a safe haven for African elephants, holding nearly a third of the population after decades of poaching and habitat destruction. With only 400,000 elephants left from an original 25 million, Simon emphasizes the urgency to protect these majestic creatures. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In Can People and Wildlife Coexist? host Simon Reeve sits with Tatah, who shares his experiences living alongside elephants, including the potential dangers when they are startled or protecting their young. Despite witnessing tragic elephant encounters, he emphasizes the importance of coexistence, as people and wildlife must share the same space here. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In The Whale Sharks and Fishermen’s Bond, host Simon Reeve explores Cenderawasih Bay, where fishermen have a special bond with local whale sharks. The fishermen believe the sharks bring them good luck and have cared for the sharks for years. Simon dives into the water to see these massive creatures up close and learns that whale sharks feed on tiny fish and plankton, not humans. He also discovers how vital it is for the community to protect the ocean and its ecosystem for future generations. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In Fishing Alone in Shark-Infested Waters, host Simon Reeve joins Bari for night fishing in the pitch-black waters, where Bari must go if he has an unlucky day of fishing. Simon feels nervous about the darkness and the sharks lurking in the water. Bari faces danger each time he fishes alone, but he only takes what he needs to feed his family. Unfortunately, commercial fishing has harmed the area, making it harder for Bari to catch enough fish during the day and forcing him to take these risky trips at night. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile
In The Majestic Whale Shark host Simon Reeve sails through Indonesia’s Cenderawasih Bay, searching for the elusive whale shark. These gentle giants can grow as long as a bus and weigh up to 30 tons, yet much about them, like where they breed, remains unknown. At a fishing platform called a bagan, Simon spots one and marvels at its size and grace. He discovers how this area helps scientists study and protect these mysterious creatures. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In A Journey Through the Coral Triangle, host Simon Reeve dives into the breathtaking underwater paradise of Raja Ampat in the Coral Triangle. Home to three-quarters of the world’s coral species, this ecosystem is often called the "Amazon of the Sea." Simon explains how the ocean produces half the oxygen we breathe and reveals the critical role sharks play as apex predators in keeping the marine food chain balanced. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In Protecting Raja Ampat’s Ecosystem, Simon explores Raja Ampat, a marine paradise with over 2,000 fish species and coral reefs. While exploring, marine rangers board Simon’s boat to check permits and ensure no one is breaking the law in this protected area. The rangers share their vital work, like stopping illegal fishing of sea turtles and baby sharks which harms the ecosystem. New laws are a game-changer, saving Raja Ampat from the devastation caused by overfishing just a few decades ago. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.