Great Plains

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0:00:28 > 0:00:32Vast open plains.

0:00:32 > 0:00:35Immense spaces.

0:00:35 > 0:00:37Eerie silence.

0:00:40 > 0:00:43But any feeling of emptiness is an illusion.

0:00:47 > 0:00:51The plains of our planet support the greatest gatherings

0:00:51 > 0:00:53of wildlife on earth.

0:00:57 > 0:01:04At the heart of all that happens here is a single living thing.

0:01:04 > 0:01:05Grass.

0:01:09 > 0:01:14This miraculous plant covers a quarter of all the lands

0:01:14 > 0:01:16of the earth.

0:01:29 > 0:01:31Grasslands exist

0:01:31 > 0:01:36wherever there is a little rain, but not enough to sustain a forest.

0:01:36 > 0:01:39Some are huge.

0:01:39 > 0:01:44The central Asian steppe alone extends one third of the way

0:01:44 > 0:01:46around our planet.

0:01:51 > 0:01:54It's summer, and eagles effortlessly cruise the thermals,

0:01:54 > 0:01:59scanning the ground beneath for signs of prey.

0:02:00 > 0:02:03In the distant reaches of outer Mongolia,

0:02:03 > 0:02:07one of the planet's great migrations is underway.

0:02:13 > 0:02:18Few people ever see this extraordinary annual event.

0:02:26 > 0:02:28Mongolian gazelle.

0:02:28 > 0:02:33Two million are thought to live here, but no-one really knows.

0:02:33 > 0:02:38For much of the time, they're scattered

0:02:38 > 0:02:42through this vast landscape, but once a year, they come together

0:02:42 > 0:02:44to have their young.

0:02:44 > 0:02:49Nearly all will give birth within the next ten days.

0:02:54 > 0:02:58Out in the open, communal calving is the safest way to have young.

0:02:58 > 0:03:02With so many pairs of eyes keeping watch, it's almost impossible

0:03:02 > 0:03:04for predators to sneak up.

0:03:11 > 0:03:14There are no bushes, no trees.

0:03:14 > 0:03:17There's only one thing to hide behind - the grass.

0:03:19 > 0:03:22And it's not very effective!

0:03:29 > 0:03:31Predators also have a hard time

0:03:31 > 0:03:34raising their young on open grassland.

0:03:34 > 0:03:39Without trees, eagles have to nest directly on the ground.

0:03:41 > 0:03:47All inhabitants of the great plains are exposed to the elements.

0:04:04 > 0:04:08Fire sparks panic in the herd.

0:04:13 > 0:04:17Gazelles are born to run, and even young calves

0:04:17 > 0:04:22easily out-pace the flames, if they can avoid being trampled.

0:04:55 > 0:04:57With nothing to stand in its way,

0:04:57 > 0:05:02the blaze consumes anything that can't flee.

0:05:02 > 0:05:07Huge quantities of grass, valuable food, have been lost.

0:05:11 > 0:05:13And with it, the old and the weak.

0:05:19 > 0:05:21The gazelles move on to new pastures

0:05:21 > 0:05:25and leave the desolation behind them.

0:05:28 > 0:05:32From the ashes rises the phoenix.

0:05:32 > 0:05:35Grass, the incredible survivor.

0:05:38 > 0:05:43Because it grows from a protected part at the base of its stems,

0:05:43 > 0:05:45grass is almost indestructible.

0:05:56 > 0:05:59Able to repair and reproduce itself

0:05:59 > 0:06:03rapidly, it covers more of the earth's land than any other plant,

0:06:03 > 0:06:07and feeds more wildlife than any other.

0:06:26 > 0:06:28Red-billed quelea.

0:06:28 > 0:06:33One and a half billion swarm across the savannahs of Africa.

0:06:33 > 0:06:37These are the most numerous birds on earth.

0:06:41 > 0:06:44Some flocks are so vast that they can take

0:06:44 > 0:06:48five hours to pass overhead.

0:07:19 > 0:07:24Only grass can feed plagues of these proportions.

0:07:24 > 0:07:28The ravenous hordes devour the seeds.

0:07:28 > 0:07:34And the leaves and stems are cropped by great herds of antelope.

0:07:44 > 0:07:47The East African savannahs alone

0:07:47 > 0:07:49sustain nearly two million wildebeest.

