1
00:00:00,333 --> 00:00:05,464
OKAVANGO: Africa's Wild Oasis

2
00:00:05,705 --> 00:00:08,674
Africa As it once was...

3
00:00:08,908 --> 00:00:11,741
Here inthe heart
the great Kalahari Desert

4
00:00:11,978 --> 00:00:14,208
lies a remarkable oasis

5
00:00:14,447 --> 00:00:18,543
an immense delta called
the Okavagno.

6
00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:24,388
It's a sanctuary for a natural
world unchangedin manyways

7
00:00:24,624 --> 00:00:28,890
since the dawn of humanity.

8
00:00:55,889 --> 00:00:58,449
The Okavango is a place like
nowhere else in Africa

9
00:00:58,691 --> 00:01:02,183
rich tapestry of wild life

10
00:01:02,429 --> 00:01:07,366
woven together by the life-giving
waters of this vast Eden.

11
00:01:27,654 --> 00:01:30,384
This is a world of tranquil beauty,

12
00:01:30,623 --> 00:01:35,720
but even so theeternalstruggle
for survival goes on continually.

13
00:01:39,699 --> 00:01:43,294
Here too the rules of the hunt
are ever changing subject

14
00:01:43,536 --> 00:01:48,405
to the capricious ebb and flow
of the Okavango's floodwaters.

15
00:01:50,276 --> 00:01:53,109
Some prey animals
mustbe taken quickly

16
00:01:53,346 --> 00:01:55,439
before they reach deep water.

17
00:01:58,485 --> 00:02:02,683
But nowhere is truly safe.

18
00:02:27,780 --> 00:02:31,011
The wild dogs of Africa
are superb predators,

19
00:02:31,251 --> 00:02:32,115
but their hunting skills

20
00:02:32,352 --> 00:02:34,946
are rigorously challenged
during timesof flood

21
00:02:35,188 --> 00:02:40,820
by species of antelope especially
adapted to the wetlands.

22
00:02:55,375 --> 00:02:57,502
Water defines this remarkable place

23
00:02:57,744 --> 00:03:01,680
and it often decides who
will succeed and who will fail...

24
00:03:01,915 --> 00:03:05,942
Who will survive,
and who willperish...

25
00:03:06,186 --> 00:03:11,681
Here in Africa's great waterland:
The Okavango.

26
00:04:00,473 --> 00:04:04,375
The heart of the Okavango
is apermanent swamp

27
00:04:04,611 --> 00:04:07,637
a maze of lagoons
and channelscoursing

28
00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:12,214
throughreeds and grasses and
blanketsof water lilies.

29
00:04:12,452 --> 00:04:15,012
Filtered by vegetation and sand,

30
00:04:15,255 --> 00:04:19,055
these pure waters
become crystal clear.

31
00:04:26,032 --> 00:04:28,523
The existence of
a watery refuge here

32
00:04:28,768 --> 00:04:31,134
in the midst of
one ofthe world's great deserts

33
00:04:31,371 --> 00:04:36,536
is the result of a unique interplay
between climate and geology.

34
00:04:41,047 --> 00:04:43,481
Its source is the Okavango River,

35
00:04:43,716 --> 00:04:46,014
one of the longest
in Southern Africa.

36
00:04:46,252 --> 00:04:47,742
On reaching Botswana,

37
00:04:47,987 --> 00:04:51,286
it meanders between
two geological faults.

38
00:04:51,524 --> 00:04:54,891
Then the river spills out
ontoa vast floodplain.

39
00:04:55,128 --> 00:04:58,291
It divides intoa network
of channels and wetlands,

40
00:04:58,531 --> 00:05:03,332
creating one ofthe largest inland
deltas in the world.

41
00:05:05,004 --> 00:05:07,472
The delta can be seen from space

42
00:05:07,707 --> 00:05:11,905
spreading like a giant hand
across theface ofsouthern Africa.

43
00:05:12,645 --> 00:05:15,614
It's born of summer rains
a thousand miles

44
00:05:15,848 --> 00:05:18,078
to the north
in the highlands of Angola.

45
00:05:18,318 --> 00:05:19,580
Fed by these rains,

46
00:05:19,819 --> 00:05:23,721
the Okavango River slowly winds
through a longpanhandle

47
00:05:23,956 --> 00:05:26,481
before enteringthe permanent swamp.

48
00:05:26,726 --> 00:05:31,663
There it is further slowed by
flat terrain anddense vegetation.

