1 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:28,600 In this land, 2 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:32,120 family is everything. 3 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:41,560 It's the bonds within the pride, 4 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:44,240 the pack, 5 00:00:46,160 --> 00:00:47,120 and the herd… 6 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,240 …that allow each member to succeed. 7 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:58,200 Nowhere are these bonds tested more fiercely 8 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:01,480 than in the great Kalahari Desert. 9 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:05,080 Here families are shaped 10 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:07,560 by courageous mothers… 11 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:12,200 wise elders… 12 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:17,080 …and tenacious underdogs. 13 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:26,520 All drawn to the immense oasis that lies at the desert's very heart. 14 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,000 The Okavango Delta. 15 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:45,000 Home to more wildlife than any other wetland on Earth… 16 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:52,520 it is seeing some of the most extreme seasonal change 17 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:54,040 on the planet. 18 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:04,200 Through the chaos and hardship of the coming year… 19 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:09,080 fates will entwine, 20 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,880 and incredible relationships will be forged. 21 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,440 Not just within families but between families. 22 00:02:21,640 --> 00:02:24,920 And even with the land itself. 23 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:55,360 For a two-year-old lioness, 24 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,720 the strength of family comes from her pride. 25 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:05,440 She and her sisterhood control this territory… 26 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:12,560 …and their lead male reigns as warrior king. 27 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:22,040 But in the Delta, change can come suddenly 28 00:03:22,640 --> 00:03:25,360 and upend a family's peaceful existence. 29 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:36,520 The chink in her pride's armor is the king himself. 30 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:45,560 Years of fighting to defend his family and territory 31 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:47,120 have taken their toll. 32 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,840 His weakness puts the lioness at risk. 33 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:02,240 And presents an opportunity 34 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:04,920 for two ambitious young males. 35 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:16,080 The old warrior marks his territory. 36 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:39,880 But he's frail. 37 00:04:47,840 --> 00:04:49,240 And outnumbered. 38 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:21,160 Every year in the Okavango is a new and dangerous journey, 39 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:23,920 but for the lioness, 40 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,520 this year will be the most uncertain she's ever faced. 41 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:42,680 Every family confronts the challenges of the Delta 42 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:43,880 in its own way. 43 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:05,520 A pack of painted wolves, 24 strong. 44 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:10,360 Their strength, a testament to their great leader, 45 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:12,520 the alpha female. 46 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:21,120 She's trained them to think and hunt as one. 47 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:27,560 And to provide for all. 48 00:06:35,280 --> 00:06:37,880 But the alpha is pregnant. 49 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,360 Her team will lose their leader, 50 00:06:50,280 --> 00:06:53,720 just as the Delta faces its greatest upheaval. 