The idea came to him after a decade spent working in, and working to save, the rainforest habitat, Rosolie told AFP.
"Everybody on Earth knows the rainforests are disappearing and most people can tell you how important they are, but still, not enough people are paying attention."
To avoid suffocating, experts crafted Rosolie a specially-designed carbon fibre suit, equipped with a breathing system - as well as with cameras and a system to communicate.
"We didn't know if ... I was going to be eaten, but we made sure that if I did make it inside the snake, I wouldn't suffocate," Rosolie said.
Watch:
Eaten Alive trailer
After 60 days camping in the Peruvian Amazon jungle, Rosolie's team found a six-metre female snake which - after some provocation - "turned around and defended itself".
The explorer was swallowed head first and spent more than an hour inside the giant snake, keeping in touch with his team the whole time.
He hasn't given details on how he was freed, but says his team was careful not to harm the snake.
But Rosolie has been criticised by animal rights groups, with PETA saying the snake was tormented for the sake of ratings.
Eaten Alive will screen on the Discovery Channel on Sky Television at 8.30pm on Friday.
Read next: Man 'eaten alive' by snake sets off internet frenzy
- AFP
