Kayaks Down the Nile is an episode of a rarely-seen American television show entitled “I Search for Adventure” (1954-55). It is hosted by Jack Douglas, who also hosted and produced two similar adventure shows: “Golden Voyage,” and “Bold Journey”. This particular program focuses on the story of John Goddard, an adventurer and explorer who, along with two companions, took kayaks down the length of the Nile River in Africa, a total of 4,145 miles in 1951.
Opening titles: I SEARCH FOR ADVENTURE (:09-:23). Jack Douglas, the host introduces the show. This will be about kayaks down the Nile River (:24-1:10). Jack Douglas introduces the show and Mr. John Goddard, the first man to navigate the entire length of the Nile river in a kayak. Douglas interviews Goddard about his voyage. Goddard went with two Frenchmen (1:11-3:58). Map of Africa. Title: Kayaks down the Nile. Men push their equipment along grass. Andre and Jean are the two Frenchmen that accompanied Goddard. One of the kayaks is constructed. Rapids with narrow channels. A man holds rope and a paddle. Two men carry a kayak through the jungle (3:59-6:40). Men move their kayaks through the region. A kayak is carried above their heads. Trees. Lake Victoria, head reservoir of the Nile. Two African explorers raft by them (6:41-8:19). Fishermen welcome Goddard and his two companions, they meet Africans who have never met white people. A group of Hippopotamus are in the water. Crocodile head. Kayaks in the water. The men wash in the water. An elephant walks nearby (8:20-9:55). Using a .22 caliber rifle, the men shot a wild boar. A storm. Kayaking. The kayaks go through rough rapids. Calmer waters. Paddling in the kayak (9:56-11:22). Huge rocks. Lowering the boats down a rock choked channel. Carrying the boats over hot rocks. The temperature was 147 degrees. Painful to breathe. Rough rapids (11:23-12:44). Fighting high waves against wind in a kayak. Chief of a tribe they meet asked to use the kayak. The chief plays in the kayak. Goddard shoots an Egyptian goose. Rapids that the kayaks go through. Very rough rapids. Goddard in his kayak (12:45-14:55). Upper Egypt, a gang of Arab bandits attacked but they escaped. The Egyptian Army sent troops to take care of them. Temple. Goddard climbs to the base of the statues. Looking out over the Nile from a mountain (14:56-16:45). Back in the kayaks going slowly. Goddard explorers one of the temples by going underwater with goggles. Goddard dives off a temple into the water. A reception in Cairo on a boat. A dance by 17-year-old twins who dance for them (16:46-19:02). Pyramids of Giza. The men sit on camels. The Sphinx. Pyramid. Kayaking continues. Men get pails of water, women scatter. Swans on the water. Boats. A mob gathers along the bak but thinks they’re spies. A mob grabs the camera. The men are grabbed and taken to a dungeon. Local police free them. For the remaining part of the journey, they need a guard to finish. Kayaking continues as their guard watches (19:03-22:32). Kayaking past people on the edges of the Nile. Nearing the end of the journey, the men kayak on the salt water of the Mediterranean Sea. They make it to the end. Goddard holds an adventurers flag. Jack Douglas talks with John Goddard about the trip (22:33-25:10). Jack Douglas wraps up the show/End credits (25:11-26:04).
John Goddard (1924 – 2013) was an American adventurer, explorer, author, and lecturer. In 1951, Goddard became the first man to navigate the entire length of the Nile river in a kayak. A lifelong adventurer, he explored the Congo River in 1956 and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 1968. He wrote two books including one about his Egyptian adventure entitled (like this TV show episode) “Kayaks Down the Nile.”
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