0:00:02 > 0:00:05This is Kruger National Park in South Africa,
0:00:05 > 0:00:10home to some of the biggest, fastest and deadliest animals on the planet.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16CBBC have brought four British and four South African children
0:00:16 > 0:00:20to spend a month training to be rookie game rangers.
0:00:20 > 0:00:21Incredible!
0:00:21 > 0:00:24Leading them will be their mentors -
0:00:24 > 0:00:26trails ranger Rudi...
0:00:26 > 0:00:28It's taken me years to learn to be a ranger.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31- They've only got one month. - ..and guide Frankie.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34In the African bush, danger can be around any corner.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38The Safari 8 needs to be alert and ready at any time.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42Eight kids, two mentors and one massive challenge -
0:00:42 > 0:00:45to lead two celebrity guests on a safari experience of a lifetime.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10Last time, our rookie rangers made some jumbo-sized new friends...
0:01:10 > 0:01:14It was the first time I touched an elephant. It was amazing.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18..and got their first glimpse of a totally wild animal.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20Look! There! There!
0:01:22 > 0:01:25On today's show, the Safari 8 get suited and booted...
0:01:25 > 0:01:30- I want your shoes polished every day. That includes mine.- What?!
0:01:30 > 0:01:33..find out that wild LIFE can also mean death...
0:01:33 > 0:01:35I'm not good with dead things.
0:01:35 > 0:01:40..and get their first taste of the bush - quite literally.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42It was like bleurgh! CHEERING
0:01:45 > 0:01:47Today is when all the hard work begins.
0:01:47 > 0:01:52It's barely daybreak, but Rudi and Frankie are at the treehouse
0:01:52 > 0:01:55keen to get the Safari 8 up and out.
0:01:55 > 0:02:00- It's 6am.- Animals don't lie in, so the earlier we start, the better.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03The team will have to get used to early starts.
0:02:05 > 0:02:10Come on, girls. Wake up! You guys must be dressed in five minutes!
0:02:10 > 0:02:13As rookie rangers, they'll learn that animal spotting is best done
0:02:13 > 0:02:17before breakfast.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19- Time to wake up.- Hang on.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23- What time did you knock? - Come on, guys, five minutes.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26If you live in the city, you're not used to getting up so early.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29It is a physical shock, someone waking you up.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31GIRLS WAIL
0:02:31 > 0:02:36We were woken up at 6.30, which is absolutely bonkers.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39My first night in the bush was very nice.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41I slept like a baby.
0:02:41 > 0:02:47But napping next to nature proved less restful for the lighter sleepers in the team.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51There was this massive bird, and it was so loud you couldn't imagine.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53It woke up Ashleigh, too.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57There was banging, and then things were walking through the bush.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01And I looked everywhere and I was like twitching.
0:03:01 > 0:03:06I had to get myself out of it and just go back to sleep.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08But sleeping in isn't an option for the Safari 8.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12There's one last thing they must do before they get to work -
0:03:12 > 0:03:16give up their regular clothes and start looking the part.
0:03:16 > 0:03:17- Good morning. ALL:- Morning!
0:03:17 > 0:03:22This is your uniform for the next couple of weeks here with us.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26The reason we wear this is to blend in as much as possible.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28Just one thing on this uniform.
0:03:28 > 0:03:33Every morning it must be clean, neat and tidy. Caroline, boots polished.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36- When you've done yours, you can do mine!- What?! No!
0:03:36 > 0:03:40The team are getting kitted out with working ranger gear.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43Oh! It has my name on it!
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Uniform and cap to protect them from the bush and sun,
0:03:46 > 0:03:50with strong boots for trekking. Khaki might not be fashionable,
0:03:50 > 0:03:55but natural colours mean they won't be a target for a hungry animal.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59Wearing these clothes is very, very nice.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02I feel like a ranger. I feel like a ranger.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05It's nice and cool and it has our names on it.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08How cool is that? My hat has it too.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11If this is what rangers wear, I don't mind wearing this all the time.
