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WhatToWatch
WhatToWatch
Entertainment
Nicholas Cannon

Wilderness with Simon Reeve: release date, trailer, destinations, what happens, interview and everything you need to know

Wilderness with Simon Reeve on BBC2 sees Simon visit the Congo (above).

Wilderness with Simon Reeve on BBC2 sees the intrepid presenter explore Earth’s last great wildernesses. He'll venture further into the unknown than ever before, exploring some of the last remote areas left on the planet. 

In this series Simon will explore the Pacific Ocean’s Coral Triangle, Africa’s Congo rainforest and Kalahari Desert and the awe-inspiring landscape of Patagonia in South America, meeting those who call these wildernesses their home and asking how we can preserve these wonders for future generations.

“These have been the most extraordinary journeys and expeditions I’ve ever undertaken. They were knackering, sweaty, draining, emotional, inspiring and occasionally scary. But always bloody brilliant,” says Simon. “Our planet is sublimely beautiful. What an incredible wild home we still have to look after and celebrate. We travelled and trekked deep into some of our last great wilderness areas, to capture their beauty, meet the people who live there, and find some of the most spectacular wildlife on the planet, including giant whale sharks, pumas, and bonobos, perhaps our closest relatives.” 

Here’s everything you need to know about the BBC2 series Wilderness with Simon Reeve…

Simon in a rainforest in the Congo. (Image credit: BBC)

Wilderness with Simon Reeve release date

Wilderness with Simon Reeve is a four-part series that starts on BBC2 on Sunday January 21 2024 at 9pm. Episodes run weekly at the same time and will become available on BBC iPlayer.

Is there a trailer? 

Yes there is a trailer for Wilderness with Simon Reeve with Simon introducing it with a whisper and he tells us about the remote areas he's visitning. Do take a look below... 

What happens in Wilderness with Simon Reeve

Wilderness with Simon Reeve sees adventurer Simon journey deep into the heart of some of Earth’s great wildernesses, exploring the few remaining remote areas where nature still rules supreme. 

‘I’m going in search of the vast, remote areas where nature still has the upper hand,’ explains Simon.

He’ll head to the Coral Triangle in the Pacific Ocean, Africa’s Congo Rainforest and Kalahari Desert, and Patagonia in South America. He will get to know those who live in these wildernesses and get up close and personal to incredible creatures such as whale sharks and pumas. Experiencing the world at its most beautiful and fragile, he’ll investigate what the future holds for these last wild areas.

Simon ventures into the Kalahari desert for this series. (Image credit: BBC)

Wilderness with Simon Reeve episode guide

Wilderness with Simon Reeve is a four-part series that takes him from the Pacific Ocean’s Coral Triangle, Africa’s Congo rainforest, the Kalahari Desert and Patagonia in South America. Check out our episode guide below.

Episode 1: Congo
In the world’s second largest rainforest, in central Africa, Simon hopes to track down hunter-gatherers the Baka, and the elusive bonobo ape, one of man’s closest relatives. After reaching a Baka settlement, Simon treks through more impenetrable jungle in search of the bonobo, and has almost given up hope when the team encounter a group of the endangered apes. Speaking in hushed tones to camera about how similar we are, with a bonobo close by, Simon admits it was hard not to think of Sir David Attenborough’s iconic 1979 encounter with mountain gorillas. ‘You can’t watch Attenborough for your entire life and not have that permeating through a situation like that!’ he smiles. ‘But hopefully it’s still me there!’

Episodes 2 to 4
We'll be updating as the series progresses so please do check back.

A boat trip in the Congo. (Image credit: BBC)

All about Simon Reeve

Adventurer, filmmaker, author and presenter Simon Reeve has travelled the world making series such as Incredible Journeys with Simon Reeve, Mediterranean with Simon Reeve, Equator, Indian Ocean, Simon Reeve's South America and Australia with Simon Reeve. He’s also journeyed closer to home, presenting the travelogues Cornwall with Simon Reeve and The Lakes with Simon Reeve

On the Inca trail in Simon Reeve's South America. (Image credit: BBC)
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