Expedition Africa (2009– ) User Reviews

Incompatibility is the key

[chopendoz · 6/10 · 10 June 2009]

I was interested in the subject matter and found the first two episodes quite entertaining. However, there was a tendency towards the 'Oh, Wow!' style of travel documentary where every event is a crisis and over exaggerated. It seems to be the practice by the producers of such programs to make a team of people most likely to be incompatible and this is the source of tension throughout the series. I wonder what the Masai really thought of them. Quite possibly they could have walked the whole way unaided in half the time. It showed how pampered westerners are. The Masai would just 'get on with it' and argue a lot less. I have no doubt that the team will succeed in the end but the trip did not need the 'blow by blow' treatment in my opinion. I realise that it is made for armchair travellers but it would have been more interesting if they had recorded the survivalist member doing the trip on his own.

Horrible

[hermes93-2 · 3/10 · 7 July 2009]

Okay, so the show starts off interesting enough - expedition, Africa, following in the trail of history. Cool, then about 25-30 minutes in, just when you think you've found something worth watching - it hits.

If this wasn't on the history channel, I'd have 1) probably not tried watching it, and 2) If I had watched on another network, rated it a bit higher. Why? Because this show has 1% history and 99% whining reality-TV style idiocy.

I'm only giving it a three because the poor crew that had to trek around following these glorified wanks deserve some credit.

If I wanted reality TV (and bad r-TV at that) I'd have tuned in to another channel - I tune to the history channel for relief (albeit slight) from this kind of nonsense.

How have they made it so far?

[kinniththekrazy · 1/10 · 23 June 2009]

These people are perhaps the least qualified people to do this trip, even their porters look at each other thinking "why did I sign up to follow three and a half idiot Americans through my own land?" Navigator - From day one was complaining about everyone else holding him behind, even the porters who were all carrying his stuff. Does nothing but make excuses and gets lost.

Wildlife Expert - Acts like a 5 year old, when no one agrees with her she starts throwing a fit and complains that no one takes her seriously. For a wild life expert she sure wasn't very safe when around a spitting cobra, she got within striking distance and was lucky the snake realized she would probably die on her own during this trek.

Journalist - He has somehow made it all about him. The show is about following Livingston's footsteps, not reliving his life. And yet Kevin has, since the first episode, said he was probably the most important factor. Keeps a journal of whats happening because he obviously forgot the whole thing is being filmed 24/7 by multiple cameramen.

Benedict - Benedict is the most competent, but just because there is an ape surrounded by monkeys, doesn't make the ape human. He has made the right (normally obvious) decision a little over 50 percent of the time and while he may have been the best choice to lead, his position behind the navigator has made him useless and his opinion invalid to the others. Everyone ignores everyone and Benedict is no exception.

The journalist, the wildlife expert girl, and the worthless navigator are beyond stupid and mortally incapable of correct decisions and decisive action. The only redeeming factor for the three is Benedict who has yet to contribute anything useful. While he may be useless, he does keep an upbeat and excited attitude about trekking through the African wilderness and this draws one into liking him a "bit" more.

All in all the only worse group of people for the job would be a group of 6 year olds, and even then the 6 year olds would at least take help from the natives more readily and make the whole thing more entertaining to watch.