49
00:05:31,898 --> 00:05:33,456
Over the next few months,

50
00:05:33,700 --> 00:05:37,796
the level of the permanent
swamp risesalmost imperceptibly.

51
00:05:38,037 --> 00:05:40,562
When the new water
finally reaches thefloodplain,

52
00:05:40,807 --> 00:05:44,004
it arrives at the height
of the dry season.

53
00:05:48,448 --> 00:05:52,908
This is the miracle of the Okavango.

54
00:05:57,490 --> 00:06:01,017
The delta's unique environment
begins in the panhandle

55
00:06:01,260 --> 00:06:04,423
where the rivermeanders
for some sixty miles.

56
00:06:15,141 --> 00:06:17,905
Thousands of carmine bee-eaters
migrate here to nest

57
00:06:18,144 --> 00:06:20,977
in the steep sandy banks.

58
00:06:22,982 --> 00:06:27,043
These strikingly beautiful birds
primarily live on honey bees

59
00:06:27,286 --> 00:06:30,722
and other flying insects
caught on thewing.

60
00:06:30,957 --> 00:06:33,187
They lay their eggs
when the water is low

61
00:06:33,426 --> 00:06:36,589
in tunnels usually
five to six feet long.

62
00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:43,259
This isalso
the main breedingground

63
00:06:43,503 --> 00:06:47,200
of one of the Okavango's
more sinistercreatures.

64
00:07:02,188 --> 00:07:06,181
Baby crocodileshatch
as the river is rising

65
00:07:06,426 --> 00:07:10,988
it willprovidethem
aconvenient means of transport.

66
00:07:12,131 --> 00:07:15,328
Many ofthe young crocswill
drift with the current southeast

67
00:07:15,568 --> 00:07:18,799
into the heart
of the Okavangodelta.

68
00:07:25,044 --> 00:07:27,376
This permanent swamp
is a water wilderness

69
00:07:27,613 --> 00:07:32,141
of swamp grasses, fernsand lilies.

70
00:07:38,591 --> 00:07:40,991
This tangled world
seems half-liquid,

71
00:07:41,227 --> 00:07:44,355
half vegetationand it never dries.

72
00:07:44,597 --> 00:07:47,122
Floodwaters
- in yearsof abundant rain

73
00:07:47,366 --> 00:07:52,429
can double the area of the swamp
to some 5,000square miles.

74
00:08:00,746 --> 00:08:02,805
Elephants are
among the few large mammals

75
00:08:03,049 --> 00:08:06,041
that venture into the heart
ofthe permanent swamp.

76
00:08:06,285 --> 00:08:07,411
They browse on the foliage

77
00:08:07,653 --> 00:08:11,919
while the young frolic
in the Okavangoshallows.

78
00:08:21,701 --> 00:08:25,137
This isa sanctuary
for the shy and elusive sitatunga,

79
00:08:25,371 --> 00:08:26,497
a waterloving antelope

80
00:08:26,739 --> 00:08:30,402
that seldom ventures
outside the permanent swamp.

81
00:08:35,681 --> 00:08:37,615
And this is theonly place
in Africa

82
00:08:37,850 --> 00:08:41,183
where the slatey egret
can be found innumbers.

83
00:08:41,420 --> 00:08:44,617
It's one of therarest herons
in the world.

84
00:08:48,060 --> 00:08:49,755
The inner swampis a nesting haven

85
00:08:49,996 --> 00:08:51,930
for a rich variety of waterbirds

86
00:08:52,164 --> 00:08:54,928
and there are huge colonies.

87
00:08:57,970 --> 00:08:59,335
Here the yellowbilled stork

88
00:08:59,572 --> 00:09:03,531
can raise theirhatchlings
in isolatedsafety.

89
00:09:03,776 --> 00:09:08,509
Other waterbirds are drawn to
the swamp simplyto huntand feed.

90
00:09:10,483 --> 00:09:15,819
This saddlebillhaunts the
shallows seeking fish and frogs.

91
00:09:21,060 --> 00:09:23,654
The marabou storks nest
by thethousands here

92
00:09:23,896 --> 00:09:26,956
in low spreading fig trees.

93
00:09:30,636 --> 00:09:32,570
Stalking the waterways the marabou

94
00:09:32,805 --> 00:09:37,401
can sometimes bring a quick end
to a young crocodile'sjourney.

95
00:10:01,901 --> 00:10:03,732
After along night of grazing,

96
00:10:03,970 --> 00:10:07,235
hippos spend the day
digestingand wallowing.

