UPDATE!
Alby’s films are currently being remastered into high definition 16×9 wide format and may be available soon on streaming platforms. After seeing one of the new films, says Alby “I couldn’t believe it myself, and it inspired me. It’s like a brand new film, with beautiful colours and in widescreen format.”
WORLD SAFARI (1978)
In 1971, two young men left Adelaide, South Australia, on motorbikes with very little materially, but a strong desire for adventure.
Six years later they had crossed the Pacific in a century-old wooden sailboat, hitchhiked across Japan, driven a broken down DAF car through the Sahara desert, and dodged rebel bullets in Mozambique and Central Africa.
One of those young men, Alby Mangels, became Australia’s greatest real life adventurer and World Safari became a household name.
Relive this spectacular journey and real-life adventure in this ground-breaking travel documentary featuring Alby Mangels and John Field.
WORLD SAFARI II – THE NEW ADVENTURE (1985)
Six years in preparation and three years in filming, World Safari II stretches from one of the last great Australian cattle musters through the wild Papua New Guinea highlands and finally travels the terrorist-controlled jungles of South America.
What action can you expect?
Battle man-eating sharks and crocodiles, hunt with the primitive natives of the Papua New Guinea highlands, visit the secret burial grounds of the smoked people, risk death in terrorist-controlled jungles and walk the ancient Inca trails of South America, and cross the driest desert on earth!
The film’s soundtrack has some memorable 80’s-style music which perfectly complements the visuals on screen. The cinematography is also noteworthy, and the stunning nature shots are breathtaking, making the film a visual treat for viewers.
Overall, “World Safari II” is a must-watch for adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. The film presents a unique perspective on nature, offering viewers a chance to experience and appreciate the beauty of various cultures and wildlife. It’s an exciting and captivating adventure that will inspire you to explore more and create lifelong memories.
World Safari II was the movie that turned Alby Mangels into a global legend!
WORLD SAFARI III – ESCAPE (1993)
As the movie poster claims, this is a film that beautifully blends the honesty of love and compassion with the danger and excitement of high adventure!
Travel through the west coast of Africa up the Skeleton Coast on two magnificent and mystic trails. Ride a hot air balloon and explore the majestic wildlife of Zululand. Visit the mysterious bushmen of the Kalahari and go in search of Wetamura.
Finally, travel through New Zealand and join Alby as he repairs an old 337 push/pull twin engine plane, which he flies back to his Australian homeland. Alby then discovers unusual and exciting places in the great outback.
Adventure Bound Episodes
“In 1980, (actually, much earlier) an Australian bricklayer Alby Mangels walked away from his job into a life of adventure. Every weeknight the Travel Channel brings you the true story of one man’s quest to see the world. Break away with wild man Alby Mangles from deep inside the Amazon jungle to the Ivory coast to the Gobi desert, and find out what it means to be Adventure Bound.” -The Travel Channel
Without exaggeration, Adventure Bound is one of best travel documentary series ever made. If you have not yet discovered this extremely interesting and educational series, I will do my best to make you want to turn on your TV and find out what it really means to be Adventure Bound.
When I first started watching Adventure Bound I thought to myself. Wow, I wish I had so much money to travel around the world for a living–the episodes feature Alby driving different trucks on different continents, sailing different boats in different oceans, flying choppers and airplanes in remote areas of the world, etc. This guy must have either had some major dough or some powerful connections to pull it off. I was wrong. And I came to admire this extraordinary man, whose eternal energy and determination is a guiding light to us all.
“Travel hasn’t satisfied an appetite. It has created one.” World Safari II and World Safari III followed, taking Alby all over the world once again. And the world is not a perfect place. Alby and his companion Judy get into a car accident in South Africa. Alby crashes his chopper on his Yorke Peninsula farm. Alby’s boat Gretta Marie, burns and sinks, critically injuring a young crewman who dies a short time later. Alby’s dog, Sam, a loyal friend, is shot dead by strangers. Adventure Bound is full of human drama.
Traveling along the Suriname river, Alby searches for the lost Indian tribe that still remains untouched by modern civilization. In Papua New Guinea, Alby visits the “smoked people,” remains of dead tribesmen who have been hung up on the side of a mountain. On a trip to South America, Alby and his companion Judy encounter schools of piranhas, electric eels and croc-infested waters. In Namibia, Alby and his companion Michelle make their way to the civil war zone. Four-wheeling in Australia, sailing to South Africa, searching for bushmen in Kalahari desert, facing gorillas in the forests of Rwanda and many other interesting travel stories are all a part of Adventure Bound.
As an introduction to each episode, Alby says, “Have you ever had a dream… just pack up and go…see the world? Well, I did it. For 25 years I traveled from my home in Australia to Africa, to the Amazon rainforest. I dodged terrorists in Peru and tagged rhinos in South Africa. This is a story of that amazing journey–a quarter of the century in the making–of the places I went and the people I met. Join me now for Adventure Bound.”
As I write these words, I’m very excited to highly recommend this program to anyone who has a passion for travel. Alby Mangels has seen this world like no one has. What a life!
Watch it, experience it, live it.
1. SAILING TORRES STRAIGHT ISLANDS (1984)
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Alby, Sam his bull terrier, and crew set sail in the Gretta Marie, one of the last square riggers to sail the high seas from Adelaide. They visit many islands along the South Australian coast on the way to Melbourne. From here they sail on to the Solomon Islands visiting many islands on the way meeting the local people. They sail back to Cairns in Queensland encountering large sharks and rescuing stranded animals on the way. Alby leaves the boat and does a trip up the crocodile-infested Jardine River in a Zodiac with friends Vic and Sam. (many videos are narrated by Roger Cardwell)
2. LAST OUTBACK CATTLE MUSTER (1984)
Alby travels 5,000 kms across Australia to take part in one of the last great cattle musters. On the way they capture wild camels, get bogged down on the vast salt lakes and find a rare kangaroo with no tail. They explore old caves full of ancient Aboriginal paintings. Sam gives Alby a few headaches with his rollicking behavior. Alby joins the traditional cattle muster in the Kimberley Ranges in the far north of Western Australia. Finally, Alby visits an aboriginal camp.
