Life isn't easy for Africa's big five megafauna. Lions, leopards, buffalo, rhinos and elephants face many threats, from competing for food in a limited landscape to avoiding hunters and poachers. Explore the incredible adaptations of each species.
00:00Africa's most iconic landscape, Savannah, a stage where nature's greatest dramas unfold.
00:23Famous for the Big Five, it's also home to less well-known creatures.
00:31From predator to prey, energy flows through this dynamic system.
00:45Every species has a role to play in the Savannah's unique web of life.
01:30Thornbush Savannah, vast sweeping grasslands that cover almost half of the continent's surface.
01:41Savannah extends over 30 million square kilometres, stretching across 27 African countries and beyond.
01:5420% of the planet's surface is dominated by grasslands.
02:00The Savannah is the world's largest grassland.
02:11Surprisingly, the plant at the heart of the Savannah's story is a humble grass.
02:17South African Savannah contains a rich diversity of grass species.
02:24Countless slender stems that feed an entire ecosystem.
02:31The Savannah is a complex web of life, from the plants at the bottom of the food chain to the predators at the top.
02:44Stories of life and death have unfolded on these plains for millions of years.
02:53Grassland provides a feast for herds of grazers.
02:57And the carnivores that track them down.
03:10Lions are the Savannah's definitive hunter.
03:27The impala instinctively runs for cover.
03:33But lions are masters of ambush.
03:40The lioness's hunting partner greets her.
03:44This is a shared success.
03:47Most hunts end in failure.
03:51This kill is good news for their pride.
03:55This meal will feed the family, including their growing cubs, curbing their hunger for several days.
04:05It is through these fatal dramas that energy flows through the Savannah's dynamic food chain.
04:12Plants eaten by the herbivores ultimately also sustain the carnivores.
04:19The word Savannah conjures images of open grassy plains devoid of trees, such as those of Tanzania's famous Serengeti.
04:30But these are not typical.
04:34Most Savannahs have many trees growing on them.
04:39Most Savannahs have many trees growing in delicate balance with the grasses.
04:46The key to the existence of Savannah is light.
04:53Its trees must be widely spread so the canopy can't close over and shade out the grasses.
05:09The other essential ingredients are warm temperatures year-round, peaking in a hot season.
05:18Complete with summer rains.
05:27During this wet season, a precise amount of water, over 50 centimeters, must fall for the grasses to thrive.
05:38Last but not least, the Savannah depends on its animals, whose grazing habits encourage new shoots.
05:51Harnessing the sun's energy is the first step in a cycle that ultimately feeds all the hungry mouths in this ecosystem.
06:02But the Savannah is not only somewhere to eat.
06:06It's also a refuge, providing shelter for animals.
06:11Of all its creatures, none are more important to the landscape than elephants.
06:16Their feeding habits maintain these open spaces,
06:20and allow them to survive in the wild.
06:25The Savannah is also home to a large number of other animals,
06:29such as the wild boar, the deer, and the black bear.
06:35The Savannah is also home to a large number of other animals,
06:39such as the wild boar, the deer, and the black bear.
06:42Their feeding habits maintain these open, grassy plains, which would otherwise revert to forest.
06:54Elephants live in stable groups of closely related females, led by a matriarch.
07:03She has an intimate knowledge of the landscape, and, in particular, the best feeding places.
07:13It's no surprise that elephants have enormous appetites.
07:21Bush elephants are the largest of all terrestrial animals,
07:25an adult female weighing in at over three tons.
07:33It takes 5% of her body weight, around 150 kilograms of vegetation per day,
07:41to fuel a body this big.
07:51Every day, elephants spend up to 16 hours consuming everything,
07:55from grasses to bushes, even the whole trees.
08:11The herd leaves a trail of destruction behind, or so it seems.
08:19In fact, their bulldozing activity is essential to the Savannah.
08:27By felling a proportion of the trees in any one area, they reduce the shady canopy,
08:33enabling light to reach the understory, so grasses have a chance to grow.
08:39The fallen branches also protect these new shoots, preventing grazers reaching them.
08:52Elephant activity renews the grasses, and, surprisingly, the damaged trees also benefit.
09:00Resilient species, such as acacia, have adapted to cope with their brutal pruning by re-sprouting.
09:10The acacia also relies on them to help plant its seeds.
09:16Elephants have inefficient digestion, so many of the seeds they consume pass through their gut undamaged.
