0:00:10 > 0:00:12VOCAL MUSIC
0:00:28 > 0:00:31'I was born on the banks of the Congo River.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47'My mother once asked me, "What d'you want to be?"
0:00:47 > 0:00:51'and I said, "A wildlife cameraman, but it's impossible." '
0:00:51 > 0:00:55But she said to me, "Believe in yourself. Nothing is impossible."
0:00:58 > 0:00:59'My name is Vianet.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03'I'm a wildlife cameraman and I am from the Congo.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15'I'm going to take you on a journey'
0:01:15 > 0:01:18from my hometown, Brazzaville,
0:01:18 > 0:01:21to the coast and right up into the North.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30I want to show you the incredible wildlife...
0:01:32 > 0:01:34..the amazing landscape...
0:01:34 > 0:01:37and the lovely people that live here.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47Ultimately, take you to what I think
0:01:47 > 0:01:50is one of the greatest wildlife destinations,
0:01:50 > 0:01:54not just in Africa, but maybe the world.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00I feel like I am witnessing paradise on Earth.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09On the way, we will see places that you might not expect.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14I don't know if you can say this in English,
0:02:14 > 0:02:15but it's gorgeously gorgeous.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17It's just amazing!
0:02:20 > 0:02:23I am sure there will be surprises along the way.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27'Not just for you, but for me as well.'
0:02:28 > 0:02:32I didn't expect this trip to change me, but it has.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45'Let me take you to where it all began for me -
0:02:45 > 0:02:48'Brazzaville. Capital of my Congo.'
0:02:53 > 0:02:56This is my home. This is where I was born.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59Literally in the centre of Brazzaville.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03You know, five minutes east is the Congo River.
0:03:03 > 0:03:08And that way, two minutes, is my school, my first-ever school.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11And, erm, I had my, erm...
0:03:11 > 0:03:15my chicken pen just on that far end.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19'I have not lived here for many years.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23'My father's job took us all to Paris when I was a young man.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26'But some things haven't changed.'
0:03:27 > 0:03:30We were woken up by the sound of birds.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32That tree up there.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34Every morning, full of birds.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41'My mother is no longer with me,
0:03:41 > 0:03:46'so, coming back here, I am flooded with voices and happy memories.'
0:03:46 > 0:03:48CHILDREN LAUGHING
0:03:48 > 0:03:50'I'm so proud of my roots...
0:03:54 > 0:03:56'..But it hurts me that, so often,
0:03:56 > 0:04:00'you only read bad headlines about this part of Africa.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05'I mean, look around - this is a happy place.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08'I want my journey to change your hearts.'
0:04:09 > 0:04:11I love this place, the smells.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14Just smells nice. Vegetables, fruits.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22'The bustling market is perfect for buying supplies
0:04:22 > 0:04:24'for the adventure that lies ahead.'
0:04:24 > 0:04:26INDISTINCT
0:04:35 > 0:04:38It's a fresh fish from the Congo River.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55'But, before we embark, there is something I want to be clear about.'
0:04:57 > 0:05:02'In Central Africa, there are two Congos - two countries.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05'Mine is the Republic of Congo, the smaller one,
0:05:05 > 0:05:07'but still nearly twice the size of Britain.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14'The first place I want to reveal is in the West,
0:05:14 > 0:05:17'far from the hustle and bustle of Brazzaville.'
0:05:27 > 0:05:29BIRDS CHIRP
0:05:37 > 0:05:40'Odzala - one of our national parks...
0:05:43 > 0:05:45'..with the most beautiful natural savannas.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54'I expect few people think of grasslands
0:05:54 > 0:05:55'when they think of the Congo.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02'And it attracts my favourite animal.
0:06:08 > 0:06:09'Elephants.
0:06:11 > 0:06:12'But not just any kind.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19'Forest elephants.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22'They are supposed to live in jungles,
0:06:22 > 0:06:24'but they don't always do what they are told.'
0:06:26 > 0:06:29Obviously they're forest elephants, but being in a grassland,
0:06:29 > 0:06:35in a savanna-type of landscape, makes it quite unique...
0:06:38 > 0:06:41..giving me a great opportunity to watch them
0:06:41 > 0:06:43to see just how different they are.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48They're slightly stocky, small
0:06:48 > 0:06:51compared to their cousin, the savanna elephants,
0:06:51 > 0:06:55which is quite great, because their body has adapted to the forest
0:06:55 > 0:06:59and stuff, which makes them so, you know, agile.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02ELEPHANT GRUNTS
0:07:02 > 0:07:07'They rarely grow taller than 2.5 metres, but like this adult bull,
0:07:07 > 0:07:08'they have big tusks.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16'And those tusks mean they have been targeted by poachers...