3. RED CENTRE OPAL FEVER (1985)
Alby spends some time with aborigines in the outback studying their myths and beliefs. With Vic he hunts for precious opals in the outback. Back on the Gretta Marie, they sail the Torres Straights, exploring the deserted islands. Sam becomes a windsurfer. Back on land they travel through flower-covered fields after good rains. They visit the Wave Hill Bush Bar and help fight a bushfire. Alby hitches a ride on a road train to the Birdsville Races in the desert where he takes part.
4. GIANT SEA TURTLES (1985)
Alby sails through the friendly paradise islands. Primitive islanders hunt and prepare turtles to eat. Go diving off the Barrier Reef searching for a World War II plane wreck. Sail around the Torres Strait Islands visiting interesting people and places. Find turtles laying eggs and hatching weeks later when hundreds make their way into the water. Alby spends a few days on a pearling lugger diving then sails to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea where the Gretta Marie is destroyed by fire.
5. PRIMITIVE SMOKE PEOPLE OF NEW GUINEA (1985)
Alby visits remote regions of Papua New Guinea, rescues a baby buck from crocodile infested waters, and sees the suffering of a civilization devoid of modern medicine. He investigates the ancient spiritual beliefs of these primitive people as well as the bizarre burial rights of the Smoke People in the unexplored highlands of Papua New Guinea. As his adventure continues he also finds the kangaroos of Papua New Guinea, attends a local crocodile capture and flies around with the Flying Doctor assisting the indigenous with medical treatment, where possible.
6. KOMODO DRAGON LIZARDS – INDONESIA (1985)
Alby stays with the Huli people of Papua New Guinea where, to his dismay, he is given the gift of a wife. Forced by the sticky situation with the proud chief to diplomatically refuse, Alby moves on to Indonesia where he encounters the Komodo dragon lizard. Judy Green joins Alby and they hitch through islands and villages on an outrigger with some of the locals. On reaching Port Moresby, Alby dives for the Gretta Marie and successfully recovers the opals he lost when it sank. They then head for South America.
7. ORINOCO RIVER – SOUTH AMERICA (1985)
Alby and Judy arrive in Venezuela and prepare the Jeep for crossing the continent. They cross the Novas Prairies cattle country and encounter wonderful bird life, a giant tortoise, and ravenous piranhas eating a boa constrictor in minutes. They find the Capybara, the world’s largest rodent and canoe down the Orinoco River. Their overland trek brings them into contact with the locals’ primitive diamond and gold mining methods and they cross the equator on the Trans Amazon Highway.
8. THE GIANT ANACONDA – SOUTH AMERICA (1985)
Crossing the Amazon Basin heading for Manaus, Alby visits local Indian villages. Manaus proves to be an interesting town. En route to Peru Alby has an accident with a bus and spends three months in hospital before returning to Australia. With his neck in a brace Alby returns to continue his journey but the Trans Amazon Highway proves to be very rough and treacherous. The trailer falls apart and, bogged down, it takes fourteen days to cover 100 km. Eventually, Alby dumps the Jeep and finds an Indian village where he purchases a donkey to cross the border into Peru with an Indian guide. On the way he is saddened to witnesses men wrestling with and capturing a giant anaconda for sale.
9. JOURNEY TO MACHU PICCHU, MAGNIFICENT INCAN CITADEL (1985)
Alby’s South American traveling companion Paco has injured his foot and the extreme humidity is causing the wound to fester, forcing Alby to borrow a small plane in a desperate bid to fly Paco out of the jungle for treatment. After landing, river transport is done by dugour canoe and Alby gets a rare shot of the Amazonian freshwater dolphin. Alby is very worried as Paco’s fever worsens to the point of delirium. Alby is relieved to reach a remote and primitive mission where one man is both priest and doctor.
Traveling back upriver, they encounter the Colorado Indians of western Ecuador also known as “the red ones” since they plaster their hair with dye from the berries of the Achiote, Annatto, or Lipstick tree (bixa orellana). Also see footage of the rare silky anteater.
He encounters monkey trappers. Alby continues his journey high up into the Andes where no four-wheel drive vehicle will go, forcing Alby to use horse and donkey, in this case a spirited little burro named Pedro. High in the remote mountains he stays with Jívaro Indians, the head shrinkers of the Andes, where he witnesses the head shrinking ritual.
Three grueling months after leaving Manaus with Paco, Alby meets up with cameraman Geoff Hall who has traveled all the way from Melbourne.
Alby’s train to Lima is attacked by terrorists at very high altitudes, leaving him relieved and exhausted when he finally reaches town. At the nicest hotel in town, Alby mentions the name of a Swiss man he met while traveling to manager Bert Grace and is shown five-star hospitality.
Alby meets Michele, a tall South African girl, buys a backfiring 1957 Dodge Kingsway full of bullet holes for $90 and continues his journey with Michele. They visit Santa Catalina Monastery in Cusco, Peru at an elevation of 11,000 ft. Cusco is the ancient cradle of the Inca empire.
Alby and Michele continue on to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. The natural fortress wasn’t even discovered until 1911.