97
00:10:08,908 --> 00:10:10,876
A single hippo may transform

98
00:10:11,110 --> 00:10:14,739
a hundred and fifty pounds
of vegetation into dung

99
00:10:14,981 --> 00:10:18,212
which in turn enriches
the water and plant life.

100
00:10:25,658 --> 00:10:27,785
En route to favored grasslands,

101
00:10:28,027 --> 00:10:31,690
the hippos trample pathways
throughoutthe delta,

102
00:10:31,931 --> 00:10:35,594
creating channels in the waterways.

103
00:10:38,104 --> 00:10:39,833
Now is the season when floodwaters

104
00:10:40,072 --> 00:10:44,065
from the Okavango Riverare slowly
filling thepermanent swamp.

105
00:10:44,310 --> 00:10:45,800
But here on thefloodplains,

106
00:10:46,045 --> 00:10:51,312
the water left from last year's
flood is quickly evaporating.

107
00:10:52,318 --> 00:10:54,445
Lechwe graze in the shallow.

108
00:10:54,687 --> 00:10:55,654
They feed on grasses

109
00:10:55,888 --> 00:10:59,380
that sprout along the edge
of the receding waters.

110
00:11:02,561 --> 00:11:05,894
A pack of wild dogs appears.

111
00:11:08,601 --> 00:11:12,298
These are
the "paintedwolves"of Africa.

112
00:11:17,710 --> 00:11:19,473
The dogs are skilled tacticians,

113
00:11:19,712 --> 00:11:23,375
but theOkavango poses
a special challenge.

114
00:11:24,550 --> 00:11:29,783
Lechwe always race for the safety
of water when threatened.

115
00:11:59,285 --> 00:12:01,276
Lechwe have developed
elongated hooves

116
00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:05,012
that allow themto race
through the shallows.

117
00:12:06,225 --> 00:12:10,628
The dogs are
often no match for them.

118
00:12:17,803 --> 00:12:20,169
As the lechwe escape
into deepwater,

119
00:12:20,406 --> 00:12:24,672
the dogs chooseto waitand watch.

120
00:12:46,232 --> 00:12:53,502
The dog's instinct is confirmed
crocodile is lurking nearby.

121
00:12:57,042 --> 00:13:00,409
But thelechwe would rather take
theirchanceswith the crocodile,

122
00:13:00,646 --> 00:13:04,514
than face certain death
with the dogs.

123
00:13:46,158 --> 00:13:49,650
Throughout the Okavango,
palm trees dot the landscape.

124
00:13:49,895 --> 00:13:55,333
They provide shade and shelter
and a plentifulsupply of fruit.

125
00:13:55,568 --> 00:14:01,507
Baboonsscale the heights to feast
in these vegetable ivory palms.

126
00:14:01,740 --> 00:14:05,437
But they're notthe only ones
with a craving.

127
00:14:39,211 --> 00:14:44,706
As night falls, the left-over
palm fruits are not forgotten.

128
00:14:45,451 --> 00:14:49,251
The African porcupine
loves them too.

129
00:14:53,626 --> 00:14:55,787
With their strong sharpincisors,

130
00:14:56,028 --> 00:14:59,191
the porcupine tears
into the fibrous flesh,

131
00:14:59,431 --> 00:15:01,126
leavingthe hard inner
seed tobecome,

132
00:15:01,367 --> 00:15:04,700
perhaps, a future palm tree.

133
00:15:11,443 --> 00:15:14,935
The rare and endangeredpangolin
has to pass on the fruit.

134
00:15:15,180 --> 00:15:19,879
They are among the few mammals
in the world without teeth.

135
00:15:22,354 --> 00:15:25,687
In stead,
this"walking artichoke" survives

136
00:15:25,925 --> 00:15:30,055
by raiding ant and termite colonies.

137
00:15:30,296 --> 00:15:32,662
When a pangolin
comes upon a termite mound,

138
00:15:32,898 --> 00:15:37,267
it usespowerful claws
to tearinto the rock-hard mud.

139
00:15:39,104 --> 00:15:42,471
Within is a complex network
ofcorridors and chambers,

140
00:15:42,708 --> 00:15:47,077
filled with ghostly white insects
thatshun daylight.

141
00:15:50,349 --> 00:15:53,580
In a typical mound
there are millions of termites.

142
00:15:53,819 --> 00:15:55,309
And using its sticky tongue,

143
00:15:55,554 --> 00:15:59,854
the pangolin will feast
on vast numbers of them.

144
00:16:21,447 --> 00:16:24,143
Termitemounds provide
hiding places for both predator

145
00:16:24,383 --> 00:16:27,580
and prey deal jackal dens,

146
00:16:27,820 --> 00:16:33,053
and observation posts for leopards.