0:07:21 > 0:07:23'..sadly making them even more threatened
0:07:23 > 0:07:25'than their big African cousins.'
0:07:36 > 0:07:38Just want him to come towards me.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41Or at least look at me, you know?
0:07:42 > 0:07:43And say hi.
0:07:46 > 0:07:47Oh, just lovely.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00'Home to a quarter of the world's population,
0:08:00 > 0:08:02'my Congo is an important stronghold.
0:08:04 > 0:08:05'Maybe the strongest.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10'I believe it is the best place to see wild forest elephants.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17'For me, filming them is always very special.'
0:08:29 > 0:08:32So many elephants.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35The actual population is growing.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37It is quite, erm...
0:08:37 > 0:08:39I would say it's frightening, actually,
0:08:39 > 0:08:43because not only the big ones I've seen, but the baby ones as well.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45So beautiful.
0:08:45 > 0:08:46And, er...
0:08:46 > 0:08:48I love the elephants, you know?
0:08:48 > 0:08:51They are the emblem of this country, they represent this country.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00'Our next destination is somewhere I just have to show you.
0:09:03 > 0:09:04'This is Pointe-Noire.
0:09:15 > 0:09:20'The Republic of Congo has just over 100 miles of coast,
0:09:20 > 0:09:22'with lovely beaches along the way.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27'This is somewhere very close to my heart.'
0:09:30 > 0:09:33This is the place we used to come on holiday with my parents.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37My dad looked forward to playing Scrabble with my mum,
0:09:37 > 0:09:39but my mum wouldn't be interested,
0:09:39 > 0:09:42and she would want to have her feet in the water
0:09:42 > 0:09:46and just walk along the beach, you know, just contemplate,
0:09:46 > 0:09:51and, erm...me and my brother would play football altogether.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03'It's great to be back.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06'The time I spent here with my family were precious moments.'
0:10:20 > 0:10:23This place looks like a wild coast, you know,
0:10:23 > 0:10:24but when you go into details,
0:10:24 > 0:10:27you realise there are some great activities going on,
0:10:27 > 0:10:28like, amazing.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36'These crabs delicately pick edible debris from the surf.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44'Debris that could have washed here all the way from Brazil,
0:10:44 > 0:10:48'which is over 3,000 miles away with nothing in between.'
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Funnily enough, those crabs, they look like children,
0:10:55 > 0:10:57and they try not to get their feet wet,
0:10:57 > 0:10:59so they're running away from the waves.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23'As much as I love being back by the sea, I must move on.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29'There is another animal you need to meet.
0:11:29 > 0:11:30'One we share so much with.
0:11:43 > 0:11:44'They live nearby,
0:11:44 > 0:11:47'in Tchimpounga Natural Reserve.
0:11:47 > 0:11:48'There is a clue in the name.
0:11:57 > 0:12:02'A friend of mine will help me show you what I mean.
0:12:02 > 0:12:07'Serge works at the famous chimpanzee sanctuary, Tchimpounga.
0:12:07 > 0:12:08'The local name, Tchimpounga,
0:12:08 > 0:12:10'is believed to be where the word "chimpanzee"
0:12:10 > 0:12:12'originally comes from.'
0:12:15 > 0:12:20'It was set up by the Jane Goodall Institute nearly 25 years ago.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22CHIMPANZEE GRUNTS
0:12:30 > 0:12:33'Hunting chimpanzees for bush meat and the pet trade,
0:12:33 > 0:12:36'I have seen them suffer for many years.
0:12:42 > 0:12:47'But in my Congo, for those rescued from this terrible trade,
0:12:47 > 0:12:48'there is hope.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56'And Serge is going to introduce me
0:12:56 > 0:12:58'to the youngest members of the sanctuary.'
0:13:01 > 0:13:04These ones are between three and six.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Very young and quite vulnerable, but erm...
0:13:07 > 0:13:09they are on the very first stage,
0:13:09 > 0:13:13so they kind of take them to the forest and just try and get them
0:13:13 > 0:13:16to get used to the wild environment again.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24'Some of them bear terrible scars from their ordeals.'
0:13:26 > 0:13:27CHIMPANZEE GRUNTS
0:13:33 > 0:13:37'Here, however, they get the chance to still act like chimpanzees.'
0:13:40 > 0:13:44So I'm just going to go and catch up with those guys.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51'It is great seeing the trust these chimps have with Serge and his team.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59'Every day, they are taking them into the nearby forest to jump about
0:13:59 > 0:14:03'and get a feel for what it is like being in the wild.'
