National Geographic – September 2022 Highlights

NARCO WARS: CHASING THE DRAGON

Thursdays at 21:00, from 8 September (ends 13 October)

Narco Wars: Chasing the Dragon reveals how the world got hooked on opioids and exposes shocking stories from the frontline of the global heroin trade. We follow the heroin smugglers of the Vietnam War and Afghanistan’s Taliban, through to the Sicilian Mafia, the government approved ‘pill mills’ of Big Pharma, and the explosion in fentanyl created by one of Mexico’s deadliest cartels.

Photo of Ralph Blumenthal, journalist, in Narco Wars: Chasing The Dragon — Ralph Blumenthal is a journalist and writer, who worked for 45 years as an investigative reporter for the New York Times. In 1988 he wrote Last Days of the Sicilians, a book exploring one of the largest investigations ever conducted by the FBI: the Pizza Connection drug case, which ended with the conviction of mob boss Gaetano Badalamenti and 17 others.
(National Geographic/Will Francome)

ALASKA, THE NEXT GENERATION S4

Mondays at 19:00, from 12 September (ends 12 December)

From the team behind Life Below Zero, the next generation of freedom seekers tired of the rat race head off into the wilds of Alaska to build a life on their own terms in a race against time as their first frigid winter bares down on them with no mercy.

Photo of Michael Manzo, Alaska — Michael Manzo trains for winter survival in Alaska.
(National Geographic)

LAST OF THE GIANTS, WILD FISH

Mondays at 20:00, from 26 September (ends 14 November)

Cyril and his team of adventure filmmakers embark on punishing and dangerous missions to find, study, and protect the last giant fish on the planet. This season follows the team through the Amazon and the Great North of Canada in pursuit of the prehistoric Pirarucu, the massive armor-plated White Sturgeon, and one of the most endangered freshwater goliaths on the planet, the Piraiba.

Photo of Cyril and a giant piraiba. — Their guides abandon the crew in a hostile area and they must now trek on foot into uncharted territory that exposes them to true danger when they cross stingray-infested rapids, run into an ominous poachers camp and face down armed, angry hunters. Their scientific research is at stake, and the guys are forced deeper into the jungle than ever before to find the 200-pound giant piraiba they need to sample. But with a colossal fish finally on his line, Cyril is in for the fight of his life when he gets dragged into a river full of giant black piranhas.
(Untamed Productions)

EUROPE FROM ABOVE S4

Wednesdays at 19:00, from 28 September (ends 2 October)

With exclusive access to key locations, viewers will enjoy a new perspective of Europe from the air through the changing seasons across a year in Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Romania Serbia and Scotland. Season 4 of Europe from Above reveals how tradition, engineering and natural wonders have shaped this epic continent, in a vibrant portrait of the region and the people who keep it alive.

RUNNING WILD WITH BEAR GRYLLS, THE CHALLENGE

Wednesdays at 21:00, from 28 September (ends 2 November)

Fan-favourite survivalist Bear Grylls is back with more bold and exciting episodes of the hit series Running Wild with Bear Grylls. This season, he is kicking things up a notch by introducing Running Wild With Bear Grylls: The Challenge. Premiering on National Geographic across Africa on 28 September, Bear takes the daring adventures up a level by teaching celebrity guests essential survival skills that they will have to master and then prove they can use in a high-stress situation.

Photo of Bear Grylls — Sierra Nevada Desert Gorge – Bear Grylls in RUNNING WILD WITH BEAR GRYLLS: THE CHALLENGE.
(Credit: National Geographic/Ben Simms)

PRIMAL SURVIVOR, MIGHTY MEKONG

Wednesday at 21:00, from 17 August (ends 21 September)

Hazen Audel is back, and this time he’s going it alone. After years spent living with tribal communities across the globe, Hazen is pitting his unique indigenous survival skills to the test, going up against the most extreme environments in the world. Each episode culminates in a unique, multi-day solo challenge that will push our expert to the limits of his knowledge, skills and endurance.

Photo of Hazen Audel — Hazen building a shelter by the river.
(National Geographic)

FIRST ALASKANS

Mondays at 19:00 from 18 July (8 x 60”), ends 5 September 2022

On the lands of their ancestors, Alaska Natives carry on tradition in a rapidly changing environment. Jody Potts-Joseph relies on the land to provide food, water, and warmth for her family. The Apassingnok family take any opportunity to gather food from the Bering Sea. Joel Jacko builds a cache to protect his winter food supply from the bears his family lives among. And Marvin Agnot relies on the tides to gather food for the people of his remote village.

Photo of Jody Potts-Joseph — Jody Potts-Joseph chopping wood for her home in winter.
(National Geographic/Isaiah Branch Boyle)

AIR CRASH INVESTIGATION: SPECIAL REPORT S5

Thursdays at 20:00 from 21 July (10 x 60”), ends 22 September 2022

Every episode of Air Crash Investigation Special Report examines three legendary aviation disasters that all share a common cause, including planes that go down in war zones, the deadly pitfalls of pilots in a hurry, and calculated acts of sabotage that come from outside – and inside – the cockpit.

Photo of investigators at an air crash — Investigators continue to examine the ruins and document findings

WICKED TUNA S11

Mondays at 20:00 from 9 May (18 x 60”), ends 5 September 2022

Wicked Tuna returns for an 11th season following the commercial fishing crews in Gloucester, Massachusetts. In a tightly regulated industry, while only being able to catch a small quota of an endangered species, the fishing crews have been struck hard by the pandemic. With prices now recovering, we follow them as they aim to make up for lost time and income.

Photo of boats — The new boats on Wicked Tuna (left to right) Fat Tuna, Kraken, and Wasabi. (PFTV)