147
00:16:38,597 --> 00:16:43,432
Many ofthe mounds become the
foundation for full-grown islands.

148
00:16:43,669 --> 00:16:45,364
A sweeping viewof the Okavango

149
00:16:45,604 --> 00:16:48,300
revealsthem scattered
over a wide band

150
00:16:48,540 --> 00:16:53,876
betweenthe permanent swamp
and the outer floodplain.

151
00:17:29,381 --> 00:17:31,941
In thisseason,
all the big game animals

152
00:17:32,184 --> 00:17:35,415
of the delta converge
on the receding waters.

153
00:17:35,654 --> 00:17:38,054
Beyond the swamp and the islands,

154
00:17:38,290 --> 00:17:42,750
the vast floodplains
still aredrying out.

155
00:17:43,829 --> 00:17:47,731
Buffalorumble far
andwide insearch of water.

156
00:17:47,966 --> 00:17:49,593
With all the noise and dust,

157
00:17:49,835 --> 00:17:54,602
it almost seemsthat war
has broken out in theOkavango.

158
00:18:02,147 --> 00:18:07,244
It is the onsetof the dry season
the African winter.

159
00:18:08,253 --> 00:18:12,189
For these wild dogs,
it is thetime for rearing pups.

160
00:18:12,424 --> 00:18:15,325
Expectant females cleanout
abandoned burrows

161
00:18:15,561 --> 00:18:18,291
where they can give birth in safety.

162
00:18:18,530 --> 00:18:21,522
The wild dogs of Africa
are a distinctspecies,

163
00:18:21,767 --> 00:18:25,794
only distantly related
to domesticateddogs.

164
00:18:26,538 --> 00:18:28,403
Contagious diseases andhunting

165
00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:31,200
by man have threatened them
with extinction.

166
00:18:31,443 --> 00:18:33,411
But here in theheart
of the Okavango

167
00:18:33,645 --> 00:18:37,877
they'refree tohunt and
reproduce in relativesafety.

168
00:18:38,984 --> 00:18:40,884
When the females
are about to give birth,

169
00:18:41,120 --> 00:18:43,782
there'slittle for the pack
todo but wait.

170
00:18:44,857 --> 00:18:48,623
Hooded vultures keep them company.

171
00:19:09,681 --> 00:19:12,241
Only a few months ago,
there was waterhere,

172
00:19:12,484 --> 00:19:16,887
now there are plains ofgrass
dried to a golden brown.

173
00:19:20,025 --> 00:19:23,461
During the dry season
the openplains of the Okavango

174
00:19:23,695 --> 00:19:25,595
favor animals built forspeed.

175
00:19:25,831 --> 00:19:27,992
These cheetahs have
only to lie in wait,

176
00:19:28,233 --> 00:19:32,727
as their prey appear innumbers.

177
00:19:51,924 --> 00:19:54,552
The cheetah is
the fastest caton earth,

178
00:19:54,793 --> 00:19:57,694
and it will sometimes walk
boldly up to its prey

179
00:19:57,930 --> 00:20:00,831
until it's within sprinting range.

180
00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:12,399
The prey finds camouflage
in the amberfields of grass.

181
00:20:12,644 --> 00:20:17,604
But onefalse move
canbetray the reedbuck.

182
00:21:18,543 --> 00:21:21,444
As the victim is hauled
into the shade,

183
00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:26,208
silent witnesses pass by the scene.

184
00:21:39,698 --> 00:21:40,665
In the dry season,

185
00:21:40,899 --> 00:21:46,337
herds of giraffes seek the last
remaining water in theflooddplains.

186
00:21:53,045 --> 00:21:56,913
Back inthe denof the wild dogs,
there is much excitement.

187
00:21:57,149 --> 00:21:58,275
Three weeks after birth,

188
00:21:58,517 --> 00:22:02,476
the pups are finally
emerging into daylight.

189
00:22:02,721 --> 00:22:04,518
Up until now the mothers

190
00:22:04,756 --> 00:22:07,589
have not allowed other dogs
near theirburrows.

191
00:22:07,826 --> 00:22:12,490
But noweveryone joins in,
welcoming the new arrivals.

192
00:22:33,785 --> 00:22:36,948
In thispack while several females
have given birth,

193
00:22:37,189 --> 00:22:41,421
only the dominant female
assumes the role of mother.

194
00:22:41,660 --> 00:22:45,426
She even nursesthe pups
of the other females.

