1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 3 00:00:23,649 --> 00:00:27,611 The Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa 4 00:00:27,694 --> 00:00:30,030 is one of the driest places on Earth. 5 00:00:30,531 --> 00:00:34,618 But every year, one river flows down from the mountains 6 00:00:34,701 --> 00:00:37,913 and transforms the heart of this desert. 7 00:00:39,998 --> 00:00:44,378 A vast green oasis rises from the dust. 8 00:00:51,385 --> 00:00:57,224 The Okavango Delta has been filling, emptying, and refilling for millennia. 9 00:00:59,226 --> 00:01:03,480 And every plant and animal that has ever lived here 10 00:01:03,564 --> 00:01:07,860 has danced to the rhythm of this great seasonal cycle. 11 00:01:11,405 --> 00:01:15,826 Like blood through arteries, the water sustains all life here. 12 00:01:32,968 --> 00:01:34,386 But one animal 13 00:01:34,469 --> 00:01:37,472 is especially connected to the water. 14 00:01:46,899 --> 00:01:51,653 These Kalahari elephants spend most of the year searching for food and water. 15 00:01:51,737 --> 00:01:56,408 So, for them, flood season in the Delta is an especially joyous time. 16 00:02:03,373 --> 00:02:06,585 This is a side of elephants we rarely see. 17 00:02:44,665 --> 00:02:47,376 A 40-year-old female watches over the herd. 18 00:02:48,752 --> 00:02:54,800 Shani is the oldest and wisest, after her sister, the great matriarch. 19 00:02:55,676 --> 00:02:58,220 This puts her next in line to be the leader. 20 00:02:58,303 --> 00:03:01,348 It will be a big responsibility when the time comes. 21 00:03:02,933 --> 00:03:07,896 For now, though, she has her hands full trying to raise her one-year-old son. 22 00:03:09,314 --> 00:03:11,567 And this kid is a handful. 23 00:03:14,945 --> 00:03:19,157 Meet Jomo, one of the youngest of the herd. 24 00:03:20,534 --> 00:03:26,206 At this impressionable age, with so many different types of animals to play with, 25 00:03:26,498 --> 00:03:31,086 it's not entirely certain he even knows he's an elephant yet. 26 00:03:32,421 --> 00:03:36,425 He can't leap through the air, so he's probably not a lechwe. 27 00:03:40,721 --> 00:03:44,683 But a baboon... now, that looks more like it. 28 00:03:48,061 --> 00:03:49,688 They're not buyin' it, though. 29 00:03:52,357 --> 00:03:57,654 Let's just say Jomo has a lot to learn about being part of the herd. 30 00:04:02,659 --> 00:04:06,205 For elephants, family is everything. 31 00:04:07,331 --> 00:04:11,627 In this tight-knit group, someone always has your back. 32 00:04:11,710 --> 00:04:16,548 And that's usually Gaia, Shani's sister. 33 00:04:17,257 --> 00:04:19,051 She's the matriarch. 34 00:04:19,134 --> 00:04:21,595 A position earned through age and wisdom. 35 00:04:22,513 --> 00:04:25,516 Where she leads, the herd follows. 36 00:04:30,229 --> 00:04:33,565 Almost everyone here is related to Gaia. 37 00:04:33,649 --> 00:04:37,361 Sisters, cousins, daughters, grandkids. 38 00:04:39,571 --> 00:04:43,283 The older boys, they leave home in their early teens 39 00:04:43,367 --> 00:04:46,078 to seek their fortunes elsewhere. 40 00:04:46,161 --> 00:04:49,164 But they'll return occasionally to visit Mom. 41 00:04:49,248 --> 00:04:53,836 And to show the younger boys, like Jomo, how to cause trouble. 42 00:05:02,302 --> 00:05:05,097 Gaia knows the Delta is drying 43 00:05:05,180 --> 00:05:08,767 and that soon she will have to lead her family away from here 44 00:05:08,851 --> 00:05:15,148 on a quest for food and water, until the flood returns and so can they. 45 00:05:17,317 --> 00:05:20,112 These are the last elephants on Earth 46 00:05:20,195 --> 00:05:24,491 still able to make these epic migrations over thousands of miles 47 00:05:24,575 --> 00:05:26,159 as their ancestors did. 48 00:05:30,581 --> 00:05:36,253 For many, the trip will be new and exciting, but also perilous. 49 00:05:36,795 --> 00:05:39,798 Much will depend on Gaia's experience 50 00:05:39,882 --> 00:05:44,636 and the wisdom handed down from generations of elephants. 51 00:05:46,221 --> 00:05:49,057 Every year, the journey is challenging... 52 00:05:50,225 --> 00:05:54,479 but this year, it will change all of their lives. 53 00:06:14,958 --> 00:06:20,047 Two months later, the water is receding, and paradise is turning to dust. 54 00:06:31,308 --> 00:06:34,019 Jomo leads the charge to water. 55 00:06:43,987 --> 00:06:47,324 The Delta has become a series of vanishing pools, 56 00:06:47,407 --> 00:06:50,994 and these last drinking holes are great places to meet up 57 00:06:51,078 --> 00:06:52,829 with other families from the neighborhood. 58 00:07:00,295 --> 00:07:03,131 Social life is like oxygen for these elephants. 59 00:07:05,843 --> 00:07:08,178 And they embrace it face-first. 60 00:07:13,016 --> 00:07:15,561 Shani has already lost track of Jomo. 61 00:07:16,353 --> 00:07:18,021 There he is! 62 00:07:18,105 --> 00:07:19,648 He's, um... 63 00:07:20,899 --> 00:07:22,442 What is he doing? 64 00:07:28,282 --> 00:07:33,829 The older elephants all know this could be the last easy water for many months, 65 00:07:33,912 --> 00:07:36,331 so they're going to make the most of it. 66 00:07:38,417 --> 00:07:40,878 It's time for a pool party! 67 00:08:01,732 --> 00:08:05,235 When Jomo's over-stimulated, he can get a little... 68 00:08:05,694 --> 00:08:06,987 excitable. 69 00:08:11,074 --> 00:08:12,242 There. 70 00:08:12,326 --> 00:08:15,287 At least these guys are more his size. 71 00:08:41,271 --> 00:08:44,399 Well, that's turned most of the drinking water to mud. 72 00:08:46,318 --> 00:08:48,237 Mud is useful to elephants, though. 73 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:54,201 It acts as sunscreen and they even eat it to help with... stomach issues. 74 00:08:58,539 --> 00:08:59,706 Oh, dear. 75 00:09:02,876 --> 00:09:04,586 Ugh, who did that? 76 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:09,675 But the mud has a dark side. 77 00:09:11,093 --> 00:09:12,761 It's becoming dangerously sticky. 