0:14:10 > 0:14:12That's just...
0:14:12 > 0:14:15Seeing that little chimp is just breaking my heart,
0:14:15 > 0:14:20to see his hand, you know, it's chopped off.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23It's really... it's really sad. Erm...
0:14:25 > 0:14:26Yeah, it's really hard.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37'The sanctuary has 160 chimps.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39'Well, 161.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44'The latest orphan arrived just a few weeks ago.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49'The first task is to establish a safe bond.'
0:14:50 > 0:14:54I think this is the foundation of rehabilitating those guys.
0:14:54 > 0:14:55It starts here.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59They need to get that sort of warmth from a human
0:14:59 > 0:15:01and trust from a human.
0:15:05 > 0:15:06SHE SPEAKS FRENCH
0:15:06 > 0:15:10'Patience is now his mother and she will build this bond.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14'It seems to be working.'
0:15:18 > 0:15:19HE CHUCKLES
0:15:22 > 0:15:24Look at it sleep! That's like my son!
0:15:28 > 0:15:31'Up to now, humans have not been his friends.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36'But, confiscated by the government and brought here,
0:15:36 > 0:15:38'that story is turning upside down.'
0:15:42 > 0:15:45HE MAKES CHIMP NOISES
0:15:45 > 0:15:47CHIMP COPIES HIM
0:15:49 > 0:15:51See? He likes me. He's responding.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57'She tells me he's the first orphan in nearly three years,
0:15:57 > 0:15:59'which is a good sign.'
0:16:01 > 0:16:02Bonjour.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06'It means that maybe the message is getting across.'
0:16:06 > 0:16:09Bonjour, les enfants.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11Moi, je m'appelle Vianet.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13- Tu t'appelle comment?- Jorvelle.
0:16:13 > 0:16:14- Et toi?- Pacili.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Ah, Pacili.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18Yeah. HE CHUCKLES
0:16:20 > 0:16:21Ca va?
0:16:21 > 0:16:26'The team here are doing their bit, educating the next generation.'
0:16:26 > 0:16:27HE SPEAKS FRENCH
0:16:28 > 0:16:30Les enfants.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33'Supported by the Jane Goodall Institute,
0:16:33 > 0:16:38'the children are given lessons and taught about the endangered animals.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43'There are still wild chimpanzees living in my Congo.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48'Making sure there are no more orphans is their priority.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51'It is, after all, illegal to hunt chimps.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58'This is really uplifting, you know?
0:16:58 > 0:17:01'The kids are really engaged and passionate and excited'
0:17:01 > 0:17:05about their environment and the wildlife,
0:17:05 > 0:17:10and I think this is conservation at grassroots.
0:17:10 > 0:17:11It is really exciting.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14CHILDREN SING
0:17:38 > 0:17:42'Everyone here is great - so inspiring. I love it!
0:17:42 > 0:17:44'They even let me join in a kickabout.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48'Tomorrow morning, I have been given permission to see how far the
0:17:48 > 0:17:51'Tchimpounga team have gone to returning rescued chimps
0:17:51 > 0:17:53'back to the wild.'
0:17:53 > 0:17:55SINGING CONTINUES
0:18:06 > 0:18:09'I'm travelling to a very special place.'
0:18:16 > 0:18:19'Tchimpounga is a big reserve and, in the far west,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22'there are three protected islands,
0:18:22 > 0:18:25'each with its own rescued troupe of chimps.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33'The forest on them are a wild natural habitat,
0:18:33 > 0:18:36'but are still controlled for the team
0:18:36 > 0:18:38'to make sure the chimps are all OK.
0:18:41 > 0:18:46'This is the final stage of their return to the wild for real.'
0:18:55 > 0:18:58'Some are already wild.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00'This little guy was born on the island.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04'He has never been in captivity.'
0:19:04 > 0:19:08It's great, because you can see he is learning from his mother
0:19:08 > 0:19:10like any baby wild chimp would do.
0:19:12 > 0:19:13Oh!
0:19:14 > 0:19:18Can you see that affection between the mother and the baby?
0:19:18 > 0:19:22It is so...sweet.
0:19:26 > 0:19:27Aww!
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Apparently that little boy is called Gee,
0:19:38 > 0:19:41and he's, like, the boy of the show, you know?
0:19:44 > 0:19:47It seems that he's a bit of an attention seeker.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56'The hope is to release this troupe back to the wild.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00'I believe it will be the first whole troupe
0:20:00 > 0:20:03'of rescued chimps released ever.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09'And so far, all the signs are looking good.'