0:04:11 > 0:04:16- You all look brilliant. Are you ready for your training?- YES!
0:04:20 > 0:04:24The Safari 8 are training to become rangers in the Kruger National Park,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27the largest game reserve in South Africa.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31Watching them every step of the way are mentors Rudi and Frankie.
0:04:31 > 0:04:36Rudi is one of the most experienced and respected trails rangers.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Used to close encounters with formidable and fatal animals,
0:04:39 > 0:04:42he's survived a lot.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46I was attacked by a lion. I barely came away with my life.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50Frankie is a senior guide and tracks the Big Five every day.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53He's a bird expert, spider specialist and astronomer.
0:04:53 > 0:04:58His safari guests are guaranteed a five-star adventure.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01To be a guide, you have to be like me - passionate, committed,
0:05:01 > 0:05:03and ready for any situation.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11So far, the Safari 8 have only experienced the bush
0:05:11 > 0:05:13from the safety of the game-viewer truck.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16But they've already developed a knack for spotting giraffe.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19The giraffe's amazing.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22But who's really checking out who?
0:05:22 > 0:05:24I don't know if they're following us,
0:05:24 > 0:05:28but they're really nice - got lots of pictures.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31I hope they've got a wide-angle lens,
0:05:31 > 0:05:34because giraffes are the tallest animal on Earth.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38- Some 6,000 live here in Kruger. - Bye, giraffe! Look how big they are!
0:05:38 > 0:05:41But there are smaller, woollier animals,
0:05:41 > 0:05:44not native to Kruger, that are troubling Manya.
0:05:44 > 0:05:45Sheep.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48- Manya, are you scared of sheep?! - They freak me out.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51If you don't like sheep, don't come to Wales.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55- Every animal there is mostly sheep. - I just don't like their faces.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59For our rookie rangers' training to truly begin,
0:05:59 > 0:06:01the team need to be on foot, and that means
0:06:01 > 0:06:04some serious ground rules about safety.
0:06:04 > 0:06:10We're going for a walk now. Listen to what we have to say at all times.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14Walk quietly, walk in single file. There's myself and Frankie,
0:06:14 > 0:06:17and there's Jacob as well, here for your protection.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19If we come across something,
0:06:19 > 0:06:24don't run - you don't run faster than any animal in this bush.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26Everything here is wild.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29If something happens, listen to myself or to Rudi.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33We will take you to a safe place and head off the charge.
0:06:33 > 0:06:38If we encounter a dangerous animal and it does come towards us,
0:06:38 > 0:06:43just stand still - don't start screaming, don't start running.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Wait for our instructions.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47If we do give an instruction
0:06:47 > 0:06:51to get behind a bush or tree, do that immediately,
0:06:51 > 0:06:53and do it at speed, right?
0:06:53 > 0:06:55- Let's go!- Brilliant.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59This is the very first time the Safari 8 have been out in the open,
0:06:59 > 0:07:02and they quickly feel exposed and vulnerable.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07It's quite scary out here,
0:07:07 > 0:07:10being just in the wild and roaming free.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14You really need to watch what you're doing and know what you're doing,
0:07:14 > 0:07:16and just be safe all round.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20There are thousands of dangerous animals in Kruger,
0:07:20 > 0:07:24so being aware of what's around them is a vital skill they must master.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27This bush walk is a chance for our rookies to impress their mentors,
0:07:27 > 0:07:31who are already gauging who has real ranger potential.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35We are looking for the strongest person to lead the final challenge.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38That's what me and Rudi are going to assess today.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40So training has started.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44Lesson number one is identifying number twos.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46- What animal? - ALL: Elephant.- Why?
0:07:46 > 0:07:50- ALL: Cos it's big. - It is elephant, yes.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53If you open it up, you see large pieces.
0:07:53 > 0:07:59There's a combination of twigs, leaves. There's a piece of branch.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01You can see how coarse it is. OK?
