The latest expedition by the Fearless and Far crew to the Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) transformed into one of the channel’s strangest adventures, moving beyond postcard views of Africa to immerse the team in local delicacies, culture, and an unplanned stint as giant snail caretaker. While Ivory Coast is the world's number one producer of cocoa, the Fearless and Far journey focused on unique local stories and food.
The adventure began in Grand-Bassam, where the crew experienced local libations and culture. They sampled a drink called "Cletois Missile," an alleged "aphrodisiac potion" described as "dark like the blood of Satan" and "hellish" because it "Burns all the way down". Locals claimed the drink was good for stomach aches and helped with performing with a "Goh," or "A woman". The team also encountered the bustling environment of Grand-Bassam beach on Sunday, the only day off for locals, where 2,000 people were gathered to enjoy the waves. Here, the crew absorbed local catchphrases like "Une fois" (one time). The central focus quickly became the local delicacy: Giant African land snails, which are "very popular" in Ivory Coast.
Fearless and Far visited Samuel’s snail farm, one of many that "scatter the sides of roads more than cattle do". Samuel explained that each enclosure could house up to 20,000 snails, which are fed on potatoes and cassava. Crucially, snails are hermaphrodites, meaning reproduction requires only "snail meets snail". The team learned that these Ivorian land snails are "quite a bit bigger" than those used for French escargot. Farming these giants is becoming necessary because their forest habitat is being "cut down for chocolate, for coffee, for palm oil specifically," making them "harder and harder to find" in the wild. Snail farming is simple, requiring only "a backyard and some wire screens and some concrete," and can yield "more money per pound than beef".
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When farmer Samuel refused to sell his large, prized breeding snails—needed after mice "broke in and ate a lot of his snail eggs"—the crew was forced to devise a Plan B. At the chaotic central market of Grand-Bassam, Fearless and Far purchased five large snails from a vendor named Veronique. This created an immediate problem: the crew was "stuck with a problem" as they were about to leave the country. Their hotel room quickly became a "snail nursery," with one snail "half on the mirror," one that had "started laying eggs," and others "enjoying the smooth wet tile". Mike, speaking for Fearless and Far, confirmed, "It wasn't part of the plan".
Facing a six-hour drive and the impossibility of crossing the border into Liberia with illegal cargo, the crew decided to find a "snail sitter". They successfully entrusted the five snails to Amara Pascali, a stranger at a market, securing her promise: "But don't eat them!". The 50/50 bet paid off; upon their return, the snails were safe.
The Fearless and Far crew then acquired a total of 15 snails to ensure enough food for the Kurman tribe in Neromer Village. Mike joined a local hunting party armed with a machete and a shotgun, securing additional protein by yielding "two birds in one shot" (hornbills), alongside crab. The final feast included boiled snails stewed in a curry, alongside foutou (plantain mixed with cassava) and attieke (fermented couscous made from cassava). Mike reported that the giant snail was "not as chewy as you’d think," with a texture "a lot like tongue" or "almost like a bolo- like a bologna texture," ranking giant snail at the "top of the bushmeat list". The adventure, including the high-quality footage and unique shots, was supported by Insta360, whose new X5 360 camera is a "staple on Fearless and Far adventures".