10. ATACAMA DESERT – PERU (1985)
Alby and Michelle climb to Machu Picchu, the ancient city of the Incas via the Bingham Highway. After taking the bus as far as they can, they have to proceed 3000′ further up on foot. They’re fascinated by ancient Incan technology like flowing water from aqueducts and an advanced sundial.
They visit villages where alpaca llamas are being sheared and garments woven from the thick but light wool. They witness the birth of a llama and visit some sulphur hot springs in the Urubamba River Valley, hoping the hot water will provide relief for Alby’s sore neck. They find in incredible that the water can be boiling hot within site of snow-covered mountains.
The travelers later visit Lake Titicaca, 13,000 ft. up in the mountains. They stay with the stateless Uros Indian peoples living on floating reed islands before moving on in an effort to get Michele back to her parents and civilization.
There is much political violence and terrorism back in Lima so Alby is forced to cross the Atacama Desert on a motorbike to dodge the border and then heads for Santiago, Chile and a tearful goodbye with Michele.
11. AFRICA – ZULULAND (1986)
Michele returns to South Africa. Alby heads for Africa, arriving in Cape Town before continuing to Natal where he meets up with Michele. They travel through Zululand, ride a hot air balloon over game reserves and visit Zulu dances and witch doctors. Witness the Zulu people and their customs. Go on a river patrol with a local game ranger and see birds and animal life on the river. Interesting stories are told by the game rangers and there’s also a visit to a crocodile farm. (You will notice that two one-minute scenes are missing due to copyright claims.)
12. AFRICA – IN SEARCH OF THE BUSHMAN (1986)
Alby and Michele head for Namibia. They stay with the Himbas in the Kaokoveld learning about the people and their customs. From Namibia they travel back to Natal, fly over the Drakensberg Mountains range in a glider, visit Durban and head back to Namibia where they visit an old diamond prospector in the desert. Alby looks for Bushmen and is disappointed as he finds them modernised. In his search for the traditional bushmen, Alby travels through much of Namibia.
13. AFRICA – NAMIBIA (1986)
Alby and Michele visit Etosha, travel to Spitzkop where they find Bushmen paintings, go to Swakopmund and fish on the beach, and visit the Grootfontein Meteor. They find Bushmen and stay at their village , they experience bushmen music, hunting, hut building, dancing, bushmen medicines and search for water before returning to Johannesburg.
14. LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD – NEW ZEALAND (1987)
Alby flies to New Zealand in an old American Bomber. His dog Jack is sent to him and together they hitch around. He tours the south island on a freight train, meeting interesting people en route, walks the spectacular Glacial Mountains, through snow-covered peaks and valleys, and flies over the mountain lakes. When he hears of an old plane which needs to be flown to Australia he finds the plane, fixes it up and proceeds on his journey by air.
15. NEW ZEALAND – DEER CAPTURE (1987)
Alby mounts cameras under the wings of the plane and flies around New Zealand, helps with a cattle muster and flies to Christchurch to meet Michele. Together they fly around the country admiring the stunning scenery. On the rivers and lakes they go skiing and jet boating before hitching around the country. Alby goes deer capturing with a chopper and nets before he and Michele visit an old Maori grave hidden in a rain forest.
16. NEW ZEALAND – FLYING TO REMOTE OUTPOSTS (1987)
Alby and Michele travel the south island in a motor home then fly to Lake Tianawa where they explore underground caves. They visit Maori villages, the Bay of Plenty and active volcanoes. Flying from New Zealand to Australia they land on Norfolk Island and Howe Island. The plane is delivered in the Northern Territory from where Alby travels down the Victoria River to Darwin in a Zodiac before taking Michele to his farm.
17. THE GREAT WHITE STALLION – BLUE MOUNTAINS (1988)
Michele is not happy with Alby’s farm and decides to return home. Alby heads off to the forests of central New South Wales and joins a horse muster in the Blue Mountains where he follows and eventually captures the Great White Stallion.
18. TREK ACROSS AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK – CAMELS (1988)
Alby gets his helicopter pilot’s licence and flies over central Australia. On returning to Adelaide Alby attends an animal auction where he buys a Shetland pony and two camels. He starts to train them for riding and meets old friends to go off capturing kangaroos. He rescues a young foal and then with his nephew, Rick, Alby prepares for a trip down the Coorong and to cross the outback on camels.
19. WONDERS OF THE WORLD – COORONG SOUTH AUSTRALIA (1988)
The Coorong (150kms of sand dunes) is one of the most interesting places in South Australia. Alby sets out to cross the area on horseback and camels investigating the history of the area. The bird life is excellent and Alby finds large colonies of breeding pelicans. He also finds old Aborigine burial grounds and at the mouth of the Murray River he meets indigenous people of this land.
20. THE WILD ISLANDS OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA (1988)
Alby visits fascinating people and places along the coast as well as South Australian tourist attractions. He goes to Granite Island and explores the Limestone Caves with spectacular Stalagmites and Stalactites, visits fur seal and sea lion colonies on the islands, and meets an eccentric man who has 150 animals in his house. He dives for an old ship wreck enjoying the underwater world, explores the caves with wonderful rock formation on the coast and gets introduced to koala bears.
21. THE GHAN – UNIQUE TRAIN ACROSS THE RED CENTRE (1989)
Alby and Rick set off to go across Australia on camels and end up hitching a ride on the Ghan. Named after the Afghan cameleers who once traversed this route, The Ghan travels from one edge of the Australian continent to the other, through the very centre of the country. Alby and Rick load the camels into one of the carriages and then party all night on the train. On reaching to Ayres Rock in the dead heart of Australia, they somehow lose their ‘ships of the desert’ in the red centre and have to use both a helicopter and truck to find them again.