0:08:01 > 0:08:05Rhino, hippo, warthog, zebra,
0:08:05 > 0:08:08all have single stomachs, so their dung is very coarse.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10Top tips for tracking.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13And there's a tasty bonus.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15You guys know marula fruit?
0:08:15 > 0:08:17Elephants feed on a lot of marulas.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20It passes so quickly through the stomach,
0:08:20 > 0:08:22it doesn't break the skin of the fruit.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26You can take it out of the dung, wash it off, and eat the marula.
0:08:26 > 0:08:31Sounds gross, but Rudi's preparing the team for things to come.
0:08:31 > 0:08:36As the Safari 8 will discover later, they're far from done with dung.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38I'd stick my head literally in a lion's mouth,
0:08:38 > 0:08:43but I'm not putting any poo - not even my poo - in my mouth!
0:08:43 > 0:08:48Putting poo aside, 14-year-old Ashleigh from Port Elizabeth
0:08:48 > 0:08:51does have a healthy appetite for new tastes.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57I love to eat. Eating is like a hobby for me. When I go to a restaurant,
0:08:57 > 0:09:01I'm not going to eat pizza, but something completely different.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03So grub is good. What's bad?
0:09:03 > 0:09:08My phobias are I'm afraid of the dark and spiders.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12I'm an arachnophobia. I hate spiders. I can't stand them.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14I've three sisters -
0:09:14 > 0:09:16Gemma, Britney and Gabby.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18She's quite fun to be around.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21Being Ashleigh's sister is interesting but a bit scary.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23Sometimes she goes a bit wild.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26And there's another member of the family Ashleigh's very fond of.
0:09:26 > 0:09:32I do have a brother, Hilton, my dog. He's such a good brother to me.
0:09:32 > 0:09:33The dog sleeps on a feather duvet
0:09:33 > 0:09:35in the bed next to one of us.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39There's a fight every night of whose turn it is with the dog!
0:09:39 > 0:09:44Hilton is definitely number one, but Ashleigh has more love to give.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47Saturdays or Sundays, I'll do community service.
0:09:47 > 0:09:52These animals don't get a lot of attention or people's time.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55So when you give it to them, they show appreciation.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57She's a very compassionate child.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02She's got a huge heart, but she's got a huge mouth, as well!
0:10:02 > 0:10:06- She's a bit of a screamer. - Ah-ah-ah!- She's not an a.m. person.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10- Not a morning person.- She wakes up on the wrong side of the bed!
0:10:10 > 0:10:12Moody in the morning,
0:10:12 > 0:10:16but one thing is guaranteed to put the spring back in Ashleigh's step.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19I absolutely love dancing. Any form of dancing.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23And what's Ashleigh hoping to get from her latest adventure?
0:10:23 > 0:10:27On safari, the animals I'd most like to see would be...
0:10:27 > 0:10:30cheetah or leopard - they're quite similar.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32I'd really be excited to see one of those.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37The Safari 8 face a huge final challenge -
0:10:37 > 0:10:42to lead a two-day safari in search of South African's Big Five,
0:10:42 > 0:10:46which are the rhino, weighing in at up to 3.5 tonnes,
0:10:46 > 0:10:49the elephant, the biggest land mammal in the world,
0:10:49 > 0:10:54the lion, South Africa's largest carnivore, the dangerous buffalo,
0:10:54 > 0:10:58and the leopard, pound for pound the strongest of the big cats.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01Tracking these animals is a test
0:11:01 > 0:11:04that will push the team's new skills to the limit.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08Back in the bush, Rudi, Frankie and the team
0:11:08 > 0:11:10are on the trail of an animal
0:11:10 > 0:11:14and, judging by the state of their surroundings, it's a big one.
0:11:14 > 0:11:19This area looks like a warzone. What do you think happened here?
0:11:19 > 0:11:21- Elephants. - Why do you say elephants?