51 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:03,520 It's May. 52 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:09,880 And the surrounding Kalahari Desert is facing the worst drought in decades. 53 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:19,760 Thousands of animals are fleeing the parched outer regions… 54 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:23,280 traveling for weeks. 55 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:39,480 All drawn here for one reason. 56 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:49,760 Water. 57 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:56,600 Rainwater that fell four months ago 58 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:58,960 in the Angolan Highlands to the north 59 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:01,560 has finally made its way down, 60 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:05,880 across the Kalahari and into the flatlands of the Delta. 61 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:39,680 Over nine trillion liters of fresh water 62 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:42,200 floods the vast desert… 63 00:08:59,960 --> 00:09:00,880 creating 64 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:05,240 the greatest oasis on the planet. 65 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:31,040 In the flood's wake come the great herds… 66 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:42,000 joining those who live here year-round. 67 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:57,440 Everyone has a role to play 68 00:09:57,520 --> 00:10:00,600 in shaping and maintaining this land. 69 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:15,120 Even a six-month-old elephant 70 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:17,320 on her first visit. 71 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:22,160 She's never seen so much water… 72 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:27,480 …and food. 73 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:46,120 With endless floodplains to munch their way through, 74 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:49,280 elephants become the natural gardeners of the Delta… 75 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:11,600 uprooting far more than they can eat. 76 00:11:13,560 --> 00:11:17,080 But over-pruning can clog the waterways, 77 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:19,240 halting the water's spread. 78 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:29,560 What the gardeners have blocked up, 79 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:33,160 families of hippos bulldoze through. 80 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:37,680 Not being swimmers, they tiptoe along the bottom. 81 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:46,760 And in their wake, leave hippo-sized highways… 82 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:58,680 that connect rivers to pools and pools to floodplains… 83 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:04,520 allowing the water to keep flowing, 84 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:08,000 feeding the vibrant growth of the entire Delta. 85 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:21,440 But the flood isn't good news for all. 86 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:25,520 For the lioness, 87 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:27,640 it means a loss of hunting grounds. 88 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:33,080 And the old warrior king is nowhere to be seen. 89 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:39,640 Whether he fled or was killed, 90 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:43,240 the young invaders have usurped his throne. 91 00:13:03,680 --> 00:13:07,440 Only lionesses of breeding age are allowed to stay now. 92 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:15,880 And she's not one of them. 93 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:25,640 To these new males, she's just an extra mouth to feed, 94 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,320 with little to contribute. 95 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:06,960 Banished and alone, 96 00:14:07,560 --> 00:14:10,680 she'll need all her skill just to stay alive. 97 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:25,720 The alpha female has been housebound for weeks. 