22. RUN AWAY CAMELS – AUSTRALIAN DESERT (1989)
Alby‘s at Ayers Rock and enters the first Alice Springs to Sydney camel race. They have come from all over Australia to compete. It is a real Charge Of The Light Brigade during which Alby looses the camels and goes in search of them, on the way discovering the secrets of Lightning Rock.
23. CAMEL CAPTURE – THE RED CENTRE AUSTRALIA (1989)
Alby returns to his desert campsite and works out a plan of action with nephew Rick to finally track down the camels. Rick takes the dodge while Alby links up through the helicopter. The camels are eventually found but not before disaster strikes. Alby decides to return to Africa but first he must check on the little foal he nursed back from injury. Rick stays on to view the internationally famous Alice Springs Camel Cup while Alby begins the lonely sea crossing to Africa.
24. ALBY AND NEPHEW RICK LIVE WITH ABORIGINES IN ARNHAM LAND – AUSTRALIA (1989)
Alby sets sail for Africa. En route he meets up with old friend Judy Green and enjoys the excitement and danger of the exotic Flame Dancers. Nephew Rick joins the camel train and continues on to the outback where he finds water and tries his luck in the rich opal fields of Coober Pedy. Rick travels alone in the sacred Aboriginal Reserves, learning the ways and customs of those in Arnhem Land while Alby pushes on across the Indian Ocean.
25. RETURN TO AFRICA – ALBY SAILS ACROSS INDIAN OCEAN IN SMALL CATAMARAN (1990)
Alby returns to South Africa to again meet up with Michele. They take off first to see the wonders of the African animal kingdom, marveling at the giants of the bush who are eager to show off their strength. They gaze in wonder at the birds leisurely preening themselves, all the while ready to seize any opportunity. In Cape Town, Alby meets the Tall Ship crews bound to Sydney and takes off to the biggest open cut diamond mine in the world as well as the magical sand dunes of the Namib en route to the eerie Skeleton Coast.
26. SKELETON COAST – WEST AFRICA (1990)
Alby journeys through the incredible Skeleton Coast encountering a bizarre collection of sights left to waste in this bleak landscape. He also meets with the Himbas, a strange primitive tribe with a mystical leader for whom Alby has been searching. This is a dangerous country surrounded by conflict and civil war. For Alby it is a time of personal reckoning.
27. CROSSING THE KALAHARI DESERT (1990)
Of all the landscapes in the world Alby loves deserts the most – to him they hold an alluring fascination. The Kalahari Desert is home to some of the most ancient people on earth – the Bushmen – and Alby is always keen to take on a quest to find them. It is probably the last place you would expect to find elephants, but here in this untamed land a unique species of pachyderms has not only survived, but thrived – the vast desert elephants, roaming nomads of a land that time forgot.
28. UNIQUE OKAVANGO SWAMPS (1990)
The mystical and primal land of the Dark Continent of Africa contains many surprises – both wonders to thrill the imagination and terrors to freeze the soul. Among these wonders is a gigantic oasis in the middle of a desert called ‘The Okavango Swamps’. Soak in the magnificence of the world’s largest inland delta as Alby travels through lush jungle teeming with wildlife and thrills us with discoveries in this wondrous land.
29. SAVING THE FLAMINGOS IN BOTSWANA (1990)
Botswana is not only home to some of the largest herds of elephants in the world, but also the destination for migratory flamingos who flock there in their thousands every year. Unfortunately for the flamingos Botswana is also home to vast salt pans and Alby and his friends have to lend a hand to those who become so caked in deadly salt they would otherwise be unable to fly free.
30. LAKE KARIBA – BOTSWANA AFRICA (1991)
Lake Kariba is the largest artificial lake in the world, located on the Zambezi River about 1,300 km upstream from the Indian Ocean, lying along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Before Lake Kariba was filled, the existing vegetation was burned to become the lake bed, but natives explain to Alby this created problems for the natural environment that was thriving prior to man’s interference.
31. JOURNEY TO THE VANISHING GORILLAS – FEATURE FILM (1992)
We follow Alby as he first sails the West Coast of Africa in “Space”, a 52′ catamaran. Adventuring inland, Alby exposes heartbreaking man-made devastation as he travels through Uganda, Zaire, and war-torn Rwanda. Experience the desolation of the Kalahari Desert while in search of one of the last remaining bushmen still living in the wild. You’ll witness the predicaments Alby gets himself into as he embarks deep into the highlands of Central Africa towards his ultimate goal: to capture on film the disturbing plight of the near-extinct mountain gorillas.
32. “WORLD SAFARI” SOUNDTRACK
The original motion picture soundtrack by Mario Millo, featuring the hit single “Restless” by Glenn Shorrock.
33. THE GREAT ATLANTIC CROSSING – SAILING A CATAMARAN FROM AFRICA TO SOUTH AMERICA (1993)
Alby sets sail from the west coast of Africa across the world’s angriest ocean, the Atlantic. It’s the ultimate test for Alby, his untried crew, and the 52 foot catamaran Space. They stop at the remote island of St. Helena, visiting Napoleon’s grave and an ancient tortoise reputed to have been his pet. Breath-stopping and eerie underwater footage awaits. Arriving in Brazil, Alby takes up the challenge to compete with the fastest cotton picker and in the Valley of the Dinosaurs captures the real Jurassic Park with rare footage of a dinosaur footprints petrified in mud.
34. CRYSTAL WATERS (1993)
This is a journey that Alby had been planning with his 52 foot catamaran Space for years. The voyage takes us from the Indian Ocean idyllic islands of the Seychelles around the coast of West Africa before crossing the Atlantic to South America. With stops in the Caribbean and the Bahamas before ending up in Miami, this is a visually rich and spectacular sailing voyage.