0:11:21 > 0:11:24Because they lean against trees and stuff
0:11:24 > 0:11:26and because they're so heavy,
0:11:26 > 0:11:28if the tree's not strong enough, they can collapse.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31You can see it's been pushed over.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33The tree behind you, you can see the roots.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35Especially end of winter,
0:11:35 > 0:11:37when there's very little leaves available,
0:11:37 > 0:11:39very little grass,
0:11:39 > 0:11:42elephants go for the bark of trees and also for the root system.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46A lot people, when they're driving in the park and they see this,
0:11:46 > 0:11:49they go, "The elephants, they're causing so much damage".
0:11:49 > 0:11:51Yes, they are,
0:11:51 > 0:11:54but it's also vital to the park.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56Termites will start invading the tree,
0:11:56 > 0:12:01there's animals eating the termites, predators eating those animals...
0:12:01 > 0:12:04- So, a big chain. - BOTH: The circle of life.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08And as our rookie rangers are about to discover,
0:12:08 > 0:12:11the circle of life also includes death.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14As we were walking, there was, like,
0:12:14 > 0:12:16massive bones spread out.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19In the distance, there was a massive carcass
0:12:19 > 0:12:22and I was like, "Ooooh", because I'm not good with dead things.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26The sad reality is that finding dead animals
0:12:26 > 0:12:28is part and parcel of being a ranger.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32It's an aspect of the job which the Safari 8 can't ignore.
0:12:32 > 0:12:37- Can you all smell it?- Yeah.- Yeah? Beautiful smell, eh?
0:12:37 > 0:12:42- The carcass was really smelly. - It smelt SO bad. It was horrible.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45This is a white rhino.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49You can see by the size of the feet. Black rhinos have smaller feet.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52This rhino was found a few days ago by Kruger Park rangers.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54As a safeguard,
0:12:54 > 0:12:57they've already removed the highly-prized horns.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59Why do you have to take them?
0:12:59 > 0:13:03If poachers come across the carcass, they'll take the horns
0:13:03 > 0:13:05and we try and eliminate that.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09- What do you think could have killed it?- Yeah.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11This was probably a natural occurrence.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13You often get two rhinos fighting, one turns
0:13:13 > 0:13:16and the other one tries to hook it with their horn,
0:13:16 > 0:13:18and then it gets wounded and dies from it.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21'Very good questions they've been asking.'
0:13:21 > 0:13:24I've had a lot of people on trail.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26The kids' questions are quite mature.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30This has been here for about four days.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32So, they clean it up quite quickly.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34The bush is... It's equilibrium.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36Animals feed on dead animals
0:13:36 > 0:13:39to get it back into the ground - the circle of life.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42You don't know how they died and it's like a mystery
0:13:42 > 0:13:47but it was quite intense seeing a corpse of a rhino there, yeah.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49It's just so weird.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52There's so much life in it - bugs and maggots feeding off it.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55I think the most important thing I learnt
0:13:55 > 0:13:58is that everything that happens always has a purpose
0:13:58 > 0:13:59and a consequence after it.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02It's a bit sad, but this is life.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04The Safari 8 move on
0:14:04 > 0:14:08but quickly spot something their mentors have missed.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10While everyone was looking in the front,
0:14:10 > 0:14:14Manya turned and then I turned, because I saw him looking this way,
0:14:14 > 0:14:17and then all of a sudden, we saw a tortoise walking.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20I thought it was a rock. It looked SO cute!
0:14:20 > 0:14:23Who can tell me what tortoise this is?
0:14:23 > 0:14:25Is it the leopard shell tortoise?
0:14:25 > 0:14:28- Yes!- Well done!- So, you learnt!
0:14:28 > 0:14:31- Yeah!- Excellent! Where did he go?
0:14:31 > 0:14:33- He's there. - RUDI LAUGHS
0:14:33 > 0:14:36OK, yeah, this is the leopard tortoise,
0:14:36 > 0:14:39due to the colouring on his shell, and it's well camouflaged.