09:24The dung is so rich in minerals, it provides the perfect compost for the acacia seeds to germinate.
09:36The nutrients also support other lifeforms, such as the elephant.
09:42The elephant is the largest animal in the world.
09:45Dung beetles eat it, and roll dung balls over large distances to use as nests,
09:52fully stocked with food for their larvae.
09:56These busy beetles help to fertilize the surrounding soils and spread the seeds.
10:04The beetles are also the largest animal in the world.
10:08These busy beetles help to fertilize the surrounding soils and spread the seeds, which take root in new areas.
10:21So the plants eaten by elephants are also fed by their dung.
10:28And the interconnected cycle of life continues.
10:31Once her family is full, the matriarch leads them on to new feeding areas.
10:38Elephants play a central role in the renewal of the landscape, making homes for a diverse community of wildlife.
10:55Africa has the world's greatest concentration of amphibians.
10:58Africa has the world's greatest concentration of antelope, most of which live on the savannah.
11:07Blue wildebeest gather in large herds, consuming grasses rich in phosphorus and nitrogen.
11:19Once the grasses are exhausted, the wildebeest will be forced to move on,
11:24often joining mass migrations in search of fresh pastures.
11:32Wildebeest herd together for protection against predators, frequently associating with other grazers such as zebra.
11:41Remarkably, there is little competition for food between species, because they have distinct feeding habits.
11:54Most of the year, there's plenty to go around, but the landscape is changing.
12:08It's the end of the dry season, a tense time on the savannah.
12:14After months without rain, the tender grasses have been cropped to ground level, nibbled by an army of hungry grazers.
12:23This hasn't killed them. If the rains come, they will re-sprout.
12:28But now, only the old, indigestible vegetation remains.
12:32At this time of year, grazers struggle to find enough to eat.
12:38Surprisingly, even in times of shortage, there's little conflict over food.
12:47The secret to life on the savannah is sharing.
12:52The savannah is the home of the wildebeest.
12:56But competition is fierce for another reason.
13:00This is the start of the breeding season.
13:04The animals are sizing each other up as potential mates or rivals.
13:26The predators are here to pick off the weaker individuals, and the scavengers to pick up the pieces.
13:43Lions are always on the lookout for their next meal.
13:47They live in groups called prides, consisting of closely related females and the area's dominant males.
13:56Lions may be deadly predators, but they actually spend most of their lives sleeping.
14:03Up to 20 hours a day.
14:07This pride is mainly active at night, when their nocturnal vision gives them greater advantage.
14:14The reflective strip under the eye helps lions to see better in low light.
14:28For now, though, they do as little as possible.
14:33Thanks to the cool shade of the tree, the lions are able to see better.
14:39Thanks to the cool shade of the tree, the family can relax.
14:51But the peace won't last.
14:57There is fierce competition amongst carnivores on the savannah.
15:02They all eat meat, which is challenging to kill.
15:09Within the pride, it's the lionesses that are the main hunters.
15:22Even with their combined power, a kill is not guaranteed.
15:26With the pride taking every chance to hunt, the savannah community must watch its back.
15:43Adult rhino, though, have little to fear.
15:47Like many savannah grazers, they're grass specialists.
15:54They lack incisors, relying instead on their strong, flat lips to hoover up short grass,
16:01chewing it between massive molars.
16:07They're not afraid of anything.
16:10White rhino are the world's largest rhino species, like this bull, weighing in at around 2,200 kilos.
16:24This female is accompanied by her youngster, around six months old.
16:30But with the bull nearby, they're heading towards danger.
16:38Mothers with young normally steer clear.
16:42Bulls are known to attack other rhinos that get between them and a potential mate, even the very young.
16:49But unusually, the mother allows her calf to approach this large bull.
16:54He could easily kill the youngster with one stab of his lethal horn.
17:09The bull is not afraid of anything.
17:13But the bull's reaction is surprising.
17:22He seems to welcome the youngster's attention and responds gently, even playfully.
17:30Bulls spend most of their lives alone, but do occasionally tolerate other submissive males in their territory.
17:42The bull is not afraid of anything.
17:46But the bull's reaction is surprising.
17:51He seems to welcome the youngster's attention and responds gently, even playfully.
18:00After his risky adventure, the little calf returns to the safety of his mother.
18:06She is key to his survival on the savannah, protecting him for his first two vulnerable years of life.
