Pole to Pole with Will Smith, a seven-part global expedition is debuting on Wednesday, 14 January 2026 on National Geographic (DStv Channel 181).
Five years in the making, the series follows the Academy Award® winner across all seven continents, from the icefields of Antarctica to the icebergs of the Arctic. Inspired by his late mentor, Dr. S. Allen Counter, to explore life’s biggest questions, Smith throws himself into incredible challenges over the course of 100 days.
A Focus on Botswana: Resilience in the Kalahari
In a standout episode for Southern African audiences, Will Smith travels deep into the Kalahari Desert. Highlighting the rich heritage of Botswana, the series captures Smith’s time with the San people, one of the oldest hunter-gatherer groups on Earth.
Led by local San bushman guide Kane Motswana, Smith joins the community on a traditional hunt in one of the planet’s most inhospitable environments. While there, Smith explores the “enduring success” of the San, learning powerful lessons about ancestral knowledge and resilience in the face of modern climate challenges. This intimate connection to the landscape of the Okavango and Kalahari offers a profound look at how humanity can thrive in extreme conditions.
“This journey was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,” says Will Smith. “Traveling pole to pole has not only changed the way I see our planet, it’s changed the way I see myself. It’s an exploration of our planet’s outer edges and the remarkable people who call those places home”.
100 Days of Extreme Challenges
Throughout the 26,000-mile (41842.944 km) journey, Smith is joined by scientists and local experts to tackle daunting tasks:
• Antarctica: Skiing across giant icefields to reach the South Pole.
• The Amazon: Overcoming a lifelong fear of spiders by milking a venomous tarantula and capturing a 17-foot giant green anaconda for scientific research.
• The Himalayas: Trekking to a village at a 13,000-foot altitude in Bhutan to discover the secret to happiness.
• The North Pole: A dangerous final mission diving under the ice to capture world-first scientific samples before a snowstorm hits.
Broadcast Details
• Channel: National Geographic (DStv 181)
• Premiere Date: 14 January 2026
• Episodes: 7-part docuseries airing weekly
Don’t miss this historic journey! Tune in to National Geographic (DStv Channel 181) on Wednesday, 14 January to witness Will Smith’s transformational journey through the heart of Botswana and beyond.
Watch official Trailer here: https://youtu.be/-JDWGfL7EEY?si=oR05aMmSu0gE5UBY