0:14:39 > 0:14:43It was one of my first spots as a ranger, so it was a great feeling.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45- Let's go, guys.- Bye-bye!
0:14:45 > 0:14:49The team are beginning to get the measure of the bush,
0:14:49 > 0:14:52but some are better at remembering facts than others.
0:14:52 > 0:14:53What have you learned?
0:14:53 > 0:14:57- The differences between white and black rhinos.- Can you tell me that?
0:14:57 > 0:15:00The white rhinos have got a hooked...
0:15:00 > 0:15:02- (Big mouth.)- What?
0:15:02 > 0:15:04- (Big mouth.)- ..a big mouth.
0:15:04 > 0:15:05Yeah.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09- And the black one's got a... - (Small mouth.)- ..small mouth.- OK.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13Caroline's a clever girl. She picked up all the information.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15- Do you know where the vehicle is? ALL:- Yeah.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17Yeah? Which way?
0:15:17 > 0:15:19Over that way.
0:15:19 > 0:15:20- There.- There.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23- That way. - Have a look at your compass.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25Sifiso's quiet,
0:15:25 > 0:15:29but there's a lot of leadership characteristics in him
0:15:29 > 0:15:31that we can maybe use at a later stage.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34..And also, the importance of a compass.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36- Yes, to find your way back.- Yeah.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40God job Rudi and Frankie know where the game-viewer truck is!
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Oh, yeah.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46It's been an eventful first morning in Kruger,
0:15:46 > 0:15:49and now Rudi and Frankie
0:15:49 > 0:15:51have a different challenge for the Safari 8 -
0:15:51 > 0:15:54an old ranger tradition
0:15:54 > 0:15:56involving kudu poo.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58Back in the old days, guys,
0:15:58 > 0:16:00when there was no television...
0:16:00 > 0:16:02Yes, Tomas,
0:16:02 > 0:16:04there was a time like that, years and years ago!
0:16:04 > 0:16:08..the old folk in South Africa used to have a competition.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12You get kudu dung like this, put it in your mouth, and...
0:16:12 > 0:16:15- HE SPITS - ..spit it as far as you can.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17Eurgh!
0:16:17 > 0:16:20So, what we're going to do, kids, this is now
0:16:20 > 0:16:23- your first official Safari 8 challenge.- What?!
0:16:23 > 0:16:25You're going to split into two groups.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28South Africa versus Great Britain.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32So, each rookie ranger has one chance to spit for their country!
0:16:32 > 0:16:35There's a reward for the winners - sunset drinks at the lake.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38And a forfeit for the losers - scrubbing the barbecue.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42The furthest spit wins, but that's not to everyone's taste!
0:16:42 > 0:16:44Is there somebody that's not up for it?
0:16:44 > 0:16:47- Ashleigh?- Yes! No!- No?
0:16:47 > 0:16:50Ashleigh didn't want to do it. "That's too nasty!"
0:16:50 > 0:16:55We came here to safari, not put poo in our mouths,
0:16:55 > 0:16:58and I wasn't going to do that, not at all.
0:16:58 > 0:17:03- OK, I've got a marker.- Kudu poo spitting is a serious sport.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07Picking the perfect pellet is key - firm but not crumbly.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10No-one wants dung to disintegrate in their mouth.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13- Ella's off to a gob-stopping start. - That's disgusting!
0:17:13 > 0:17:14Next.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18But Noma seems to have blown it.
0:17:18 > 0:17:19OK...
0:17:19 > 0:17:21Tomas's bluster proves to be a blaster.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24Top technique from Sifiso
0:17:24 > 0:17:26but he hasn't got the distance.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28Just here, unfortunately.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32Caroline's a bit hesitant and that's cost her some length.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35Kushal gives it all he's got
0:17:35 > 0:17:39and his pellet pings into pole position.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41With one mighty mouthful,
0:17:41 > 0:17:43Manya takes a late lead.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45Look at this!
0:17:45 > 0:17:48But because Ashleigh's refusing to take part,
0:17:48 > 0:17:52Rudi awards Kushal a free spit.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55It's the last chance for Team GB.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58- Oh!- Close, but not close enough. Well done, South Africa.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00And it's all over.
0:18:00 > 0:18:05Sundowners for South Africa, spit and polish for Great Britain.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08The kudu poo challenge was quite cool.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10I did well - I won the competition.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12I was really chuffed with that.
0:18:12 > 0:18:17It's like the last thing you could ever think of - having to eat poo.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19It was like, "Eurgh!"
0:18:19 > 0:18:23I was very impressed the way that Caroline and Ella handled it
0:18:23 > 0:18:25because I didn't think they'd be up for it,
0:18:25 > 0:18:27but they had as much fun as we did.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33One of the most important skills our rookie rangers must learn
0:18:33 > 0:18:35is how to track animals,
0:18:35 > 0:18:37so the Safari 8 are back to work.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39Keep to the single file.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41The reason for that is animals come from the front,
0:18:41 > 0:18:43they see one object.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46If you're all bundled up together,
0:18:46 > 0:18:48they're going to see a larger object.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50Some big footprints tell the team
0:18:50 > 0:18:54they're stepping into someone else's stomping ground...
0:18:54 > 0:18:56and a big hole filled with dung
0:18:56 > 0:18:58tells Rudi they're in rhino country.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00Rhinos have got territories
0:19:00 > 0:19:03and the most dominant rhino will have the best area.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06So, we're in the rhino's territory?
0:19:06 > 0:19:09Yes, this is part of his territory. This is a rhino midden.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11He dug a hole and put his poo in.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15- Do you think he had diarrhoea?- No!
0:19:15 > 0:19:17What a rhino bull then does
0:19:17 > 0:19:22- is stand here, he'll defecate behind him...- You mean poo?
0:19:22 > 0:19:25Yes, "defecate" is a nice word for "poo".
0:19:25 > 0:19:27..and he will scratch it out like this.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29He'll get his scent on his feet.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31Unfortunately, this is very dry.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34We're going to move on and see if we can find something fresher.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38Finding dung is one way to track wildlife.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40The trails they leave behind is another.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43A sandy riverbed is an ideal place to find animal footprints.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46These tracks are called spoor -
0:19:46 > 0:19:49a word which comes from Afrikaans.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52If you look down to the ground, there's quite a big print there.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55What animals do you think it was? Tomas?
0:19:55 > 0:19:57Um, I think it's a rhino,
0:19:57 > 0:20:00because the elephant's foot is a bit...more fatter and big.
0:20:00 > 0:20:01Ashleigh?
0:20:01 > 0:20:04I think it's an elephant because the toenails
0:20:04 > 0:20:08are stuck on the side of the foot and not on the bottom,
0:20:08 > 0:20:11whereas a rhino has a shape of like a heart.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13- Spot-on. - 'Ashleigh did very well.'
0:20:13 > 0:20:16She recognised the elephant spoor
0:20:16 > 0:20:20but the other kids were getting mixed up with the elephant and rhino.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24As a guide or a ranger, you can see the height of the elephant
0:20:24 > 0:20:27just by looking at the track.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31You take the circumference of the track...times three
0:20:31 > 0:20:33and that'll give you the height of the elephant.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Which way did this elephant walk?
0:20:36 > 0:20:37This way.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Have a look when you walk in the sand now.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44As you put your foot forward, you make a little scuff mark forward.
0:20:44 > 0:20:45Can you see the scuff mark?
0:20:45 > 0:20:49So, this was actually quite a big herd of elephants.
0:20:49 > 0:20:50They walked down here,
0:20:50 > 0:20:52all moving in that direction.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54Explaining to them about the spoor,
0:20:54 > 0:20:58I think they'll all recognise the elephant spoor from now on.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00Tracking's not just about seeing things.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03Our rookie rangers need to start using all of their senses.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05SHRILL BIRD CALL
0:21:05 > 0:21:06You hear that?