35. ESCAPE FROM DEVIL’S ISLAND – FRENCH GUIANA, SOUTH AMERICA (1993)
This adventure brings us the historical facts of Devil’s Island penal colony while portraying a tragic and powerful story with humor. A New Yorker, Leslie, is a stowaway on Alby’s catamaran. Alby agrees to take him to the Ile du Salut islands where Leslie’s obsession with the Papillion story leads Alby on an imaginary escape. He pays homage to the pain suffered by those imprisoned on these islands, while the viewer can witness how nature restored itself in less than fifty years. Alby’s next port of call is Suriname where he encounters the dreaded drug lords and captures the contrast between their lives and the poverty stricken population. The knowledge that the drug lords could discover Alby’s filming adds a chilling edge to this sequence.
36. GOLD HUNTERS OF THE AMAZON JUNGLE (1994)
Alby sets out to help a young girl discover the fate of her grandfather. His search takes him hundreds of miles up the Suriname River, a 480km long tributary of the Amazon. He discovers a group of gold hunters causing untold destruction to the jungle in their insatiable quest for gold.
37. LOST INDIAN CULTURE OF THE AMAZON RIVER (1994)
After more than twenty-five years Alby once again ventures into the South American jungles hoping to find an Indian tribe rumored to be untouched by modern civilization. This is the story of his journey, his hopes, and his disappointments.
38. AMAZON BASIN (1994)
A lonely tribal Indian, untouched by modern civilization, allows Alby to share his life for a brief while. It is a story of a mute poignant friendship and a rare insight into the simple life of Indian tradition and the devastation caused by so-called civilization. On his departure, Alby sets out for the Caribbean and new adventures.
39. THE DRUG TRIANGLE – CARIBBEAN ISLANDS (1995)
Alby becomes involved with the drug lords in the Caribbean and captures vast marijuana plantations on film. He takes us to the amazing pitch lakes in Trinidad that have been used to build roads around the world. We also see spectacular underwater footage of the Caribbean Islands. Alby meets some interesting characters such as two dogs and their families that have totally taken over a deserted town. Some African locals also show him a great night out.
40. THE SLAVE TRADE – CARIBBEAN ISLANDS (1995)
In this documentary Alby leaves Trinidad and visits Grenada, where he explores the abolished slave trade and visits a most unusual rum factory. Alby’s two dogs check out a leper colony. He meets two native girls who swim out to the yacht and won’t leave. Alby learns first hand the traditions of the Carob Indians which have not changed for centuries and experiences their tragic deaths, forced to suicide rather than give in to French Soldiers.
41. BLACK AND WHITE BEACHES – CARIBBEAN ISLANDS (1995)
Alby explores the impact of development on the Caribbean and visits some very unusual beaches and islands. Anybody who is someone out of Hollywood has a house on Mystique Island. Only the rich such as Mick Jagger can own property there. Alby contrasts the way black people live on the island with the way of life of the super rich.
42. TREACHEROUS WATERS – CARIBBEAN ISLANDS (1995)
Below the crystal waters of the Caribbean lay treacherous reefs and while looking at the plight of illegal immigrants Alby gets stranded on a wreck before sailing off to the Virgin Islands.
43. MY MATES – AUSTRALIA (1996)
Alby and KB set off to the dead heart of Australia, Ayers Rock. The whole journey is one big laugh with KB being a real comedian, he should have been on TV years ago. Alby reveals one of Australia’s best kept secrets “The Great Sunset Desert”. This is the first time a film has ever been made about this awe-inspiring place.
44. THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK (1996)
Alby returns to Australia after 2 years on the catamaran. He is so happy to be home he celebrates by setting off with his best buddy KB on a rough old raft built from 44 gallon drums which takes them on a special journey floating down Australia’s largest river – The Murray. This is in total contrast with the previous 10 documentaries made on the large catamaran.
45. SOUTH TO KANGAROO ISLAND – AUSTRALIA (1996)
One of the more unique places in the world, right next to Alby’s home on the Coorong, is Kangaroo Island. The largest white pointer sharks in the world prowl these waters, making it extremely treacherous to dive. However, Alby risks all in search of fairytale creatures that inhabit these depths – the magical leafy sea dragon and graceful weedy sea dragon. What you will witness with him truly defies belief.
46. OUTBACK TO WINININIE – AUSTRALIA (1997)
Alby has a surprise for Jo, his American girl friend. For several months he has been hand rearing an orphaned baby Joey kangaroo and on Jo’s arrival he presents it to her. They then travel to where he spent most of his childhood – a town called Murray Bridge on the banks of The Murray River, the longest and mightiest river in Australia. We travel with them along the Murray to the outback of Australia before they leave the river and travel further inland to a sprawling sheep station where they join the sheep muster and watch shearers go about their back breaking work. On the vast inland Lake Alby films the abundant bird life before stumbling across a drowning cow both he and Jo make a valiant attempt to rescue.
47. TRAVELING NORTH – AUSTRALIA (1997)
North Queensland is the heart of Australia’s cattle country. We travel this State with Alby and Jo, meeting drovers and cattle farmers who work huge herds of cattle over many hundreds of miles. The modern way to muster the big herds is by helicopter. Alby joins a muster to get a bird’s eye view of the action. He also experiences the awesome power of an outback cattle road train as it thunders toward him before witnessing 800 head of cattle being unloaded after an epic 36 hour journey. As a lover of animals, and especially horses, Alby is intrigued to hear of a stockman who is using a new and much less cruel method of breaking in wild horses. He meets this man and watches as he applies this gentle method with remarkable success.