0:08:01 > 0:08:06They trim the grass down to its roots, leaving little in their wake,

0:08:06 > 0:08:11but within days the plant will recover and continue to sustain

0:08:11 > 0:08:14the biggest herds on earth.

0:08:24 > 0:08:28Grass is not confined to the tropics.

0:08:32 > 0:08:37It manages to grow even in the bitter conditions of the Arctic.

0:08:44 > 0:08:47Beyond the limits of the last tree,

0:08:47 > 0:08:50the planet is barren and ice-locked.

0:08:50 > 0:08:55A frozen no-man's-land at the end of the earth.

0:08:55 > 0:09:01But for a short time each year, the long, dark winter releases its grip.

0:09:12 > 0:09:17Temperatures rise, and grass that has lain dormant and frozen

0:09:17 > 0:09:20throughout the winter sprouts once more.

0:09:25 > 0:09:28Green returns to the Arctic.

0:09:29 > 0:09:35The receding ice reveals an immense flat plain the size of Australia.

0:09:35 > 0:09:38This is the Arctic tundra.

0:09:44 > 0:09:47It's a desolate, silent wilderness.

0:09:47 > 0:09:51But it's about to change.

0:10:06 > 0:10:08Snow geese.

0:10:10 > 0:10:15They winter along the Gulf of Mexico, and in spring they fly

0:10:15 > 0:10:19the entire length of North America to reach the Arctic tundra.

0:10:20 > 0:10:24Five million birds make this journey every year.

0:10:40 > 0:10:45Their marathon migration is almost 3,000 miles long

0:10:45 > 0:10:47and has taken them three months.

0:10:54 > 0:10:59Exhausted and starving, they touch-down inside the Arctic circle,

0:10:59 > 0:11:03back at their traditional breeding grounds at last.

0:11:05 > 0:11:06Snow geese pair for life.

0:11:06 > 0:11:12As soon as couples arrive they must stake a claim to a nesting patch.

0:11:16 > 0:11:20Ideal sites are in short supply and quarrelsome neighbours

0:11:20 > 0:11:22are all around.

0:11:24 > 0:11:27Disputes can be vicious.

0:12:00 > 0:12:02Point taken!

0:12:04 > 0:12:08It's a long way to travel but, for a short period, the tundra

0:12:08 > 0:12:12is the ideal place for a grazer - the grass grows vigorously

0:12:12 > 0:12:16during the short intense summer, and there are fewer predators

0:12:16 > 0:12:19than further south.

0:12:22 > 0:12:26Here, geese can nest on the ground in relative safety.

0:12:26 > 0:12:30Nonetheless, this female must incubate her eggs for three weeks

0:12:30 > 0:12:33and throughout this time she will be very vulnerable.

0:12:47 > 0:12:50An arctic fox surveys the colony.

0:12:50 > 0:12:53She's been waiting for the geese all winter.

0:12:59 > 0:13:03Sneaking up unnoticed is impossible.

0:13:12 > 0:13:15Perhaps fortune will favour the bold.

0:13:29 > 0:13:31The colony is well defended.

0:13:31 > 0:13:33There are no easy pickings here.

0:13:44 > 0:13:50She's driven away from every nest, but hunger compels her to continue.

0:14:17 > 0:14:21There are more eggs here than she can possibly eat now.

0:14:21 > 0:14:25But the nesting season is short, so she stashes much of her plunder

0:14:25 > 0:14:29for later in the year when all the geese have gone.

0:14:40 > 0:14:46Further south, other bigger predators prowl the tundra.

0:14:48 > 0:14:51Wolves. For them, finding food on the plains

0:14:51 > 0:14:54is an even greater challenge.

0:14:54 > 0:14:57Not only is their prey seasonal, it is also hard to find.

0:14:57 > 0:15:01They've been searching for days without a sign.

0:15:07 > 0:15:12Somewhere in this immense landscape there is food for them.

0:15:19 > 0:15:22This is it. Caribou.

0:15:23 > 0:15:29Travelling 30 miles a day, they can cover nearly 2,000 miles

0:15:29 > 0:15:30during the summer months.

0:15:37 > 0:15:42The wolves will starve if they don't find the caribou.

0:15:42 > 0:15:46But it is no easy task to locate prey that never stops travelling.

0:16:06 > 0:16:10Biting flies and the quest for new pasture

0:16:10 > 0:16:13drives the migration ever onwards.

0:16:48 > 0:16:52A wolf has finally picked up the trail.

0:16:52 > 0:16:55The caribou are close.

0:17:00 > 0:17:02At last, a chance.

0:17:05 > 0:17:07The hunt is on.

0:17:17 > 0:17:22The wolf panics the herd, and the weak and young are singled out.

0:17:30 > 0:17:34A calf is separated from its mother.

0:18:09 > 0:18:14At the goose colony, it's high summer and eggs are hatching.

0:18:17 > 0:18:22The young all emerge within a day or two, a marvel of timing.

0:18:22 > 0:18:25The colony is now home to a million goslings.

0:18:41 > 0:18:45The fox is still gathering all she can get.

0:18:45 > 0:18:47GOSLINGS TWITTER

0:18:49 > 0:18:53Sometimes one mouth simply isn't enough!

0:19:22 > 0:19:26FRENZIED HONKING

0:19:27 > 0:19:30One will have to do.

0:19:35 > 0:19:40Not all food is stored - some is needed right now.

0:19:41 > 0:19:45She has seven hungry cubs to feed.

0:19:51 > 0:19:54As their appetites grow, the mother must work

0:19:54 > 0:19:56tirelessly to raise her family.

0:19:56 > 0:20:00Only fat healthy cubs will survive the Arctic winter.

0:20:15 > 0:20:19The vast majority of the goslings are still flourishing.

0:20:19 > 0:20:23Their parents lead them down to the safety of the water

0:20:23 > 0:20:25as soon as they're strong enough to make the journey.

0:20:31 > 0:20:35For the foxes, boom-time has come to an end.

0:20:35 > 0:20:41But the mother has given her cubs the best possible start in life.

0:20:42 > 0:20:47The geese will continue grazing the tundra until the summer ends

0:20:47 > 0:20:51and they're forced to head south for the winter.

0:20:57 > 0:21:02At these latitudes, the sun's rays are weak, and grass can only grow

0:21:02 > 0:21:04here for a few months a year.

0:21:04 > 0:21:09But further south, summers are longer and the grasslands flourish.

0:21:23 > 0:21:26The prairies of North America.

0:21:28 > 0:21:30This rich pasture

0:21:30 > 0:21:34once supported the greatest herds ever seen on our planet.

0:21:43 > 0:21:46There were once 60 million bison,

0:21:46 > 0:21:50but no animal is immune to intensive hunting by man,

0:21:50 > 0:21:53or the destruction of its habitat.

0:21:53 > 0:21:58And a century ago the bison were reduced to barely a thousand.

0:21:58 > 0:22:04Now, thanks to rigorous protection, the species is recovering.

0:22:08 > 0:22:10The growing season is long,

0:22:10 > 0:22:14and the grass here can support herds all year round.

0:22:20 > 0:22:23Male bison weigh in at one tonne.

0:22:38 > 0:22:41In high summer, the bulls are fat

0:22:41 > 0:22:46from the rich grazing and in prime condition, but only a few will mate.

0:22:46 > 0:22:49Exactly which few is about to be decided.

0:22:50 > 0:22:52DEEP GROWL

0:23:06 > 0:23:08ANGRY GROWLING

0:23:20 > 0:23:23On temperate plains around the world,

0:23:23 > 0:23:26summer is a time for growth

0:23:26 > 0:23:28and reproduction.

0:23:29 > 0:23:33Now the grass produces its flowers.

0:23:45 > 0:23:49New colours also come to the plains.

0:24:25 > 0:24:29The northern flowering is mirrored by the grasslands

0:24:29 > 0:24:33of the southern hemisphere, and nowhere is more impressive

0:24:33 > 0:24:36than on the veldt of South Africa.

0:25:21 > 0:25:27Not all temperate plains are so rich and colourful in the summer.

0:25:35 > 0:25:36This is mid-summer

0:25:36 > 0:25:41on the Tibetan plateau, the highest great plain in the world.

0:25:41 > 0:25:44Despite the conditions,

0:25:44 > 0:25:47grass survives and in sufficient quantities to support

0:25:47 > 0:25:51the highest of all grazing herds,

0:25:51 > 0:25:53those of the wild yak.

0:25:55 > 0:25:58Even in summer, life is hard.

0:25:58 > 0:26:04Temperatures rarely rise above freezing, and the air is thin.

0:26:09 > 0:26:11It's also exceptionally dry,

0:26:11 > 0:26:15for one very big reason.

0:26:18 > 0:26:20The Himalayas.

0:26:22 > 0:26:25The great mountain range acts as a barrier,

0:26:25 > 0:26:28preventing clouds moving in from the south,

0:26:28 > 0:26:31and this casts a giant rain-shadow

0:26:31 > 0:26:33that leaves Tibet high and dry.

0:26:51 > 0:26:55Grass clings to life, even as desiccating winds

0:26:55 > 0:26:59remove what little moisture remains in the soil.

0:27:09 > 0:27:13So long as grass can survive, so can grazers.

0:27:18 > 0:27:20Wild ass.

0:27:26 > 0:27:31The males are fighting to win territories.

0:27:31 > 0:27:36Those that hold the best are more likely to attract a herd of females.

0:27:52 > 0:27:55It's a frisky business.

0:27:58 > 0:28:00That counts as a victory,

0:28:00 > 0:28:04but he can't assume the females will actually turn up!

0:28:09 > 0:28:13Female asses are mysterious creatures.

0:28:15 > 0:28:18They come and go as they please,

0:28:18 > 0:28:22and much of their behaviour seems unfathomable to an outsider.

0:28:33 > 0:28:38They're the great nomads of the plateau and will often trek

0:28:38 > 0:28:42vast distances across these parched plains in search of oases.

0:28:44 > 0:28:49But when they do find paradise, they're liable to feed and drink

0:28:49 > 0:28:55for a few hours and then head back to the dust for no apparent reason.

0:28:58 > 0:29:04Wild ass are the most conspicuous pioneers of this high frontier,

0:29:04 > 0:29:08but the most numerous grazer in Tibet lives underground.

0:29:12 > 0:29:15Pika - a relative of the rabbit.

0:29:15 > 0:29:17It too feeds on grass.

0:29:22 > 0:29:27On the exposed plateau, pikas never stray far from their burrows.

0:29:27 > 0:29:32But even so, squatters will move in given half a chance.

0:29:45 > 0:29:49While groundpeckers and snow finches can be a nuisance,

0:29:49 > 0:29:51they're worth tolerating because they provide

0:29:51 > 0:29:53a valuable early warning system.

0:30:07 > 0:30:10The bizarre Tibetan fox.

0:30:10 > 0:30:13The pika's nemesis.

0:30:35 > 0:30:40When stalking it keeps below the skyline, perhaps helped

0:30:40 > 0:30:43by its curious body shape.

0:30:43 > 0:30:45But why the square head?

0:31:37 > 0:31:40In summer the Tibetan plateau heats up,

0:31:40 > 0:31:43drawing in warm wet air from the south.

0:31:43 > 0:31:46But the water never arrives.

0:31:46 > 0:31:48As the moist air approaches,

0:31:48 > 0:31:54it's forced upwards by the Himalayas and condenses into huge rain clouds.

0:32:08 > 0:32:14These clouds drop all their water on the southern side of the mountains.

0:32:14 > 0:32:17The very peaks that keep Tibet dry are responsible

0:32:17 > 0:32:22for the monsoon rains falling farther south, and the greening of India.

0:32:32 > 0:32:34Here, soaked by rain

0:32:34 > 0:32:39and bathed in tropical sun, grass reaches its full potential.

0:32:41 > 0:32:45Elephant grass is the tallest in the world.

0:32:57 > 0:33:03Grass that towers over an elephant can conceal all sorts of surprises.

0:33:11 > 0:33:14The male lesser florican.

0:33:14 > 0:33:20It's hard work, getting noticed when you go courting in high grass.

0:33:32 > 0:33:35The long-grass plains of tropical India

0:33:35 > 0:33:40are home to some of the largest grass-eating mammals on our planet.

0:33:40 > 0:33:42And some of the smallest.

0:33:44 > 0:33:47Pygmy hogs are no bigger than rabbits.

0:33:47 > 0:33:51They're the tiniest and rarest of all wild pigs.

0:33:56 > 0:34:01The female is busy collecting grass, but not for eating.

0:34:08 > 0:34:11She's building a nest.

0:34:24 > 0:34:29Each piglet may be small enough to fit in the palm of a hand,

0:34:29 > 0:34:31but she does have ten.

0:34:45 > 0:34:51This is how grass can grow given unlimited sunshine and water.

0:34:51 > 0:34:53But on most tropical plains

0:34:53 > 0:34:57across our planet, the wet season is followed by a dry one.

0:35:07 > 0:35:09On the African savannahs,

0:35:09 > 0:35:13grazers are marching in search of grass and water.

0:35:33 > 0:35:38Without rain, these plains can become dust bowls.

0:35:38 > 0:35:40Grass can now lose its hold.

0:35:50 > 0:35:53Elephants are in immediate danger.

0:35:53 > 0:35:56They must drink almost daily.

0:36:01 > 0:36:03Driven on by thirst,

0:36:03 > 0:36:07they march hundreds of miles across the parched plains.

0:36:24 > 0:36:29Relying on memory, the matriarchs lead their families

0:36:29 > 0:36:33to those special water holes that saved them in previous years.

0:36:40 > 0:36:44This one still has water, but they must share what remains

0:36:44 > 0:36:48with desperately thirsty animals of all kinds.

0:37:05 > 0:37:08These are tense times.

0:37:24 > 0:37:29The elephants dominate the waterhole, but as night falls,

0:37:29 > 0:37:31the balance of power will shift.

0:37:44 > 0:37:49Thirsty herds continue to arrive throughout the night.

0:37:49 > 0:37:51It's a cooler time to travel.

0:38:11 > 0:38:13In the darkness, the tables turn.

0:38:18 > 0:38:21The elephant's night vision is little better than our own.

0:38:24 > 0:38:28But lions have much more sensitive eyes.

0:38:41 > 0:38:46The cats are hungry, and the elephants seem to sense it.

0:39:25 > 0:39:28Lions don't usually hunt elephants,

0:39:28 > 0:39:33but desperate times require desperate measures.

0:39:33 > 0:39:38This herd contains calves, easier targets.

0:39:41 > 0:39:44But how to reach them?

0:39:59 > 0:40:01The adults encircle their young.

0:40:01 > 0:40:05It's an impenetrable wall of grey.

0:40:32 > 0:40:36A few exhausted stragglers are still arriving.

0:40:39 > 0:40:43One of them is alone.

0:41:01 > 0:41:05But it's too big for the lions to tackle.

0:41:10 > 0:41:13This one looks a little smaller.

0:41:26 > 0:41:30A solitary lion stands no chance,

0:41:30 > 0:41:32but the whole pride is here.

0:41:36 > 0:41:40There are 30 of them and they're specialist elephant hunters.

0:42:46 > 0:42:51This elephant will feed the whole pride for at least a week.

0:43:00 > 0:43:04Elephants know these drinking holes are dangerous,

0:43:04 > 0:43:06but they have no choice.

0:43:06 > 0:43:11The dramas that play out here are a savage reminder

0:43:11 > 0:43:15of how important water is for all life on these plains.

0:43:24 > 0:43:29As the dry season finally draws to a close, Africa's baked savannahs

0:43:29 > 0:43:32undergo a radical change.

0:43:34 > 0:43:37Rain sweeps across the continent

0:43:37 > 0:43:41and grass, the great survivor, rises again.

0:43:41 > 0:43:43And the herds return.

0:43:46 > 0:43:48For months they've been scattered

0:43:48 > 0:43:53over huge areas, clinging to existence around tiny water holes.

0:43:53 > 0:43:58Now, the good times are back.

0:44:02 > 0:44:06A few African savannahs are very special.

0:44:06 > 0:44:12Here, rainwater from far and wide flows across the flat plains.

0:44:12 > 0:44:16Grass is submerged, but still it grows.

0:44:36 > 0:44:43Flooded, burnt, baked and frozen, grass can withstand it all.

0:44:48 > 0:44:54After six months of drought, grass replaces dust over great areas.

0:45:04 > 0:45:09Fresh new shoots draw animals from great distances.

0:45:20 > 0:45:25Many undertake epic migrations to catch the boom time.

0:45:33 > 0:45:37Some resourceful animals live here all the year round.

0:45:45 > 0:45:50Baboons are permanent residents, but they have to change their behaviour

0:45:50 > 0:45:54if they are to gather what they need on the newly flooded plains.

0:45:58 > 0:46:05There's plenty to eat, but getting to it can be a little uncomfortable.

0:46:53 > 0:46:57New water poses problems for the youngsters,

0:46:57 > 0:47:00but they know where to find a dry seat.

0:47:09 > 0:47:14A juicy snail is ample recompense for sodden paws.

0:47:25 > 0:47:29Having survived the dry, barren times,

0:47:29 > 0:47:32animals can now reap the rewards.

0:47:37 > 0:47:39On this seasonal planet,

0:47:39 > 0:47:44the great plains are lands of feast and famine.

0:47:44 > 0:47:48At their peak they support the greatest gatherings

0:47:48 > 0:47:51of wildlife found anywhere on Earth.

0:48:13 > 0:48:16For the Great Plains crew,

0:48:16 > 0:48:18filming lions hunting elephants

0:48:18 > 0:48:21proved to be a very risky business indeed,

0:48:21 > 0:48:24not least because it all happened in total darkness.

0:48:29 > 0:48:34Basing themselves at a camp in the African bush, the crew made

0:48:34 > 0:48:36exhaustive preparations.

0:48:43 > 0:48:45It's almost night time.

0:48:52 > 0:48:56The best way to film wildlife at night is with infrared lights.

0:48:56 > 0:49:01Invisible to animals and humans, but visible to special cameras.

0:49:05 > 0:49:09At night, these infrared lights look bright through the sensitive cameras,

0:49:09 > 0:49:12but to the naked eye this scene is pitch-black.

0:49:12 > 0:49:15It's only visible by looking at the monitor.

0:49:17 > 0:49:18Filming in this way

0:49:18 > 0:49:21means that wildlife could go about its normal business

0:49:21 > 0:49:23entirely undisturbed.

0:49:29 > 0:49:32To stand any chance of filming hunting behaviour,

0:49:32 > 0:49:35the crew had to first find the lions.

0:49:37 > 0:49:38They searched the savannah

0:49:38 > 0:49:42using infrared lights and night vision goggles.

0:49:44 > 0:49:47No, can't see or hear any lions.

0:49:47 > 0:49:48How about you? Over.

0:49:49 > 0:49:51ROARING

0:49:52 > 0:49:55In the blackness, a roar gave the crew their first lead.

0:50:00 > 0:50:04They had found the lions, one of the biggest prides in Africa.

0:50:04 > 0:50:09More than 30 animals surrounded the car and it was impossible to keep

0:50:09 > 0:50:11an eye on them all.

0:50:17 > 0:50:19(Justine, there's one just to your right.)

0:50:19 > 0:50:21- (A lion, right here?!- Yeah.)

0:50:21 > 0:50:23(There's a lion right next to the door.)

0:50:34 > 0:50:37- (Yeah.- You see?)

0:50:47 > 0:50:51First impressions are that they're very nice lions I think.

0:50:57 > 0:51:00It's so easy. It wouldn't take a second for them to jump in here!

0:51:00 > 0:51:03There's nothing to stop them getting up here at all.

0:51:03 > 0:51:05That's the worrying thing!

0:51:05 > 0:51:07You just assume they're not gonna try!

0:51:07 > 0:51:11The lions didn't view the crew as prey

0:51:11 > 0:51:13as long as they stayed in the car.

0:51:13 > 0:51:16Leaving the vehicle would have meant serious trouble.

0:51:19 > 0:51:23On some nights the pride moved far, and the crew tried to follow them

0:51:23 > 0:51:25using their infrared lights.

0:51:29 > 0:51:33But the African terrain can be rough on vehicles.

0:51:36 > 0:51:37MECHANICAL SCRAPING

0:51:42 > 0:51:46Breaking down is one thing, but breaking down at night,

0:51:46 > 0:51:49in lion country is very risky indeed.

0:51:54 > 0:51:59Running repairs were always carried out with one person on watch duty.

0:52:02 > 0:52:05(Another puncture. I think it's the fourth or fifth one in this car.)

0:52:11 > 0:52:14Keeping up with the pride was hard...

0:52:14 > 0:52:16even for some of the lions.

0:52:18 > 0:52:20(He's lost!)

0:52:20 > 0:52:22We're following a lost lion!

0:52:24 > 0:52:27During the day it wasn't easy to rest.

0:52:27 > 0:52:30Temperatures soared to 50 degrees Celsius.

0:52:30 > 0:52:35Trying to sleep in the heat of the African day is quite ridiculous.

0:52:36 > 0:52:39You end up getting covered in sweat,

0:52:39 > 0:52:42and then covered in flies.

0:52:42 > 0:52:47It's 12.30. We went to bed at...when, eight?

0:52:47 > 0:52:48Yeah.

0:52:51 > 0:52:54That's not a lot of sleep really, is it?

0:52:54 > 0:52:59After a few hours sleep the team received an important tip off.

0:52:59 > 0:53:01The lions had been found.

0:53:01 > 0:53:04In the heat of the African day, they were sleeping

0:53:04 > 0:53:06in the most comfortable place.

0:53:06 > 0:53:09A remote tourist lodge.

0:53:09 > 0:53:12Been looking for them all over the place, and here they are.

0:53:14 > 0:53:16The non-paying guests!

0:53:18 > 0:53:21It's really shady, and the grass is watered so it's nice and moist

0:53:21 > 0:53:24and then they've got, conveniently, a big swimming pool to drink from.

0:53:25 > 0:53:29The poor guests have been locked in their rooms unable to get out.

0:53:29 > 0:53:33- No game drive.- Ha! Some holiday!

0:53:40 > 0:53:44Having located the lions relaxing pool-side,

0:53:44 > 0:53:46the crew were back on the case.

0:53:46 > 0:53:49But the lions were still in holiday mode.

0:53:50 > 0:53:54Even away from the tourist lodge, the pride could be inactive

0:53:54 > 0:53:56for long periods.

0:53:59 > 0:54:01If you want to have a sleep let me know

0:54:01 > 0:54:03and we can just watch them from here. Over.

0:54:07 > 0:54:12The crew simply had to adjust to the lions' schedule.

0:54:13 > 0:54:19During all-night stakeouts, tiredness overcame fear.

0:54:19 > 0:54:22Being careful to stay on the car, cat naps were taken

0:54:22 > 0:54:24- whenever possible. - ROARING

0:54:27 > 0:54:29MANY LIONS ROAR

0:54:39 > 0:54:42The African night is rarely silent.

0:54:42 > 0:54:44ROARING CONTINUES

0:54:51 > 0:54:55Before one beast stops another one starts.

0:54:55 > 0:54:58SNORING AND ROARING

0:55:07 > 0:55:11Eventually the lions and the elephants met.

0:55:15 > 0:55:17(Elephant coming.)

0:55:22 > 0:55:27And with the pride on the prowl, another danger soon became apparent.

0:55:37 > 0:55:40Elephants can't see well at night.

0:55:40 > 0:55:42They panic more easily.

0:55:42 > 0:55:47Distressed herds charging out of the darkness was a frightening prospect.

0:55:49 > 0:55:53Just hope they don't come bowling out the bushes and straight into us.

0:56:16 > 0:56:19The lions were getting hungry.

0:56:22 > 0:56:24Over time the crew learnt

0:56:24 > 0:56:28when and where the lions were likely to try and hunt.

0:56:28 > 0:56:33- But not everything always goes to plan.- Go, go, go, go, go, go!

0:56:33 > 0:56:35- Come on quick. - ENGINE TURNS OVER BUT DOESN'T START

0:56:35 > 0:56:38- Quick! Quick, quick! Go! go! - ENGINE STARTS

0:56:38 > 0:56:40- Shall I go past?- Hurry up!

0:56:51 > 0:56:54Keep it down. Don't rack it up.

0:56:54 > 0:56:56ROARING AND TRUMPETING

0:57:00 > 0:57:02Got a lion on its back. Keep going.

0:57:02 > 0:57:05Come in. Come in. Do you read me?

0:57:09 > 0:57:12Having waited days, well it's pretty...

0:57:12 > 0:57:14pretty grim now it's happening.

0:57:16 > 0:57:20Yeah. I mean, it's something we really wanted to film, but, um...

0:57:20 > 0:57:23it's, it's not, not, um, very tasteful.

0:57:26 > 0:57:29It's, er, it's quite rare behaviour and we didn't think we were

0:57:29 > 0:57:33able to get it on film.

0:57:33 > 0:57:36But now we're here, it doesn't feel like a privilege to watch,

0:57:36 > 0:57:37but a bit of an ordeal.

0:57:43 > 0:57:47It's never easy for anyone to watch a hunt,

0:57:47 > 0:57:50especially when the odds are stacked like this.

0:57:50 > 0:57:53But the sequence that the crew managed to shoot

0:57:53 > 0:57:58is a valuable record of a very rarely seen behaviour.

0:58:35 > 0:58:36Subtitles by Red Bee Media - 2006

0:58:36 > 0:58:39E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk