Alby Mangels Unofficial Website

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1. SAILING TORRES STRAIGHT ISLANDS
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.

2. LAST OUTBACK CATTLE MUSTER – WARNING – SOME SCENES MAY DISTURB SOME VIEWERS BUT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED TO DRAW AWARENESS TO CERTAIN ISSUES
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 kangaroo with no tail. They explore old caves full of ancient Aboriginal paintings. Sam gives Alby a few headaches. Alby joins the traditional Cattle Muster in the Kimberly Ranges in the far north of Western Australia. Alby visits an Aboriginal camp.

3. RED CENTRE OPAL FEVER – WARNING – SOME SCENES MAY DISTURB SOME VIEWERS BUT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED TO DRAW AWARENESS TO CERTAIN ISSUES
Alby spends some time with aborigines in the outback studying their myths and beliefs. With Vic he hunts for 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– WARNING – SOME SCENES MAY DISTURB SOME VIEWERS BUT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED TO DRAW AWARENESS TO CERTAIN ISSUES
Alby sails through the friendly Paradise Islands. Primitive islanders hunt and prepare turtles to eat. Go diving off the Barrier Reef searching for World War 2 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. Sails to Port Moresby in New Guinea where the Gretta Marie is destroyed by fire.

5. PRIMITIVE SMOKE PEOPLE OF NEW GUINEA
Alby visits remote regions of 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 New Guinea. As his adventure continues he also finds the Kangaroos of New Guinea, attends a local crocodile capture and flies around with the Flying Doctor assisting with medical treatment where possible.

6. KOMODO DRAGON LIZARDS – INDONESIA
Alby stays with the Hooley People of New Guinea where he is donated a wife and has to diplomatically refuse. Alby moves on to Indonesia where he encounters the Komodo dragon lizard. Judy Green joins Alby and they hitch through island 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
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 piranhas eating a boa constrictor in minutes. They find the cababeros rat, 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
Crossing the Amazon Basin heading for Manaus, Alby visits local Indian villages. Manaus proves to be an interesting town. On 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 bad. The trailer falls apart and bogged down it takes fourteen days to cover 100 kms. 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. MACHU PICCHU – SOUTH AMERICA
Alby continues his journey high up into the Andes. He encounters monkey trappers. High in the mountains he stays with Hebro Indians, the head shrinkers of the Andes, where he watches the head shrinking ritual amongst others. After catching a train to Lima which is attacked by terrorists, in Lima he meets Michele, a South African, buys a car for $90.00 and continues his journey with Michele. They visit Kusco Monastery and continue onto Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas.

10. ATACAMA DESERT – PERU
Alby and Michelle climb to the ancient city of the Incas – Machu Picchu. They visit villages where Lamas are being sheared and garments woven. They witness the birth of a lama and later visit Lake Titicaca, 13,000 feet up in the mountains. They stay with the Indians living on floating islands before moving on. There is much political violence back in Lima so Alby crosses the Atacama Desert on a motorbike to dodge the border and heads for Santiago.

11. AFRICA – ZULULAND
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, 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.

12. AFRICA – IN SEARCH OF THE BUSHMAN
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 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 finds them modernised. In his search for the traditional Bushmen Alby travels through much of Namibia.

13. AFRICA – NAMIBIA
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. NEW ZEALAND –LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 AUSTRALIAN
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 & NEPHEW RICK LIVE WITH ABORIGINES IN ARNHAM LAND – AUSTRALIA
Alby sets sail for Africa. On 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
Alby returns to South Africa to again meet up with Michele. They take off first to see the wonders of the African animal kingdom, marvelling 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
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 reckoning.

27. CROSSING THE KALAHARI DESERT – AFRICA
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 – AFRICA
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 unbelievably lush jungle teeming with wildlife and thrills us with discoveries in this wondrous land.

29. SAVING THE FLAMINGOS – BOTSWANA, AFRICA
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
Lake Kariba is the largest artificial lake in the world, located on the Zambezi river, about 1,300 kilometers 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 – WEST AFRICA
In the journey to the vanishing gorillas we follow Alby as he first sails the West Coast of Africa in “Space”, a 52 foot long catamaran. Adventuring inland, Alby exposes the 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 into as he embarks deep into the highlands of Central Africa towards his destination… to capture on film the disturbing plight of the near extinct mountain gorillas.