195
00:22:45,664 --> 00:22:48,292
Still the dominant female
has trouble keeping an eye

196
00:22:48,533 --> 00:22:52,299
on all twenty-one new arrivals.

197
00:23:11,323 --> 00:23:12,221
One of the other females

198
00:23:12,457 --> 00:23:17,394
perhapsa new mother herself
kidnapsa pup.

199
00:23:23,635 --> 00:23:28,299
She anda cohort carry it back
towardsanotherburrow.

200
00:23:30,776 --> 00:23:32,869
But it is a short-livedventure

201
00:23:33,111 --> 00:23:37,571
as the dominantfemale
quicklydrives them off.

202
00:23:42,053 --> 00:23:45,784
She reclaims the pup as her own.

203
00:24:13,718 --> 00:24:17,882
Millions of birds move in unison
like a great school of fish,

204
00:24:18,123 --> 00:24:21,456
engulfing the air.

205
00:24:24,596 --> 00:24:26,655
Swirling flocks
of queleas converge

206
00:24:26,898 --> 00:24:31,392
on the diminishing water holes
to quench theirthirst.

207
00:24:45,717 --> 00:24:49,710
The Okavango isnow in the midst
of a long drywinter.

208
00:24:49,955 --> 00:24:51,354
All across the floodplains,

209
00:24:51,590 --> 00:24:57,153
dried-out game trails radiate
from theshrinking waterholes.

210
00:25:03,902 --> 00:25:06,837
Wildlife congregate
around thefew oases.

211
00:25:07,072 --> 00:25:08,061
Here they'll wait out

212
00:25:08,306 --> 00:25:11,332
the dryseason until
the annual flood arrives,

213
00:25:11,576 --> 00:25:12,975
which is still working its way

214
00:25:13,211 --> 00:25:17,580
ever soslowly out
of the permanent swamp.

215
00:25:34,032 --> 00:25:36,557
Small groups ofbuffalo
from across the plains

216
00:25:36,801 --> 00:25:41,101
now mass together into
herds of thousands.

217
00:25:45,544 --> 00:25:49,742
Water is their most critical need.

218
00:25:51,716 --> 00:25:53,479
But thewild dogs obtain much

219
00:25:53,718 --> 00:25:57,745
of their water needs
from the flesh oftheir prey.

220
00:25:58,456 --> 00:26:00,424
The pups even seem to
enjoy the dry weather

221
00:26:00,659 --> 00:26:04,095
as theyfrolic in the winter sun.

222
00:26:42,534 --> 00:26:45,162
More and more
they're playing at hunting.

223
00:26:45,403 --> 00:26:47,303
Assuming the stance forstalking,

224
00:26:47,539 --> 00:26:51,134
this pup launches
a mock attack on theothers.

225
00:27:10,028 --> 00:27:10,824
Out on the hunt,

226
00:27:11,062 --> 00:27:17,023
the adult dogs survey aherd of
lechwegrazingon the plains.

227
00:27:29,514 --> 00:27:33,541
Withoutwater nearby,
these lechwe arevery vulnerable.

228
00:27:33,785 --> 00:27:37,881
For this is theseason
of the wild dog.

229
00:28:08,787 --> 00:28:10,755
Huntingin packs up to
twenty or more,

230
00:28:10,989 --> 00:28:13,389
wild dogs are
very successful hunters.

231
00:28:13,625 --> 00:28:16,458
They have incredible stamina
and blazing speed,

232
00:28:16,695 --> 00:28:20,688
at times secondonly
to the cheetah.

233
00:28:58,470 --> 00:29:03,305
Once inthe jaws of predators,
the victim's fate is sealed.

234
00:29:03,541 --> 00:29:05,532
The lechwe ceases its struggling

235
00:29:05,777 --> 00:29:09,304
and appears to go into deep shock.

236
00:29:16,588 --> 00:29:20,684
Within a few minutes
the prey is dismembered.

237
00:29:21,092 --> 00:29:24,152
The dogs gorge themselves
to fill their bellies,

238
00:29:24,395 --> 00:29:28,991
becausethe pups and
their guardians are awaiting them.

239
00:29:30,902 --> 00:29:32,893
The pack returns from the hunt.

240
00:29:33,138 --> 00:29:36,505
It's time of high excitement
and celebration.

241
00:29:52,791 --> 00:29:55,157
A guardian receives
a piece ofthe kill,

242
00:29:55,393 --> 00:29:59,420
regurgitated byone of the hunters.

243
00:30:02,033 --> 00:30:04,160
The pups clamor
to receive their share.

