1 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:10,520 NARRATOR: Earth's great rivers... 2 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:17,560 ..make extraordinary journeys. 3 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:23,040 Carving through continents... 4 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:27,200 ..feeding and connecting life... 5 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:30,960 ..nurturing culture... 6 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:38,680 ..providing a place for adventure. 7 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:47,760 From the frozen wilderness of the Yukon... 8 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,000 ..to the tropical heat of the Zambezi... 9 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:55,600 HIPPO GROANS 10 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:00,440 ..and the magical, hidden worlds of the Danube... 11 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:11,280 ..great rivers are the lifeblood of planet Earth. 12 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:31,320 In the heart of Africa 13 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:32,680 is a forest. 14 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:37,680 A sacred place. 15 00:01:41,320 --> 00:01:43,920 The Lunda people call it "yambeshi"... 16 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:47,080 ..the heart of everything. 17 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:52,080 Here, a clear spring 18 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:53,720 bubbles to the surface. 19 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:58,920 The source of a great river. 20 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:06,120 One day, hippos will wallow in its deep, dark pools... 21 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:12,680 ..and elephants will wrestle with its treacherous currents. 22 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:17,840 It will carve its way through bedrock... 23 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:23,640 ..and its waters will fill great lakes... 24 00:02:25,640 --> 00:02:30,480 ..and spread out to form the largest curtain of water on Earth. 25 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:38,280 For this trickle to become one of Africa's mightiest rivers, 26 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,240 it will need to overcome many obstacles... 27 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:46,200 ..on its epic journey 28 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:49,320 to the Indian Ocean. 29 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:53,480 But everywhere it touches, 30 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:55,120 it will bring life. 31 00:02:58,640 --> 00:03:01,760 This is the story of the Zambezi... 32 00:03:03,640 --> 00:03:06,000 ..Africa's wildest river. 33 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:20,960 From its source in the northwest of Zambia, the Zambezi travels 34 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,880 for nearly two and a half thousand kilometres, 35 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:27,240 through six countries, on its course 36 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:28,680 to the Indian Ocean. 37 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:41,400 Like many great rivers, its beginnings are humble. 38 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:47,600 And its destiny by no means certain. 39 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:55,920 Flowing down out of the forests of its birth, the Zambezi 40 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:57,560 starts its great journey. 41 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:07,680 But just as its waters are getting going, it runs into trouble. 42 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:13,720 Barotseland. 43 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:19,920 An endless flat plane in the far west of Zambia. 44 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:27,080 So flat, the Zambezi completely loses momentum. 45 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:34,280 And it's September, the peak of the dry season. 46 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:41,800 Its waters are evaporating under the heat of the African sun. 47 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:54,600 But it's just now that the Zambezi is vitally important. 48 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:58,200 Especially for the people that live here, 49 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,040 like cattle farmer Makalo Makaulo. 50 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:07,200 MAKALO: September is the hottest time in the year, 51 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,360 where everything is dried out. 52 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,840 I tell you we are suffering because we depend on water. 53 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:18,000 Here in Barotseland, 54 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,320 everything depends on water. 55 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:24,120 NARRATOR: Every day in the dry season 56 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:26,560 to keep his cows alive, 57 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:31,080 Makalo Makaulo must take them from the arid grasslands 58 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:33,600 to the Zambezi's life-giving waters. 59 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:38,960 MAKALOQO: Zambezi River, 60 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:40,960 it's like a father to me. 61 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:45,160 The father who feeds his children. 62 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,920 The parent of Barotseland is Zambezi. 63 00:05:53,280 --> 00:05:55,320 NARRATOR: But as the heat intensifies, 64 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:58,200 the Zambezi's waters are receding... 65 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:04,120 ..leaving dry, hot riverbed. 66 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:09,040 A challenging place, 67 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:11,200 whatever your walk of life. 68 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:19,600 IN OWN LANGUAGE: 69 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:37,720 NARRATOR: But there are advantages to the dry season. 