32. THE WORLD SAFARI SOUND TRACK ALBUM CD – ALL THE MUSIC FROM THE CHART-BUSTING FILM
The original motion picture sound track by Mario Millo, featuring the hit single “Restless” by Glenn Shorrock.

33. THE GREAT ATLANTIC CROSSING – SAILING CATAMARAN FROM AFRICA TO SOUTH AMERICA
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’s footprints petrified in mud.

34. CRYSTAL WATERS – BRAZIL, SOUTH AMERICA
This is a journey that Alby had been planning with his 52 foot catamaran “Space” for years. The journey takes us from 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 voyage.

35. ESCAPE FROM DEVIL’S ISLAND – FRENCH GUIANA, SOUTH AMERICA
This adventure brings us historical facts while portraying a tragic and powerful story with humour. A New Yorker, Leslie, is a stowaway on Alby’s catamaran. Alby agrees to take him to the Ill 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 then fifty years. Alby’s next port of call is Surinam 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 – AMAZON JUNGLE SOUTH AMERICA
Alby sets out to help a young girl discover the fate of her grandfather. His search takes him hundreds of miles up the Surinam River which is a tributary of the Amazon. He discovers a group of gold hunters causing untold destruction to the jungle in their quest for gold.

37. LOST INDIAN CULTURE – AMAZON RIVER, SOUTH AMERICA
After more than twenty-five years Alby once again ventures into the South American jungles hoping to find an Indian tribe rumoured to be untouched by modern civilisation. This is the story of his journey, his hopes, and his disappointments.

38. AMAZON BASIN – SOUTH AMERICA
A lonely tribal Indian, untouched by modern civilisation, 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 civilisation. On his departure Alby sets out for the Caribbean and new adventures.

39. THE DRUG TRIANGLE – CARIBBEAN ISLANDS
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
In this documentary Alby visits Granada 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
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
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
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
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
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
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. TRAVELLING NORTH – AUSTRALIA
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 gruelling 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 – THE SOLOMONS – PART ONE OF TWO DVDs
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.

59. REFLECTIONS OF PARADISE – SOLOMON ISLANDS – PART TWO OF TWO DVDs
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
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. BORN FOR ADVENTURE – AUTOBIOGRAPHY – PART ONE OF TWO DVDs
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.

62. BORN FOR ADVENTURE – AUTOBIOGRAPHY – PART TWO OF TWO DVDs
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
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
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 NEVER BEFORE SEEN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
Alby’s 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 has matured and grown both as a cinematographer and film maker over the decades. The camera work is superb and astonishing detail of life under the feathered world of the Coorong is exquisite.

66. RETORING THE GRETTA MARIA – YOU CAN’T LIVE ON MEMORIES –
NEVER BEFORE SEEN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
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 eleven meter long mast and a piece of five centimetre 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.

67. WORLD SAFARI I – FEATURE LENGTH – THE JOURNEY THAT STARTED IT ALL
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 sailing boat, driven a broken down car through the Sahara, and dodged rebel bullets in Mozambique. One of those young men, Alby Mangels, became Australia’s greatest real life adventurer and World Safari became a household name. Re-live this spectacular journey and real-life adventure in this totally unique film.

68. WORLD SAFARI II – FEATURE LENGTH
WINNER OF “BEST FAMILY FILM” AT THE LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL
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 New Guinea highlands and finally travels the terrorist controlled jungles of South America. Battles man-eating sharks and crocodiles! Hunt with the primitive natives of the New Guinea highlands! Visit the secret burial grounds of the smoked people! Risk death in terrorist controlled jungles! Walk the ancient Inca trails of South America! And cross the driest desert on earth! This is the movie that turned the man into a legend!

69. WORLD SAFARI III – FEATURE LENGTH
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 many unusual and exciting places in the great outback.

PLUS THREE TITLES BY ALBY’S NEPHEW RICK SNEL…

70. ALBY MANGELS PRESENTS NEPHEW, RICK SNEL, IN
WILD ADVENTURES – EPISODE ONE – ARNHEM LAND
‘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. ALBY MANGELS PRESENTS NEPHEW, RICK SNEL, IN
WILD ADVENTURES – EPISODE TWO – DANCE TO HEAL THE EARTH
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. ALBY MANGELS PRESENTS NEPHEW, RICK SNEL, IN
WILD ADVENTURES – EPISODE THREE – UNITING CULTURES
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.

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!

BUY THE NEW ALBY BOOK HERE!

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.

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 recognising 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!

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