48. LAUNCHING ZENANI – AUSTRALIA (1998)
Alby and Jo search for an ancient Aboriginal burial cave in outback Queensland. The practice of Aboriginals burying their dead above the ground is very seldom heard of and unique to this area of Australia. The long journey involves driving a 4WD vehicle along treacherous muddy tracks and on several occasions they become seriously bogged. Eventually, after a trek through the bush on foot, they find the cave and discover the centuries old remains of an Aboriginal warrior. Alby and Jo are very excited when they spot an extremely rare albino kangaroo before heading to Brisbane where, after almost a year, Alby’s 43 foot sailing catamaran Zenani is ready to leave for the epic voyage around the islands of Vanuatu and the Solomons.
49. EAST TO WEST – AUSTRALIA (1999)
Alby and Jo travel to the cotton growing region on the east coast of Australia. Cotton is a crop that has only recently been introduced to the area. It is also a very thirsty crop. Newly developed water damming strategies for the cotton crop are adversely affecting the flow of the Murray River, and Alby is very concerned at how this decreasing water flow is damaging the delicate eco systems. At a night rodeo in Queensland’s bush country, Alby and Jo watch local cowboys risk their lives as they ride bucking Brahma bulls. They then travel to Western Australia for an aerial view of The Ord River and travel through the Bungle Bungles – an eerie almost alien landscape dating back to pre-historic times.
50. KAGARI TO NIMBIN – AUSTRALIA (1999)
Alby and Jo go for a long hike on Kagari, Fraser Island, a huge sand island off the coast of Queensland. They see much of the wildlife while trekking through lush tropical inland rainforests, including koalas, goanna and dingos. We learn about the devastating effect that early European settlers had on the local Aboriginal population and Alby meets the last remaining local Aboriginal living there. Back on the mainland they travel to Nimbin, a town known for its alternative sub-culture and hippie population, and meet a family who have embraced this alternative lifestyle. Nearby on a communal farm a camel has broken its back in a fall and Alby, along with some of the locals, attempts to help the distressed animal recover.
51. LAND OF THE FERALS – AUSTRALIA (2000)
Alby and Jo travel into the Queensland hinterland to an area where communities of alternate lifestyle people live. These people live an almost feral life within the valleys and forests relying on very little help or support from the outside world. It is a rough life and one they choose for themselves and enjoy living. These groups of people are committed to protecting the environment and think of themselves as ‘guardians of the earth’. Alby learns what drives them and leads them to protest against mining industry projects in the region. He discovers the environmental damage caused by the companies is frightening in the extreme.
52. OVER THE HORIZON – NEW HEBRIDES & VANUATU (2000)
After sailing around Africa and South America in “Space”, his 52 foot catamaran, Alby is ready to return to the Pacific. Just getting out on a boat in the open seas, away from crowded cities, is Alby’s idea of heaven. In the New Hebrides and Vanuatu he experiences a way of life on tiny islands with native peoples where he is able to relish turning the clock back 50 years. Marvel at how people with “nothing” in Western terms have such a ready smile, and understand why this group of islands has been called “The Happiest Place on Earth”.
53. IN SEARCH OF THE FALLEN EAGLE – NEW HEBRIDES & VANUTAU (2000)
Searching for planes from World War II in the jungles, and learning how World War II affected the gentle, timeless island people of this region, Alby experiences the senseless loss and tragedy of man’s brutal conflicts. It is a reflective and thought-provoking journey with a far reaching impact.
54. ISLAND DREAMING – NEW HEBRIDES & VANUATU (2000)
Alby and Jo sail through the Vanuatu group of islands on their 43ft Catamaran Zenani. It is an idyllic and easy going tropical sea journey with no schedules to kept. Along the way they stop at several islands to meet the locals and learn a little about their unhurried way of life. On one of the islands they learn about the slave trade called ‘black birding’ that was prevalent here less than 100 years ago. Alby then finds a WW2 ship wreck on a shallow reef and explores it using a 6ft long air hose connected to a breathing apparatus floating on the surface. On Pentecost Island, Alby and Jo witness the ancient practice of land diving (a local version of bungie jumping).
55. DISCOVERING A PRESIDENT – NEW HEBRIDES & VANUATU (2000)
The SS President Coolidge, once a vast merchant ship, was striped of her finery, painted haze grey, mounted with guns and turned into a troop carrier during WWII. Arriving at the island of Santo, fearing Japanese submarines and unaware of submerged mines, the vessel was fatally struck. In a dive akin to entering a 40 story unlit building at night, risking the fate of previous divers who became so lost in her bowels they never returned, Alby investigates this ill-fated dame of the South Pacific Ocean.
56. REMOTE CONTACT – SOLOMON ISLANDS (2001)
Alby and Jo sail to the capital of the Solomon Islands, Honiara, before making a long journey to one of the most distant and isolated islands on 2 small inter-island planes and 2 canoes. Once they reach the island they trek inland and climb into the hills to a village where the locals live exactly as they have done for 1,000 years, getting a glimpse of a people who are linked with nature and whose survival depends on hard physical labour and resourcefulness in an unforgiving jungle. Jo starts to feel very ill. Alby is not sure whether her illness is due to the local food or if it is something more serious like Malaria. Not wanting to take a chance he decides on a sea voyage by canoe to take her to the nearest hospital over a treacherous rising swell.
57. NORTH TO SOUTH – AUSTRALIA (2001)
Alby is invited to go on an epic 4WD journey through the heart of Australia. At the Gulf of Carpentaria he meets some rugged characters who make a living catching huge mud crabs while avoiding the ever present crocodiles. He then travels to Alice Springs, right in the centre of Australia. Here we glimpse some of the problems faced by Australia’s indigenous Aboriginals. A long and grueling journey through the Simpson Desert, one of the most desolate and arid in the Southern Hemisphere, takes us to the outback town of Birdsville where Alby discovers some of the old farming ways are being kept alive. We then hop aboard a twin turbo prop plane to travel along one of the longest and most unique mail delivery runs in the world.