78 00:09:15,055 --> 00:09:18,183 Gaia's anxious and calls time out on the mud pool. 79 00:09:28,443 --> 00:09:30,237 Jomo barely makes it out. 80 00:09:36,660 --> 00:09:39,663 But a young male calf is stuck and suffocating. 81 00:09:40,914 --> 00:09:42,374 The matriarch rushes to help. 82 00:09:43,959 --> 00:09:45,878 He isn't Gaia's calf, 83 00:09:45,961 --> 00:09:49,715 but she knows he will die if she can't lift his face from the mud. 84 00:09:51,049 --> 00:09:54,261 And she's the only one with experience of this. 85 00:10:01,393 --> 00:10:03,979 His head is up. That's the first step. 86 00:10:07,441 --> 00:10:09,985 His mother is distraught, 87 00:10:10,068 --> 00:10:11,778 but knows if anyone else goes in, 88 00:10:11,862 --> 00:10:14,698 it will disturb the mud and make things worse. 89 00:10:19,453 --> 00:10:22,456 Even for Gaia, this is challenging. 90 00:10:24,708 --> 00:10:26,668 She keeps the calf's head high 91 00:10:26,752 --> 00:10:29,963 and removes mud from his mouth and trunk so he can breathe. 92 00:10:31,632 --> 00:10:34,092 Clearing the airways will buy time. 93 00:10:45,145 --> 00:10:48,690 Gaia looks to Shani to help calm the calf's mother. 94 00:10:53,070 --> 00:10:57,324 The calf is exhausted, and his legs are deeply stuck. 95 00:10:57,950 --> 00:10:59,826 But Gaia has a plan. 96 00:11:00,661 --> 00:11:04,456 If she can just dig a big enough escape route through the mud, 97 00:11:04,540 --> 00:11:07,876 the calf might be able to walk out on its own. 98 00:11:25,185 --> 00:11:27,604 Shani couldn't have a better mentor. 99 00:11:30,148 --> 00:11:34,194 Gaia never gives up and will never leave family behind. 100 00:11:54,423 --> 00:11:57,009 This matriarch is a force to be reckoned with. 101 00:11:58,010 --> 00:12:00,929 And a powerful role model for the entire herd. 102 00:12:08,395 --> 00:12:10,856 Gaia has seen the Delta dry out like this 103 00:12:10,939 --> 00:12:15,777 for every one of her 50 years and recognizes the signs. 104 00:12:15,861 --> 00:12:18,655 She knows it's time to leave. 105 00:12:20,282 --> 00:12:25,370 The memories of all the journeys she's ever taken are stored in her mind. 106 00:12:29,583 --> 00:12:34,379 All the pathways and the food stops. 107 00:12:39,676 --> 00:12:43,055 The landmarks and the dangers. 108 00:12:44,014 --> 00:12:47,976 She'll need them all to navigate these unpredictable lands. 109 00:12:52,314 --> 00:12:55,567 Gaia leads the herd into the baking Kalahari. 110 00:12:55,651 --> 00:12:57,361 It seems madness! 111 00:12:58,070 --> 00:13:01,073 But if she waits, the water holes they will need on their journey 112 00:13:01,156 --> 00:13:03,325 will dry up before they can reach them. 113 00:13:04,826 --> 00:13:06,954 And they'll be unable to cross the desert. 114 00:13:08,580 --> 00:13:13,126 The family joins the mass exodus of animals leaving the Delta. 115 00:13:41,238 --> 00:13:44,867 They're setting out on a thousand-mile round trip. 116 00:13:45,534 --> 00:13:48,745 One that could take up to eight months. 117 00:14:02,843 --> 00:14:08,015 After four days of travel, Gaia leads them to a shaded woodland, 118 00:14:08,098 --> 00:14:11,059 where she remembers there are seedpods to eat. 119 00:14:13,312 --> 00:14:15,731 But there's an unexpected surprise. 120 00:14:17,858 --> 00:14:19,151 Distant relatives. 121 00:14:20,319 --> 00:14:24,031 Part of the clan Gaia's family hasn't seen for over a year. 122 00:14:25,866 --> 00:14:29,328 They're also making a pit stop on their own journey. 123 00:14:35,667 --> 00:14:39,421 It's a wonderful chance to catch up with old friends, 124 00:14:39,505 --> 00:14:41,924 and maybe make some new ones. 125 00:14:43,217 --> 00:14:48,764 For Jomo, this could be the beginning of a life-long friendship 126 00:14:48,847 --> 00:14:52,309 and a valuable connection to a whole new side of his family. 127 00:15:06,073 --> 00:15:11,954 Emotional bonds between elephants are as strong and as long-lasting as our own. 128 00:15:19,336 --> 00:15:24,091 Shani reconnects with a cousin she hasn't seen in ages. 129 00:15:27,678 --> 00:15:31,974 They talk to each other with deep rumbling sounds that work at close range... 130 00:15:33,225 --> 00:15:36,144 And travel great distances through the ground. 131 00:15:38,897 --> 00:15:41,733 But nothing is more bonding than touch. 132 00:15:47,781 --> 00:15:50,284 All right, they've said their hellos. 133 00:15:50,367 --> 00:15:52,119 They came here for lunch. 134 00:15:53,370 --> 00:15:56,665 The old tree-shaking technique produces... 135 00:15:59,251 --> 00:16:00,294 one pod. 136 00:16:01,545 --> 00:16:03,380 Well, that won't feed the herd. 137 00:16:05,048 --> 00:16:07,801 Shani's a master tree shaker. 138 00:16:12,556 --> 00:16:14,808 Hmm... No luck. 139 00:16:15,893 --> 00:16:19,188 Looks like this food stop is a bust. 140 00:16:21,648 --> 00:16:22,858 Wait a minute! 141 00:16:23,859 --> 00:16:25,652 Who's this guy? 142 00:16:26,653 --> 00:16:30,824 He's come to visit his mom in the other family. 143 00:16:34,369 --> 00:16:39,750 A magnificent bull, and he's got a trick up his sleeve. 144 00:16:53,472 --> 00:16:57,309 Oh, he's gonna win a lot of friends with this party trick. 145 00:16:58,685 --> 00:17:01,480 Everyone loves these pods. 146 00:17:13,992 --> 00:17:16,370 Jomo's found a role model. 147 00:17:22,292 --> 00:17:24,044 Someday. 148 00:17:32,678 --> 00:17:35,556 These pods are just what Gaia and the family need. 149 00:17:36,515 --> 00:17:39,726 High energy food to keep them going on the long road ahead. 150 00:17:48,151 --> 00:17:52,573 Shani feels some new rumbling vibrating the ground beneath her feet. 151 00:17:56,201 --> 00:17:57,786 Low-frequency sounds. 152 00:17:57,870 --> 00:18:00,122 Far lower than humans can hear. 153 00:18:01,915 --> 00:18:04,793 They're messages from elephants on the road ahead. 