98 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:35,560 Because… 99 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:38,240 Well, who would leave this scruffy bunch? 100 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:46,520 At four weeks old, her pups venture out for the first time. 101 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:56,240 All 14 of them. 102 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:18,920 Unable to hunt for herself, she must rely on her pack 103 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:22,880 to bring the meat she needs to keep her milk flowing. 104 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:43,680 But her stay-at-home work is nonstop. 105 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:51,480 Sweeping out the den… 106 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:56,160 three weeks' worth of ticks and fleas… 107 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:03,560 landing right back where they started. 108 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:16,640 Her pack is on patrol… 109 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:21,560 without their leader. 110 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:31,200 And the floodwaters are slowing them down. 111 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:41,320 Lechwe. 112 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:49,720 Just one would feed the entire pack. 113 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:32,080 With splayed hooves and powerful legs, 114 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:34,880 they can drive on through the flood. 115 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:48,200 Without the guidance of the alpha, 116 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:51,200 the pack follow them into the deeper water. 117 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:04,240 It's futile. 118 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:14,480 And then… 119 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:21,840 a lone impala. 120 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:29,360 He lacks the paddle-like hooves and long legs of the lechwe. 121 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:21,560 They finish the job quickly to avoid a clash with competitors. 122 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:32,120 The pack often take out the weak or injured in a group, 123 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:33,560 easier prey, 124 00:19:34,360 --> 00:19:38,000 with the added benefit of reducing disease in herds. 125 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:14,280 The hunters deliver their meals in the safest way possible. 126 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:17,480 In their stomachs. 127 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:25,400 Until the pups can hunt themselves, 128 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:27,080 they eat first. 129 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:32,840 Generosity is a core principle of their pack. 130 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:37,440 Though learning to share doesn't come easily. 131 00:20:42,120 --> 00:20:45,720 Retiring to the den with your very first piece of meat 132 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:47,880 is about as good as it gets. 133 00:20:55,120 --> 00:20:57,200 With water levels at their highest, 134 00:20:57,280 --> 00:21:00,560 the Okavango becomes a true paradise. 135 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:07,000 Aquatic life from the surrounding rivers and swamps 136 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:09,840 spreads into the grassland to spawn. 137 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:17,080 Branches and trees knocked down by elephants 138 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:20,320 create protected nurseries for young fish. 139 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:31,880 During peak flood, 140 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:35,160 the Delta swells to twice its original size, 141 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:39,600 and anywhere high and dry becomes prime real estate. 142 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:48,520 Water fig trees provide perfect nesting 143 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:51,920 for an astonishing variety of fish-eating birds. 144 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:04,520 For these families, it's not so much about where you build. 145 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:06,480 It's what you build. 