Tales from Zambia — Season 1

Aired 25 July 2017 • 48 min

Spend an extraordinary day along Zambia's Luangwa River, one of the wildlife wonders of the world. Follow a baby elephant and his family as they search for food and water in the midst of the brutal dry season. Along the way, meet a colorful cast of animals of all sizes, from grazing hippos and basking crocodiles to huge flocks of birds. From sunrise to sunset, the valley bursts with life, making it the ideal destination for spotting some of Africa's most spectacular creatures.

Aired 26 July 2017 • 48 min

It's the dry season in Zambia's Luangwa Valley, where some of the planet's largest animals live side by side. Elephants, buffalo, hippos, giraffes, and crocodiles--all weighing in at over a ton--need a constant supply of food and water to survive. But with temperatures regularly topping 120 degrees, resources are scarce and tensions are running high. Discover the ingenious strategies and amazing adaptations that help these heavyweights make it through the lean times in one of the hottest places in Africa.

Aired 27 July 2017 • 48 min

Journey to the Liuwa Plains, one of Africa's last wild places. This remote landscape is one of jarring extremes. For half the year, it's a dry, barren plain where only the toughest survive. Then, torrential rains bring relief, transforming the plains into a bountiful wetland paradise. Discover how creatures of all sizes--from colonies of termites to vast herds of wildebeest--have adapted to thrive in these two very different worlds.

Aired 1 August 2017 • 48 min

Venture to the Luangwa River, a lifeline for wildlife winding through Zambia's extraordinary wilderness. A spectacular ecosystem is fueled by the river, from the giant hippos that drink from its waters, to the delicate birds that eat the fish swimming along its currents. Witness the daily quests of giraffes, wild dogs, small pukus, and massive crocodiles as they live their lives in a landscape that's as beautiful as it is extreme.

Aired 2 August 2017 • 48 min

Family is everything for this troop of baboons living along the bank of the Luangwa River. With hyenas, lions, and leopards around, everyone must be on constant guard for danger. But when a new baby is born in the midst of the dry season, life for the troop becomes much more complicated. At the top of the social ladder, the struggle to lead becomes a matter of life or death. After tragedy strikes, one male baboon on the edge of adulthood decides to leave the troop. Follow his journey as he sets out in search of a life of his own.

Aired 3 August 2017 • 48 min

Spend one day and one night roaming the remote Luangwa Valley with Africa's most fearsome carnivores. This pride of lions shares a small patch of land with rival hunters, potential prey, and thousands of other remarkable animals like honey badgers, warthogs, and hyenas. Explore this wild valley as the hungry lions struggle to find enough food to satisfy their appetites.

Aired 8 August 2017 • 48 min

The African wilderness is famous for fierce predators like lions, hyenas, and leopards, and real-life giants like hippos, elephants, and giraffes. But behind these iconic animals is an overlooked, but equally fascinating, cast of characters. From dung beetles and bees to vultures and termites, these creatures pollinate plants, fertilize the earth, and clean-up messes. No creature survives in isolation, and these unsung heroes play a pivotal role in keeping Zambia's remarkable ecosystem afloat.