A Night in the Untamed Congo
In A Night in the Untamed Congo, host Simon Reeve and his guide, Addams, journey into the Congo Basin, one of the most unexplored places on Earth. After traveling by boat, they trek through the rainforest, facing swampy terrain and the challenges of the wild. As night falls, they set up camp and make a fire for safety, knowing the forest’s predators are afraid of it. Addams shares how the Baka people, who live here year-round, thrive in harmony with the forest, showing how different their survival skills are from outsiders. 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.
Lesson Express
Q: How does the swampy area Simon and Addams encounter help emphasize the challenges of traveling through the Congo?
A: The swampy area, described as "glue," highlights how difficult and exhausting it is to move through the dense, wet terrain of the Congo. It shows that the environment itself can make travel a slow and challenging process.
Q: What do you think Addams means when he says that the Baka people "thrive" in the Congo?
A: Addams means that the Baka people are deeply adapted to life in the rainforest. Unlike Simon and Addams, who need special supplies to survive for a night, the Baka have learned to live harmoniously with the forest, using its resources for food, shelter, and safety.
Q: How does the use of fire in the forest contribute to the safety of Simon and Addams?
A: The fire helps keep predators away because many animals in the forest are scared of fire. This makes it safer for Simon and Addams to camp overnight in an area filled with potential dangers.
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