70 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:43,280 GIFT IN OWN LANGUAGE: 71 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:58,840 NARRATOR: For schoolboys and cattle farmers alike, 72 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,040 life goes on through the dry season. 73 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:07,440 As it does for the wildlife here. 74 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:10,280 BIRDS SQUAWK 75 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:12,760 ZEBRAS BRAY 76 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:16,760 These vast plains are home to some of the greatest concentrations 77 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:19,520 of wildlife anywhere in Africa. 78 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:25,160 And this is their toughest time. 79 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:34,840 But the heat can only build for so long. 80 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:43,280 It's now October, and a change is coming to Barotseland. 81 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:52,720 Over 30,000 wildebeest are on the move. 82 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:56,040 WILDEBEEST GRUNTS 83 00:07:56,520 --> 00:08:00,600 They are heading for their calving grounds in the south of the plains, 84 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:03,480 in anticipation of the rains. 85 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:10,560 A sign that six months of drought is coming to an end. 86 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:19,920 When the rain is coming, 87 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:21,840 everything is changing. 88 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,320 NARRATOR: In October every year 89 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:28,800 tropical rains push down from the equator, and spill 90 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:30,520 over into Barotseland. 91 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:44,240 This is what all the inhabitants have been waiting for. 92 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:54,040 MAKALO: So when the rains come, our hearts are feeling very happy, 93 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,520 because we are expecting good things to come. 94 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:20,600 I don't know how you even express it, because everything there, even 95 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:23,360 the nature of the land is changing. 96 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:30,680 NARRATOR: The rains are completely transformative. 97 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:37,400 A greening of the land over 10,000 square kilometres... 98 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:41,920 ..that can even be seen from space. 99 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:48,320 My God, why can't this period be like that always? 100 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:52,800 NARRATOR: As the grasslands are revitalized, 101 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:56,080 they become a globally important wetland, 102 00:09:57,120 --> 00:10:00,560 supporting 350 species of birds. 103 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:06,240 And finally, 104 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:09,480 the wildebeest arrive at their calving grounds. 105 00:10:13,560 --> 00:10:15,480 Over just a couple of weeks, 106 00:10:15,560 --> 00:10:17,600 all the herd's calves are born 107 00:10:17,680 --> 00:10:20,320 to coincide with this time of plenty. 108 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:28,960 CROAKING 109 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:39,640 But the rains are having an even more dramatic effect... 110 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:43,280 ..on the Zambezi. 111 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:48,800 It starts to flood. 112 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:01,680 GIFT IN OWN LANGUAGE: 113 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:13,080 NARRATOR: The people of Barotseland have always lived in tune 114 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:16,000 with the annual flooding of the Zambezi. 115 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:25,880 Larger villages are built on high ground, 116 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:28,280 so they stay dry during the flood. 117 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:35,640 But many smaller buildings 118 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:38,200 are designed to be submerged for a while. 119 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:44,480 Abandoned for four or five months until the waters subside. 120 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:53,920 The rising waters bring new challenges. 121 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:58,600 GIFT IN OWN LANGUAGE: 122 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:28,080 NARRATOR: Most children have to stop going to school in the wet season. 123 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:34,760 But this school has been built with flooding in mind. 124 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:41,040 Set on a mound of high ground, 125 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:44,320 it even has docks for the pupils to tie up to. 126 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:48,880 So long as they can brave the school run, 127 00:12:49,680 --> 00:12:51,520 Gift and his classmates can keep 128 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:54,720 learning while the waters keep rising. 129 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:07,600 Cattle farmers don't have the option of staying in the floodplains. 130 00:13:09,560 --> 00:13:12,000 They now take to canoes to swim their cattle 131 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:13,400 to higher ground. 132 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:21,760 But beneath the waters, 133 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:23,840 the land is being fertilised 134 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:25,600 by the Zambezi's silt. 135 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:28,840 So when the cattle return, 136 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:30,480 they will have some of the most 137 00:13:30,560 --> 00:13:32,440 nutritious grass around. 138 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:39,520 The floods are not only good for the inhabitants 139 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:40,760 of Barotseland... 