Ed Stafford: Into the Unknown
Ed Stafford is on a mission to investigate some of the planet's mysteries. Using photographs of Earth, taken by satellites, showing strange markings in some of the most remote places on the planet, he sets out to find the targets, and solve the riddles.
- 2015-2015
- 1 season
- Documentary, Action & Adventure
Ed Stafford is on a mission to investigate some of the planet's mysteries. Using photographs of Earth, taken by satellites, showing strange markings in some of the most remote places on the planet, he sets out to find the targets, and solve the riddles.
Season 1 Episode Guide
5 Episodes 2015
Episode 1
West Papua
44 mins
Ed sets out to find the cause of some mysterious white lines, covering a vast area in an uninhabited expanse of swamp on Kimaam Island - also known as Yos Sudarso - in West Papua. Helped by a team of travelling missionaries, he gets close to his target before having to venture alone into the swamp. It's slow progress and, as Ed closes in, his adventure takes a totally unexpected turn when he finds a group of indigenous people living in what was thought to be an uninhabitable swamp. As the mystery deepens, Ed is led to a settlement no outsiders have ever visited before. Among the villagers he undergoes a tribal initiation, and discovers a startling insight into an ancient way of life.
Episode 2
Siberia
43 mins
London-based explorer Ed Stafford is fascinated by a satellite picture of a mysterious, rocks-covered giant crater which geologists agree isn't a meteorite impact, not what actually caused it. It's in the desolate Siberian territory of the Evenki nomads. Ed flies and drives with a Russian guide nearby and ventures after a short stay with fortunately nearby Evenks to hike up the surrounding mountains. Things keep going wrong, as his gear is not match for the Arctic conditions, with a right foot toe possibly lost to frostbite and a footwear upgrade sabotaging his Evenki snow skis. He got a detailed map but as the scale wasn't correctly mentioned, his first day is lost and it turns out misleading in other respects, so he must again correct his already grueling route.
Episode 3
Ethiopia
44 mins
Ed's target is a strange pattern of circular dots in the middle of the Danakil Desert in Ethiopia, the hottest place on earth and a dangerous disputed border zone. After his initial excitement and relief to be on his own in a wild and beautiful place, things start to go wrong. A camel carrying all of his precious water gives him the slip, and Ed risks heat exhaustion trying to recapture both the beast and the water he needs to survive. His health takes a serious turn for the worse, but Ed is determined to carry on to solve the riddle of the sands despite local tales of evil spirits and mysterious deaths in the desert.
Episode 4
Brazil
44 mins
Ed ventures deep into Amazonian mining country jungle of Mato Grosso state, puzzled by a single disk-shaped, clear azure blue lake in a murky area. However his guide can't get permission from the local tribe, but suggests an alternative, darker disk-shaped lake. Ed admires the gold divers from a raft and sets out alone in an atypically dry, dense jungle patch, perseveres into the lake's wet surroundings refreshed, having been near exhaustion.
Episode 5
Zambia
44 mins
Ed sets out for weird spots near a river in the western Zambezi basin, in Zambia. It's tribal land, so his accidental meeting on a truck with a 'princess' helps getting formal 'induna council' permission to penetrate the wilderness. it's also part of a national park, where a ranger shows him the perilous task to fight off equally armed poachers.