18:19Although she's started to wean him, the calf will rely on his mother's milk until he is a year old.
18:26Adult rhino have no natural predators, because they are large, thick-skinned, and well-armed.
18:34However, calves do occasionally fall victim to lions.
18:42Rhinos have poor vision, and can't see very well.
18:46However, calves do occasionally fall victim to lions.
18:54Rhinos have poor vision, relying instead on their excellent hearing and sense of smell to detect threats at a distance.
19:08The mother can't see the lion clearly, but she can smell him.
19:14With her precious calf an easy target, she's not taking any chances.
19:24Rhino can charge at speeds up to 40 km an hour, a lethal battering ram.
19:32The female is more than a match, even for a big male lion.
19:38At last, the calf's back with his mother, where he can suckle in safety thanks to her devoted protection.
19:48One of the lion's favourite prey is buffalo.
19:52The young ones are an easy target. Even adults regularly fall victim.
19:58To protect themselves, buffalo find safety in numbers, living in large herds, complex, ever-changing societies of males and females.
20:08To protect themselves, buffalo find safety in numbers, living in large herds, complex, ever-changing societies of males and females.
20:24As a strong, united front, these herds can fight off an attack from a whole pride of lions.
20:32But the herds are also targeted by smaller creatures, with a taste for their blood.
20:42Plagues of parasites feast on their skin. Horns are useless against this onslaught of biting insects.
20:52But buffalo have a strategy. Close cooperation with red-billed oxpeckers.
21:03These hopeful birds pick off fleas, ticks and swarming flies.
21:11Buffalo trust them to remove the tormenting insects, and the oxpeckers benefit from a constant supply of nourishing food.
21:22And wherever the herd goes, the oxpeckers go too.
21:28Communal living has advantages, but also creates a problem.
21:33For buffalo, life in a herd means many mouths to feed.
21:39The herd has to feed the buffalo.
21:43The herd has to feed the buffalo.
21:47The herd has to feed the buffalo.
21:50So they can't be too fussy about what they eat.
21:56Their savannah staple is grass, but there are some treats on the buffalo's menu too.
22:04Being large animals, they can reach high into the savannah's bushes.
22:09Another savannah specialist is the world's largest antelope, the eland.
22:16Males are as tall as a man, around 1.6 metres at the shoulder, but are up to ten times as heavy.
22:25The eland is a great habitat for wild animals.
22:30Males are as tall as a man, around 1.6 metres at the shoulder, but are up to ten times as heavy.
22:39Like buffalo, eland eat a combination of grass and leaves.
22:51They adapt their diet according to what is available.
22:59Eland have the peculiar characteristic of clicking as they walk.
23:07It signals dominance. The larger the bull, the deeper the clicking sound.
23:21Smaller and more elusive is another of the savannah's antelope, perhaps the most elegant of all.
23:29Kudu. Secretive creatures, they are rarely seen out in the open.
23:37Targeted by many savannah predators, kudu have camouflaged striped coats that blend into the background so they can hide in the thickets.
23:47Like all ruminant animals, this female must chew the kud.
23:54Every mouthful is chewed, swallowed, regurgitated and chewed a little more.
24:02Bacteria from the animal's stomach helps to break down the cellulose in the leaves as it is processed for a second time.
24:15Like the kudu in its leafy hideaway, the kudu have the peculiar characteristic of biting.
24:23Like the kudu in its leafy hideaway, all the savannah's animals ultimately owe their existence to the variety of habitats in this unique landscape.
24:38The savannah is one of the world's richest biomes, boasting exceptional plant diversity, in some areas over 5,000 plant species.
24:53A variety of savannah trees grace the landscape, including the resilient acacia.
25:01This definitive savannah species is not only eaten by elephant, it's the favourite food of another iconic character, the world's tallest animal, giraffe.
25:23Their extreme height, with males standing over five metres tall, enables them to browse the treetops.
25:32Long legs give giraffe an unusual way of walking.
25:37To avoid tripping up over their dinner plate-sized hoofs, both legs on each side move simultaneously.
25:46And although acceleration is slow, their top speed of 55 kilometres per hour enables them to outrun lions.
26:04Their stature not only provides a vantage point when it comes to predators, but also gives access to the scenery.
26:11This means that they don't have to compete for food with shorter animals.
26:17And it's not just the savannah that attracts the most wildlife.
26:23The savannah is not only a place of peace and tranquillity, but also a place of enjoyment.