0:20:12 > 0:20:15So, from what I can see now, it is moving forward so fast,
0:20:15 > 0:20:19as per conservation, and I really, really admire
0:20:19 > 0:20:22the people who are working here.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36'I am also lucky enough to be here
0:20:36 > 0:20:39'when they release another member of the ever-growing group.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51'It is a chimp that Serge has looked after since she was small.'
0:20:54 > 0:20:56GENTLE ACOUSTIC MUSIC
0:21:18 > 0:21:21I've been to several projects, you know,
0:21:21 > 0:21:23to do with wildlife, conservation,
0:21:23 > 0:21:27but I never had the privilege to see a release.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32'It is a great success for my Congo to lead the way
0:21:32 > 0:21:34'in chimpanzee conservation.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41'I wish them all the best, but, for now, I must move on.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45'I promised to show you everything.'
0:22:03 > 0:22:07'And there's one thing in my country that, no matter where you are,
0:22:07 > 0:22:08'you cannot miss.'
0:22:12 > 0:22:14BIRDS CHIRP
0:22:23 > 0:22:26I love this time, early in the morning,
0:22:26 > 0:22:28when it's quiet, not too hot,
0:22:28 > 0:22:31and you get to see loads of beautiful birds.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39'My Congo is home to over 600 species of birds...
0:22:42 > 0:22:44'..from huge palm-nut vultures...
0:22:46 > 0:22:48'..to tiny swallows...
0:22:50 > 0:22:51'..and kingfishers...
0:22:52 > 0:22:54'..seed-crackers...
0:22:56 > 0:22:57'..and woodpeckers...
0:23:00 > 0:23:02'..funny little manikins...
0:23:07 > 0:23:09'..and brilliant sunbirds.'
0:23:26 > 0:23:29'The male pin-tailed whydahs are like little peacocks...
0:23:32 > 0:23:35'..displaying with their long, fancy tails.
0:23:38 > 0:23:43'The females lay their eggs in other birds' nests, like cuckoos.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48'So they may be beautiful, but they are also naughty.'
0:24:02 > 0:24:04'Weaver birds are my favourite.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08'There are at least 16 different kinds...
0:24:10 > 0:24:14'..including the black weaver, with its golden eyes.
0:24:17 > 0:24:18'The village weaver,
0:24:18 > 0:24:22'so named because they always nest together near people.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26'And then there is the orange weaver bird.'
0:24:33 > 0:24:37I just love the fact that, you know, they're always busy, you know?
0:24:37 > 0:24:40Quite cheeky. They steal off each other.
0:24:46 > 0:24:52'The males do a funny flapping wing display underneath their hard work
0:24:52 > 0:24:54'to try and lure a female.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02'She will then decide if it's good enough for her to lay her eggs in.'
0:25:18 > 0:25:20'It seems not this time.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26'For some animals, though, you have to look much harder.'
0:25:30 > 0:25:34'Rock, a local ranger in the Odzala National Park,
0:25:34 > 0:25:37'is taking me to find a special monkey.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41'He tells me he has a trick that will help me film them.'
0:25:43 > 0:25:44HE WHISTLES
0:25:53 > 0:25:57Rock is just making the grand eagle call
0:25:57 > 0:26:01and apparently it attracts colobus monkeys.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03HE WHISTLES
0:26:03 > 0:26:08'I have no idea why - eagles will eat monkeys.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11'Maybe they just want to know where their enemies are.'
0:26:21 > 0:26:23I can see one, actually.
0:26:24 > 0:26:25Beautiful.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30WHISTLING CONTINUES
0:26:30 > 0:26:32This...this is unbelievable.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36I was being quite cynical about this, but, erm...it worked.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47'My uncle used to have a pet monkey called Kiki.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51'I was fascinated with him as a child.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53'I guess that is why I like them so much now.
0:26:58 > 0:27:02'Colobus live high up in the trees in family groups.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06'One big male with some wives and babies.'
0:27:10 > 0:27:13'Most monkeys love fruit.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15'Colobus, however, eat lots of leaves.
0:27:17 > 0:27:18'They have stomachs like cows.
0:27:21 > 0:27:26'And when they are full, to let all that food digest, they sleep.'
0:27:29 > 0:27:32'I love this - proper forest skills.'
0:27:48 > 0:27:50'And talking of cows,
0:27:50 > 0:27:55'not far is Rongo, the best place to see another Congo animal.'
0:28:04 > 0:28:06'The red - or forest - buffalo.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10'Like almost everything here,
0:28:10 > 0:28:14'they are on a smaller scale to other African mammals,
0:28:14 > 0:28:18'almost half the size of their cousins, the Cape buffalo.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24'But with those big, hairy ears, they are much cuter,
0:28:24 > 0:28:27'kept clean and tidy by oxpeckers.
