National Geographic goes HD on DStv, as Nat Geo Africa unveils upcoming Summer 2022 factual content slate.

by Thinus Ferreira

The National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD linear TV channels finally switched to high-definition (HD) on MultiChoice's DStv this week with National Geographic using the upgrade to unveil its upcoming Summer 2022 factual entertainment content slate for Africa, including its first pan-African kids show Team Sayari, more Bear Grylls, and the celebrity chef-adventurer Gordon Ramsay competing against other chefs and eventually also his own daughter in a new series.

After many years as standard-definition (SD) channels, National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD - also available on China's StarTimes and StarSat in Southern Africa - finally switched to high-definition (HD) on Wednesday on MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV service in South Africa and across pan-African countries.

"The exciting line-up of National Geographic programming delivers on our core purpose to tell exceptional stories that ignite wonder and inspiration for people of all ages, enabling them to better understand the world and their place in it," said Christine Service, senior vice president and general manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa.

"We can't wait to bring these wildly entertaining documentary series, feature documentary films and extraordinary natural history shows from the best storytellers in the world to viewers across the continent, and especially in HD for the very first time."

Speaking at the National Geographic Africa Summer 2022 factual showcase about how The Walt Disney Company Africa keeps its collection of linear TV channels like National Geographic strong with vibrant, first-run content to keep these channels a compelling TV destination amidst the growth of video streaming, Christine Service said "our linear channels business is hugely important to us - and certainly on the African continent".

"We continue to produce vast amounts of for all of our different distribution platforms - our linear business, our direct-to-consumer [Disney+], for cinema. So we're just about great storytelling and great content that we can deliver in many different ways to audiences across the globe."

Tracy-Ann van Rooyen, senior manager for programming and scheduling at The Walt Disney Company Africa, said she's personally looking forward to keep watching Primal Survivor: Mighty Mekong, as well as another season of Running Wild with Bear Grylls.

"Hazen Audel is that real adventurer with that real spirit and he goes through the Mekong basin and it just happens to be monsoon season and he has to go through all of the treachery of climbing mountains. Every season of Primal Survivor has showcased this man's mental capacity to just overcome what he's doing."

"You as a viewer sit back and go 'why?' but it's that adventure spirit that you just keep tuning into. I've been a fan of Bear Grylls for many years and I love what he's done with Running Wild with Bear Grylls. Not only are you watching him teach survival skills but also going on an emotional journey".

"Gordon Ramsay's next series is Gordon Ramsay: Unchartered Showdown. He'll be going up against other Michelin-star chefs and in the final episode you'll see him go up against his own daughter. So it's really a question of practice what you preach, who did you raise?"

Amping up pan-African content

On supporting the South African and pan-African TV industry, Tracy-Ann van Rooyen said "we're doing the best we can with Team Sayari".

As National Geographic's first locally-produced pan-African children's production starting on Saturday 24 September at 13:00, Nat Geo hopes the series which features a group of young conservationists will be the springboard for even more local content.

"We're making sure that the story we're telling is pan-African and in South Africa we have our satellite production companies which are producing and telling the stories that you see, and we are briefing them from a National Geographic perspective - so grooming production teams in South Africa to be able to meet a brief that is of a National Geographic standard."

"Alongside that, we do have local series such as Snakes in the City and of course the stories being told by filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, so we are amping up."

From Arabia to athletes and Tut to cooking

Bear Grylls is back with Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge on Wednesday 28 September at 21:00 in which he goes on more survival outings with American celebrities ranging from Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman to Simu Liu and Anthony Anderson.

The fourth season of Europe from Above will start on 28 September at 19:00 on National Geographic, tracking the changing seasons across a year in Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Romania, Serbia and Scotland. 

Lost Treasures Of Arabia starts on Friday 28 October at 19:00, investigating AlUla's unsolved mysteries. This TV special reveals the historical heritage, natural assets and immense legacy of art that continues to inspire future generations in this Middle-Eastern city.

To celebrate the centennial anniversary of the tomb of King Tutankhamen by Howard Carter 100 years ago in 1922, National Geographic will premiere Tut’s Toxic Tomb on Friday 18 and 25 November at 19:00, with library content King Tut in Color on Friday 4 November at 19:00 and Tut’s Treasures, The Golden Pharaoh on Friday 11 November at 19:00.

Gordon Ramsay: Unchartered Showdown starts on 9 November at 21:00 on National Geographic in which the Michelin-star faces off against those closest to him, including going head-to-head with his daughter Tilly in a culinary showdown.

The Navy veteran Big Moe Cason goes on an epic journey to seek out the most mouth-watering dishes cooked over an open flame in World of Flavour with Big Moe Cason starting on National Geographic on 30 November at 21:00, exploring the connections between American barbeque and cultures around the world.

The second season of Critter Fixers will premiere on Friday 11 November at 18:00 on Nat Geo WILD with Dr Hodges and Dr Ferguson, two longtime friends who operate their veterinary hospital in Georgia in the United States.

Edge of the Unknown starts on Sunday 25 December on National Geographic as an epic new 10-episode series by the Oscar producers E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin. Audiences get to go inside the minds of pioneering adventure athletes as they recount the most consequential moments of their lives on their journey to perfect the mastery of their craft.