154 00:18:06,336 --> 00:18:07,504 Time to move on. 155 00:18:12,968 --> 00:18:17,431 In front of them is an astonishing network of circles and lines 156 00:18:17,514 --> 00:18:20,100 that stretch across the desert to the horizon. 157 00:18:25,105 --> 00:18:29,568 The mysterious lines are ancient elephant paths. 158 00:18:30,819 --> 00:18:34,948 The circles are water holes that collect and hold rain for a few months, 159 00:18:35,032 --> 00:18:36,491 until it evaporates. 160 00:18:41,079 --> 00:18:44,249 Some holes contain just enough drinking water 161 00:18:44,333 --> 00:18:47,461 for the family to refill and travel to the next one. 162 00:18:50,547 --> 00:18:52,341 But others are too far apart. 163 00:18:55,844 --> 00:18:58,555 And some will be empty. 164 00:19:03,644 --> 00:19:06,396 The holes with water are the stepping stones 165 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:10,484 the family will need on their week-long journey to cross this desert. 166 00:19:11,693 --> 00:19:15,489 And linking them together is like solving a riddle 167 00:19:15,572 --> 00:19:18,450 that requires many years of experience. 168 00:19:22,538 --> 00:19:26,041 After a day marching under the beating sun, 169 00:19:26,124 --> 00:19:28,710 the family is desperately thirsty. 170 00:19:29,962 --> 00:19:32,422 Shani and Jomo rush to the water hole, 171 00:19:32,506 --> 00:19:36,301 hoping to drink some clean water before it gets muddied up by everyone. 172 00:19:54,319 --> 00:19:55,320 Empty. 173 00:20:00,492 --> 00:20:05,205 Shani can still smell water, but it's far underground. 174 00:20:08,709 --> 00:20:10,711 Jomo will stay thirsty. 175 00:20:18,093 --> 00:20:20,304 But there's another smell on the wind. 176 00:20:21,388 --> 00:20:25,267 Unusual, yet vaguely familiar. 177 00:20:44,328 --> 00:20:47,289 Shani is distracted from her thirst. 178 00:21:02,804 --> 00:21:06,642 An elephant must have arrived here about a year ago, 179 00:21:06,725 --> 00:21:10,229 desperate for water, but finding none. 180 00:21:11,647 --> 00:21:13,524 This is a reminder of the stakes. 181 00:21:14,691 --> 00:21:17,528 The riddle of the water holes is no game. 182 00:21:26,203 --> 00:21:29,748 The bones are blasted by sand and bleached by sun. 183 00:21:30,624 --> 00:21:34,795 But Shani still seems to recognize the elephant they came from. 184 00:21:35,879 --> 00:21:37,464 Perhaps it was a relative. 185 00:21:38,173 --> 00:21:41,677 Or perhaps it was an elephant she met only once. 186 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:45,681 And it's true that elephants never forget. 187 00:22:01,738 --> 00:22:05,158 Jomo was only born around the time this elephant died. 188 00:22:06,285 --> 00:22:11,123 Shani passes him a bone as if trying to teach him something. 189 00:22:16,170 --> 00:22:20,299 Elephants seem to have a deep connection to their past, 190 00:22:20,382 --> 00:22:23,135 and a reverence for those who've gone before them. 191 00:22:48,368 --> 00:22:50,370 There's so much ground to cover. 192 00:22:51,413 --> 00:22:54,791 Whether it takes one day or two will depend on speed... 193 00:22:55,501 --> 00:22:58,879 and Gaia taking the most direct route to the next water hole. 194 00:23:02,758 --> 00:23:04,927 There's no margin for error now. 195 00:23:11,141 --> 00:23:15,521 So many new wonders for the young ones to see on their first safari. 196 00:23:19,858 --> 00:23:23,737 Jomo's been starved for playmates on this long trek. 197 00:23:29,910 --> 00:23:33,497 He would love to play with this cute little cheetah cub. 198 00:23:34,623 --> 00:23:37,334 But maybe not while Mom's around. 199 00:23:48,804 --> 00:23:51,181 At last, an encouraging sign. 200 00:23:52,933 --> 00:23:56,353 Carmine bee-eaters nest near rich insect life 201 00:23:56,436 --> 00:23:58,647 so they can feed their chicks. 202 00:24:00,148 --> 00:24:05,028 It's a sign to Gaia that the herd must be getting close to water. 203 00:24:22,171 --> 00:24:24,631 Yesterday was a reminder of death. 204 00:24:24,715 --> 00:24:27,342 But today, the air is alive. 205 00:24:27,926 --> 00:24:31,471 And they can feel it in their giant bones. 206 00:24:42,691 --> 00:24:44,943 There's definitely water here! 207 00:24:46,236 --> 00:24:47,988 Make way, everybody! 208 00:24:52,242 --> 00:24:54,077 There's a time for sharing, 209 00:24:54,161 --> 00:24:58,999 but when elephants need to drink, it's survival of the biggest. 210 00:25:22,231 --> 00:25:24,441 Jomo's found some playmates. 211 00:25:25,859 --> 00:25:26,860 Warthogs. 212 00:25:28,529 --> 00:25:30,614 They look like fun! 213 00:25:30,697 --> 00:25:35,244 First, he's gotta wait till his mom's not looking. 214 00:25:35,911 --> 00:25:39,873 And... there he goes. 215 00:25:45,295 --> 00:25:47,130 Time for some hide-and-seek. 216 00:25:59,393 --> 00:26:01,687 But warthogs don't seem to be into this. 217 00:26:04,731 --> 00:26:06,400 Looks like he's switching to tag. 218 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:13,657 These pigs are way too fast for him. 219 00:26:28,338 --> 00:26:32,384 Jomo would chase animals all day if he could. 220 00:26:35,512 --> 00:26:36,680 Except for that one. 221 00:26:43,979 --> 00:26:49,026 The one animal that won't move for an elephant is a buffalo. 222 00:26:51,904 --> 00:26:55,115 Not moving. 223 00:26:58,076 --> 00:26:59,995 Jomo's actually pretty brave... 224 00:27:03,165 --> 00:27:04,791 when he's with his mom. 225 00:27:20,724 --> 00:27:25,187 Shani skims the freshest water off the top, which usually works. 226 00:27:27,105 --> 00:27:29,816 But this water has been ruined 227 00:27:29,900 --> 00:27:33,111 by animals wading and doing who knows what else in it. 228 00:27:41,370 --> 00:27:42,746 No drinkable water. 229 00:27:43,956 --> 00:27:49,294 But at least this oasis comes with its own small mopani woodland. 230 00:27:50,295 --> 00:27:52,548 Elephants love mopani. 231 00:27:53,173 --> 00:27:55,717 And its leaves contain at least some water. 232 00:28:00,764 --> 00:28:05,102 An elephant can eat 600 pounds of leaves and branches in a day. 233 00:28:06,770 --> 00:28:11,191 That's the equivalent of two-and-a-half thousand cheeseburgers. 