244
00:30:04,402 --> 00:30:07,929
They too are fed regurgitated meat.

245
00:30:25,190 --> 00:30:27,556
The pups are becoming frisky
and aggressive

246
00:30:27,792 --> 00:30:28,918
launching surprise attacks

247
00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:32,357
on their constant companions,
the vultures.

248
00:30:45,210 --> 00:30:48,668
Nearby are three male lions,
aformidable coalition,

249
00:30:48,913 --> 00:30:52,280
that have roamed this area for years.

250
00:30:57,522 --> 00:31:00,457
A lioness
part of a pride offemales

251
00:31:00,692 --> 00:31:04,958
awaits with anticipation
for one of the males.

252
00:31:09,267 --> 00:31:11,201
In the surrounding vegetation,

253
00:31:11,436 --> 00:31:15,236
the others mark
the group's territory.

254
00:31:18,509 --> 00:31:21,569
In a bizarre looking expression
calledflehmen,

255
00:31:21,813 --> 00:31:23,542
the male lion tests theair

256
00:31:23,781 --> 00:31:28,275
for thescent that indicates
the female is in heat.

257
00:31:45,904 --> 00:31:49,431
Lions have beenknown to copulate
up to eightytimes aday.

258
00:31:49,674 --> 00:31:51,505
But theduration is brief

259
00:31:51,743 --> 00:31:54,177
from a minute to only six seconds.

260
00:32:00,485 --> 00:32:02,385
This group of lions monopolizes

261
00:32:02,620 --> 00:32:05,680
severalprides of females
in their territory.

262
00:32:05,924 --> 00:32:09,155
But still find ample time to rest.

263
00:32:18,770 --> 00:32:21,739
The long, dry winter seems endless.

264
00:32:21,973 --> 00:32:26,307
Day after day aremorseless sun
arcs through acloudless sky.

265
00:32:26,544 --> 00:32:32,346
It warms the air after cool,
even bitter cold nights.

266
00:32:33,051 --> 00:32:36,145
This year's floodwatersare
slow in coming.

267
00:32:36,387 --> 00:32:41,324
Vital pools andwaterholes
have shrunkto merepuddles.

268
00:32:42,860 --> 00:32:47,229
Catfishare nowconcentrated
in the ooze.

269
00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:53,730
Fish eagles swoop down
to gorge on thefish.

270
00:32:54,906 --> 00:32:59,366
They compete among themselves
even in the midst of plenty.

271
00:33:12,957 --> 00:33:14,822
The ponds are becoming crowded.

272
00:33:15,059 --> 00:33:17,323
Large crocodiles
have abandoned them

273
00:33:17,562 --> 00:33:19,427
and theconstant presence of buffalo

274
00:33:19,664 --> 00:33:24,397
and other animals now force the
smaller crocs to move on as well.

275
00:33:36,581 --> 00:33:41,575
Every creature vies forits place
in the comforting ooze.

276
00:33:47,992 --> 00:33:52,292
Young crocs seek new hiding places
in the shade of reeds.

277
00:33:52,530 --> 00:33:57,832
There, they will lie dormant
until thefloodwaters return.

278
00:34:04,642 --> 00:34:08,544
Rollingin the mud, thebuffalo
crushes a poolof catfish.

279
00:34:08,780 --> 00:34:10,611
All thebetter for the marabou

280
00:34:10,848 --> 00:34:15,478
who nowhad only to
pluck out the lifeless prey.

281
00:34:18,823 --> 00:34:21,189
For thefish-disaster.

282
00:34:21,426 --> 00:34:24,691
For thebirds aseason of plenty.

283
00:34:24,929 --> 00:34:27,898
Once again, water
orthe lack of it

284
00:34:28,132 --> 00:34:32,933
determines who will survive
inthe Okavango.

285
00:34:35,339 --> 00:34:39,241
The hippo poolsare now
more hippo than pool.

286
00:34:40,778 --> 00:34:43,178
In the dry, enervating air,

287
00:34:43,414 --> 00:34:47,817
they wallow in
the last of thecoolingmud.

288
00:34:58,296 --> 00:35:02,824
Catfishtry to crawl away
in search ofother pools.

289
00:35:07,572 --> 00:35:09,597
It's a futile effort
and many pools

290
00:35:09,841 --> 00:35:14,244
are already a grisly mass
of dying fish.

291
00:35:20,885 --> 00:35:25,481
All over the plains there is
adesperate need for water.

292
00:35:27,959 --> 00:35:33,124
Then a rare andwelcomesound
at the height ofthe dryseason.

293
00:35:41,205 --> 00:35:43,173
In a cruel twist of fate

294
00:35:43,407 --> 00:35:47,173
this storm brings not rain
but fire!

295
00:35:47,512 --> 00:35:49,241
Lightening has set off
the drygrass

296
00:35:49,480 --> 00:35:54,008
and in moments the floodplains
are a swirling inferno.

297
00:36:15,606 --> 00:36:20,475
The frantic pangolin desperately
triesto outrun the flames.

298
00:36:51,042 --> 00:36:53,169
Many smaller creatures and insects

299
00:36:53,411 --> 00:36:58,110
will beconsumed
by the fire in seconds.

300
00:37:14,232 --> 00:37:17,065
The wildfire races
across the Okavango,

301
00:37:17,301 --> 00:37:21,567
settingpalm and papyrus ablaze.

302
00:37:24,775 --> 00:37:26,606
Burningtapers
carried by the wind

303
00:37:26,844 --> 00:37:29,836
spread the fireeverywhere.

304
00:37:45,162 --> 00:37:49,656
He wilddogs know from
experience not to run in panic.

305
00:37:51,135 --> 00:37:55,367
The biggame animals escape to
the centers of large islands.

306
00:37:55,606 --> 00:37:57,267
There the vegetation issparse

307
00:37:57,508 --> 00:38:00,602
and there is little
tofeed the killing flames.

308
00:38:37,048 --> 00:38:39,414
The fire rages for days.

309
00:38:39,650 --> 00:38:44,815
It marches in adeadly procession
north towards the permanent swamp.

310
00:38:47,558 --> 00:38:51,358
Rivers and channels provide
only temporary barriers.

311
00:38:51,595 --> 00:38:53,927
The towering flames
whipped by the wind

312
00:38:54,165 --> 00:38:59,102
leap across thewaterways and
into theswamp itself.

313
00:39:20,391 --> 00:39:22,052
The fire is over.

314
00:39:22,293 --> 00:39:24,761
It has scorchedthousands of
acres of floodplain

315
00:39:24,995 --> 00:39:26,223
and hasstripped great areas

316
00:39:26,464 --> 00:39:30,332
of the permanent swamp
of its vegetation.

317
00:39:31,469 --> 00:39:37,772
All that remains is a charred
landscape seemingly devoid of life.

318
00:39:57,795 --> 00:39:59,456
Fire can be good for the delta,

319
00:39:59,697 --> 00:40:04,134
clearing away dead vegetation and
prompting the growthof new grass.

320
00:40:04,368 --> 00:40:06,928
But some fear that
toomany manmade fires

321
00:40:07,171 --> 00:40:10,937
could do irreversible
damage to the Okavango.

322
00:40:25,823 --> 00:40:27,415
The pangolin isa survivor,

323
00:40:27,658 --> 00:40:31,150
having found refuge in
an underground burrow.

324
00:40:42,440 --> 00:40:45,807
The larger animals have
also escaped the flames

325
00:40:46,043 --> 00:40:52,073
only toface aneven more arid
and harsh environment than before.

326
00:40:52,716 --> 00:40:54,445
But now, at last,

327
00:40:54,685 --> 00:40:57,381
the Okavango works
itsgreatest magic

328
00:40:57,621 --> 00:41:01,318
as the new floodwaters
finallyarrive.

329
00:41:03,627 --> 00:41:05,185
In surreal counterpoint,

330
00:41:05,429 --> 00:41:07,829
trickles of water create tendrils

331
00:41:08,065 --> 00:41:11,000
of dustas theyadvance
acrossthe plains.

332
00:41:11,235 --> 00:41:13,203
They slowly percolate
through the ashes,

333
00:41:13,437 --> 00:41:16,668
restoring life to the charred land.

334
00:41:23,214 --> 00:41:25,409
Only inches deep in places,

335
00:41:25,649 --> 00:41:29,210
the newflood spreads out
across the land.

336
00:41:31,689 --> 00:41:34,351
Some creatures
that survived the fire

337
00:41:34,592 --> 00:41:37,857
now perish in the rising waters.

338
00:41:54,979 --> 00:41:58,005
The waters of the Okavango
have come athousand miles

339
00:41:58,249 --> 00:41:59,841
from the mountains of Angola

340
00:42:00,017 --> 00:42:05,284
they now end their journey on the
vastfloodplains of the Kalahari.

341
00:42:05,723 --> 00:42:10,922
The water will slowly refill the
dry channels and dusty lagoons.

342
00:42:12,463 --> 00:42:14,988
It alsocourses
through old hippo paths

343
00:42:15,232 --> 00:42:19,669
allowing many predators
to infiltrate the plains.

344
00:42:21,472 --> 00:42:24,464
Myriadsof fishmigratewith
the new water

345
00:42:24,708 --> 00:42:28,906
to feed on the rich
supply of insects itdisplaces.

346
00:42:46,864 --> 00:42:51,494
Not farbehind are
theyoung crocodiles.

347
00:43:13,557 --> 00:43:15,923
Waterbirds now search
the edgeof the flood,

348
00:43:16,160 --> 00:43:19,323
findinga rich concentration
of prey.

349
00:43:45,022 --> 00:43:47,991
The pelicans welcome
this season of plenty,

350
00:43:48,225 --> 00:43:51,820
eagerlyscooping up
newly arrived catfish.

351
00:44:23,594 --> 00:44:29,726
For thehippos, it's time at last
to gather and bathe in deep water.

352
00:44:37,341 --> 00:44:42,574
All theanimalsare nowforced
to cross the flooded areas.

353
00:44:45,282 --> 00:44:50,219
Water is once again an element
to contend with.

354
00:45:04,134 --> 00:45:07,433
The wild dogs must negotiate
amaze ofwaterways,

355
00:45:07,671 --> 00:45:11,903
infiltrated by stealthycrocodiles.

356
00:45:30,861 --> 00:45:33,091
They'reaware that for
every croc theysee,

357
00:45:33,330 --> 00:45:36,424
others may lurkunseen.

358
00:46:09,500 --> 00:46:10,990
Huntingand escaping now

359
00:46:11,235 --> 00:46:16,104
depend on crossing
ever deepening channels.

360
00:46:26,483 --> 00:46:29,281
Cheetahs are creatures
of the drier savannah,

361
00:46:29,520 --> 00:46:35,857
but those that live in the Okavango
must crossthe waters to hunt.

362
00:46:36,560 --> 00:46:43,056
They doso after much hesitation
andthen with prudent speed.

363
00:47:14,998 --> 00:47:19,492
After running down their prey,
cheetahs go forthe throat.

364
00:47:26,410 --> 00:47:32,679
Then they patiently wait while life
ebbs slowly from their victim.

365
00:48:16,293 --> 00:48:20,127
Nightfall and spring rains
have stirred a singular event

366
00:48:20,364 --> 00:48:22,525
as winged termites called alates

367
00:48:22,766 --> 00:48:26,224
take flight before
mating underground.

368
00:48:31,108 --> 00:48:35,010
The puff adder, too, responds
to the spell of the season.

369
00:48:35,245 --> 00:48:37,941
Now is its time to bear young.

370
00:49:06,810 --> 00:49:10,507
With the rain,
the Okavango glitters with moisture

371
00:49:10,747 --> 00:49:14,183
and theplains turn a vivd green.

372
00:49:30,934 --> 00:49:34,028
The wild dog pups have been
playing athunting for weeks.

373
00:49:34,271 --> 00:49:38,264
They'renow oldenough to
witness the real thing.

374
00:49:40,143 --> 00:49:41,132
They join the pack,

375
00:49:41,378 --> 00:49:45,439
now ranging farand wide
in search of prey.

376
00:49:58,895 --> 00:49:59,862
At every water crossing,

377
00:50:00,097 --> 00:50:02,622
the adults are cautious
but the pups will learn

378
00:50:02,866 --> 00:50:06,893
only gradually about
the enemythe water hides.

379
00:50:17,881 --> 00:50:19,906
And when the chase
begins in earnest,

380
00:50:20,150 --> 00:50:22,675
the pups must be left behind.

381
00:50:56,620 --> 00:51:01,751
In the excitement and confusion
comes a momentof extreme danger.

382
00:51:01,992 --> 00:51:07,157
Urged on by theadults,
the pups must cross tosafety.

383
00:52:07,624 --> 00:52:10,388
Once more,
ancient adversarieshave met

384
00:52:10,627 --> 00:52:13,255
and played out
their predestined roles.

385
00:52:13,497 --> 00:52:17,627
The drama of the wild favors
neither predator nor prey.

386
00:52:17,868 --> 00:52:21,099
The survival ofall is insured
in the natural world

387
00:52:21,338 --> 00:52:25,069
which gives no reature
an absolute advantage.

388
00:52:25,308 --> 00:52:28,641
All belong-and have
their proper place

389
00:52:28,879 --> 00:52:34,681
in the great waterland
called the Okavango.