58. JOURNEY TO PIGEON ISLAND – SOLOMON ISLANDS (2002)
Intrigued by the story of Diana, a woman in her eighties living on one of the most isolated islands on Earth, Pigeon Island. Pigeon Island is one of the remote Reef Islands in the Solomon Islands.
Alby takes a commercial flight, a two hour journey in a twin-engine plane, and a two day voyage on an outrigger canoe, crossing an ocean with no land in sight, to find her. Tagging along is Alby’s mate KB.
Sixty years ago Diana and her husband set up a base on remote Pigeon Island, after she sailed from England on a square rigger with an all girl crew – unheard of at the time. The boys who began work with her at 13 years of age, still work with her now in their 70s, and she still calls them “her boys”. Alby is full of admiration and delight at her incredible way of life.
59. REFLECTIONS OF PARADISE – SOLOMON ISLANDS (2002)
Intrigued by the story of Diana, a woman in her eighties living on one of the most isolated islands on Earth, Alby takes a commercial flight, a two hour journey in a twin-engine plane, and a two day voyage on an outrigger canoe, crossing an ocean with no land in sight, to find her. Sixty years ago Diana and her husband set up a base on remote Pigeon Island, after she sailed from England on a square rigger with an all girl crew – unheard of at the time. The boys who began work with her at 13 years of age, still work with her now in their 70s, and she still calls them “her boys”. Alby is full of admiration and delight at her incredible way of life.
60. RIVERS OF THE OUTBACK – AUSTRALIA (2003)
A good friend of Alby’s, Rex Ellis, one of the last pioneer adventurers of the outback, entices Alby into a new adventure. In the centre of Australia rivers are experiencing massive flooding and one of these rivers has never been run before. Naturally Alby and his friend want to be the first and what they captured on film is extraordinary.
61. and 62. BORN FOR ADVENTURE (2003)
Alby tells his life story in his own words from coming to Australia and the early days of his childhood where he grew up in the river town of Murray Bridge. He explains what influenced and motivated him as a young man to travel the world and start his lifelong search for adventure, sharing behind the scene accounts of what happened on those adventures. He shows us his present day lifestyle and tells why he has decided to keep Adelaide as his base. One cause that he is particularly committed to is that of the mountain gorillas in Africa which are on the verge of extinction.
63. OUTBACK MUSTER – AUSTRALIA (2004)
One of the aspects of his life that Alby loves the most is that he can return from a trip on catamaran to remote islands and head immediately into the starkly contrasting environment of the Australian outback. In the mainly desert land, filled with colourful characters of the bush, Alby is at home whether he’s dusk-covered and saddle-sore, or simply gazing at a breathtaking sunset.
64. ALBY’S COORONG – AUSTRALIA (2006)
There is no doubt in Alby’s mind that of all the places on earth he has visited he has chosen the best one to call home. In this film he takes the opportunity to share with his audience the remarkable features that make the Coorong what it is: one of the top bird-watching locations in the world, a sacred Aboriginal land, and a haven for migratory pelicans who have been landing there since before recorded history. To Alby this is eternal beauty of the place he has made his own.
65. THE CALL OF THE COORONG – AUSTRALIA (2007)
Alby Mangels’ first Attenborough-esque style documentary highlighting the world famous ornithological diversity of Australia’s pristine Coorong region. This is a truly magnificent example of how Alby Mangels has matured and grown both as a cinematographer and film maker over the decades. The camera work is superb and reveals the astonishing detail of life under the feathered world of the Coorong. An exquisite bird documentary filmed entirely at Alby Mangels’ retreat and home “The Bird Hide” which is a natural haven for hundreds of native migratory species of birds.
66. YOU CAN’T LIVE ON MEMORIES – REPAIRING THE GRETTA MARIE (1980)
As was typical with many of Alby’s endeavours, he set himself a particularly difficult challenge to reconstruct a square topsail ketch. He installed an engine and assembled a jury rig consisting of an 11m long mast and a piece of five cm round water pipe that was six meters long as a yard arm. Over this he hung a large piece of canvass making a crude sail and advertised for crew to help him sail from Mooloolaba to Adelaide. With a crew of five they left Queensland replete with seven 44-gallon drums of fuel, two drums of water, and spare masts and parts lashed to the deck. It took years before his pride and joy was finally christened the Gretta Marie.
“WILD ADVENTURES” EPISODES BY RICK SNEL (ALBY’S NEPHEW)
70. ARNHEM LAND (1990)
‘Wild Adventures’ explores a cultural quest of discovery, immersing the viewer into the lifestyles of indigenous people around the world. A continuous journey which compares similarities, and differences, whilst observing day-to-day existence in modern society as they continue to maintain and promote their history, art and culture through storytelling, song and dance.
There is much to learn from these people, as we experience their traditional way of life, trying to understand their unique existence in the framework of our world. This work is significant and relevant to the current interest in global issues and international culture… a visual experience capturing the essence of humanity and the environment.
71. DANCE TO HEAL THE EARTH (1990)
In this ‘Wild Adventure’ the viewer is taken to the out-back of Australia to ride shotgun at an Oz style rodeo, and also witnesses the Americans attempt to break the land speed record for a motor driven motor cycle on the driest salt lake in the world. Then joining his American friend, Kimber Sparks, to explore the deep south of North America, Rick experiences all the wonders and beauty of the Choctaw Native American people and their surroundings, highlighting the cultural similarities to those of the Australian Yulgnu Aboriginal people, both of whom take pride in preserving their traditions, while playing a significant role in today’s multicultural society.
