Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild

Ben's journey takes him to an off-grid home nestled deep in the forests of Canton, Maine. Here, he meets Arthur, a hunter-gatherer with a PhD in botany, along with his two daughters, Samara (11) and Fera (4), and his girlfriend, Kelly. Arthur has spent the past decade building a community of like-minded individuals inspired by local Native American cultures and the traditions of our hunter-gatherer ancestors. During his stay, Ben witnesses how Arthur's ideology is passed down to his daughters. Ben also discovers Arthur's unique parenting style, treating children of all ages as adults. This approach has fostered extraordinary mental fortitude in his daughters, helping them cope with a tragic personal loss. 

Ben journeys to the African continent to meet Aleks, a Norwegian model who now resides in the deserts of Botswana. Aleks introduces him to her adopted family - the Ju'/hoansi people who have called southern Africa home for hundreds of thousands of years. Ben helps assemble bush fences to protect against desert lions and learns how the Scandinavian model ended up in Africa. The show also features Ralph Bousfield, owner of Uncharted Africa and part of Natural Selection.

Ben meets fellow Brit Rupert, who resides in the mountains of Japan in a traditional house. From the outset, it's evident that Rupert has embraced the culture of his adopted homeland, finding joy in the simple life of a rice farmer. As Ben delves into Rupert's story, he uncovers the reasons behind his move to Japan and sees how content his host has become.

In northern Thailand, Ben reconnects with Yidan, who left urban life in China to start a farm. As he joins her in rice planting, clay sculpting, and bamboo building, he learns how childhood memories shaped her path. Though he wonders if she should share her story more widely, a night out reveals she's already inspiring others to embrace nature and independence. A heartfelt look at courage, creativity, and community.