Indian viewers can finally embark on a global adventure with Will Smith. His ambitious documentary series, Pole to Pole with Will Smith, makes its Indian television premiere tonight. The show starts on the National Geographic channel at 9:30 PM.
A Five-Year Journey Across the Globe
This seven-part series represents five years of hard work. It tracks Will Smith's incredible expedition across all seven continents. The journey takes him from the frozen extremes of Antarctica to the icy Arctic Circle.
Smith travels through some of Earth's most challenging environments. His itinerary includes the dense Amazon rainforest, the towering Himalayas, vast African deserts, and isolated Pacific islands. The actor undertakes this massive project inspired by his late mentor, Dr. Allen Counter.
Will Smith Faces Extreme Challenges
Throughout the series, Will Smith pushes his limits. He skis towards the South Pole in brutal cold. He dives beneath thick Arctic ice. The actor climbs mountains and interacts closely with dangerous wildlife.
Smith does not travel alone. He is accompanied by a team of scientists, seasoned explorers, and local experts. Their knowledge guides him through each perilous segment of the trip.
"This journey was unlike anything I've ever done," Will Smith admitted. "There were moments when I truly feared I might not return home. It's an exploration of our planet's remote edges and the remarkable people who live there."
He added, "From the coldest ice to the deepest jungles, the world's beauty filled every step with awe and hope."
Key Adventures to Watch in Pole to Pole
As the series begins, here are five major adventures Indian audiences should not miss.
1. The South Pole
The premiere episode airs tonight, January 16, at 9:30 PM. Will Smith travels to the South Pole, where temperatures can plummet below minus 100 degrees Fahrenheit. He skis across vast ice fields and battles powerful winds. His goal is to climb a massive ice cliff. Elite polar athlete Richard Parks provides crucial guidance for this freezing challenge.
2. The Amazon Forest
On January 23, the adventure moves to the Amazon. The episode, titled 'The Amazon: Deadly Creatures,' sees Smith deep in the Ecuadorian rainforest. He confronts his lifelong fear of spiders. With Professor Bryan Fry and mountaineer Carla Perez, he descends 200 feet into a cave known as the "womb of the Earth." There, they encounter a giant tarantula and carefully collect its venom.
The following week, on January 30, Smith searches for the world's largest snake, the giant green anaconda. The team manages to take a single scale from a 17-foot-long specimen.
3. The Himalayas
The fourth episode offers a more personal quest. Will Smith travels to Bhutan to explore the concept of happiness. Guided by expert Professor Dacher Keltner and writer Tshering Denkar, he treks to a remote village at 13,000 feet. The actor, famous for 'The Pursuit of Happyness,' visits monasteries, speaks with Buddhist monks, and learns how Himalayan communities find meaning in difficult conditions.
4. The Pacific Islands
In the fifth episode, Smith visits a remote South Pacific island. He studies a fragile marine ecosystem with marine ecologist John Aini. The actor witnesses firsthand how rising sea levels threaten island homes and cultures.
With linguist Dr. Mary Walworth, he helps document a 'disappearing' language spoken by only five people. This experience leads Smith to reflect on family, heritage, and the urgent need to protect our oceans and traditions.
5. The Kalahari Desert
The sixth episode takes Will Smith to Botswana. He learns ancient survival skills from the San people, one of the world's oldest cultures. Smith lives with them to understand how they thrive in the harsh desert. He visits rock art over 80,000 years old and attempts a traditional hunt. This experience leaves him humbled by ancestral wisdom.
6. The North Pole
The series finale presents Smith's most dangerous challenge. After 100 days of travel, he dives under the Arctic ice with polar ecologist Dr. Allison Fong. They face extreme cold while collecting rare scientific samples. Their work reveals new discoveries about Arctic life. Will Smith finds a moment of peace on top of the world, completing his epic pole-to-pole journey.
Pole to Pole with Will Smith promises a thrilling ride across our planet. It combines extreme adventure with profound human stories. Tune in every Friday at 9:30 PM on National Geographic to follow the journey.
