Deep within caves, high up in the mountains, and trekking at the two polar extremes of the earth – Will Smith has adventured to some truly epic locations in the new National Geographic series, Pole to Pole. The seven-part documentary tracks the actor and rapper's 100-day journey across continents, showcasing hostile environments and thrilling expeditions.
From South to North: A Global Adventure
National Geographic has once again teamed up with Will Smith for another adventure-packed series, this time embarking on seven thrilling expeditions in some of Earth's most extreme and remote places. Inspired by his late mentor, Harvard professor and explorer Dr Allen Counter, Smith plunges himself into travel under the expert guidance of scientists, explorers, and local experts.
This journey was unlike anything I've ever done – at times I feared I might not make it home! said Smith. It's an exploration not just of the planet's edges, but of some of the most extraordinary people living there. From the coldest ice to the deepest jungles, the beauty of our world inspired my every step with awe and hope.
The South Pole: Icy Beginnings
Smith starts his journey on the Antarctic continent, where he meets with polar athlete Richard Parks. A former Welsh rugby player turned record-breaking endurance athlete, Parks led the actor on a skiing trek across giant icefields to reach the southernmost point on Earth. Before reaching the South Pole, Smith uses skis to cover vast swathes of snow and climbs a giant cliff of ice in cold winds. Along the way, he meets with scientists at one of the planet's most isolated research stations to discover how they have given up their everyday lives in the pursuit of climate research.
The Amazon: Deep into the Jungle
The actor's next expedition takes him to South America, where he journeys deep into the Ecuadorian Amazon in search of deadly creatures. Led by professor Byran Fry and local mountaineer Carla Perez, Smith abseils over 200 feet into the La Cueva de los Tayos cave network, known as the womb of the Earth, where they discover a giant tarantula.
La Cueva de los Tayos is a limestone cave known for its large underground galleries and cathedral-like caverns, home to the rare Tayos birds. Also known as El Oriente, the Ecuadorian Amazon is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth by square metre. In episode three, Smith continues his exploration, finding one of the largest snakes in the world, the giant green anaconda, with help from the Indigenous Waorani nation to aid in research on ecosystem health.
The Himalayas: Seeking Happiness
Leaving South America, Smith ventures to Bhutan, a Buddhist kingdom nestled in the Eastern Himalayas known for its sacred fort monasteries and carbon-negative forest landscape. Recognised for concentrating on wellbeing over wealth, often referred to as the kingdom of happiness, Smith travels to Laya, one of the highest villages in the Himalayas at 13,000 feet, home to the semi-nomadic Layap people.
The Pacific Islands: Facing Rising Seas
Jetting over to Papua New Guinea next, Smith joins an expedition to the remote island of Tench, threatened by rising sea levels. Low-lying Tench, better known as Enusi Island to locals, sits in isolation in the Pacific, with its closest island neighbour more than a two-hour boat ride away. Despite its small size, the island is home to thousands of extraordinary seabirds, and Smith speaks to residents about flooding and evacuation challenges.
The Kalahari Desert: Ancient Wisdom
For the penultimate stop, Smith travels deep into the Kalahari Desert, covering large areas of Southern Africa. The semi-arid sandy savannah is characterised by vast red dunes, unique wildlife, and the Indigenous San people, one of the oldest hunter-gatherer groups on Earth. Here, Smith learns how this population has sustained their presence over thousands of years.
The North Pole: Frozen Finale
After hopping from continent to continent, Smith's final leg ends in the North Pole, where he helps polar ecologist Allison Fong capture scientific samples. Trekking across the frozen Arctic Ocean from Norway, Smith dives under thick ice to attempt to find organisms that may remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, marking his most dangerous mission yet.
Pole to Pole With Will Smith premiered on 14 January and can be streamed on Disney+ in the UK, offering viewers a glimpse into some of the planet's most extreme and inspiring locations.