234 00:28:12,776 --> 00:28:15,571 But they have a fierce competitor for these leaves. 235 00:28:15,654 --> 00:28:17,906 And it's in a whole other league. 236 00:28:30,836 --> 00:28:35,465 Mopani worms can eat twice their body weight of leaves in a day. 237 00:28:37,885 --> 00:28:40,512 They're the caterpillar of the Emperor hawk-moth 238 00:28:40,596 --> 00:28:44,057 and can devastate hundreds of miles of forest. 239 00:28:45,809 --> 00:28:47,978 These critters can't be chased off. 240 00:28:48,812 --> 00:28:51,356 They are rivals to be reckoned with. 241 00:28:58,322 --> 00:29:00,657 A few worms must get eaten by mistake. 242 00:29:01,783 --> 00:29:04,203 Yeah, elephants are herbivores, 243 00:29:04,286 --> 00:29:07,539 but a little extra protein never hurt anyone. 244 00:29:27,809 --> 00:29:29,394 You get 'em, Jomo! 245 00:29:36,610 --> 00:29:39,530 The biggest land animal on Earth 246 00:29:39,613 --> 00:29:43,784 chased off by a very hungry caterpillar. 247 00:29:49,790 --> 00:29:53,043 This decimated woodland has nothing for them now. 248 00:29:53,836 --> 00:29:55,087 But where next? 249 00:29:56,630 --> 00:29:59,466 Deep in her memory, Gaia knows. 250 00:30:06,682 --> 00:30:09,226 It's a place many of them have never been before. 251 00:30:10,394 --> 00:30:14,648 And getting there will test their faith in Gaia. 252 00:30:19,319 --> 00:30:23,657 The largest salt pan in Africa stretches out in front of them. 253 00:30:25,117 --> 00:30:29,663 It's vast, brutal, and looks impossible to cross. 254 00:30:40,007 --> 00:30:43,927 The ancient trails lead to a fantastical place. 255 00:30:46,471 --> 00:30:49,975 An island that rises from the salt like a mirage. 256 00:30:54,813 --> 00:30:57,733 But this island is very real 257 00:30:57,816 --> 00:31:00,944 and offers a surprising lifeline for travelers. 258 00:31:03,906 --> 00:31:05,532 Baobab trees. 259 00:31:09,286 --> 00:31:12,247 Their swollen trunks are full of water 260 00:31:12,331 --> 00:31:15,042 that was stored months ago during the rainy season. 261 00:31:21,673 --> 00:31:24,843 Gaia hopes the sap will keep her family alive 262 00:31:24,927 --> 00:31:27,846 for the second stage of the salt pan crossing. 263 00:31:29,056 --> 00:31:32,643 It's the only water for 200 miles. 264 00:31:34,520 --> 00:31:36,438 Gaia found the island, 265 00:31:36,522 --> 00:31:42,110 but it's Shani who teaches the younger elephant what to do with the baobabs. 266 00:31:42,903 --> 00:31:45,155 She rips open the thick bark, 267 00:31:45,239 --> 00:31:49,451 so Jomo and the little ones can reach the moisture stored beneath. 268 00:32:10,889 --> 00:32:13,851 The shape of these trees on the horizon 269 00:32:13,934 --> 00:32:19,231 must have been a sign of salvation for generations of weary elephants. 270 00:32:31,785 --> 00:32:35,622 And beneath their boughs... bed. 271 00:32:51,096 --> 00:32:55,809 Only when the skies glitter and the heat of the day fades 272 00:32:55,893 --> 00:32:58,645 do the island's strangest creatures emerge. 273 00:33:30,010 --> 00:33:34,890 This is a magical place where elephants can dream. 274 00:33:36,391 --> 00:33:38,852 Younger minds might be buzzing from the excitement 275 00:33:38,936 --> 00:33:41,396 of making this journey for the first time. 276 00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:46,235 Perhaps Shani and the elders dream of the time 277 00:33:46,318 --> 00:33:48,946 they were shown this island by their ancestors. 278 00:33:50,322 --> 00:33:57,120 Part of an unbroken chain of knowledge stretching back for millennia. 279 00:34:18,350 --> 00:34:20,727 Mornings in the desert are cold. 280 00:34:21,270 --> 00:34:24,398 So, Jomo and Shani are in no hurry to get up. 281 00:34:27,234 --> 00:34:29,570 Gaia needs to get her family moving, 282 00:34:29,653 --> 00:34:33,574 even if her old bones are creaking a little these days. 283 00:34:35,701 --> 00:34:41,039 But no matter what your age, getting up isn't easy when you're this shape. 284 00:34:46,503 --> 00:34:49,673 A helping trunk can make all the difference. 285 00:35:05,439 --> 00:35:06,815 Not helping, Jomo. 286 00:35:18,035 --> 00:35:21,580 The calves need the water in their mother's milk 287 00:35:21,663 --> 00:35:23,916 or they'll never make it across the salt pan. 288 00:35:25,667 --> 00:35:29,046 The baobab sap won't be enough to keep the adults going. 289 00:35:30,797 --> 00:35:33,842 They need to cross now before it gets too hot. 290 00:35:36,428 --> 00:35:39,056 But the desert has other ideas. 291 00:35:56,740 --> 00:36:01,787 The winds have crossed hundreds of miles of scorched salt and are bone dry. 292 00:36:10,170 --> 00:36:14,132 There is no shelter from the desiccating salt crystals 293 00:36:14,216 --> 00:36:16,969 and the calves are in serious risk of dehydration. 294 00:36:25,143 --> 00:36:27,479 Pushing on is the only option. 295 00:36:47,916 --> 00:36:51,837 Jomo is struggling, but Shani reassures him. 296 00:36:51,920 --> 00:36:54,381 She would never leave him behind. 297 00:37:05,559 --> 00:37:09,271 The salt and the wind have sucked the water from their bodies. 298 00:37:09,354 --> 00:37:13,066 They must drink soon or they will die. 299 00:37:22,826 --> 00:37:25,412 Gaia is uncertain of the route, 300 00:37:25,495 --> 00:37:27,831 but she can sense something through her feet. 301 00:37:28,498 --> 00:37:30,167 It could be distant water. 302 00:37:44,598 --> 00:37:47,809 Shani senses it too and leads the way. 303 00:38:37,568 --> 00:38:39,736 So close. 304 00:38:42,030 --> 00:38:45,325 Shani's instincts about the water were right. 305 00:38:45,409 --> 00:38:48,745 But the deep gorge was a surprise. 306 00:39:01,550 --> 00:39:04,052 How are they going to reach water now? 307 00:39:17,149 --> 00:39:18,317 Quelea. 308 00:39:20,986 --> 00:39:26,491 Gaia remembers these birds leading her mother to water many years ago. 309 00:39:29,870 --> 00:39:31,747 Perhaps they could do it again. 