0:28:29 > 0:28:34'But don't be fooled - buffalo can be very dangerous,
0:28:34 > 0:28:36'especially if they have calves with them.
0:28:39 > 0:28:41'They live in small family groups
0:28:41 > 0:28:44'with herds rarely exceeding 30 individuals.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49'So it is a lovely sight to see so many all together.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54'All the moving about churns up the mud
0:28:54 > 0:28:57'so they always have an entourage of followers.'
0:28:59 > 0:29:00'Woolly-necked storks...
0:29:03 > 0:29:05'..and the strange-looking hammerkop.'
0:29:10 > 0:29:14'These water birds love eating frogs and insects
0:29:14 > 0:29:15'stirred up by the buffalo.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22'It's nature being nature.
0:29:23 > 0:29:24'I love it.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37'And the best wildlife spectacle is still to come.
0:29:39 > 0:29:41UPBEAT MUSIC
0:29:41 > 0:29:44'So far, we have only seen one half of my country.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49'We have a journey ahead of us to where my father comes from...
0:30:21 > 0:30:24'..and to get there, we cross a very famous line.'
0:30:32 > 0:30:36We are in Makoua. This is, like, bang in the middle of Congo,
0:30:36 > 0:30:39and I know this place doesn't look glamorous, but this is,
0:30:39 > 0:30:42we're standing right now, we are standing on the equator,
0:30:42 > 0:30:46so, if you look that side, that's the southern hemisphere,
0:30:46 > 0:30:48and that's the northern hemisphere.
0:30:48 > 0:30:49And it's hot here!
0:30:55 > 0:30:56'We are travelling to the far north.
0:30:59 > 0:31:05'This is the land of my ancestors, my father's hometown, Ouesso.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10'A place I visited when I was very young.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15'Apparently, this is where I took my first steps.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36'This is where the proper equatorial rainforest begins,
0:31:36 > 0:31:39'where my great-grandfather, Sokondi, had his land.'
0:31:41 > 0:31:43ANIMAL CALLS
0:31:47 > 0:31:50'And hidden away are some of the last true forest people.
0:32:05 > 0:32:09'Africa has a bad history in its treatment of indigenous people.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14'I have never visited them before, so I hope they are welcoming.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25'But, as they are nomads, they are hard to find.'
0:32:26 > 0:32:27DRUMMING
0:32:28 > 0:32:31I can hear some drumbeats right there.
0:32:31 > 0:32:32I think we made it.
0:32:36 > 0:32:37'Eight hours later
0:32:37 > 0:32:40'and my apprehension for our welcome has grown.
0:32:45 > 0:32:47'But I am in for a surprise.'
0:32:48 > 0:32:49HE SPEAKS THEIR LANGUAGE
0:32:49 > 0:32:50THEY RESPOND
0:32:51 > 0:32:53HE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE
0:32:56 > 0:32:58So he says his name is Besala Deni.
0:32:58 > 0:33:02He's the chief and he is greeting us, you know?
0:33:02 > 0:33:04He's welcoming us here.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07HE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE
0:33:10 > 0:33:14'Even in the jungle, it seems news travels fast -
0:33:14 > 0:33:16'they know who I am.'
0:33:16 > 0:33:17Wow.
0:33:17 > 0:33:24So the chief said, basically, this land here is Sokondi land,
0:33:24 > 0:33:27your great-grandad's land,
0:33:27 > 0:33:32and since he is gone, we always wanted to keep a tradition alive.
0:33:33 > 0:33:37Sokondi, my great-grandad, he wanted to protect those guys.
0:33:37 > 0:33:41Have them as family members, you know?
0:33:41 > 0:33:46I am extremely, you know, proud of my, you know, my bloodline,
0:33:46 > 0:33:47my great-grandad.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50HE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE
0:33:59 > 0:34:04He just basically said he's extremely excited
0:34:04 > 0:34:09and extremely honoured that I am here to visit them
0:34:09 > 0:34:15and they are going to put on music of welcome...for me.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18DRUMMING AND SINGING
0:34:21 > 0:34:24'Imagine them remembering my great-grandfather.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27'And I was worried about meeting them.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32'They don't realise the honour is, in fact, all mine.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38'And, because of our connection,
0:34:38 > 0:34:42'in the morning they are allowing me to join them on a hunt.
0:34:42 > 0:34:43'It will be a rare privilege.'
0:34:49 > 0:34:51MUSIC CONTINUES
0:35:02 > 0:35:05'The forest people traditionally hunt using different techniques.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10'One way is using nets...
0:35:13 > 0:35:14'..like fishing on land.
0:35:32 > 0:35:36'The hunting party each have different jobs
0:35:36 > 0:35:38'and everyone seemed to know his role.
0:35:40 > 0:35:41'They are path-makers...
0:35:43 > 0:35:46'..net-fixers and beaters.
0:35:46 > 0:35:48'It is amazingly organised,
0:35:48 > 0:35:52'but if you want to eat, I guess this is what it takes.'
0:36:00 > 0:36:03SHOUTING AND WHOOPING
0:36:06 > 0:36:10The reason why they're making all the noise is to scare the animals
0:36:10 > 0:36:15from that perspective, so they will be running towards the nets,
0:36:15 > 0:36:19and once they get here, he is there, ready to catch it.
0:36:21 > 0:36:23CALLING CONTINUES
0:36:26 > 0:36:28'Everyone is so focused...
0:36:30 > 0:36:32'..but this close to the equator,
0:36:32 > 0:36:35'and 100% humidity, this is not easy.'
0:36:40 > 0:36:42They've seen something else just running through.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44It's going that way.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51NOISE BUILDS
0:37:05 > 0:37:09'These people get everything they need from the forest -
0:37:09 > 0:37:16'food, shelter, water, medicine, everything,
0:37:16 > 0:37:17'only taking what they need.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24'Their harmonious way of life has never changed.
0:37:25 > 0:37:29'But, in the past, it did come under threat
0:37:29 > 0:37:32'and that is when my great-grandfather Sokondi helped.'
0:37:36 > 0:37:37IN OWN LANGUAGE:
0:38:26 > 0:38:29'My Congo was the first country in Africa to pass a law
0:38:29 > 0:38:32'to give the indigenous people rights,
0:38:32 > 0:38:37'and I am so proud to think that my ancestors maybe had a part to play.'
0:38:37 > 0:38:39HE SINGS
0:38:43 > 0:38:46'I wanted the opportunity to show you the forest people
0:38:46 > 0:38:48'and their traditional way of life.
0:38:49 > 0:38:53'I was not expecting to discover so much about my family.
0:38:56 > 0:38:58'I have to keep moving.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01'My country's most precious place is still deeper
0:39:01 > 0:39:03'in these northern forests.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06'But I make a promise to return to my new friends.'
0:39:15 > 0:39:18'Nothing beats the peacefulness of travelling by canoe.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24'The rivers are natural roads.
0:39:27 > 0:39:31'Being here feels a long way from everyday life.'
0:39:38 > 0:39:39It is just so peaceful here.
0:39:41 > 0:39:45I can spend an entire, entire day just going along this river.
0:39:46 > 0:39:53Just sit and admire beautiful trees and dappled lights.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57GENTLE ACOUSTIC MUSIC
0:40:25 > 0:40:27I think whoever wrote the Heart Of Darkness was wrong -
0:40:27 > 0:40:31this is definitely not the heart of darkness.
0:40:31 > 0:40:33This is...lush.
0:40:35 > 0:40:36Pure.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40I don't know if you can say this in English,
0:40:40 > 0:40:42but it's, you know, gorgeously gorgeous.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45It's just...amazing, you know?
0:41:09 > 0:41:12'I'm very excited about what I have to show you.
0:41:17 > 0:41:22'A remote and wild place, deep in the heart of Nouabale-Ndoki.
0:41:22 > 0:41:24'For me, it's our most iconic national park.'
0:41:42 > 0:41:45(Misty morning. Love the mist.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50(Just going to sit on my hide, on the platform,
0:41:50 > 0:41:52(and see what comes out.)
0:42:01 > 0:42:03'This is it.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07'Mbeli Bai - the wildlife jewel in this country's crown.
0:42:10 > 0:42:15'And if you come to just one place in my Congo, make it here.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22'It is simply the best place to see wildlife
0:42:22 > 0:42:25'in the whole of Africa...I think.
0:42:29 > 0:42:31'Soon, the performance begins
0:42:31 > 0:42:33'and I have the best seat in the house.'
0:42:37 > 0:42:40'The first animals to appear are forest elephants.
0:42:43 > 0:42:45'They are famous here and guaranteed.'
0:43:02 > 0:43:05Bais are big naturally occurring clearings,
0:43:05 > 0:43:08islands in the sea of trees.
0:43:16 > 0:43:18'Mbeli is more special than most.
0:43:18 > 0:43:22'It has secrets in the water - minerals -
0:43:22 > 0:43:24'which the elephants love.'
