Intrepid Journeys - Mali (Te Radar)

Comedian Te Radar is a natural for Intrepid Journeys — by the time he signed up for this 2007 episode, he'd already taken his own TV journeys to Palestine and East Timor. This time he travels through the landlocked African nation of Mali, much of which lies in the Sahara. On his way to the legendary city of Timbuktu he visits a festival in the desert, has a close encounter with a baby scorpion and grooves to the local drumming. Along the way, cameraman Bevan Crothers captures eye-opening imagery of brightly clothed locals and a lime-clad Te Radar, against sunlicked desert sands.

One of the infuriatingly delightful aspects of this festival is that there doesn't appear to be any kind of programme. If you stumble across something happening, all well and good. There's no map of the area. You don't know where any of the areas are. It gives it a real sense of mystery and intrigue that more mainstream, easy to access festivals lack.

– Te Radar on visiting a festival in the desert

Key Cast & Crew

Jane Andrews

Executive Producer

Te Radar

Presenter

Dean Cornish

Director, Producer

Melanie Rakena

Executive Producer

Bevan Crothers

Camera Operator

Didi Lagerqvist

Editor