310 00:39:37,211 --> 00:39:41,215 They follow the birds through a passage high above the main river. 311 00:39:58,232 --> 00:40:00,400 There's a small stream. 312 00:40:00,484 --> 00:40:04,780 It's enough to wet their mouths and keep the parched young ones going. 313 00:40:22,047 --> 00:40:26,385 Shani has learned an important lesson from Gaia today, 314 00:40:26,468 --> 00:40:29,930 these little birds can be big lifesavers. 315 00:40:35,352 --> 00:40:37,729 But the quelea aren't settling to drink. 316 00:40:40,023 --> 00:40:42,276 Gaia gambles on following them. 317 00:41:00,711 --> 00:41:03,881 The small stream was a feeder for the Zambezi River 318 00:41:03,964 --> 00:41:06,675 at its most magnificent point. 319 00:41:10,470 --> 00:41:15,058 Mosi-oa-Tunya, "The Smoke that Thunders." 320 00:41:16,435 --> 00:41:19,146 Also known as Victoria Falls. 321 00:42:02,981 --> 00:42:07,945 Upstream of the falls is the haven Gaia's been searching for. 322 00:42:08,028 --> 00:42:12,824 Islands with shelter, food, and limitless fresh water. 323 00:42:15,202 --> 00:42:17,996 The islands are filled with palm trees, 324 00:42:18,080 --> 00:42:21,959 a sign that elephants have reached them many times before, 325 00:42:22,042 --> 00:42:26,839 as palm seeds germinate best after passing through an elephant. 326 00:42:30,509 --> 00:42:33,053 Gaia has found the crossing point to the islands. 327 00:42:37,099 --> 00:42:41,520 Suddenly, those giant bodies seem a bit lighter. 328 00:42:54,825 --> 00:42:58,370 Jomo has rediscovered the spring in his step. 329 00:43:08,005 --> 00:43:12,301 They'll cross to the island soon enough, but before that, 330 00:43:12,384 --> 00:43:17,014 their first real drink in nearly two months. 331 00:43:22,144 --> 00:43:27,441 Deliciously cool water from the mighty Zambezi, 332 00:43:27,524 --> 00:43:29,943 one of Africa's greatest rivers. 333 00:43:31,653 --> 00:43:33,447 Ah! Antelope! 334 00:43:35,741 --> 00:43:38,243 Just like old times for Jomo. 335 00:43:40,329 --> 00:43:44,666 They remind Jomo of those carefree days back in the Delta, 336 00:43:44,750 --> 00:43:48,587 just chasing animals around all over the place. 337 00:43:48,670 --> 00:43:50,964 Not a care in the world... 338 00:43:51,048 --> 00:43:52,966 Oh, that's a crocodile! 339 00:43:55,636 --> 00:43:58,305 Probably best to stick with the herd. 340 00:44:04,019 --> 00:44:07,814 Upstream, hungry crocodiles have noticed their arrival. 341 00:44:13,320 --> 00:44:17,199 Downstream is the greatest waterfall on Earth. 342 00:44:21,745 --> 00:44:25,874 But in front of them is everything they've been looking for. 343 00:44:27,835 --> 00:44:30,587 Gaia decides they should attempt the crossing. 344 00:44:52,776 --> 00:44:54,987 The water near the edge is shallow, 345 00:44:55,779 --> 00:45:00,033 but shallow water is where crocodiles hunt best. 346 00:45:02,411 --> 00:45:03,954 Shani is hesitating. 347 00:45:05,163 --> 00:45:06,707 She wants to turn back... 348 00:45:09,626 --> 00:45:12,546 but Gaia urges her on. 349 00:45:18,135 --> 00:45:22,139 Together, Shani and Gaia shield the young on both sides, 350 00:45:22,639 --> 00:45:25,225 making it harder for the crocodiles to reach them. 351 00:45:39,072 --> 00:45:44,244 As they leave the crocodiles behind, they face a new, even worse danger. 352 00:45:45,996 --> 00:45:49,833 The water is getting deeper and the current much stronger. 353 00:45:50,918 --> 00:45:55,172 They could easily be swept downstream and over the waterfall. 354 00:45:56,673 --> 00:46:00,427 A fate suffered by all too many elephants. 355 00:46:05,098 --> 00:46:10,812 Here, the Zambezi is 50 feet deep and the current is ferocious. 356 00:46:11,855 --> 00:46:16,568 Do they have the strength and stamina to withstand the force of the river? 357 00:46:44,471 --> 00:46:45,889 They're nearly there! 358 00:47:38,775 --> 00:47:43,780 Food, water, and safety all in one place. 359 00:47:44,615 --> 00:47:47,284 They can rest here for the next few months 360 00:47:47,367 --> 00:47:52,206 until the food is all eaten and the water returns to the Okavango. 361 00:47:56,001 --> 00:47:59,630 And those palm nuts, they're perfectly ripe. 362 00:48:00,756 --> 00:48:02,925 Current residents beware. 363 00:48:04,801 --> 00:48:07,638 It's time for an elephant feast! 364 00:49:02,776 --> 00:49:07,698 The nuts are full of oil, have all the goodness they need, 365 00:49:07,781 --> 00:49:11,535 and were seeded here by previous generations of elephants. 366 00:49:11,618 --> 00:49:14,371 No wonder they're called ivory palms. 367 00:49:30,387 --> 00:49:35,726 Gaia's island will do nicely until the water returns to the Okavango. 368 00:49:36,727 --> 00:49:38,437 Like the elephants, 369 00:49:38,520 --> 00:49:43,233 the water will undergo an epic journey across Africa to reach the Delta. 370 00:49:44,776 --> 00:49:47,779 A journey that's just beginning. 371 00:49:55,162 --> 00:50:01,710 A thousand miles away in the highlands of Angola, the weather is changing. 372 00:50:06,131 --> 00:50:11,637 Water vapor from the Atlantic Ocean hits the mountains and turns to rain. 373 00:50:27,986 --> 00:50:31,573 The run-off from the southern slopes drains into the Okavango, 374 00:50:31,657 --> 00:50:37,663 where thousands of Kalahari elephants will depend on it for their survival. 375 00:50:43,335 --> 00:50:48,048 Nothing on our planet is more precious to life. 376 00:51:01,270 --> 00:51:07,150 This water is just beginning its 600-mile journey to the Okavango Delta, 377 00:51:07,234 --> 00:51:12,781 where it'll once again transform dust into paradise. 378 00:51:15,200 --> 00:51:19,955 Gaia and family will soon begin their journey back to the Okavango, 379 00:51:20,038 --> 00:51:23,917 so they can arrive in the Delta when it's at its most verdant. 380 00:51:24,001 --> 00:51:27,504 OKAVANGO DELTA 381 00:51:28,463 --> 00:51:33,385 On the palm islands above the falls, the season is also advancing. 382 00:51:34,720 --> 00:51:39,183 The nuts are all finished and the remaining plants are dried out 383 00:51:39,266 --> 00:51:41,476 and make poor elephant food. 384 00:51:41,560 --> 00:51:44,855 The family is scraping a living now. 385 00:51:50,402 --> 00:51:53,530 The change is especially hard on the oldest. 386 00:51:53,614 --> 00:52:00,078 Gaia is getting tired, her sixth and final set of teeth are nearly worn away, 387 00:52:00,162 --> 00:52:05,417 and she finds the food here harder to eat, so is losing strength. 388 00:52:07,836 --> 00:52:14,343 Jomo has never seen an old elephant beginning to fade and seems confused. 389 00:52:16,595 --> 00:52:20,849 Gaia has seen their food wane with the seasons many times before. 390 00:52:21,642 --> 00:52:24,770 She also foresaw the other great change coming. 391 00:52:27,731 --> 00:52:32,027 When they arrived, the Zambezi was a raging torrent. 392 00:52:32,110 --> 00:52:35,864 Now, the mighty river has fallen to a trickle. 393 00:52:37,324 --> 00:52:40,911 The dry season has devastated the whole area. 394 00:52:44,540 --> 00:52:47,125 Gaia knew this place wouldn't support them for long. 395 00:52:49,086 --> 00:52:51,672 Elephants can't survive on small islands. 396 00:52:52,464 --> 00:52:56,260 They need to roam vast distances to thrive. 397 00:53:03,183 --> 00:53:08,188 Gaia makes the call to leave and Shani helps rally the herd. 398 00:53:09,606 --> 00:53:15,195 At least, leaving this place will be far easier than arriving. 399 00:53:17,030 --> 00:53:21,118 Where they once had to swim, they can now walk. 400 00:53:25,956 --> 00:53:30,586 On the mainland, Gaia can lead her family on the long road back to the Delta. 401 00:53:31,837 --> 00:53:35,257 They'll travel through shaded woodlands where possible, 402 00:53:35,340 --> 00:53:37,467 conserving their strength for the desert. 403 00:53:39,303 --> 00:53:45,350 Off the island, she can once again tune in to the sounds of distant elephants. 404 00:53:46,894 --> 00:53:50,022 They're telling her the Angolan floodwaters are early. 405 00:53:50,981 --> 00:53:52,608 To get the best of the flood, 406 00:53:52,691 --> 00:53:56,987 she'll need to leave immediately and take the shortest possible route. 407 00:54:00,991 --> 00:54:03,535 There will be different dangers... 408 00:54:05,996 --> 00:54:07,623 different pathways... 409 00:54:08,498 --> 00:54:11,251 but the same goal, paradise. 410 00:54:18,258 --> 00:54:22,179 The most direct route will get the family back for the peak of the flood. 411 00:54:26,433 --> 00:54:28,727 But it's a calculated risk. 412 00:54:32,356 --> 00:54:36,318 There's a reason they don't usually take the shortest route. 413 00:54:40,280 --> 00:54:43,200 It's through lion country. 414 00:54:44,660 --> 00:54:48,372 And these lions hunt elephants. 415 00:54:53,877 --> 00:54:56,630 There are signs of ambush everywhere. 416 00:55:00,926 --> 00:55:05,931 The cats won't usually attack elephants until the end of the dry season, 417 00:55:06,014 --> 00:55:08,225 when they've been weakened by hunger. 418 00:55:10,102 --> 00:55:11,854 That's still a month away. 419 00:55:12,771 --> 00:55:16,441 As long as they stick together, they should be safe. 420 00:55:23,198 --> 00:55:27,619 The herd does need to drink, and they do trust Gaia, 421 00:55:28,245 --> 00:55:30,956 but this is unsettling. 422 00:55:47,806 --> 00:55:51,435 Winds from a brewing storm give the cats cover. 423 00:55:51,518 --> 00:55:56,690 It's much harder for the herd to hear or smell them in these conditions. 424 00:55:56,773 --> 00:56:00,569 The lions know it too and seem emboldened. 425 00:56:07,743 --> 00:56:10,412 The cats are drawing around the family. 426 00:56:32,601 --> 00:56:36,021 Gaia must show the lions her family is strong. 427 00:56:37,272 --> 00:56:40,150 The predators shouldn't waste their time. 428 00:56:45,239 --> 00:56:48,659 The lions seem convinced this would be no easy meal. 429 00:56:50,619 --> 00:56:55,582 At least not during daylight when elephants have the upper hand. 430 00:57:05,384 --> 00:57:07,761 The elephants feel their way. 431 00:57:08,554 --> 00:57:11,557 They can't see well in the dark and predators know it. 432 00:57:12,140 --> 00:57:14,351 The family should push on through the night 433 00:57:14,434 --> 00:57:16,144 and leave this place while they can. 434 00:57:23,277 --> 00:57:26,530 The haunting calls of hyenas put them on edge. 435 00:57:28,740 --> 00:57:32,119 The family cannot take any chances. 436 00:57:32,202 --> 00:57:34,580 Hyenas are known as scavengers, 437 00:57:35,247 --> 00:57:38,125 but would snatch a small calf given the opportunity. 438 00:57:59,313 --> 00:58:03,066 Gaia and Shani keep the hyenas away from Jomo and the other young. 439 00:58:10,157 --> 00:58:13,243 Gaia is worried she's made a grave error. 440 00:58:14,953 --> 00:58:18,624 The hyenas are eating a carcass of a large elephant 441 00:58:18,707 --> 00:58:21,502 too big for them to have killed themselves. 442 00:58:22,461 --> 00:58:24,505 It can only mean one thing. 443 00:58:25,672 --> 00:58:30,761 It was killed by lions and the hunting season has begun. 444 00:58:40,312 --> 00:58:42,689 Shani can sense Gaia's distress. 445 00:58:42,814 --> 00:58:46,985 If the matriarch is worried, panic spreads. 446 00:59:02,459 --> 00:59:04,378 The lions are closing in. 447 00:59:22,104 --> 00:59:24,648 The hunter has Jomo in her sights. 448 00:59:31,280 --> 00:59:35,242 Shani spots the lion and gives chase, leaving her son alone. 449 00:59:50,841 --> 00:59:54,761 Shani and Jomo could easily become surrounded. 450 01:00:07,691 --> 01:00:09,067 They must get out of there. 451 01:00:16,283 --> 01:00:19,453 In their pursuit, the lions have separated Jomo from his mother. 452 01:00:36,553 --> 01:00:38,472 Jomo must stay hidden. 453 01:00:45,938 --> 01:00:48,524 Shani has doubled back to protect Jomo. 454 01:00:52,152 --> 01:00:55,072 She will never abandon her son. 455 01:01:01,036 --> 01:01:02,496 Safe for now. 456 01:01:20,305 --> 01:01:24,142 Gaia had expected the family to be many miles from here by morning. 457 01:01:25,352 --> 01:01:27,354 But last night was chaos. 458 01:01:30,107 --> 01:01:32,776 Shani emerges from the covered woodland, 459 01:01:32,901 --> 01:01:35,487 trying to reconnect with the rest of the herd. 460 01:01:48,208 --> 01:01:50,627 They are tightly gathered around a body... 461 01:01:57,301 --> 01:01:58,302 Gaia. 462 01:02:03,473 --> 01:02:07,311 The herd was so focused on keeping their young safe 463 01:02:07,394 --> 01:02:09,688 that they lost sight of their oldest. 464 01:02:11,648 --> 01:02:14,985 Her failing teeth had left her weakened by hunger 465 01:02:15,110 --> 01:02:18,655 and the stress of the night was too much for her. 466 01:02:32,503 --> 01:02:35,839 She is still alive... just. 467 01:02:36,673 --> 01:02:41,136 But these are her last moments, and the family knows it. 468 01:02:46,016 --> 01:02:49,603 For the last 20 years, she has been their rock, 469 01:02:50,854 --> 01:02:54,149 giving companionship and leadership. 470 01:03:10,707 --> 01:03:13,377 With her trunk on her sister's mouth, 471 01:03:14,127 --> 01:03:16,839 Shani feels her take her last breath. 472 01:03:40,737 --> 01:03:42,447 They can't help her now. 473 01:03:58,422 --> 01:04:00,757 Jomo takes a final look at Gaia. 474 01:04:02,885 --> 01:04:07,764 The death of a matriarch is a momentous event in his young life. 475 01:04:19,234 --> 01:04:24,740 The life-giving floodwaters are picking up pace as they travel towards the Delta. 476 01:04:25,616 --> 01:04:29,369 Shani is trying to lead her family there, too. 477 01:04:30,495 --> 01:04:36,543 With Gaia gone, she is now the one responsible for their safety. 478 01:04:36,627 --> 01:04:42,132 This is uncharted territory for her... in every sense. 479 01:04:47,846 --> 01:04:50,849 The younger females look to each other for reassurance. 480 01:04:52,684 --> 01:04:56,230 They've never known a time without Gaia as their leader. 481 01:05:03,529 --> 01:05:06,323 They know Shani is the obvious successor. 482 01:05:07,199 --> 01:05:09,493 But does she have what it takes? 483 01:05:16,792 --> 01:05:20,838 Only time will tell if they found their new matriarch. 484 01:05:37,729 --> 01:05:41,567 A week later, their journey is interrupted by a wonderful event. 485 01:05:45,654 --> 01:05:48,407 A new calf is welcomed into the world, 486 01:05:48,490 --> 01:05:51,910 after a pregnancy of nearly two years 487 01:05:52,828 --> 01:05:55,539 and there is huge excitement in the family. 488 01:06:04,006 --> 01:06:07,217 The first few days of life are all-important, 489 01:06:07,509 --> 01:06:09,469 and everyone wants to help. 490 01:06:18,020 --> 01:06:20,772 He'll be unsteady on his feet for a while. 491 01:06:21,815 --> 01:06:25,194 Another new responsibility for Shani. 492 01:06:26,904 --> 01:06:29,573 Elephants are usually born in the wet season 493 01:06:29,656 --> 01:06:33,160 when mothers can produce more milk and it's cooler, 494 01:06:34,036 --> 01:06:38,123 so this little calf is going to need extra help. 495 01:06:47,007 --> 01:06:50,177 Shani welcomes a new playmate for Jomo. 496 01:06:50,302 --> 01:06:53,639 Jomo is less excited. 497 01:06:55,432 --> 01:06:58,810 He has been the baby of the family for as long as he can remember. 498 01:07:00,020 --> 01:07:03,982 Then again, the kid looks like he could use some help. 499 01:07:14,576 --> 01:07:17,454 Yup, he is definitely gonna slow them down. 500 01:07:48,694 --> 01:07:52,698 Shani clears a path for the calf while it finds its feet. 501 01:07:54,950 --> 01:07:57,619 The little one's mom is inexperienced, 502 01:07:57,703 --> 01:08:01,498 so its chances of survival are slim without Shani's help. 503 01:08:05,210 --> 01:08:10,507 It's now Shani, not Gaia, to whom the family must look for guidance. 504 01:08:11,216 --> 01:08:13,385 The decisions she makes from here on 505 01:08:13,468 --> 01:08:16,889 will have huge consequences for the entire herd. 506 01:08:18,223 --> 01:08:20,642 She looks back at all the lessons 507 01:08:20,726 --> 01:08:23,645 she learned from Gaia during her rich life. 508 01:08:36,241 --> 01:08:40,495 Shani must piece together her own way back to the Delta. 509 01:08:44,333 --> 01:08:47,461 First thing, she must get the new mother 510 01:08:47,544 --> 01:08:51,632 to the place Gaia took her after she gave birth, 511 01:08:51,715 --> 01:08:54,676 a place where salts seep from the ground. 512 01:08:56,512 --> 01:08:59,389 Elephants come here to drink and replace minerals 513 01:08:59,473 --> 01:09:01,975 before they tackle the desert. 514 01:09:04,561 --> 01:09:07,481 Shani lets the new mom go first 515 01:09:07,564 --> 01:09:10,817 so she can replenish the fluids lost during the birth. 516 01:09:12,194 --> 01:09:16,073 For the mom, this is a lifesaver. 517 01:09:18,784 --> 01:09:22,538 But the whole herd need these minerals before they can move on. 518 01:09:27,960 --> 01:09:31,213 Oh, look who's cut in front of the line... 519 01:09:32,089 --> 01:09:33,465 Jomo! 520 01:09:34,883 --> 01:09:37,886 He's gonna have to learn how to play by the rules. 521 01:09:43,642 --> 01:09:47,604 Tusks come in very handy when trying to dig deep for the salts. 522 01:10:04,329 --> 01:10:08,542 Jomo doesn't have tusks, so it's a little difficult. 523 01:10:08,625 --> 01:10:12,921 And his young apprentice isn't helping. 524 01:10:25,184 --> 01:10:29,146 Another herd is approaching, wanting to access the mine. 525 01:10:34,109 --> 01:10:38,947 Shani is in alien territory now, disconnected from her social network. 526 01:10:39,907 --> 01:10:41,617 She sizes them up. 527 01:10:41,700 --> 01:10:45,871 It's a huge group, easily big enough to drive them away. 528 01:10:47,247 --> 01:10:53,754 Shani must decide whether to stand firm and protect their patch or back down. 529 01:10:56,173 --> 01:11:00,260 Sometimes rival herds will kidnap calves to assert their dominance... 530 01:11:02,930 --> 01:11:06,225 and Shani's family has a vulnerable newborn to look after. 531 01:11:09,770 --> 01:11:12,648 The calf is eyed by the rival matriarch. 532 01:11:17,861 --> 01:11:20,197 Shani steps up for the test. 533 01:11:21,073 --> 01:11:23,450 She will not be intimidated. 534 01:11:26,620 --> 01:11:30,332 She will protect the calf as though it were her own. 535 01:11:45,264 --> 01:11:49,935 The rivals back down. They had strength in number, 536 01:11:50,018 --> 01:11:54,064 but lacked Shani's determination to protect her family. 537 01:11:56,859 --> 01:11:58,819 The little calf is safe for now. 538 01:12:00,320 --> 01:12:03,240 Shani decides it's time to push for home. 539 01:12:06,201 --> 01:12:10,622 It won't be easy, but a rich prize is waiting. 540 01:12:12,416 --> 01:12:17,379 The Angolan floodwaters are just arriving in the Okavango. 541 01:12:42,404 --> 01:12:45,199 Desert sands that have been parched and barren 542 01:12:45,282 --> 01:12:48,076 for half a year are not as lifeless as they seem. 543 01:12:54,458 --> 01:12:58,253 Some creatures have been waiting underground for this moment. 544 01:12:59,796 --> 01:13:01,965 And others have been waiting for them. 545 01:13:14,019 --> 01:13:17,898 The leading edge of the flood is full of tiny fish 546 01:13:17,981 --> 01:13:21,693 moving in to hunt the insects and spiders caught by the new water. 547 01:13:22,778 --> 01:13:27,824 Catfish are just behind them, pushing into the Delta's many channels 548 01:13:27,908 --> 01:13:31,828 alongside thousands of other floodwater pioneers. 549 01:13:56,937 --> 01:13:59,523 Paradise from dust. 550 01:14:00,524 --> 01:14:03,986 Once again, the Delta is transforming. 551 01:14:07,573 --> 01:14:11,577 Out in the desert, Shani and the family are not far away now, 552 01:14:12,911 --> 01:14:18,625 but they're battling dry headwinds and haven't had water for two days. 553 01:14:21,211 --> 01:14:23,672 It's taking a toll on the whole herd. 554 01:14:26,717 --> 01:14:30,304 Jomo is more resilient than he was when he began this journey. 555 01:14:31,471 --> 01:14:34,016 But the young calf is in trouble. 556 01:14:45,861 --> 01:14:48,655 The herd is tighter now than ever. 557 01:14:49,198 --> 01:14:51,200 He won't be left behind. 558 01:14:58,832 --> 01:15:01,585 Strength of family has gotten them this far. 559 01:15:03,295 --> 01:15:07,508 They will make it to the Delta together, or not at all. 560 01:15:14,097 --> 01:15:17,184 Take as long as you need, little one. 561 01:16:19,371 --> 01:16:23,792 The white sand of the Delta is now under his feet. 562 01:16:24,459 --> 01:16:27,421 They are so close! 563 01:16:48,942 --> 01:16:54,573 From all over the Kalahari, animals pour back into the Okavango. 564 01:16:56,491 --> 01:17:02,873 The journey's wildlife and water converge and the Delta's heart is beating again. 565 01:17:27,272 --> 01:17:29,816 Only one set of travelers are missing. 566 01:17:34,821 --> 01:17:38,408 Shani's done it! They're home. 567 01:17:43,830 --> 01:17:46,124 She's got them all back... 568 01:17:46,708 --> 01:17:48,627 even the little one. 569 01:17:53,131 --> 01:17:57,386 This epic journey was started by Gaia, 570 01:17:57,469 --> 01:18:01,932 but it's Shani who will now carry forward the wisdom of the generations. 571 01:18:10,607 --> 01:18:15,612 The calf born on their journey tastes the Delta's waters for the first time. 572 01:18:19,658 --> 01:18:26,206 He'll have Jomo to introduce him to the locals... in his own special way. 573 01:18:30,502 --> 01:18:34,631 But after all his trials and experiences this year, 574 01:18:34,715 --> 01:18:38,760 Jomo will surely prove to be an excellent big brother 575 01:18:39,887 --> 01:18:44,433 and pass on everything he's learned about being one of the herd. 576 01:18:53,400 --> 01:18:57,988 Following the dust and dangers of their incredible road trip, 577 01:18:58,071 --> 01:19:01,366 this must be pure heaven. 578 01:19:12,503 --> 01:19:14,421 After an uncertain start, 579 01:19:14,505 --> 01:19:18,509 the family now fully accepts Shani as their new matriarch. 580 01:19:22,179 --> 01:19:23,972 She won't be the same as Gaia... 581 01:19:24,473 --> 01:19:27,100 elephants are individuals. 582 01:19:29,228 --> 01:19:32,564 Shani will bring her own style of leadership. 583 01:19:33,607 --> 01:19:35,484 And she's started well. 584 01:19:41,657 --> 01:19:45,160 In a few months, these lush wetlands will be gone. 585 01:19:46,411 --> 01:19:49,498 And the family will have to leave the Delta 586 01:19:49,581 --> 01:19:53,210 and head out again across the vast wilds of Africa, 587 01:19:54,419 --> 01:19:58,173 like countless generations of Kalahari elephants before them. 588 01:20:00,759 --> 01:20:06,223 These are the last elephants on Earth who still have the freedom to roam. 589 01:20:12,563 --> 01:20:18,485 May these unforgettable journeys continue for generations to come. 590 01:20:43,385 --> 01:20:45,637 And there's the baby. Look at that. 591 01:21:16,793 --> 01:21:18,879 There's nothing like the sound of lions 592 01:21:18,962 --> 01:21:21,381 40 feet from the car when you've got no doors on it, 593 01:21:21,465 --> 01:21:23,342 to make a little bit of wee come out. 594 01:21:27,554 --> 01:21:30,265 Females, salty, three hours old. 595 01:21:31,433 --> 01:21:33,018 No, don't taste it. 596 01:21:33,143 --> 01:21:36,021 I can't bring myself to do that to you. 597 01:21:36,855 --> 01:21:40,150 I did this. I touched it with this finger and licked the other finger. 598 01:21:41,944 --> 01:21:43,737 Right over the camera. 599 01:21:49,576 --> 01:21:51,995 They tend to be more nervous in a herd like this, 600 01:21:52,079 --> 01:21:53,747 because obviously the lions are around 601 01:21:53,830 --> 01:21:55,791 and lions will have a go for the youngsters. 602 01:21:55,874 --> 01:21:57,084 - Lions? - Yeah. 603 01:21:57,167 --> 01:21:59,962 - You didn't say anything about lions. - Of course there are lions.