Third season of Gordon Ramsay: Unchartered on National Geographic sees the chef-traveller freediving in Croatia, rappelling down a waterfall and kayaking through rapids in the Smoky Mountains.

by Thinus Ferreira

A third season of the cooking travelogue series, Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, has started on National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarSat 220) on Wednesdays at 21:00 with the chef and traveller visiting countries and places ranging from Portugal, Croatia and Mexico to Texas, Maine, Puerto Rico and Iceland.

"During these unprecedented times, Uncharted provides an exciting escape to explore the world safely from home, and inspiration to try new flavours and cooking techniques from the food experts I meet along my journey," said Gordon Ramsay in a statement.

"The world is a massive place, full of diversity and history, and we are just starting to dig into the boldest flavours the planet has to offer."

Viewers will see Gordon Ramsay herd cattle on horseback with the help of a helicopter and hunts for venomous rattlesnake in the backcountry of Texas.

He also braves giant waves for fresh barnacles that cling to the rocky Portuguese coastline and struggles to keep up with a team of lobster fisherwomen off the coast of Maine's choppy waters. He also fights for oxygen while freediving for local molluscs in Croatia and rappels down a treacherous waterfall and kayaks through raging rapids deep in America's Smoky Mountains.

In the show produced by Studio Ramsay with Gordon Ramsay, Lisa Edwards, Jon Kroll and Tom Willis as executive producers, Gordon Ramsay once again partakes in culinary customs and learn more about various delicacies and fresh flavours unique to each region. 

Every ingredient harvested in Gordon Ramsay: Unchartered serves as the inspiration for a new dish with the people who inspires him to create a recipe from scratch intended to represent the heart of that culture. 

Every episode concludes with Ramsay challenging himself during a final big cookout with a local food legend by his side, as they prepare a meal together for the locals he met during his journey.

Here are the episode synopses:

Texas

Gordon Ramsay journeys to the wilds of south-central Texas and meets some tough, gritty characters to learn what it means to be from the Lone Star State. 

He herds cattle with the help of a helicopter, hunts for venomous rattlesnake in the backcountry and goes on a night hunt for invasive and ferocious feral hogs. He joins up with the James Beard Award-winning chef Justin Yu and a group of locals.

Portugal

Gordon Ramsay explores the rugged landscape of Portugal, where the simple way of life is evident in the country's incredible cuisine.

Gordon chases black pigs across a farm to feed them, braves giant pounding waves for barnacles that cling to the rocky coastline and the open seas to fish for iconic sardines. He tries to beat local chef, Kiko Martins, in an epic feast for the mayor of Nazaré.

Maine

Gordon Ramsay learns why Maine in the United States is called the lobster capital of the world. Along the rugged coastline, he struggles to keep up with a team of lobster fisherwomen, dives for clams, harvests oysters, forages in freezing waters and tests his lumberjack skills. 

Can he earn the status of a tough Mainer as he tests his culinary skills against local legend chef Melissa Kelly, a two-time James Beard award-winner?

Croatia

Gordon Ramsay travels to the untouched peninsula of Istria, Croatia, for ingredients that rival the best of Italy in world-class quality. He free dives for local molluscs, risks his pride fishing for rare cuttlefish and chases after goats for cheese and donkeys for milk. 

He learns the secrets to finding exquisite truffles and making exceptional olive oil before testing his newly found skills against local chef David Skoko.

Puerto Rico

Gordon Ramsay explores the enchanted island of Puerto Rico, from the bright blue sea to the lush mountains of the interior. Along the way, he learns about Hurricane Maria’s recent devastating toll on the island and how food shortages have prompted locals to push for food independence. 

On this adventure, Gordon goes spearfishing, takes a helicopter ride to an organic coffee plantation, and rappels down a waterfall for delicious river prawns. Throughout his journey, he is hosted by laid back surfer-chef José Enrique, who turns up the gas at the final cook.

Iceland

Gordon Ramsay heads to the land of fire and ice during the Icelandic summer to learn secret cooking techniques utilising the volcanic landscape. 

He fishes in a glacial river for wild salmon and cooks bread in geothermally heated soil before heading north to the sparsely populated Westfjords. After sampling fermented shark and diving for scallops in the freezing fjords, he joins Iceland's first Michelin-rated chef, Ragnar Eiríksson, for a feast in a rainstorm.

Smoky Mountains

Gordon Ramsay is pushed to his limits in America's Smoky Mountains. In his quest to unearth the region's culinary secrets, Gordon must rappel down a treacherous waterfall, kayak through raging rapids, and trek deep into the forest, attempting to find the most delicious ingredients in this magnificent mountain range. 

His culinary rival at the big cook is chef William Dissen, named one of America's "Most Sustainable Chefs", who knows these mountains, rivers and forests like the back of his hand.

Mexico

Gordon Ramsay discovers the culinary secrets of the country's legendary Oaxaca region, where mole reigns supreme. 

In addition to learning to make the storied chocolate- and chili-infused sauce, Gordon must rappel down a cliff in search of delicious butter worms, harvest the honey sacs from burrowing ants and fend off angry wasps in search of their coveted larva. 

In his effort to measure up to acclaimed Mexico City chef Gabriela Cámara, he also engages in the punishing physical process of harvesting agave plants to make mescal.