0:43:25 > 0:43:28Sticking their whole heads underwater
0:43:28 > 0:43:30just to dig the minerals up from the bottom.
0:43:42 > 0:43:46For nearly 20 years, these elephants have been part of an ongoing study
0:43:46 > 0:43:48by wildlife conservation society...
0:43:50 > 0:43:55..identifying individuals from their distinctive ears or scars.
0:43:59 > 0:44:01Some are easier to spot than others.
0:44:04 > 0:44:08This big bull elephant has got a hole on his trunk.
0:44:08 > 0:44:11I don't know why, but you can notice that,
0:44:11 > 0:44:14because when he's blowing water,
0:44:14 > 0:44:18there is water also popping out of that little hole.
0:44:20 > 0:44:22It should heal in time.
0:44:22 > 0:44:25Another scar to make him easier to identify.
0:44:37 > 0:44:38Soon, they are not alone.
0:44:41 > 0:44:46Delicate swamp antelopes, sitatunga, have hooves that are splayed out
0:44:46 > 0:44:48so they can run across the marshy ground.
0:44:50 > 0:44:52There is a resident fish eagle.
0:44:59 > 0:45:04As the sun rises higher, the parade continues.
0:45:04 > 0:45:06And you see small things, too -
0:45:06 > 0:45:07butterflies...
0:45:09 > 0:45:10..dragonflies...
0:45:14 > 0:45:15..sunbirds.
0:45:20 > 0:45:24The big male sitatungas are much darker than the females...
0:45:25 > 0:45:27..and have impressive antlers.
0:45:30 > 0:45:31Forest buffalo.
0:45:34 > 0:45:37And a rare glimpse of the slender-snouted crocodile.
0:45:42 > 0:45:46My favourite bit about this place is the diversity of it, you know?
0:45:46 > 0:45:51It's just such a busy place, you know?
0:45:51 > 0:45:53A busy bai.
0:45:53 > 0:45:56And as the heat goes out of the day,
0:45:56 > 0:45:59something emerges from the forest.
0:45:59 > 0:46:00What I have been waiting for.
0:46:04 > 0:46:06Western lowland gorillas.
0:46:22 > 0:46:26Several families feed here on the fat stems of the reeds.
0:46:30 > 0:46:33Gorillas are on many people's animal dream list.
0:46:40 > 0:46:45And here, they are right in front of you, oblivious to your presence.
0:47:08 > 0:47:12'I love the fact that the youngsters don't want to get their feet wet...
0:47:14 > 0:47:17'..and so spend their time sitting on their own platform.'
0:47:18 > 0:47:21In this case, their mother.
0:47:24 > 0:47:27I feel like I'm witnessing paradise on Earth,
0:47:27 > 0:47:30just seeing these glorious animals,
0:47:30 > 0:47:33you know, seeing elephants and gorillas
0:47:33 > 0:47:35sharing the same environment, you know?
0:47:35 > 0:47:39And the fact that, you know, if I look left I've got,
0:47:39 > 0:47:44you know, elephants wading, digging into the water holes,
0:47:44 > 0:47:47and to the right, there will be, you know, a fish eagle flying,
0:47:47 > 0:47:51and, obviously, sitatungas and stuff.
0:47:51 > 0:47:53It's just beautiful and diverse.
0:47:53 > 0:47:57Seeing that in one day, you know, I wasn't...
0:47:57 > 0:48:00I wasn't prepared for that, but it's just incredible.
0:48:15 > 0:48:17THUNDER RUMBLES
0:48:30 > 0:48:33And no day at Mbeli is complete without some rain...
0:48:35 > 0:48:37..filling it all up again for the animals.
0:48:39 > 0:48:40ELEPHANT TRUMPETS
0:48:52 > 0:48:55'I loved seeing those gorillas.
0:48:55 > 0:48:57'It has got me wanting to see more of them.'
0:49:03 > 0:49:06It's been great, you know, seeing gorillas here,
0:49:06 > 0:49:09but I have always wanted to get close,
0:49:09 > 0:49:13get details on hands and eyes and expressions and everything.
0:49:13 > 0:49:17And...I know a place where I can just achieve that.
0:49:17 > 0:49:19And that is where I'm going to go.
0:49:20 > 0:49:24But all this rain means to find them is going to be a real adventure.
0:49:26 > 0:49:29Hard for us, but worth it to see gorillas up close.
0:49:44 > 0:49:45Finding gorillas...
0:49:47 > 0:49:49..you've got to be a little bit adventurous.
0:49:58 > 0:50:03The trackers have just located where the gorillas are,
0:50:03 > 0:50:06so that's why no time to waste.