26:30The savannah is a place of peace and tranquillity.
26:37It's a place of joy, of peace, of happiness, of tranquillity, of peace.
26:43And it's not just their long necks that give them the advantage.
26:49They also have a prehensile 45 centimetre tongue which extends their grasp.
26:57Thorns, the acacia tree's usual defence, don't deter them.
27:04But the trees are not completely at the giraffe's mercy.
27:09The acacia does fight back in a surprising way.
27:19As soon as a tree is eaten by browsers, its leaves produce poisonous tannins.
27:29They also emit a chemical, ethylene, into the air that can disperse over 40 metres.
27:39Incredibly, scientists have discovered the acacia are one step ahead of the giraffe.
27:47The chemicals released by a damaged tree are detected by its neighbours,
27:53that rapidly activate their own chemical defences.
27:57Within a few minutes, all the trees in the area are toxic.
28:01It's an extraordinary early warning system, evolved to protect plants from hungry animals.
28:09But plant poisons aren't enough to deter the most destructive grazers of all.
28:19The matriarch and her family are tucking into another stand of trees.
28:25Elephants can tolerate high levels of tannin in their food.
28:31As well as latex and even hydrogen cyanide.
28:35This is only possible because they vary their diet seasonally, switching to grasses after the rains.
28:43Every animal is adapted to their place in the savannah's food chain.
28:50This is nature's own recycling system.
28:56Where destruction ultimately promotes new life.
29:02At the end of the dry season, testosterone is flowing.
29:17In preparation for mating, wildebeest carve up the landscape into territories.
29:32The rut has begun.
29:35Each male is fighting to defend his tiny patch of turf.
29:40If he can hold his ground, and guard his females, he will get the chance to mate.
29:51In the buffalo herds, the female is the only female to mate.
29:56The male is the only female to mate.
30:00The female is the only female to mate.
30:04The male is the only female to mate.
30:07In the buffalo herds, males are vying for position too.
30:14Both sexes have horns, but only the males grow heavyweight headgear, forming what is known as a boss.
30:24This acts both as a weapon and as protection during head-to-head combat.
30:30It can take eight years for a bull to win breeding females and father offspring.
30:39The zebra stallions are fired up too.
30:43A male can only control his harem of females if he can successfully fight off the competition.
31:00The challenger will steal his harem if he can win this battle.
31:05With so much to lose, the stallions not backing down.
31:17But violence doesn't always pay.
31:21Despite their size and sharp horns, elant are peaceful creatures.
31:27Male dominance is not decided by sparring, but according to a strict social pecking order.
31:36Subtle features such as size of the dewlap, the thick skin fold under the neck,
31:42to the size of their horns determines who gets access to females.
31:47But keeping the peace is the exception to the rule at this time of year.
31:53Mature bull giraffes are generally solitary,
31:57but to gain mating rights to females, they come face-to-face to establish dominance.
32:02The only way to decide who's boss is a necking contest.
32:08The bull giraffes are generally solitary,
32:12but to gain mating rights to females, they come face-to-face to establish dominance.
32:37Aiming at the legs, they each try to destabilize their opponent.
33:08A male's head is like a 30-kilogram wrecking ball at the end of a long, strong, flexible neck.
33:20Short, bony horns can cut and bruise.
33:37Giraffe fights can last for half an hour, and injuries sustained can be devastating.
33:46Jaws and necks are sometimes broken, but fights rarely prove fatal.
33:57In this instance, there is a clear winner.
34:08Head now held high, he's secured himself the best chance of attracting a mate
34:14and passing on his winning genes to the next generation.
34:21His next challenge is to win over a female.
34:31Giraffe bulls darken in color as they mature.
34:34This one's in the prime of his life, and he's found a potential mate.
34:41The flick of her tail indicates she is receptive, so he now has a good chance of mating.
34:56It's no coincidence that most of the female bulls in this group are male.
35:04All of the savannah community breeds at the same time.
35:09For many species, the birth of the new generation coincides with the rainy season.
35:18The coming rains will flush the savannah with fresh new grasses,
35:22vital if there is going to be enough food for the hungry new babies.
35:27Predators are able to breed year-round, enabling them to raise their young during times of plenty.
35:35Birth rates amongst lions peak when there are lots of vulnerable young prey to catch.
35:47This dominant male has already secured his mating rights to a pride of females
35:52through fierce battles with other males.
35:58He warns the competition to keep out by scent marking.