146 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:14,200 Only the finest construction materials will do. 147 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:45,880 If you can't find the exact fabric you're looking for… 148 00:22:50,360 --> 00:22:52,320 just steal it from your neighbor. 149 00:22:59,120 --> 00:23:00,960 They can always steal it back again. 150 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:16,400 Finally, 151 00:23:17,360 --> 00:23:21,240 a nest ready to hold their most treasured possessions. 152 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:25,480 Gently turned… 153 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:32,480 and shaded from the scalding sun. 154 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:42,280 Eggshell? Snail shell? 155 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:44,960 He's a first-time dad. 156 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:53,280 Everyone is in a race to raise their young 157 00:23:53,360 --> 00:23:56,240 before the floodwaters recede… 158 00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:00,880 and the nests lose their island protection. 159 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:16,320 The lioness has been struggling to make a kill. 160 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:47,240 In drier conditions, a reedbuck or lechwe would be a good bet. 161 00:24:57,440 --> 00:24:59,080 But not in the flood, 162 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:00,920 not by herself. 163 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:07,360 And she's got competition. 164 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:23,920 Time to push back on her rivals. 165 00:26:18,840 --> 00:26:21,000 It's pure intimidation. 166 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:23,120 She won't eat the carcass. 167 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:35,680 The pack would be wise not to test her patience again. 168 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:04,040 By September, the temperatures rise, 169 00:27:04,120 --> 00:27:06,120 and water levels begin to drop, 170 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:11,000 leaving shrinking pools crowded with fish. 171 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:16,640 Perfect timing. 172 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:51,280 The adults get to work… 173 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:56,120 feeding their precious little monsters. 174 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:12,160 New pools form each day as the flood recedes. 175 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:17,800 Everyone has their own special technique 176 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:20,080 to go with their own special bill. 177 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:30,480 Pelicans favor the fishing net. 178 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:42,200 Pied kingfishers… 179 00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:45,960 use the dive-bombing system. 180 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:56,560 Openbill storks have snail-plucking down to a science. 181 00:29:06,880 --> 00:29:10,200 And the rather theatrical black egret 182 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:14,360 uses its cape to mimic shady spots where fish like to hide. 183 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:18,920 Bravo. 184 00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:25,760 Different approaches with one purpose. 185 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:31,960 To build up their chicks' strength 186 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:33,320 as quickly as possible. 187 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:57,560 Pelican chicks are the greediest. 188 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:05,000 They need up to 30 feeds a day. 189 00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:26,120 The tireless adults all know 190 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:29,560 the golden rule of family life in the Delta. 191 00:30:38,280 --> 00:30:43,400 The stronger your young, the greater their chances of survival. 192 00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:06,200 As the floodwaters recede 193 00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:10,280 and the desert heat builds, 194 00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:13,240 hunting grounds dry out… 195 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:18,520 …shifting the balance of power back to the predators. 