Destination Truth — Season 4

Sept 2010

The ancient Roman city of Pompeii in Naples, Italy was a beautiful, thriving place with just one problem: it was built at the base of Mount Vesuvius, an active volcano. Eventually, Vesuvius erupted, killing many of the Pompeii residents instantly and covering the entire town with a massive layer of ash. It was a full 1,000 years before Pompeii was finally unearthed, revealing a city frozen during its most catastrophic moment. Since then, tourists, night watchmen, and local residents have all reported significant paranormal activity at the site. Could the souls of all those Pompeii residents still be haunting the ground they perished on? Legend has it that in the forests of western Kenya there lives a ferocious animal that feeds on human brains. Named for the nearby Nandi tribe, which claims to have hunted the animal, the story of the vicious Nandi Bear has existed in African folklore for more than one hundred years. Recently, there seems to been a new rash of Nandi Bear sightings in Kenya's Rift Valley. The question is: are the villagers seeing the mysterious Nandi Bear, or something else?

Sept 2010

By day, the 800-year-old temple known as Angkor Wat is one of Cambodia's most treasured national landmarks and tourist attractions but, by night, could it be ground zero for the region's angriest spirits? That's certainly the belief of many visitors to Angkor, a sprawling forty square mile complex of stone palaces, shrines, and ruins. In the center of this compound sits Angkor Wat, a 12th century structure originally designed as a Hindu temple, which now holds the distinction of being the largest religious building in the world. Equally impressive is the massive, 600-foot wide moat that separates Angkor from the mainland. Might this moat be an ancient attempt to keep the bad spirits away from the local people? Sounds like a case for Team Truth. A 36-year-old fisherman just vanished in Canada's Okanagan Lake. Even worse, this is but one in a string of disappearances reported to have occurred in the same area of this body of water. The local rumor mill has it that all of these disappearances are the deadly handiwork of the Ogopogo, a huge amphibious beast, which has been documented in the annals of Canadian history for the past 1,000 years. The epicenter of Ogopogo sightings is the ominously named Rattlesnake Island, a small rock outcropping in the lake. Someone has to get to the bottom of this.

Sept 2010

Near Haboro, a coal-mining town on an island in northern Japan, thousands of miners died while working under sub-standard conditions. Some were prisoners of war who were worked to death, while others were buried alive. In the forty years since these mines were closed, nearby residents have reported strange paranormal activity leading them to think the area is haunted. In Tanzania, a mysterious beast is said to be roaming through the flat lands of the Serengeti. Known as the Mngwa ("ming-wah"), this saber-toothed feline is reported to be larger than a lion, measuring a frightening eight feet long and weighing more than four hundred pounds. And, yes, it eats humans.

Sept 2010

If you're a scuba diver, you've probably heard of the Truk Lagoon. Located halfway between the Philippines and Hawaii near the Chuuk Islands, this lagoon offers some of the best wreck diving in the world. Once the site of a decisive battle between Japan and United States during World War II, there are numerous ships, planes, tanks, and submarines that have been resting here since they were shot down nearly 70 years ago. Now, divers and locals claim that the ghosts of these soldiers haunt the waters around the wreckage. In northern Japan, you'll find many children's lunchboxes decorated with a cute, green reptile on the side. That animal, called a Kappa, was once feared as an evil cross between a demon and a turtle before it became something of a national mascot. Recently, however, a new spate of ominous sightings has given rise to rumors that the Kappa has returned and is responsible for missing livestock and even children.

Oct 2010

Up in the icy mountains of Siberia in southern Russia, there have been a rash of recent sightings of a beast known as the Siberian Snowman. Similar in description to Bigfoot, this nine foot tall creature may, in fact, be related to a nearby archeological find that recently uncovered a new human ancestor. Could there be a few of these pre-humans lurking in the mountains?

Oct 2010

In the East African country of Kenya, the local Maasai tribe claims a massive volcanic crater is haunted by the 60,000 warriors who where killed there during a bloody civil war in the 1800s. Battle cries, shadows, and strange noises are all reported to emanate from the center of what's called the Menengai Crater. Could Madagascar be the home to a small but dangerous creature called the Kalanoro? That idea might not be too far fetched since this island off the coast of Africa is the home to several animals that are not found anywhere else in the world. Stories of the mischievous Kalanoro date back 2,000 years, but recent sightings imply the dangerous, two-foot tall, humanoid monster may be back.