Rick’s dream of uniting cultures, by the sharing of history, art and culture, and the swapping symbolic cultural icons – the Australian didgeridoo and the Native American flute, comes alive when introducing Australian Aboriginal culture to the Native American Choctaw Indians.
72. UNITING CULTURES (1991)
This special documentary features an incredible journey deep into the way of life of the Native American Intertribal Indians as seen in modern times. Studying the cultural unity between indigenous groups Rick tries to explore some of the issues they are facing daily, while maintaining their identities in this contemporary society. It emerges as an incredible journey deep into the way of life of the Native American and Aboriginal Tribes.
Rick considers the work he has completed to be very special and relevant to the current interest in global issues and international culture, capturing the essence of humanity and the environment. The focus of his work is on uniting cultures through the folklore and the cultural traditions that have been passed down through ancestral lines. These histories are a unique form of wisdom that sometimes seems forgotten in these uncertain times.
Why Alby Mangels films are so universally loved.
Alby Mangels’ adventure films have garnered a significant following due to several reasons. Here are some key reasons that contributed to their popularity:
1. Pioneering Nature: Alby Mangels’ films were one of the first to document long-distance travels, showcasing the power of unique backdrops and untouched foreign terrains. Mangels’ films offered breathtaking views of remote locations, unique cultures, and spectacular creatures, providing audiences with a chance to experience the experiential aspect of adventure documentaries.
2. Independent Spirit: Alby Mangels was not a part of a major film production company, which added to his films’ intrigue. He trusted in his vision and selected unique and exotic locations that were rarely accessed, providing an independent and authentic experience that captivated his audiences.
3. Inspirational Content: Alby Mangels is renowned for his message of encouragement and inspiration that his films conveyed. He emphasized the importance of adventure, self-discovery, and independent traveling and creating a life that suits oneself. His movies challenged conventional thinking and practices while encouraging audiences to pursue their goals and dreams.
4. Timeless Appeal: Even though Alby Mangels started making films in the 1970s, the timeless appeal of the documentaries remains fresh and relevant today. The films showed the beauty of the world that exists beyond our typical cultural boundaries and routine, making it a lasting inspiration to all adventurers alike.
5. Engaging entertainment: Alby Mangels’ films offered a mix of compelling elements that appealed to his audience, it is part travelogue, part adventure documentary, and part cultural exploration. His films captured unique experiences and offered vital highlights that accommodated action and adrenaline, humor, drama, suspense, and even romance, providing an engaging and immersive experience.
Collectively, Alby Mangels’ films depict the very essence of adventure and a yearning to explore and experience more. It offers a vital message of inspiration and the richness of life, and encourages its viewers to live spontaneously and carve their unique path, ultimately making his films very popular among adventurous viewers.
Alby Mangels Biography: Beyond World Safari by Lynn Santer
Alby Mangels – he had a dream to just pack up and go; to see the world. Though his path was uncharted, his inspirational journey became a remarkable narrative of the incredible people he met and fantastic places he saw along the way. The amazing trek that followed allowed the enigmatic Australian traveler to use the world as a stage on his non-stop quest for adventure. A true World Safari!
Browse this website to learn more about this self-proclaimed adventurer, film-maker and conservationist. Discover for yourself why long ago Alby Mangels said: “Travel hasn’t satisfied an appetite. It has created one!” What an awesome life!
More about the smashing new authorized biography “Alby Mangels – Beyond World Safari” from world-renown author and activist Lynn Santer.
Before Steve Irwin, before Crocodile Dundee, Alby Mangels was and is the original Australian wild man and conservationist. Finally agreeing to placate his diehard fans who have been screaming to know what happened to him, Alby has broken his 15 year silence in self-imposed seclusion and is speaking out like never before in this full and frank authorized biography.
Many myths and misconceptions have sprung up around Alby over the last 15 years, but during that time Alby has not been idle. He now has no less than eighty wildlife and environmentally-based documentaries under his belt, which have been screening internationally over the past decade, some to the highest ratings ever achieved on the US Discovery Channel. He has also created a native wildlife sanctuary on his pristine hideaway property in rural South Australia, and he’s discovered a new spiritual path of peace and acceptance after a terrible accident nearly left him unable to walk again.
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You may well be asking yourself two questions at this point. Why did Alby choose Lynn Santer above any other author in the world to write his deeply personal story? And why now? Lynn and Alby originally met when Lynn was organizing the World Wildlife Fund’s 25th anniversary in Australia celebrations at Dreamworld, where Lynn has a long standing association with Dreamworld’s Endangered Tiger Fund. As both an accomplished author and a wildlife conservationist who has won awards recognizing her work for animal welfare since she was 11 years old, Lynn attracted Alby’s attention.
Like many, Lynn had heard of the legend that was Alby Mangels decades earlier but in truth she had never even watched any of his films. When he sat her down and told her about his poverty and trial-stricken childhood, his dreams, his lust for adventure, his fervour for our natural world, his dazzling rise to the dizzy heights of hero-worship, and his crash back down to earth after his empire, his dreams and his reputation were shattered by a sequence of gut-wrenching disasters, Lynn’s heart went out to him and her writer’s zeal ached to tell his story to the world.
In his tell-all biography the man, the myth, and the magic that is Alby Mangels that will leave you gasping for breath, crying with laughter, weeping at the tragedies, and cheering with inspiration at his triumph against all odds. Containing 135 color pictures (some never seen!), it’s a fantastic read about one of the really great adventurers of our time!