Man vs. Wild is the type of show that many people cannot get enough of. Watching survival expert and former special forces soldier Bear Grylls travel around the world testing his skills is compelling television. The reality TV star shows viewers how to scavenge for food, build shelters, and survive in the wilderness.
Over the course of seven seasons, Grylls ventured to countries across the globe, doing all kinds of amazing things. In fact, he has done some truly disgusting and scary acts in that time. That doesn’t mean that every one of them is 100% accurate though. Like all reality TV shows, there are questions over just how fake everything is. While many of the stunts shown are real, there are a few that seem to have been exaggerated.
15 Real Moment: Eating The Insect Burger Patty
Not one for just eating his insects one by one, Bear Grylls actually made a burger patty out of some creepy crawlies during an episode of Man vs. Wild. According to reports by BBC America, this actually made his director gag as he filmed the presenter squashing the bugs together and eating them.
14 Exaggerated: Sleeping In The Wilderness All Night
The way that Man vs. Wild portrays that action suggests that Bear Grylls spends his time in the wilderness, sleeping alone during the night under the stars. Yet, the survival instructor is never truly left on his own. In fact, he often even spends time in hotels or other accommodation with the crew once the cameras stop rolling.
13 Real Moment: Sleeping Inside A Dead Camel
Most people who were trapped in the wilderness without any shelter would probably not think about carving out a dead camel and sleeping inside it. But that is exactly what Bear Grylls did in one episode of the show. The smell and atmosphere inside the creature must have been completely revolting.
12 Exaggerated: The Crew Used A Smoke Machine At A Volcano
Not everything shown in Man vs. Wild is exactly as it appears. The crew are known to have used special effects to enhance the look of certain environments. In one notable example, they used a smoke machine to make a volcano look more active.
11 Real Moment: Giving Himself A Water Enema
Attempting to fight off the threat of dehydration while out in the middle of the sea, Bear Grylls took drastic action in the Pacific Island episode of Man vs. Wild. Using equipment he had aboard his small boat, he gave himself a water enema.
10 Exaggerated: Wrangling Wild Horses That Were Actually Tame
One episode of Man vs. Wild showed Bear Grylls seemingly taming and lassoing wild horses. But revelations from the Daily Mail suggested that these horses were already tame. The presenter just made it out to look more impressive than it really was.
9 Real Moment: Swimming Naked In Freezing Water
As part of an episode where Bear Grylls was in the Arctic for Man vs. Wild, he went into the Arctic River. This involved submerging himself chest-high in the freezing cold water and swimming in it.
8 Exaggerated: A Staff Member Pretending To Be A Bear
An essential part of Man vs. Wild is when the survival expert shows the viewers how to avoid possible dangers from the wilderness. Yet, he sometimes exaggerates when it comes to just how much danger he is in. For example, a threatening bear was actually a member of the crew in a costume.
7 Real Moment: Biting The Head Off A Snake
An episode of Man vs. Wild saw Bear Grylls going face-to-face with a Puff Adder. With little food around him, he took the option of killing and eating the snake for nutrition. In the gory scene, he bites into the creature moments after killing it. Grylls doesn’t even attempt to cook the snake before starting to eat it raw.
6 Exaggerated: That Time He Built A Raft By Himself
Man vs. Wild often shows Bear Grylls building useful items while away from civilization. This can include shelters and even a raft on one occasion. However, this raft was not built just by the survival expert. His crew actually built it first before he took it apart to rebuild it on camera, giving the impression he had done it himself.