Oct 2010

On the Micronesian island of Pohnpei, there are 1,000 year-old ruins that locals claim are haunted. This area, called Nan Madol, was actually brought to the attention of Destination Truth by an avid viewer who was visiting an area near Nan Madol when the tour guide suddenly refused to go any closer. A little research by the team revealed that there are centuries-old stories about floating lights and moving shadows at the site. If you're visiting northern Morocco, you just might hear someone talking about Aisha Kandisha, "the devil temptress." Although her name doesn't sound particularly threatening, this beautiful, nocturnal succubus is said to have been luring local men to their death for years. That is, of course, after she drives them mad with lust.

Oct 2010

Could Madagascar be the home to the beast known as the Fangalabolo, a bat-like creature with a monkey face? It's certainly possible since 90% of the species found on Madagascar are not found anywhere else in the world. Recent sightings of the Fangalabolo inspire Josh Gates to investigate. Zombie-like ghosts called Taotaomona are said to be roaming the island of Guam. Once revered by the Chamorus tribe of Gaum, these apparitions are thought to be the spirits of their ancestors. Recent reports, however, imply that the Taotaomona are becoming aggressive and attacking people.

Mar 2011

In the very first live broadcast of Destination Truth, Josh Gates and his Truth Team set out to find the “Irish angel of death,” better known as the banshee. Ireland was a fitting location for this Saint Patrick’s Day broadcast—especially since the banshee is so widely feared there—and Duckett’s Grove Castle is said to the largest hotbed of banshee activity in the area. Leave it to Josh to jump right into the heart of it.

Mar 2011

Coiba Island, fifteen miles off the coast of Panama, was once the site of the infamously brutal Coiba penitentiary. Locals claim that the site of the prison is still haunted, which inspires Josh to investigate. In Argentina, a huge beast known as the Ucumar is said to lurk in the Andes and feed on livestock. This “Argentinean Bigfoot,” is described as having razor-sharp claws, thick fur and powerful legs. A recent uptick in sightings prompts Josh to look into it.

Mar 2011

In Kolmanskop, a remote southern province of Namibia, Germans once erected a small diamond-mining town. The town has been uninhabited for more than half a century but recent reports say that the area is haunted. Could these be the ghosts of the many miners who lost their lives in the unforgiving heat of the dessert? In 2009, there was a report of a strange, hairless animal attacking a group of boys in a Panamanian town called Cerro Azul. The boys reportedly killed the animal by throwing rocks at it but when they returned, the animal was gone. Could there be a strange new form of life in Panama?

Apr 2011

In Bangkok, Thailand, reports of a giant ghost called the Phret are not unusual but recently, an amateur recording of this phantom climbing Victory Monument in the middle of town has locals in an uproar. If anyone can find these spirits of the dammed, which only manifest at high altitudes, it’s Josh Gates and Team Truth. A recent uptick in animal killings in Namibia has captured the attention of Josh and the crew. Not only have farmers been losing livestock, but the carcasses have also been completely drained of blood. Could the blood sucking be the vicious handiwork of the Namibian Night Stalker, a.k.a. the African Chupacabra? That’s what Josh wants to find out.

Apr 2011

In Bangkok, Thailand, the legend of the Naree Pon—a being that is half plant and half animal—has been gaining credibility because of a Thai temple that claims to have two of these creatures on display. These forest dwellers are said to have a small, feminine form, which enables them to blend seamlessly into the surrounding vegetation. The island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea is the location of Josh's next adventure. He plans to investigate the thousand-year-old legend of a sea monster, which lurks beneath the clear, blue waters near the city of Ayia Napa.

Apr 2011

In the season finale of Destination Truth, Josh heads to Antarctica, a place he describes as, "the coldest and most unforgiving place on earth." Even though the continent has no permanent residents, many of the visitors to this arctic terrain have reported supernatural activity at an abandoned whaling station on a neighboring island. Similar reports have also come in about a place call Wordie Hut, also in the area. Josh grabs his gear, his team, and heads off to investigate.