196 00:31:21,120 --> 00:31:25,840 But alone, the lioness' kill rate is still dangerously low. 197 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:32,400 She's growing weaker by the day. 198 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:44,000 To complicate matters, 199 00:31:45,080 --> 00:31:46,720 she's come into season. 200 00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:51,120 Her scent will carry to any lions in the area. 201 00:31:56,920 --> 00:32:00,440 Including those she most wants to avoid. 202 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:06,680 The young males who destroyed her family. 203 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:33,440 But with the hunting grounds opening up, 204 00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:37,880 another even bigger male is drawn to the area. 205 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:05,760 His dark mane and deep call 206 00:33:05,840 --> 00:33:09,200 are signs he's in his prime. 207 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:37,960 It's risky. 208 00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:41,760 But if they join forces, 209 00:33:41,840 --> 00:33:45,640 he could offer protection and hunting support. 210 00:34:55,640 --> 00:34:58,440 Her newfound alliance is short-lived. 211 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:03,480 The stranger moves on after only a few days. 212 00:35:07,120 --> 00:35:09,280 Alone, once more, 213 00:35:10,640 --> 00:35:13,160 but this time pregnant. 214 00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:27,480 She won't be hunting for just herself anymore. 215 00:36:44,280 --> 00:36:46,120 Every family in the Delta 216 00:36:46,200 --> 00:36:50,160 is intimately connected to the rhythms of the changing seasons. 217 00:36:56,800 --> 00:36:58,960 The water levels are plummeting, 218 00:37:00,040 --> 00:37:01,360 turning to mud. 219 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:08,880 Fun for a calf… 220 00:37:15,920 --> 00:37:18,480 …but it's a sign her herd should move on. 221 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:30,240 With the dry season taking grip, 222 00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:33,800 the herds need to make the most of whatever grazing is left. 223 00:37:44,040 --> 00:37:46,320 She learns from watching. 224 00:37:51,640 --> 00:37:54,960 But some things, she has yet to perfect. 225 00:37:57,480 --> 00:38:01,720 Such as paying attention, so as not to get left behind. 226 00:38:17,880 --> 00:38:20,600 She's being taken to a special place. 227 00:38:27,640 --> 00:38:30,000 A stand of fan palms. 228 00:38:31,440 --> 00:38:34,200 They thrive where salts have been left behind 229 00:38:34,280 --> 00:38:35,880 by the evaporating flood. 230 00:38:38,720 --> 00:38:40,800 And the fruits that sit at the top 231 00:38:40,880 --> 00:38:43,200 are revered by elephants. 232 00:38:44,520 --> 00:38:46,640 Harvesting such lofty treats 233 00:38:46,720 --> 00:38:50,840 is a trick that only a four-ton bull can pull off. 234 00:39:18,600 --> 00:39:22,160 Each shake releases hundreds of fruits at once. 235 00:39:33,440 --> 00:39:36,040 He knocks down enough for everyone. 236 00:39:53,840 --> 00:39:55,680 This precious meal 237 00:39:55,760 --> 00:39:59,800 is not just for this family and not just for today. 238 00:40:01,560 --> 00:40:04,200 Elephants are the chief distributors 239 00:40:04,280 --> 00:40:06,120 of fan palm seeds. 240 00:40:08,080 --> 00:40:11,040 -The calf's ancestors left this fruit. 241 00:40:13,560 --> 00:40:17,320 And now she will do the same for those to come. 242 00:40:22,800 --> 00:40:25,880 The herd will carry the seeds for many miles. 243 00:40:27,680 --> 00:40:32,400 Wherever they release them in their dung, they can take root. 244 00:40:33,160 --> 00:40:36,720 Just another of the herd's vital contributions 245 00:40:36,800 --> 00:40:37,840 to the Delta. 246 00:40:52,960 --> 00:40:55,520 It will be their last decent meal. 247 00:40:55,600 --> 00:40:56,880 From here on, 248 00:40:56,960 --> 00:41:02,400 the increasing scarcity of food and water will drive their every move. 249 00:41:23,680 --> 00:41:26,560 The painted wolves have made it through the flood, 250 00:41:27,080 --> 00:41:29,040 but not entirely intact. 251 00:41:31,080 --> 00:41:33,040 One team member already killed, 252 00:41:33,800 --> 00:41:37,880 and now the best hunters have deserted the alpha and her pups. 253 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:43,920 Too many new mouths to feed 254 00:41:44,560 --> 00:41:46,720 and not enough food to go around. 255 00:41:57,120 --> 00:42:00,320 It's time for the rookies to move out of the den 256 00:42:00,400 --> 00:42:02,160 and begin searching for food. 257 00:42:09,800 --> 00:42:12,080 The pups' first great adventure. 258 00:42:15,600 --> 00:42:17,760 Their first patrol with the grown-ups. 259 00:42:23,400 --> 00:42:26,280 Though, they are more of a hindrance than a help. 260 00:42:37,480 --> 00:42:41,240 Their little legs will carry them up to 15 kilometers a day. 261 00:42:54,160 --> 00:42:58,840 The alpha must rebuild her team into a peak hunting machine… 262 00:43:00,960 --> 00:43:04,840 and teach her pups the ways of the pack hunter. 263 00:43:26,240 --> 00:43:28,080 The receding floodwaters 264 00:43:28,160 --> 00:43:33,200 have created perfect conditions to unleash a plague. 265 00:43:36,560 --> 00:43:37,600 Locusts. 266 00:43:38,920 --> 00:43:42,240 The building heat triggers a mass hatching. 267 00:43:45,920 --> 00:43:50,640 Ten million greedy mouths devour the drying vegetation. 268 00:44:02,160 --> 00:44:07,280 Ancient termite mounds seem to be the only things impervious 269 00:44:07,360 --> 00:44:10,800 to the great forces now at play in the Delta. 270 00:44:34,920 --> 00:44:36,320 It's October. 271 00:44:37,360 --> 00:44:39,440 In two short months, 272 00:44:39,960 --> 00:44:43,040 the drought has transformed a verdant paradise 273 00:44:43,960 --> 00:44:46,080 into a barren dust bowl. 274 00:44:53,080 --> 00:44:56,080 All the herds are searching for water 275 00:44:56,160 --> 00:44:57,800 wherever they can find it. 276 00:45:23,080 --> 00:45:26,560 They are easy pickings for the two young males. 277 00:45:31,640 --> 00:45:34,840 Who grow bigger and stronger every day. 278 00:45:42,960 --> 00:45:45,720 They follow the buffaloes' every move. 279 00:45:59,520 --> 00:46:01,440 Tracking the same herds, 280 00:46:01,520 --> 00:46:05,080 the lioness must stay a safe distance from the males. 281 00:46:07,840 --> 00:46:11,480 In her delicate state, she desperately needs to eat. 282 00:46:19,280 --> 00:46:23,400 But taking on prey the size of a buffalo all by herself 283 00:46:23,920 --> 00:46:25,680 is next to impossible. 284 00:46:38,600 --> 00:46:42,440 At best, she can pick up scraps left by the males, 285 00:46:43,520 --> 00:46:47,640 scavenging the bare minimum she needs to stay alive. 286 00:47:14,120 --> 00:47:16,520 All the herds and their predators 287 00:47:16,600 --> 00:47:18,720 are being drawn in by the drought, 288 00:47:19,920 --> 00:47:22,640 coming together in the heart of the Delta, 289 00:47:23,760 --> 00:47:26,280 where the last water sources remain. 290 00:47:30,480 --> 00:47:32,240 The calf and her herd 291 00:47:32,320 --> 00:47:35,360 have to travel further with each passing day. 292 00:47:46,080 --> 00:47:50,720 Their eyesight may be poor, but with highly attuned hearing and smell, 293 00:47:50,800 --> 00:47:54,600 elephants can sense danger from miles away. 294 00:48:05,840 --> 00:48:07,440 Nile crocodiles. 295 00:48:09,080 --> 00:48:13,840 Some up to six meters long, weighing three-quarters of a ton. 296 00:48:18,920 --> 00:48:23,200 But most are pretty small, only a meter or so. 297 00:48:53,000 --> 00:48:56,360 The older elephants show the calf how to get to the water 298 00:48:56,440 --> 00:48:59,960 by navigating this strange obstacle course. 299 00:49:28,920 --> 00:49:30,280 At last. 300 00:49:34,280 --> 00:49:37,080 And if you still haven't mastered the art of the trunk, 301 00:49:37,760 --> 00:49:40,480 face drinking is always a good fallback. 302 00:49:44,560 --> 00:49:46,560 The calf is learning… 303 00:49:49,200 --> 00:49:50,560 the hard way. 304 00:49:57,120 --> 00:50:00,120 This water hole is the herd's savior. 305 00:50:07,000 --> 00:50:10,720 Elephants also use it to protect their skin from the sun. 306 00:50:19,120 --> 00:50:22,880 The mud cools their overheated bodies as it evaporates. 307 00:50:31,560 --> 00:50:35,400 And the dust settles in the cracks and crevices of their skin, 308 00:50:35,480 --> 00:50:36,880 acting as sunblock. 309 00:50:51,560 --> 00:50:55,200 A spot like this is highly sought-after. 310 00:51:07,680 --> 00:51:11,440 But the herd aren't ready to move on from their mud spa just yet. 311 00:51:30,480 --> 00:51:34,160 Such difficult times teach the growing pups many things. 312 00:51:35,600 --> 00:51:40,600 Harassing a well-fed vulture must be a good lesson in… something. 313 00:51:56,440 --> 00:51:58,080 A lone hyena… 314 00:52:00,280 --> 00:52:02,840 makes for a more serious education. 315 00:52:06,920 --> 00:52:10,400 Testing their stress levels helps prepare them 316 00:52:10,480 --> 00:52:14,280 for future confrontations with competitors. 317 00:52:25,400 --> 00:52:29,440 But they still need to learn the most important lesson. 318 00:52:35,960 --> 00:52:36,960 The art… 319 00:52:41,280 --> 00:52:42,600 of the hunt. 320 00:53:08,640 --> 00:53:11,040 With the alpha now back in charge… 321 00:53:15,960 --> 00:53:19,960 she directs the team to drive their prey into the thick mud 322 00:53:20,040 --> 00:53:21,840 to slow them down. 323 00:53:36,760 --> 00:53:39,120 Her coaching is paying off. 324 00:53:52,600 --> 00:53:55,080 They're learning who to target… 325 00:53:58,400 --> 00:54:00,120 and who to leave. 326 00:54:07,080 --> 00:54:11,400 The pack is growing wiser and closer each day. 327 00:54:23,280 --> 00:54:28,960 By late October, temperatures have soared to 45 degrees Celsius. 328 00:54:30,920 --> 00:54:32,920 Not a drop has fallen. 329 00:54:34,400 --> 00:54:38,400 In recent years, the dry seasons here have been getting longer, 330 00:54:39,000 --> 00:54:41,200 the heat more severe. 331 00:54:46,040 --> 00:54:50,600 This year is fast becoming the drought of the century. 332 00:54:58,640 --> 00:55:00,640 Every day becomes a gamble 333 00:55:00,720 --> 00:55:04,400 to find enough water to keep the whole herd alive. 334 00:55:11,560 --> 00:55:14,680 The calf and her mother need it the most. 335 00:55:21,800 --> 00:55:24,400 She's a prisoner in these lands 336 00:55:25,040 --> 00:55:28,920 that only a few months ago offered her so much. 337 00:55:39,800 --> 00:55:42,680 Her survival is entirely in the hands 338 00:55:42,760 --> 00:55:45,480 of the wise, old leader. 339 00:55:45,560 --> 00:55:47,760 The herd's matriarch. 340 00:55:55,440 --> 00:55:58,000 She's been traveling these pathways 341 00:55:58,080 --> 00:56:00,240 since she, too, was a young calf. 342 00:56:07,160 --> 00:56:10,200 Her brain, infused with memories, 343 00:56:11,280 --> 00:56:13,200 holds an ancient internal map 344 00:56:13,800 --> 00:56:16,920 of where the last pockets of water might be found. 345 00:56:25,360 --> 00:56:28,040 Family is more than just the herd. 346 00:56:28,560 --> 00:56:30,560 Family is memory… 347 00:56:33,000 --> 00:56:35,400 and that's what's making the difference 348 00:56:35,480 --> 00:56:37,680 between life and death. 349 00:56:43,000 --> 00:56:44,920 The old family knowledge leads them 350 00:56:45,000 --> 00:56:47,120 to one of the last remaining water holes 351 00:56:47,200 --> 00:56:48,840 in the entire Delta. 352 00:57:10,720 --> 00:57:13,840 Every muddy drop is a lifesaver. 353 00:57:34,480 --> 00:57:37,400 But their little one can't get to the water. 354 00:57:44,200 --> 00:57:46,840 So she simply gets into the water. 355 00:57:56,000 --> 00:57:58,640 Getting out, not so easy. 356 00:58:34,240 --> 00:58:39,600 For a clumsy calf, a loving family is her most powerful ally. 357 00:59:02,000 --> 00:59:03,960 There's no time to waste. 358 00:59:04,040 --> 00:59:05,800 They need more water, 359 00:59:06,840 --> 00:59:09,480 and they'll chase the storm front to find it. 360 00:59:13,600 --> 00:59:16,920 -Finally, clouds begin to form. 361 00:59:17,920 --> 00:59:19,920 Giant storm cells. 362 00:59:43,800 --> 00:59:47,760 Elephants are able to hear the low frequencies of distant thunder 363 00:59:47,840 --> 00:59:51,880 and detect storms up to 200 kilometers away. 364 01:00:14,760 --> 01:00:19,160 But in a region that's gone seven months with barely a drop of rain, 365 01:00:19,680 --> 01:00:23,720 the tinder-dry grasses are a ticking bomb. 366 01:00:30,920 --> 01:00:34,080 The adults in the herd have seen fire before. 367 01:00:35,040 --> 01:00:40,160 Each year, up to 4,000 square kilometers of the Delta burns. 368 01:00:43,280 --> 01:00:47,600 They know to stick close together as they try to navigate the flames. 369 01:01:10,840 --> 01:01:13,440 The fires are devastating… 370 01:01:17,000 --> 01:01:19,120 …but don't devour everything. 371 01:01:31,840 --> 01:01:35,520 The grazers have thinned the amount of fuel available to burn. 372 01:01:37,800 --> 01:01:40,800 And the scorched areas will create new pathways 373 01:01:40,880 --> 01:01:43,120 for next year's flood to access. 374 01:01:46,600 --> 01:01:50,080 The Delta has always found a way to heal 375 01:01:50,600 --> 01:01:54,280 because its residents never stop playing their part. 376 01:02:04,960 --> 01:02:08,400 At last, the skies yield. 377 01:02:12,200 --> 01:02:14,640 The greatest drought in living memory 378 01:02:15,400 --> 01:02:17,200 is finally broken. 379 01:02:25,440 --> 01:02:27,560 Over the next five months, 380 01:02:27,640 --> 01:02:30,240 half a meter of rain will fall here. 381 01:02:33,080 --> 01:02:35,600 Any ground scorched by the fire 382 01:02:35,680 --> 01:02:37,600 will be revitalized. 