0:50:06 > 0:50:09We need to get there as soon as possible.
0:50:17 > 0:50:20This forest stretches right through into Cameroon
0:50:20 > 0:50:23and the Central African Republic.
0:50:23 > 0:50:26It is huge and unspoiled.
0:50:29 > 0:50:32'But, thankfully, the family of gorillas I am looking for
0:50:32 > 0:50:37'are used to people and have been studied for over ten years.
0:50:40 > 0:50:42'My guides bring tourists here.
0:50:45 > 0:50:47'I feel very lucky.
0:50:47 > 0:50:50'This is the best place to see western lowland gorillas
0:50:50 > 0:50:54'in the wild, anywhere on Earth. Right here in my Congo.'
0:51:07 > 0:51:11(It's really easy to see the gorillas close,
0:51:11 > 0:51:16(but one thing is, to film them is a different story.)
0:51:23 > 0:51:26'I wear my mask, because gorillas are so like us
0:51:26 > 0:51:30'that they can catch the same diseases and we don't want that.'
0:51:41 > 0:51:45(They're going deeper and deeper in the foliage.)
0:51:53 > 0:51:59'And then, suddenly, there he is - the silverback.
0:52:04 > 0:52:07'Even though I know he is used to people,
0:52:07 > 0:52:09'it doesn't mean he is not intimidating.'
0:52:18 > 0:52:21(I just got close to the apopo.
0:52:23 > 0:52:27("Apopo" means "gorilla" in the local language.)
0:52:42 > 0:52:43(He's really close!)
0:52:51 > 0:52:54His name is Buka, and these gentle vegetarians
0:52:54 > 0:52:57have spent almost all of their time eating.
0:53:02 > 0:53:04He has to stay big to protect his family.
0:53:06 > 0:53:09(His hands, if you look at them close,
0:53:09 > 0:53:13(it's, like, three times my hand, and his arm is like that.
0:53:14 > 0:53:21(I've got a big arm, but his is...four times my arm! Huge!)
0:53:49 > 0:53:52'These guys are unusual for gorillas...
0:53:53 > 0:53:56'..in that they spend a lot of time looking for fruits.
0:54:09 > 0:54:11'And it's not just the youngsters.'
0:54:18 > 0:54:21I never realised that a silverback can climb a tree that fast.
0:54:23 > 0:54:25The first time I have seen that in my life.
0:54:28 > 0:54:30Obviously I've got a big smile in there.
0:55:07 > 0:55:10I've had a glorious time, a wonderful time.
0:55:10 > 0:55:13Now they've all gone, so it's time for me to go as well.
0:55:24 > 0:55:26'What an amazing end to my Congo adventure.
0:55:27 > 0:55:30'But there is one last thing for me to do -
0:55:30 > 0:55:33'make good a promise to the forest people.
0:55:35 > 0:55:37SINGING AND CLAPPING
0:55:39 > 0:55:42'And they throw a leaving party for me.'
0:55:45 > 0:55:48SINGING CONTINUES
0:55:57 > 0:55:59'I can't help but get carried away.
0:56:08 > 0:56:11'At first, I wasn't quite sure whether I should join in,
0:56:11 > 0:56:15'cos, obviously, I'm not very good at dancing,
0:56:15 > 0:56:18'but when the energy just kicked off,
0:56:18 > 0:56:22'I thought, "I'll take this moment. It's now or never," '
0:56:22 > 0:56:24and I just went and just danced,
0:56:24 > 0:56:27and I felt so great about it, you know?
0:56:27 > 0:56:29I just feel so great about it.
0:56:29 > 0:56:33I know my daughter always laughs at me when I'm dancing,
0:56:33 > 0:56:35but this time she's going to be wrong!
0:56:38 > 0:56:41SINGING CONTINUES
0:56:44 > 0:56:49'And so I hope now when you hear the word "Congo",
0:56:49 > 0:56:52'you will think of me and what I have shown you...'
0:56:56 > 0:57:00..of the many surprising places and incredible animals...
0:57:06 > 0:57:09..of the beautiful birds and wonderful people.
0:57:13 > 0:57:18The thought of leaving is, erm...
0:57:20 > 0:57:22..slightly saddens me.
0:57:24 > 0:57:25Yes, slightly.
0:57:28 > 0:57:30SINGING CONTINUES
0:57:37 > 0:57:41I didn't expect this trip to change me, but it has.
0:57:42 > 0:57:46I feel like I am really back home to my Congo.
0:57:49 > 0:57:51THEY SPEAK OWN LANGUAGE
0:57:55 > 0:57:56- Merci.- Merci.