Strain Hunters

Strain Hunters first mission, back in 2008, had a special destination as target: Malawi. Malawi is a very special African country: it is one of the poorest and has one of the highest child and infant mortality rates, but it's also one of the most hospitable and less war-thorn states of the whole continent. It is scarcely populated, and just in the recent years it's starting to open to tourism. There are no guns around, except for those of soldiers and police (a rare case in this part of Africa), and most people are extremely friendly. Lake Malawi is the main attraction of the country and the third largest lake in Africa. Malawi is also the second largest producer of cannabis on the African continent, after South Africa. Last year Malawi produced just short of 12500 tons of cannabis (source: United Nations), most of which destined for export to other African countries or Europe.

After completing the Malawi expedition in 2008, Arjan and myself began to think about the next mission. We had many destinations in mind, because the list of places where amazing landraces are awaiting is a long one. After much thinking and talking we selected a few top-spots on our list, and started gathering information and ideas. It became very clear that there was one place that could not be overlooked: the region of the Himalayas, particularly the Indian side, where the best charras and creams are from.

The Strain Hunters are back! In 2008 we explored the jungles of Malawi to retrieve the genetics of the original Malawi Gold, in 2009 we climbed the steep valleys of Hymachal Pradesh, India, to document the production of the finest black hashish in the world. And in 2010 we decided to continue on our quest to find the best hashish and the landraces it comes from, this time in Morocco.

Here we go again! We board a flight from Amsterdam and in 9 hours we are in the Caribbean. After a layover of just a couple of hours on Curacao, we fly on to Jamaica. We land in Kingston around 11 am local time. The air is hot, but not too humid. We have a 3 hours layover, so we decide to get out of the airport and go have lunch in Port Royal, half an hour away on the coast. It's a bit of a ghost-town, once a very rich merchant harbor, destroyed at the end of the seventeenth century by a powerful earthquake.

It's hard to describe the feelings: another Strain Hunters adventure begins today, a very special one. For the first time, we are going live from the trip. Arjan and myself have been waiting for Simon to arrive from Africa, and also for Mister-X, our new brave photographer that follow us for the first time, documenting the trip with lots of images.Our local contact, Dr. Green, is waiting for us outside the airport with 2 cars, and we immediately drive away. I drive one of the jeeps, a dark-red Land Rover, while Dr. Green drives the other one. As I start driving, I force myself to quickly get used to sticking on the left side of the road and to operating the gear with my left hand. This is the way on most caribbean islands, which are ex-English colonies. Time to get high on some really strong imported weed, after all that time spent in the airplane. It tastes sweet and fruity, it reminds me of Bubba Kush; after a few minutes I am totally stoned, and loving it.

Strain Hunters Swaziland Expedition

Strain Hunters take VICE.com on a trip with them to Colombia in Kings of Cannabis.

VICE on HBO followed the Strain Hunters on their expedition to the Congo, where Arjan, Franco and Simon searched for 3 original Congolese landraces. Find this episode on HBO GO.

The Strain Hunters are back! Almost 5 years after Franco tragically passed away from malaria, the Strain Hunters team set off on a new expedition, to continue Franco's legacy. Arjan returns to the home of the AmaMpondo people in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, what used to be the Transkei region. Franco spent several years working in the region with the locals and had a large influence on how the region has developed. Arjan teams up with Strain Hunters Dust, Simon and Mr.X in a new expedition where they explore remote regions of Pondo Land through the Umzimvubu river. This one is for Franco!

Prepare for a journey with the Strain Hunters as they immerse themselves in Thailand's vibrant cannabis scene in Episode 1 of their Thailand Expedition. Led by – Arjan, Dust, Mr. X, and Heiko from Green House Seed Co. – this expedition is all about uncovering the hidden treasures of Thai cannabis and the recent legalisation of the plant in Thailand. The adventure begins amidst the bustling streets of Bangkok, where the team dives into the city's lively atmosphere before venturing off to the tranquil shores of Koh Tao. From there, they embark on a captivating journey to the enchanting landscapes of Chiang Mai, nestled in the picturesque mountains of northern Thailand. In Loving Memory of Soranut "Beer" Masayavanich March 7th, 1985 - April 7th, 2024

The Strain Hunters embark on an extraordinary journey across Kyrgyzstan, traveling deep into Central Asia in search of rare and ancient cannabis landraces. Following historic routes once used along the Silk Road, the expedition moves from preparation and arrival to full immersion in some of the region’s most remote and challenging landscapes. Along the way, the team passes through the world-famous Nomad Games, where traditional sports, horsemanship, and cultural ceremonies offer a powerful glimpse into the nomadic heritage that has shaped life in Central Asia for centuries. These encounters provide essential cultural context for understanding how people, landscape, and plants have coexisted across the region.