383 01:03:03,480 --> 01:03:06,520 The herds are released from their water holes. 384 01:03:11,920 --> 01:03:14,600 -And the predators spread out. 385 01:03:21,760 --> 01:03:24,320 Keeping the grazers on the move, 386 01:03:24,400 --> 01:03:26,840 giving the new shoots a chance, 387 01:03:26,920 --> 01:03:31,000 and preventing any one area from becoming depleted. 388 01:03:37,240 --> 01:03:38,320 Balance… 389 01:03:40,640 --> 01:03:42,080 is maintained. 390 01:03:56,080 --> 01:03:58,320 And with the arrival of the rains… 391 01:04:00,400 --> 01:04:02,800 come four new cubs. 392 01:05:06,040 --> 01:05:09,560 The flush of green has prompted a baby boom. 393 01:05:40,200 --> 01:05:42,720 She moves her cubs every few days… 394 01:05:44,720 --> 01:05:47,280 to prevent their scent from attracting enemies. 395 01:06:10,440 --> 01:06:14,320 But her latest move hasn't gone unnoticed. 396 01:06:21,560 --> 01:06:24,560 The young males have picked up their trail. 397 01:06:42,560 --> 01:06:46,520 They will not tolerate the presence of another male's cubs. 398 01:08:01,400 --> 01:08:05,080 She's half their size and outnumbered. 399 01:08:48,920 --> 01:08:50,280 They're trapped. 400 01:09:00,960 --> 01:09:04,400 Her instinct is to lead her babies to safety. 401 01:09:18,080 --> 01:09:21,680 But the cubs have no idea who they're up against. 402 01:09:54,600 --> 01:09:56,480 She's lost track of a cub. 403 01:11:35,200 --> 01:11:38,040 She'll fight to the death for her family… 404 01:11:44,120 --> 01:11:47,160 …but the males won't risk further injury. 405 01:12:10,360 --> 01:12:12,640 Thanks to their mother's bravery, 406 01:12:12,720 --> 01:12:15,120 three of her cubs have survived. 407 01:12:23,320 --> 01:12:25,080 She can't rest for long. 408 01:12:27,880 --> 01:12:29,240 She's all they've got. 409 01:12:51,680 --> 01:12:55,640 For the painted wolves, life again is sweet. 410 01:13:03,400 --> 01:13:04,800 Their mother has risen 411 01:13:04,880 --> 01:13:07,800 to the greatest challenge she's ever faced. 412 01:13:09,800 --> 01:13:12,960 Bringing a pack cut to half its size 413 01:13:13,040 --> 01:13:15,040 through the perils of the drought 414 01:13:15,760 --> 01:13:18,960 and transforming a hapless bunch of rookies 415 01:13:19,040 --> 01:13:22,520 into a hardworking, successful team. 416 01:13:29,360 --> 01:13:31,960 Their comeback is complete. 417 01:13:44,520 --> 01:13:46,000 The gutsy little calf 418 01:13:46,080 --> 01:13:49,080 has chalked up her first year in the Delta… 419 01:13:51,320 --> 01:13:55,000 and she herself has contributed to its upkeep… 420 01:13:57,040 --> 01:13:59,200 with every reed she's trampled, 421 01:13:59,720 --> 01:14:01,960 every palm seed she's left. 422 01:14:03,360 --> 01:14:07,080 If she can survive another 30 or 40 more years 423 01:14:07,160 --> 01:14:09,240 of increasing extremes, 424 01:14:10,880 --> 01:14:14,000 fires, floods, and famines… 425 01:14:16,520 --> 01:14:19,920 …she will finally become a matriarch 426 01:14:20,920 --> 01:14:23,520 and pass on everything she's learned 427 01:14:24,120 --> 01:14:25,760 to the next generation. 428 01:14:36,200 --> 01:14:38,120 Now, four months old, 429 01:14:38,200 --> 01:14:41,200 the lioness's cubs are getting stronger 430 01:14:41,280 --> 01:14:43,240 and more able every day. 431 01:14:56,320 --> 01:15:00,120 Single-handedly, she's kept them all well-fed. 432 01:15:21,520 --> 01:15:24,400 Their games are practice for real life. 433 01:15:24,480 --> 01:15:27,480 To teach them how to catch prey like their mother. 434 01:15:52,880 --> 01:15:56,120 She once lost what was most precious to her. 435 01:16:02,680 --> 01:16:06,080 But now, has a little pride to call her own. 436 01:16:08,200 --> 01:16:12,080 Her cubs will soon learn the vital importance of family. 437 01:16:14,000 --> 01:16:19,800 Just one of a myriad of families whose presence sustains their land. 438 01:16:23,640 --> 01:16:26,160 These animals will continue to adapt 439 01:16:26,920 --> 01:16:28,400 as best they can… 440 01:16:32,880 --> 01:16:35,400 to the growing threats they face. 441 01:16:35,480 --> 01:16:38,440 The world's climate changing… 442 01:16:41,040 --> 01:16:43,400 becoming increasingly hostile, 443 01:16:43,480 --> 01:16:44,880 more extreme. 444 01:16:49,520 --> 01:16:54,280 Their greatest weapon in their fight to survive is each other. 445 01:16:55,920 --> 01:17:00,800 For their fates are bound together with this great wilderness. 446 01:17:03,640 --> 01:17:05,080 The magnificent, 447 01:17:06,040 --> 01:17:07,320 ever-changing 448 01:17:08,520 --> 01:17:10,320 Okavango Delta.