0:21:06 > 0:21:08OK, this is also a way
0:21:08 > 0:21:11of knowing that there might be something that's dangerous.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14It's called a Grey Lourie, or a go-away bird.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17MIMICS BIRDCALL: Go away! Go away!
0:21:17 > 0:21:19He doesn't like predators
0:21:19 > 0:21:23and he warns the prey animals, like impala and kudu
0:21:23 > 0:21:26and things like that, if there's danger in the area.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29But birds aren't the only thing to listen out for.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33- You hear that, "chick, chick"?- Yeah. - It's the alarm call of a squirrel.
0:21:33 > 0:21:39The team head off to see what's got the squirrels so stressed.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41You can hear the squirrels in the background here.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45- When you see what it is... - ..don't freak out.- Single file.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49OK, I want you guys to point it out,
0:21:49 > 0:21:50why they were making an alarm call.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52You must look now.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56Look for something that might be a danger to the squirrel.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59Don't look down there. Look up in the tree.
0:21:59 > 0:22:04See the big python here, rock python in the tree?
0:22:04 > 0:22:08THEY MURMUR EXCITEDLY
0:22:10 > 0:22:12It's one of the endangered snake species
0:22:12 > 0:22:16so it's actually quite rare to see this in the bush -
0:22:16 > 0:22:18almost better than seeing a leopard.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20Especially when you follow your senses
0:22:20 > 0:22:24and you know that the squirrels have told you there's something
0:22:24 > 0:22:27and you actually found what they're looking at.
0:22:27 > 0:22:32But no squirrels are needed to help the Safari 8 with their next find -
0:22:32 > 0:22:37a team of park rangers surveying the surroundings in style.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39The team are blown away
0:22:39 > 0:22:41and for once, Kushal is completely speechless!
0:22:41 > 0:22:45Because 13-year-old Kushal, from Harrow,
0:22:45 > 0:22:46has a dream -
0:22:46 > 0:22:48a dream he's desperate to get off the ground.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Well, flying is wonderful.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53Flying is just really cool.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55I want to be a pilot when I'm older.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58I just love flying, it's a wonderful thing. It's a passion.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02But planes aren't Kushal's only passion.
0:23:02 > 0:23:07I play for Lohana Cricket Club and I love cricket.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10I've been playing since I was about three.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14I'm just in love with cricket. Cricket is just my life.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17Off the pitch, Kushal's definitely got rhythm.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20My tabla is a kind of Indian drum.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23I've played that since I was about seven or eight.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26I'd love to learn new drums in Africa
0:23:26 > 0:23:30because I know they have loads of different kinds of drums.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32From beat to eat.
0:23:32 > 0:23:33Kushal has quite an appetite.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36Food is very important to him.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39His bin's overflowing with all these wrappers!
0:23:39 > 0:23:42I've been cooking since I was about seven.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46I love cooking sweet stuff because that's what I love to eat.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49Cookies, biscuits. Fairy cakes is a favourite.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51We're making so much more from scratch,
0:23:51 > 0:23:53not from packets and stuff.
0:23:53 > 0:23:54It's so much more fun now.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56I've been cooking with her for ages.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59There's my sister, my mum and dad, and my grandma.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01We get on so well as a family.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05If somebody's down, we're always cheerful, we'll get them up.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07Mmm!
0:24:07 > 0:24:10He's full of beans, ants in his pants.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12He asks so many questions all the time
0:24:12 > 0:24:14about everything, anything we see,
0:24:14 > 0:24:17and there has to be a reason behind everything.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21Of the Safari 8 team, I'm going to be asking the questions a lot
0:24:21 > 0:24:25and I think that they'll get bored of me asking and asking and asking.
0:24:25 > 0:24:26I'm quite a chatterbox!