36:10He's been tracking a receptive female for days.
36:23The pair have isolated themselves from the rest of the pride for the last 48 hours,
36:31and they've started to mate regularly once every 15 minutes.
36:37Lions mate quickly and often, up to 40 times per day and long into the night,
36:44to maximise the chance of fertilisation.
36:57Eventually the female returns to the pride,
37:01if she is now pregnant, in three months she will give birth.
37:16Many of the lionesses already have cubs,
37:20and feeding their cubs to their young is a way to keep them healthy.
37:25Many of the lionesses already have cubs,
37:29and feeding their demanding youngsters is thirsty work.
37:39Within a pride, females often synchronise their breeding,
37:43sharing the childcare and even the suckling duties.
37:49Cubs of a similar age are also more likely to survive,
37:54because being the same size, they have equal access to food.
38:00At 11 months old, cubs are allowed to join the adults when they go out hunting.
38:06Until then, they have to stay behind, under the watchful eye of a babysitting lioness.
38:15The breeding season is a drain on energy for all species,
38:20particularly at the end of the dry season, when food quality is poor.
38:28Over recent months, the elephants have been travelling through a steadily drying landscape.
38:35At this time of year, 70% of their diet consists of trees and bushes.
38:41But elephants also eat fresh grasses, and these can't grow without water.
38:51Everything now is waiting for the rains.
38:57The matriarch sniffs the air.
39:00Elephants have an excellent sense of smell.
39:03They also have acute hearing, sensitive to low-frequency sounds, such as distant thunder,
39:10and are believed to be able to detect coming rains hundreds of kilometres away.
39:34Rain – the essential ingredient for the renewal of the savannah.
39:47Within days, the first green shoots sprout from moistened ground.
39:53Fresh food for a growing savannah community.
40:00And there are new faces everywhere.
40:03And there are new faces everywhere.
40:14Out on an open plain, female blesbok antelope are beginning to drop their lambs.
40:21From its high vantage point, a varrose eagle has spotted the activity.
40:27An adult is far too big to be targeted by the raptor.
40:30But newborns are vulnerable.
40:39The eagles found the next best thing – a discarded afterbirth.
40:44It makes a perfect meal.
40:53Varrose eagles mate for life, and its partner is hungry too.
41:01Eagles are efficient hunters, but they will scavenge if the opportunity arises.
41:09Thus becoming a vital link in the savannah food chain, recycling the nutrients back into the system.
41:31There are new additions to the resident lion pride.
41:36One of the females has returned with her six-week-old cubs.
41:42Isolated with their mother, in the safety of a birthing den until now,
41:47they are ready to join the new family.
41:50They are ready to join the new family.
41:53Isolated with their mother, in the safety of a birthing den until now,
41:58they are ready to join their extended family.
42:00For the female cubs that will remain in the pride for life,
42:04this is the start of a long cooperative relationship.
42:10Born at this time of year, the male is the first to lay an egg.
42:15The female is the second to lay an egg.
42:18The male is the third to lay an egg.
42:21The female is the fourth to lay an egg.
42:24The male is the fifth to lay an egg.
42:27Born at this time of year, there should be plenty of food for the growing family.
42:35And with the cubs close in age, they'll be equally matched when it comes to seizing their share.
42:46In time, their mothers will teach the youngsters how to hunt and take their place as apex predators.
42:53For now, though, their carefree days are full of play.
43:12The rainy season has brought water in volumes, and the waterholes are full.
43:23Elephants love to get wet.
43:47The matriarch and her family indulge in a deep bath.
43:54Elephants are experts at finding drinking water, even during drought.
44:00But it's a treat to find water deep enough to plunge into.
44:12Bathing is part of an elephant's cleaning routine,
44:16which also involves scratching against trees to remove dirt.
44:19The whole family joins in.
44:50The savannah lies at the heart of untamed Africa,
44:57where the fortunes of animals and plants are interlinked
45:01in an eternal cycle which brings renewal and fresh growth.
45:08The savannah is the birthplace of the elephant family.
45:11Now flushed green, the landscape will nourish its animals for months to come,
45:19creating energy to feed the savannah and the elephant family.
45:26The savannah is the birthplace of the elephant family.
45:31The savannah is the birthplace of the elephant family.
45:36The savannah is the birthplace of the elephant family.
45:41The savannah's dynamic web of life.
46:11The savannah is the birthplace of the elephant family.