140 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:47,880 ..the waters of the entire flood plain are now gathering 141 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:49,960 into one rejuvenated flow. 142 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:57,160 The Zambezi 143 00:13:57,440 --> 00:13:58,840 is on the move again. 144 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:09,000 Heading out of Barotseland, 145 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:11,440 the Zambezi now turns east 146 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:16,000 where, for the next 500 kilometres, it will form the border 147 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:19,000 between Zambia and Zimbabwe. 148 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:26,240 Boosted by the water from upstream, 149 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:28,880 the Zambezi grows. 150 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:37,960 And, as it grows, it brings more opportunity for life. 151 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:48,400 The Zambezi is starting to look like a great African river. 152 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:55,920 As it flows over a series of steps in the bedrock, 153 00:14:57,520 --> 00:14:59,560 it starts to gather pace. 154 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:10,000 And, in the distance, a cloud of mist is rising. 155 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:15,520 A hint of what is to come. 156 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:24,080 Right at the point where the Zambezi reaches its maximum power... 157 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:33,880 ..the entire river flows over a cliff. 158 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:43,160 Nearly two kilometres wide... 159 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:47,640 ..falling for over a hundred metres... 160 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:54,080 ..500 million litres of water per minute. 161 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:02,120 So much water, it creates a plume of spray 162 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:05,400 that rises 500 metres into the sky... 163 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:12,240 ..giving it the name of Mosi-oa-Tunya, 164 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:14,640 The Smoke That Thunders. 165 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:25,040 This is Victoria Falls. 166 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:29,960 The largest curtain of water... 167 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:32,640 ..on Earth. 168 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:45,000 You would think it's a place to steer well clear of. 169 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:48,600 But there is temptation here. 170 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:57,320 A group of male elephants have come down to the edge of the river. 171 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:05,160 At this time of year, the islands right above the falls are lush 172 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:06,880 with tasty vegetation, 173 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:09,560 an elephant's paradise. 174 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:15,200 But to reach them is dangerous. 175 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:22,000 The Zambezi in full flood is a formidable force. 176 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:27,800 This is not the place to get swept away by the current. 177 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:35,520 But the lure of the islands is strong. 178 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:40,520 These males are prepared to take the risk. 179 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:46,080 ELEPHANT TRUMPETS 180 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:50,080 The further they go, 181 00:17:50,360 --> 00:17:52,360 the stronger the current gets. 182 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:58,080 And now it's getting deeper. 183 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:08,040 They are forced to swim. 184 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:15,960 Immediately, the current starts to drag them downstream. 185 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:24,560 They need to reach an island 186 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:26,960 or they could get swept over the falls. 187 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:44,920 One by one, they find their footing. 188 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:48,040 ELEPHANT TRUMPETS 189 00:18:54,360 --> 00:18:56,040 But for smaller elephants, 190 00:18:56,120 --> 00:18:57,840 the danger is greater. 191 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:38,480 At last, they are all safely across. 192 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:45,520 And right away, they start feasting on their prize 193 00:19:46,360 --> 00:19:48,000 of rich vegetation. 194 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:55,360 But elephants can eat 300 kilos of food in a day. 195 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:02,280 So they'll soon get through all the tastiest pickings here... 196 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:09,160 ..and will have to take their chances with the Zambezi all over again. 197 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:19,480 Victoria Falls marks the next great transformation 198 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:20,760 for the Zambezi... 199 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:28,040 ..as the entire river is swallowed up by a great chasm in the Earth. 200 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:39,680 Trapped in a channel just 25 metres wide, 201 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:45,160 the Zambezi now carves down through the rocky heart of Africa... 202 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:52,680 ..forming sheer walls over 140 metres high. 203 00:20:57,000 --> 00:20:59,560 This is the Batoka Gorge. 204 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:05,840 And it's here that the Zambezi conjures up another phenomenon... 205 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:11,600 ..less well-known than Victoria Falls, 206 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:13,600 but just as unique. 207 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:19,360 The Zambezi Wave. 208 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:26,440 Surf perfection for those brave enough to try it. 209 00:21:35,560 --> 00:21:38,920 MIKEY: It's crazy that you can bring something like surfing here. 210 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:42,840 NARRATOR: Mikey February is a professional surfer. 211 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:48,200 He's here, 1,000 kilometres from the nearest ocean, 212 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:50,520 to surf the Zambezi Wave. 213 00:21:55,120 --> 00:21:58,400 MIKEY: It's once in a lifetime, and only a few people have actually done it, 214 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:00,960 and I think that's, you know, one of the most special parts 215 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:02,360 of actually coming here. 216 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:11,440 NARRATOR: Mikey has come to the Zambezi at a key point in the year. 217 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:18,400 As the dry season returns, over a period of three or four 218 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:21,240 months, the river changes again. 219 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:31,560 Victoria Falls starts to switch off. 220 00:22:40,120 --> 00:22:44,320 Every year, the Zambezi goes through these dramatic cycles... 221 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:51,720 ..with 50 times less water flowing over the falls when it's dry. 222 00:22:55,880 --> 00:22:59,200 But it's as the water levels in the gorge start dropping 223 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:03,400 that conditions become just right for surfing. 224 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:07,400 When the water gets low enough, 225 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:09,520 it starts to interact with a rocky 226 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:11,200 shelf on the riverbed... 227 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:14,360 ..and forms the Zambezi Wave. 228 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:20,920 A wave that stays in exactly the same place, 229 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:24,320 and breaks continuously. 230 00:23:26,120 --> 00:23:28,480 But only lasts for ten days. 231 00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:36,080 Even for a pro like Mikey, 232 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:38,400 the Zambezi Wave is not 233 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:39,880 to be taken lightly. 234 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:44,440 You have rocks, you have, you know, 235 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:46,600 hectic rapids and the water's moving 236 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:48,680 in such a different way to the ocean. 237 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:53,040 The fear factor is quite high. 238 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:15,880 NARRATOR: Because the wave is formed by a slab of rock just beneath the surface, 239 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:18,680 surfing it is dangerous. 240 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:24,280 And then there are the rapids. 241 00:24:34,080 --> 00:24:37,320 Mikey needs to get out of the white water as fast as he can, 242 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:40,200 before he gets swept downstream. 243 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:46,600 He paddles for the pickup point on the riverbank. 244 00:24:47,120 --> 00:24:49,000 But the current is too strong. 245 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:55,240 This is where his experience in the water comes in. 246 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:57,680 He keeps calm. 247 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:03,960 And the safety kayaker is immediately on hand to help 248 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:05,440 guide him out of trouble. 249 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:19,600 Mikey is keen to try again. 250 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:28,440 The Zambezi Wave is pretty much like catching an ocean wave 251 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:31,960 but in reverse, because the ocean is pushing you forward and the river 252 00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:33,800 is obviously going the opposite way. 253 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:36,960 It's just a completely different experience. 254 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:42,120 Once you get it the first time, 255 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:44,240 then you actually kind of get a gauge 256 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:45,640 of what you should be doing. 257 00:25:47,120 --> 00:25:50,440 And you kind of know exactly what to expect when you fall. 258 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:00,560 I did get scared surfing this wave. 259 00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:05,000 It's like a balance of, like, surfing, survival mode, 260 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:06,720 surfing, survival mode kind of thing. 261 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:16,800 I think the more time you spend in the river and on the wave, 262 00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:18,880 you learn new things about it. 263 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:24,720 The way it moves and noticing its, you know, little subtleties. 264 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:27,080 It's also so beautiful, you know, 265 00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:29,120 obviously you get to surf this wave, 266 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:32,120 but you also get to appreciate the Zambezi and everything 267 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:33,680 that it has to offer. 268 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:05,080 NARRATOR: From the gorge, the Zambezi journeys on. 269 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:11,960 Winding its way through the fractured land along the border 270 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:14,040 between Zambia and Zimbabwe. 271 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:21,640 But it's about to shapeshift once more. 272 00:27:23,360 --> 00:27:27,440 This time, at the hands of an entirely different force. 273 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:36,000 Kariba Dam. 274 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:41,200 Built in the 1950s, 275 00:27:41,640 --> 00:27:44,040 it completely blocks the Zambezi, 276 00:27:44,760 --> 00:27:48,280 and forces it to flow through its turbines to make electricity. 277 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:54,960 It took just five years for the river, held back 278 00:27:55,040 --> 00:27:56,080 behind the dam, 279 00:27:56,600 --> 00:27:58,800 to rise 100 metres. 280 00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:05,360 Swelling up to form the vast Lake Kariba. 281 00:28:06,920 --> 00:28:08,720 Over 30 kilometres wide. 282 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:11,640 280 kilometres long. 283 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:16,000 185 cubic kilometres of water. 284 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:22,080 So much water that it caused over 20 large earthquakes as it settled 285 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:23,960 down on the land beneath. 286 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:30,840 By volume, Lake Kariba is the largest manmade lake 287 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:32,040 on the planet. 288 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:44,600 But it has also become a haven for wildlife. 289 00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:52,080 Along the lake's shoreline, rich grasslands have grown up. 290 00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:00,920 And in the forests of drowned trees 291 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:02,960 formed by the rising waters 292 00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:04,640 is a unique habitat. 293 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:09,720 Perfect for the Zambezi's most iconic bird. 294 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:14,360 The African fish eagle. 295 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:27,200 There are around 500 breeding pairs here. 296 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:32,280 Each pair mates for life... 297 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:34,840 EAGLES CRY 298 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:38,680 ..the contorted shapes of the trees providing a platform 299 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:39,880 for their nests... 300 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:45,600 ..protected by the crocodile-infested waters below. 301 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:51,960 The trees also provide the perfect vantage point 302 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:54,280 to survey the lake for prey. 303 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:04,680 On two-metre wings, they hunt for fish in the shallows. 304 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:20,080 This place is so good for fish eagles, 305 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:22,320 it has become their stronghold... 306 00:30:25,640 --> 00:30:30,440 ..their haunting call, the sound of Lake Kariba. 307 00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:33,200 EAGLES CRY 308 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:40,800 The Zambezi is now at the halfway point on its journey 309 00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:42,360 to the Indian Ocean. 310 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:48,040 As its waters break free of the great dam, 311 00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:50,000 the river flows on. 312 00:30:55,360 --> 00:30:58,760 And now it enters a lost world, 313 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:04,640 spreading out into a valley 50 kilometres wide... 314 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:09,440 ..nurturing a vast wilderness... 315 00:31:11,560 --> 00:31:15,080 ..some of the richest wildlife habitat in Africa. 316 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:24,600 ELEPHANT TRUMPETS 317 00:31:25,560 --> 00:31:29,800 It has also become world famous as one of the places to come 318 00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:31,200 and watch wildlife. 319 00:31:35,640 --> 00:31:39,000 This part of the Zambezi and its tributaries is dotted 320 00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:40,600 with safari lodges... 321 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:47,880 ..places where people come to meet the Zambezi's iconic animals. 322 00:31:51,760 --> 00:31:53,560 But who's watching who? 323 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:00,800 This safari lodge has operated for many years, 324 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:04,440 and the wild animals are now used to people. 325 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:10,360 And there's one main attraction just beyond the lobby. 326 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:16,360 A wild mango tree. 327 00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:22,440 Its fruit is ripe for just a short time, 328 00:32:22,520 --> 00:32:24,400 right at the end of the dry season. 329 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:31,280 A mouth-watering treat when food iS scarce. 330 00:32:34,640 --> 00:32:38,280 But it's not just baboons that have a thing for mangoes. 331 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:43,920 There are larger guests about to check into this lodge. 332 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:07,720 Elephants have been coming to this mango tree 333 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:10,800 from the river nearby for generations, 334 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:15,600 following ancient pathways that existed long before 335 00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:17,360 the lodge was built. 336 00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:24,600 One family in particular has learned that the lodge and its inhabitants 337 00:33:24,680 --> 00:33:26,240 poses no threat. 338 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:33,240 Why go around? 339 00:33:35,800 --> 00:33:38,440 When you can walk right through reception. 340 00:33:46,680 --> 00:33:49,560 These are completely wild elephants. 341 00:33:50,320 --> 00:33:53,160 But over the years, they have developed an understanding 342 00:33:53,240 --> 00:33:54,640 with the staff here. 343 00:33:55,360 --> 00:33:59,040 A trust passed down through elephant generations. 344 00:34:00,520 --> 00:34:03,960 We've definitely developed that relationship and we've seen 345 00:34:04,040 --> 00:34:08,840 youngsters grow into almost adults now over the years. 346 00:34:09,240 --> 00:34:12,000 So it's... it's a beautiful relationship we have. 347 00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:16,840 NARRATOR: This young bull probably first followed its mother 348 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:18,520 through here as a calf. 349 00:34:20,720 --> 00:34:22,560 Now he is so relaxed, 350 00:34:22,960 --> 00:34:26,040 he even takes time to browse the gift shop. 351 00:34:29,720 --> 00:34:31,680 And check in at reception. 352 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:43,080 But soon, the lure of the mangoes is too great. 353 00:34:45,840 --> 00:34:49,400 Trees like this are vital for the wildlife here. 354 00:34:52,200 --> 00:34:55,160 Their roots draw water from deep underground, 355 00:34:56,200 --> 00:34:59,080 so they can fruit even in the dry season. 356 00:35:01,760 --> 00:35:05,880 An important source of energy and vitamin C. 357 00:35:09,080 --> 00:35:11,040 And while the elephants are feasting, 358 00:35:11,400 --> 00:35:15,280 the guests get a wild encounter of a lifetime. 359 00:35:23,120 --> 00:35:24,960 When the elephants have had enough, 360 00:35:26,520 --> 00:35:28,080 they quietly leave. 361 00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:33,480 The same way they came in. 362 00:35:36,720 --> 00:35:38,960 Straight through reception. 363 00:35:51,840 --> 00:35:54,360 Elephants are big eaters. 364 00:35:56,680 --> 00:36:00,920 But they also drink over 200 litres of water a day. 365 00:36:03,560 --> 00:36:08,040 And for that, like all animals here, they rely on the river. 366 00:36:13,840 --> 00:36:15,040 BIRDS SQUAWK 367 00:36:15,200 --> 00:36:18,960 But the Zambezi is not only a place to get a drink. 368 00:36:22,040 --> 00:36:23,840 For carmine bee-eaters, 369 00:36:23,920 --> 00:36:27,120 the banks of the river provide the perfect place to make a home. 370 00:36:29,720 --> 00:36:33,000 Their colonies can contain up to a thousand nests... 371 00:36:38,160 --> 00:36:42,840 ..each one dug into the sandy cliff face over a metre deep... 372 00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:46,400 ..where their eggs are protected from predators. 373 00:36:49,720 --> 00:36:53,120 But outside the nest, the adults are vulnerable. 374 00:37:04,480 --> 00:37:08,640 African fish eagles don't only live on Lake Kariba - 375 00:37:09,360 --> 00:37:11,800 they can be found all along the Zambezi. 376 00:37:15,720 --> 00:37:18,560 The skills that make them so good at catching fish 377 00:37:18,960 --> 00:37:21,400 work just as well for birds. 378 00:37:23,240 --> 00:37:25,360 BEE-EATERS SQUAWK 379 00:37:58,040 --> 00:38:02,720 Hippos spend the hot days wallowing in the Zambezi's cool waters. 380 00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:09,840 Schools of females live together in a territory ruled 381 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:11,160 by a single male. 382 00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:15,240 And for the most part they are peaceful creatures. 383 00:38:17,360 --> 00:38:21,800 Until the male's authority is challenged by a rival. 384 00:38:31,280 --> 00:38:34,520 Then hippos turn violent. 385 00:39:08,600 --> 00:39:10,920 HIPPO BELLOWS 386 00:39:12,640 --> 00:39:14,040 In the safety of the river, 387 00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:16,560 hippos are all-powerful. 388 00:39:22,160 --> 00:39:26,840 It's as the sun goes down that they start to lose their bravado. 389 00:39:33,640 --> 00:39:35,680 Hippos eat grass. 390 00:39:36,520 --> 00:39:39,200 About 40 kilos every night. 391 00:39:42,520 --> 00:39:45,040 They can't get that by staying in the river. 392 00:39:48,840 --> 00:39:53,360 They may be huge - over two tons, but out of water 393 00:39:54,120 --> 00:39:55,400 they become cautious. 394 00:39:58,840 --> 00:40:01,560 So what are they nervous about? 395 00:40:07,320 --> 00:40:09,120 As the night progresses... 396 00:40:12,400 --> 00:40:15,000 ..they travel further into the shadows. 397 00:40:18,400 --> 00:40:20,640 Over five kilometres a night. 398 00:40:22,680 --> 00:40:25,080 Not making a sound. 399 00:40:33,000 --> 00:40:37,040 Soon, the hippos are peacefully grazing in moonlit meadows. 400 00:40:42,600 --> 00:40:44,080 But they are being watched. 401 00:40:48,920 --> 00:40:50,160 Lions. 402 00:41:02,120 --> 00:41:05,720 A pride of lions patrol this stretch of the Zambezi. 403 00:41:12,720 --> 00:41:15,480 They know that animals are moving to and from the river, 404 00:41:17,520 --> 00:41:19,840 and the dark is their friend. 405 00:41:25,520 --> 00:41:29,120 But would they be bold enough to bother a two-ton hippo? 406 00:41:35,720 --> 00:41:38,640 It's when the hippos start heading back to the Zambezi 407 00:41:39,440 --> 00:41:41,280 that they are most vulnerable. 408 00:41:44,480 --> 00:41:47,160 Lions have formidable eyesight. 409 00:41:48,280 --> 00:41:49,760 As the night gets darker, 410 00:41:50,440 --> 00:41:52,040 they gain the advantage. 411 00:41:54,880 --> 00:41:57,800 Now anything is fair game. 412 00:42:07,440 --> 00:42:10,160 A female lion tries for an impala. 413 00:42:14,960 --> 00:42:18,080 Alarmed by the chaos, hippos scramble for the safety 414 00:42:18,160 --> 00:42:19,160 of the river. 415 00:42:21,360 --> 00:42:23,080 But a young hippo is on its own. 416 00:42:26,240 --> 00:42:28,080 That doesn't go unnoticed. 417 00:42:34,280 --> 00:42:36,000 A male lion is on to it. 418 00:42:47,280 --> 00:42:48,520 Just in time. 419 00:42:51,960 --> 00:42:54,480 The hippo makes good its escape, 420 00:42:56,480 --> 00:43:00,920 safe once more in the waters of the Zambezi. 421 00:43:08,480 --> 00:43:14,040 As the Zambezi journeys on, it performs a last 422 00:43:14,120 --> 00:43:16,920 great feat of transformation. 423 00:43:20,120 --> 00:43:23,840 Flowing down on to the coastal plains of Mozambique... 424 00:43:25,800 --> 00:43:29,640 ..it spreads out into countless sinuous branches... 425 00:43:32,800 --> 00:43:36,520 ..forming a great triangle that reaches all the way 426 00:43:36,600 --> 00:43:37,960 to the Indian Ocean. 427 00:43:41,000 --> 00:43:43,000 The Zambezi Delta. 428 00:43:49,240 --> 00:43:52,280 But this last chapter of the Zambezi's journey 429 00:43:53,040 --> 00:43:55,120 is haunted by the past. 430 00:43:56,880 --> 00:43:59,960 From 1977 to 1992, 431 00:44:00,080 --> 00:44:03,320 this place was ravaged by civil war. 432 00:44:05,360 --> 00:44:07,880 The human cost was immeasurable. 433 00:44:10,400 --> 00:44:14,440 And it had a devastating effect on wildlife. 434 00:44:18,360 --> 00:44:21,880 DOMINIQUE: During that war, wildlife was killed for the meat, 435 00:44:22,120 --> 00:44:26,080 but also be killed for the ivory, for example, elephants, 436 00:44:26,840 --> 00:44:28,920 everything just declined drastically. 437 00:44:32,160 --> 00:44:37,400 NARRATOR: Dominique Goncalves is a Mozambican conservationist who's passionate 438 00:44:37,480 --> 00:44:40,440 about forging a brighter future for the wildlife here. 439 00:44:43,560 --> 00:44:49,040 She is part of a team tasked to go into the heart of the Zambezi Delta, 440 00:44:49,760 --> 00:44:52,440 to find out what has happened to the wildlife 441 00:44:53,200 --> 00:44:55,680 since the devastation of the war. 442 00:45:02,560 --> 00:45:05,160 Dominique is an elephant specialist. 443 00:45:07,520 --> 00:45:10,920 Her plan is to put satellite collars on key elephants 444 00:45:11,000 --> 00:45:12,360 to understand their movements. 445 00:45:14,240 --> 00:45:18,160 The first step in protecting all the wildlife of the delta. 446 00:45:20,640 --> 00:45:24,600 If you protect the area that an elephant uses, you're also 447 00:45:24,680 --> 00:45:28,480 protecting a huge area that many, many other species are using. 448 00:45:30,960 --> 00:45:33,240 NARRATOR: But first, she has to find them. 449 00:45:38,040 --> 00:45:40,520 The Zambezi Delta is vast — 450 00:45:42,000 --> 00:45:44,400 eight thousand square kilometres. 451 00:45:49,560 --> 00:45:53,680 Once, the Delta was world-famous for its extraordinary 452 00:45:53,760 --> 00:45:55,160 wealth of wildlife. 453 00:45:58,600 --> 00:46:02,160 Great herds of elephant, and the largest numbers 454 00:46:02,240 --> 00:46:04,360 of buffalo in Africa. 455 00:46:07,320 --> 00:46:11,120 Since the civil war, few studies have been conducted here. 456 00:46:12,040 --> 00:46:17,960 So little is known about what is left, but after just half an hour's 457 00:46:18,040 --> 00:46:20,600 flying, there's an encouraging sign. 458 00:46:22,200 --> 00:46:23,320 Elephants. 459 00:46:24,760 --> 00:46:28,560 DOMINIQUE: You really have to assess which individual we can work with. 460 00:46:29,520 --> 00:46:34,000 So you have to think about the age and if it's a female, is she very, 461 00:46:34,080 --> 00:46:37,440 very pregnant or not? If she has a young calf or not. 462 00:46:37,880 --> 00:46:40,800 So you don't want to put an extra stress on her. 463 00:46:44,320 --> 00:46:47,400 NARRATOR: The dart contains a fast-acting sedative. 464 00:46:50,120 --> 00:46:52,080 And by the time the helicopter has landed, 465 00:46:52,720 --> 00:46:54,840 the elephant is already asleep. 466 00:46:57,440 --> 00:46:59,000 A quick check on its breathing, 467 00:46:59,240 --> 00:47:00,520 and they get to work. 468 00:47:03,200 --> 00:47:04,560 They must work fast. 469 00:47:05,280 --> 00:47:07,320 Though the elephant is sleeping peacefully, 470 00:47:07,400 --> 00:47:10,680 the quicker they are, the quicker it can return to the herd. 471 00:47:14,960 --> 00:47:16,760 While the vet is fitting the collar, 472 00:47:17,120 --> 00:47:19,920 Dominique gathers as much information as she can. 473 00:47:21,960 --> 00:47:26,000 This is a rare opportunity to study these delta elephants. 474 00:47:27,840 --> 00:47:29,080 Blood samples... 475 00:47:29,800 --> 00:47:31,400 DOMINIQUE: Her feet is very small. 476 00:47:31,680 --> 00:47:32,880 NARRATOR: ..foot size, 477 00:47:33,800 --> 00:47:37,600 and getting a record of what it's been eating is a crucial 478 00:47:37,680 --> 00:47:40,200 but less glamorous part of the job. 479 00:47:44,320 --> 00:47:46,840 All completed in just 15 minutes. 480 00:47:49,000 --> 00:47:50,280 SNORING 481 00:47:50,720 --> 00:47:51,880 Snoring! 482 00:47:56,800 --> 00:47:59,960 NARRATOR: A final shot reverses the effects of the sedative. 483 00:48:02,280 --> 00:48:05,160 They now have just a couple of minutes to get airborne. 484 00:48:19,520 --> 00:48:23,720 To encounter elephants so early in the trip is a hopeful sign 485 00:48:23,800 --> 00:48:26,480 that good numbers are surviving in the delta. 486 00:48:29,800 --> 00:48:34,120 In the next few days, Dominique successfully collars six elephants 487 00:48:34,200 --> 00:48:35,600 from different herds. 488 00:48:36,560 --> 00:48:40,560 And straight away, the collars start to deliver results. 489 00:48:42,440 --> 00:48:46,400 She can see exactly where each elephant and their herd travels. 490 00:48:47,760 --> 00:48:51,480 What space they need for socializing, feeding 491 00:48:51,840 --> 00:48:53,360 and avoiding people. 492 00:48:56,080 --> 00:48:58,600 Travelling the delta with their satellite collars, 493 00:48:59,640 --> 00:49:03,280 Dominique's elephants are providing crucial hard data, 494 00:49:04,480 --> 00:49:07,640 and are starting to map out the space that she hopes will 495 00:49:07,720 --> 00:49:11,240 one day protect all the wildlife of the delta. 496 00:49:17,960 --> 00:49:19,920 Even in such a brief visit, 497 00:49:20,160 --> 00:49:22,280 there are tantalizing glimpses 498 00:49:22,720 --> 00:49:25,200 of the life the delta could hold. 499 00:49:28,200 --> 00:49:29,680 A great herd, 500 00:49:30,200 --> 00:49:32,280 many hundreds of buffalo - 501 00:49:32,720 --> 00:49:36,760 an echo of the legendary herds that once roamed here. 502 00:49:40,080 --> 00:49:42,800 And a vision of what this place could be. 503 00:49:45,240 --> 00:49:47,280 Here, where the Zambezi River 504 00:49:47,640 --> 00:49:50,760 finally comes to the end of its journey. 505 00:49:59,280 --> 00:50:02,360 DOMINIQUE: The Zambezi River is extremely important. 506 00:50:04,800 --> 00:50:08,040 Not only in terms of biodiversity and nature, 507 00:50:08,160 --> 00:50:09,640 but give us culture, 508 00:50:10,000 --> 00:50:12,440 give us, you know, livelihoods, 509 00:50:12,520 --> 00:50:14,560 give us many things. 510 00:50:18,560 --> 00:50:21,240 Perhaps without it, it wouldn't be the same. 511 00:50:26,200 --> 00:50:30,120 I think that's the thing that makes us all so proud to have the Zambezi, 512 00:50:30,320 --> 00:50:33,560 one of the greatest, biggest rivers in Africa, 513 00:50:33,720 --> 00:50:36,760 to just finish here, next to home. 514 00:50:42,760 --> 00:50:46,520 NARRATOR: From a trickle of water in a far corner of Zambia... 515 00:50:48,160 --> 00:50:52,720 ..this great river has overcome many obstacles on its 516 00:50:52,800 --> 00:50:55,760 2,500-kilometre journey. 517 00:50:58,320 --> 00:51:00,400 The heat of the African sun... 518 00:51:03,280 --> 00:51:06,760 ..the rugged geology at the heart of the continent... 519 00:51:09,400 --> 00:51:11,520 ..the demands of a modern world... 520 00:51:13,840 --> 00:51:18,080 ..but wherever it flows, it brings life and opportunity. 521 00:51:21,880 --> 00:51:25,680 No more so than here at the end of its journey... 522 00:51:28,040 --> 00:51:30,000 ..as the waters of the Zambezi 523 00:51:30,640 --> 00:51:32,240 are finally carried away 524 00:51:33,120 --> 00:51:34,880 by the Indian Ocean. 525 00:51:49,560 --> 00:51:52,800 One of the biggest challenges for the Earth's Great Rivers team 526 00:51:53,320 --> 00:51:56,840 was to film professional surfer Mikey February riding 527 00:51:56,920 --> 00:51:58,240 the Zambezi Wave. 528 00:52:02,520 --> 00:52:03,800 Timing was key. 529 00:52:05,080 --> 00:52:08,920 This unique wave only appears for a few days each year... 530 00:52:10,440 --> 00:52:14,360 ..when water levels rise and fall with the rains. 531 00:52:16,360 --> 00:52:17,920 It's also incredibly remote, 532 00:52:18,680 --> 00:52:19,720 and dangerous to reach - 533 00:52:20,720 --> 00:52:22,160 down steep, jagged cliffs 534 00:52:22,640 --> 00:52:24,840 and through some of the most ferocious rapids 535 00:52:25,200 --> 00:52:26,240 on the planet. 536 00:52:29,880 --> 00:52:35,320 It's been quite the logistic nightmare, maybe, to organise. 537 00:52:35,480 --> 00:52:38,760 We've had to postpone the shoot a few times just because the river 538 00:52:39,000 --> 00:52:41,440 water levels are dropping, but they're not 539 00:52:41,520 --> 00:52:42,680 dropping quickly enough. 540 00:52:42,760 --> 00:52:45,720 And there's such a small window to sort of aim for, 541 00:52:45,800 --> 00:52:47,960 for a wave that's surfable for Mikey. 542 00:52:50,320 --> 00:52:53,960 NARRATOR: But the team decide tomorrow is their best bet to head off 543 00:52:54,040 --> 00:52:55,160 in search of the wave. 544 00:52:57,800 --> 00:53:00,000 And to get everyone there safely are 545 00:53:00,080 --> 00:53:02,560 the Zambezi's most experienced river guides. 546 00:53:02,640 --> 00:53:03,720 This one as well. 547 00:53:05,360 --> 00:53:10,680 LEWIS: We've got four cameras, two drones, all the batteries, accessories, 548 00:53:11,560 --> 00:53:12,680 all the cards. 549 00:53:13,160 --> 00:53:14,480 There's a lot of expensive kit 550 00:53:14,560 --> 00:53:16,800 that could end up at the bottom of the Zambezi. 551 00:53:23,360 --> 00:53:24,560 NARRATOR: It's an early start, 552 00:53:25,560 --> 00:53:27,920 and the team head to the edge of the gorge. 553 00:53:32,160 --> 00:53:33,760 We're going to go down to the gorge now. 554 00:53:33,840 --> 00:53:36,640 Please don't fall, don't slip, we're going just on ladders, so... 555 00:53:36,720 --> 00:53:38,520 NARRATOR: Lead river guide Sean 556 00:53:38,880 --> 00:53:42,600 briefs the team on the treacherous 100 metre-descent ahead. 557 00:53:43,880 --> 00:53:47,120 It's an almost vertical drop down sheer rock, 558 00:53:47,360 --> 00:53:49,400 and along rickety wooden ladders. 559 00:53:50,520 --> 00:53:51,840 SEAN: All good in the hood? - Yeah. 560 00:53:51,920 --> 00:53:53,560 Has anyone fallen? — All the time. 561 00:53:53,680 --> 00:53:54,840 All the time! 562 00:53:56,480 --> 00:53:57,400 SEAN: It begins. 563 00:53:57,480 --> 00:53:58,760 MAN WHOOPS 564 00:54:00,600 --> 00:54:03,360 NARRATOR: Lewis is the first to follow the guides down. 565 00:54:08,280 --> 00:54:10,400 So far, so good. 566 00:54:15,560 --> 00:54:17,120 Actually terrified. 567 00:54:19,680 --> 00:54:22,920 But we must push forward. 568 00:54:25,440 --> 00:54:30,040 NARRATOR: The last thing the crew needs now is a twisted ankle or worse. 569 00:54:34,360 --> 00:54:38,440 OK? - I'm OK. 570 00:54:42,800 --> 00:54:45,040 NARRATOR: The team make it down to the Zambezi. 571 00:54:47,360 --> 00:54:49,800 Actually never been more happy to get into a raft. 572 00:54:50,320 --> 00:54:53,720 NARRATOR: But the journey to find the wave has only just begun. 573 00:55:00,480 --> 00:55:02,280 Precious cargo loaded. 574 00:55:03,720 --> 00:55:06,800 Time to rock and roll. Let's go! 575 00:55:07,240 --> 00:55:09,000 One, two, three! 576 00:55:11,480 --> 00:55:15,600 NARRATOR: At first, all seems calm, but turbulent water lies 577 00:55:15,680 --> 00:55:16,800 just around the corner. 578 00:55:17,920 --> 00:55:20,560 And the river starts to come alive. 579 00:55:27,640 --> 00:55:30,960 The mighty Zambezi throws everything it can at them. 580 00:55:32,040 --> 00:55:34,680 Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! 581 00:55:38,200 --> 00:55:41,000 NARRATOR: Suddenly, the raft hits a violent swell, 582 00:55:41,400 --> 00:55:44,640 and sends camera operator Kevin hurtling into the rapids. 583 00:55:45,320 --> 00:55:46,520 KEVIN YELPS 584 00:55:53,960 --> 00:55:56,560 NARRATOR: He must get out quickly before the river throws him 585 00:55:56,640 --> 00:55:58,640 into the rocks or drags him under. 586 00:56:14,240 --> 00:56:15,880 But he's in safe hands. 587 00:56:16,320 --> 00:56:19,400 Thanks to the quick reactions of the guide, Kevin's pulled 588 00:56:19,480 --> 00:56:20,600 back on board. 589 00:56:27,560 --> 00:56:28,720 MAN WHISTLES 590 00:56:29,920 --> 00:56:31,640 And the team finally make it 591 00:56:32,160 --> 00:56:33,640 to the Zambezi Wave. 592 00:56:38,800 --> 00:56:41,840 Months of meticulous planning went into arriving 593 00:56:41,920 --> 00:56:43,520 at just the right moment. 594 00:56:45,200 --> 00:56:48,880 But now it's all up to Mikey. 595 00:56:51,680 --> 00:56:55,600 MIKEY: It's so scary, and it's so, you know, sort of dangerous. 596 00:56:57,120 --> 00:57:00,400 When you see a photo of the river, when it's super low, 597 00:57:00,480 --> 00:57:02,480 you can actually see the rock that it actually breaks 598 00:57:02,560 --> 00:57:05,200 off of, and it kind of plays on your mind. 599 00:57:07,760 --> 00:57:09,600 You know, you obviously have to wear a helmet, 600 00:57:09,680 --> 00:57:11,480 and then you also have to wear a life jacket. 601 00:57:12,280 --> 00:57:14,440 In the ocean, you're just wearing a wetsuit or board shorts 602 00:57:14,520 --> 00:57:17,960 or something - you definitely feel out of your comfort zone. 603 00:57:19,800 --> 00:57:22,200 NARRATOR: But that's not Mikey's only concern. 604 00:57:23,640 --> 00:57:25,920 MIKEY: Crocodiles, what's the situation? 605 00:57:26,000 --> 00:57:28,080 So I mean, they're definitely here, and we can't discount them. 606 00:57:28,440 --> 00:57:30,200 The danger zone is actually just this pool. 607 00:57:30,360 --> 00:57:32,240 They don't like the fast-moving water. 608 00:57:32,520 --> 00:57:33,600 So I think once you get 609 00:57:33,680 --> 00:57:36,320 into the rapids, you're 100%, it's really just this area. 610 00:57:36,640 --> 00:57:39,040 But I mean, we've all been watching, we've been looking, we've spoken 611 00:57:39,120 --> 00:57:42,200 to the fishermen and they haven't seen crocs here for ages, 612 00:57:42,360 --> 00:57:43,280 so I think we're good. 613 00:57:46,120 --> 00:57:47,480 LEWIS: Go on, Mikey! 614 00:58:02,480 --> 00:58:03,680 MAN YELLS 615 00:58:06,480 --> 00:58:08,160 THEY CHEER 616 00:58:10,120 --> 00:58:13,640 NARRATOR: To get here at just the right time, Mikey and the team 617 00:58:13,720 --> 00:58:15,360 have descended cliffs, 618 00:58:15,440 --> 00:58:17,720 and navigated white water rapids. 619 00:58:18,080 --> 00:58:23,280 But in return, they experienced an entirely new side of one 620 00:58:23,360 --> 00:58:25,360 of Earth's great rivers. 621 00:58:26,680 --> 00:58:29,200 MIKEY: Everyone's got a different relationship with this river, 622 00:58:29,280 --> 00:58:32,120 and surfing that wave is mine.