0:24:26 > 0:24:29So, it's no surprise that Kushal
0:24:29 > 0:24:32is quick to question helicopter pilot Charles
0:24:32 > 0:24:35while his fellow rookie rangers check out the chopper.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39Do you get to see loads of animals when you're flying around?
0:24:39 > 0:24:43Oh, for sure. Our main focus is working with animals.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46So, you're trying to count how many...?
0:24:46 > 0:24:50Yeah, a census of the black rhino at the moment to see our numbers,
0:24:50 > 0:24:53because, obviously, they're an endangered species.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56They try and see how many black rhinos are in the park left
0:24:56 > 0:25:00to see how the population has grown in the last few years.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03And there's one more thing Kushal just has to do.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07I've always wanted to be a pilot for, like, commercial airlines.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10Now I'd rather do something that conserves the animals
0:25:10 > 0:25:12and you can also fly.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15I'm quite enthralled at the moment, I'm lost for words!
0:25:15 > 0:25:18Time for the chopper to fly,
0:25:18 > 0:25:22and Kushal is sure he's found his calling in life.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25Wicked, man!
0:25:25 > 0:25:28I'm doing that when I'm older! I don't care!
0:25:28 > 0:25:30That is a wicked job!
0:25:32 > 0:25:35It's the end of a long first day for the Safari 8,
0:25:35 > 0:25:37and for Team South Africa,
0:25:37 > 0:25:40it's time to reap the rewards of the challenge.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42Cheers, guys, on a wonderful victory.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45- Cheers!- South Africans!
0:25:46 > 0:25:49Manya did a very, very good job.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53I thought I was going to be a hero but I didn't succeed,
0:25:53 > 0:25:55but we're still a team anyway.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57Everything's just perfect.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01We've got wonderful drinks, we're watching the sun set.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03We were rewarded with sundowners
0:26:03 > 0:26:07and the other team had to clean the treehouse!
0:26:07 > 0:26:11Which Team Great Britain are doing with very little enthusiasm.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17Losing has left a bad taste in their mouth!
0:26:17 > 0:26:21- This is really disgusting. - It stinks as well.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27I could be having sundowners, whatever they are, right now.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30I was really hoping that we'd get to go get some drinks
0:26:30 > 0:26:32because it is SO hot.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34A rookie ranger's work is never done.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40The first day in the bush was amazing
0:26:40 > 0:26:42because I saw so many animals.
0:26:42 > 0:26:43It was so nice being there.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47The environment, the atmosphere - Africa, yeah, it was so nice.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50Just being there and seeing it with your own eyes,
0:26:50 > 0:26:52it was amazing.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54Manya looks quite cool in his uniform.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57The new uniform's really, really great.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00It's really cool to feel like you ARE a game ranger.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04I don't think I look so good because it's sort of baggy on me!
0:27:04 > 0:27:06Rudi and Frankie are really nice.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08They taught us a lot today.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11Rudi and Frankie are just, like, the top of the top.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13They're proper cool and stuff.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17You can throw questions at them and they'll always have the answers.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19Now that we're out here in the bush
0:27:19 > 0:27:23and we're learning all these things and you've got to learn really fast.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26I've just realised how much I've got to learn
0:27:26 > 0:27:28because we've still got three weeks,
0:27:28 > 0:27:30and hopefully, we'll learn everything
0:27:30 > 0:27:33to get the people on a really good safari.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35Next time, the Safari 8
0:27:35 > 0:27:38track down one of South Africa's most dangerous inhabitants.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41I thought the buffalo was like a cow with horns.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43I never knew it was really scary.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45A bush emergency leads to tragedy.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48Every single one of us was really sad and hurt by it
0:27:48 > 0:27:50because it's such an amazing animal.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52And there's some dirty work for the team
0:27:52 > 0:27:54when they have to get stuck in.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57- Fingers together...- Where's the opening?- Push it in there.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00I'm going to be sick, I'm going to be sick!
0:28:00 > 0:28:02Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd