Original subtitles

THEY CALL IT "THE SMOKE THAT THUNDERS."

HERE, THE MIGHTY ZAMBEZI RIVER MEETS THE EDGE OF ONE WORLD

AND PLUMMETS INTO ANOTHER.

VICTORIA FALLS, MAGNIFICENT DURING THE RAINY SEASON,

AND DEADLY.

YET FOR SOME, THIS IS HOME.

Man: ZAMBEZI BRINGS ME EVERYTHING I NEED.

FOR 74 YEARS, SHE HAS LOOKED AFTER ME

AND MY FAMILY.

Narrator: BUT IF VICTORIA FALLS

THUNDERS WHEN IT RAINS,

SHE WHISPERS WHEN THE DRY SEASON COMES.

THE ZAMBEZI BECOMES SHALLOW, LAZY.

AND THEN, MONTHS LATER,

THE THUNDER RETURNS.

Man: WORDS MEAN NOTHING WHEN YOU ARE NEAR HER.

NOTHING IN YOUR LIFE CAN PREPARE YOU FOR THIS EXPERIENCE.

SHE GRABS YOU AND SHAKES YOU TO YOUR BONES.

IT IS LIKE YOU ARE STANDING ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD.

MAJOR FUND [ WOMAN SINGING IN AFRICAN LANGUAGE ]

Narrator: FROM THE NORTH OF ZAMBIA,

SHE HAS TRAVELED 1,000 MILES, FLOWING ALONG THE BORDERS

OF ANGOLA, BOTSWANA, NAMIBIA, AND ZIMBABWE.

NOW SHE SLOWS, OFFERING COOL WATERS

THAT ARE SHALLOW AND WIDE.

SANDY ISLANDS SPLIT HER INTO HUNDREDS OF CHANNELS.

FOR MILES, SHE DRIFTS AND DREAMS.

HER NAME IS ZAMBEZI.

AND SHE IS KNOWN ACROSS SOUTHERN AFRICA

AS THE RIVER OF LIFE.

BUT EVERYONE WHO RELIES ON HER

KNOWS SHE HAS ANOTHER SIDE.

AND AS SHE REACHES THE MIGHTY VICTORIA FALLS,

SHE WAKES UP.

THEY CALL THIS PLACE MOSI-OA-TUNYA,

"THE SMOKE THAT THUNDERS."

THE WATERS DANCE AND SHOUT,

TUMBLING 350 FEET,

THROWING RAINBOWS HIGH INTO THE AIR.

AS SHE EMERGES INTO THE BATOKA GORGE,

THE ZAMBEZI IS ALIVE AGAIN, CARVING THROUGH THE ROCKS,

DARK AND SLEEK, DEEP AND FAST.

HERE, SHE IS NOT SO EASY TO LIVE WITH,

BUT ONE MAN HAS LIVED BY HER SIDE FOR 74 YEARS

AND CALLED HER HIS FRIEND ALL HIS LIFE.

Man: SHE HOLDS A MILLION SECRETS BENEATH HER WATERS,

REVEALING A FEW TO EACH OF US SO WE MAY SURVIVE HERE.

THIS IS THE STORY OF LIFE ON THE ZAMBEZI,

LIVES RULED BY THE MOOD OF THE RIVER AND THE RAINS.

TODAY SHE IS QUIET, BUT THIS STORY

BEGINS MANY MONTHS AGO.

THEN, SHE WAS MAGNIFICENT.

IT WAS FEBRUARY, AND IT HAD RAINED EVERY DAY FOR NINE WEEKS,

MORE RAIN THAN I HAD EVER SEEN.

ZAMBEZI WAS FULL AND VICTORIA BECAME A MONSTER.

LIKE A VOLCANO, SHE BREATHED CLOUDS OF SPRAY

A MILE HIGH ABOVE THE GORGE.

THIS IS WHERE OUR STORY BEGINS.

MY NAME IS MR. WHITE, AND I AM A FISHERMAN.

I LIVE IN THE VILLAGE OF SONGWE.

IT IS A SMALL VILLAGE ON THE EDGE OF THE BATOKA GORGE.

MOST HERE ARE FISHERMEN,

AND WE RELY ON THE ZAMBEZI FOR MUCH OF OUR FOOD.

I NEED TO CATCH MANY FISH TO FEED MY FAMILY.

I HAVE SEVEN DAUGHTERS,

EIGHT SONS, AND THREE WIVES.

THIS YEAR WILL BE HARD.

IT IS TOO WET.

ALL MY CROPS HAVE DROWNED AND DIED.

[ THUNDER ]

IT'S SO MUCH RAIN.

FISHING IS TOUGH.

BUT I WILL TAKE WHATEVER ZAMBEZI OFFERS.

Abraham: THE RAINS THIS YEAR

ARE SOME OF THE HEAVIEST ON RECORD.

VICTORIA FALLS IS IN FULLLOW.

AT OVER A MILE WIDE,

NO OTHER WATERFALL ON EARTH CAN MATCH HER SCALE.

EVERY SECOND, ALMOST 300,000 GALLONS OF THE ZAMBEZI

CASCADE OVER THE EDGE AND VANISH INTO THE ABYSS.

SO MUCH RAIN MEANS THAT THE RIVER IS

A TOUGH PLACE TO LIVE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

MANY OF THE ANIMALS THAT RELY ON THE FALLS

IN THE DRY SEASON ARE SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE SAVANNA

AND WILL NOT RETURN UNTIL THE RIVER DROPS.

[ THUNDER ]

BUT FOR THE BABOONS, CONDITIONS COULD NOT BE BETTER.

THEY LIVE IN THE GORGE BETWEEN THE FALLS

AND THE ZAMBIA/ZIMBABWE BORDER POST.

THE SNAGGLETOOTHED MALE IS THE LEADER,

THE KING OF THE BORDER TROOP.

[ BABOONS SCREECHING ]

THE RAINS AND CONSTANT SPRAY FROM THE FALLS

CREATE A RIBBON OF RAINFOREST.

TREES DRENCHED IN WATER ARE HEAVY WITH FRUIT,

PERFECT FOR BABOONS.

AT THIS TIME OF YEAR,

THE BORDER TROOP IS WELL FED AND LIFE IS GOOD.

OUT ON THE SAVANNA, MOST BABOONS HAVE TO TRAVEL TO FIND FOOD.

THE TROOP BY THE RIVER HAS TIME ON THEIR HANDS.

BUT THE EASY LIFE ONLY LEADS TO ARGUMENTS AND FIGHTS.

[ SCREECHING ]

BABOON SOCIETY IS COMPLEX

AND POSITION IN THE TROOP DEPENDS

ON YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

IN THE MONTHS TO COME, IT WILL BE TOUGH.

THE DRY SEASON IS A VERY DIFFERENT WORLD.

BUT FOR NOW, IT'S A TIME TO PLAY...

OR JUST SIT AND WATCH THE WORLD GO BY.

IT'S MARCH.

THE RAINS HAVE FINALLY STOPPED.

BUT THE WATERS

WILL RAGE IN THE RIVER FOR TWO MORE MONTHS.

IN THE GORGE, THE WATER IS STILL COLD AND DANGEROUS.

White: MAYBE SHE LOOKS SMALLER HERE,

CRAMPED BETWEEN THE WALLS OF THE GORGE.

BUT SHE IS DEEP, OH, SO, SO DEEP.

THEY SAY THAT ABOVE VICTORIA, THE CROCODILES HAVE TEETH,

BUT DOWN HERE,

IT IS ZAMBEZI WHO HAS THE TEETH.

IF I FELL IN, SHE WOULD SWALLOW ME AND I WOULD BE GONE.

SO I AM CAREFUL NEAR HER.

SHE IS STILL TOO ANGRY TO GIVE ME MANY FISH.

THE RAIN HAS MADE THE WATER COLD,

AND THE FISH ARE HIDING.

BUT I HAVE LEARNED TO READ HER WATERS.

I KNOW ALL OF HER POOLS AND EDDIES.

I KNOW WHERE SHE HIDES HER FISH.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE SPOT,

BELOW RAPID NUMBER 9.

I HAVE FISHED HERE SINCE 1947.

I AM HAPPY WHEN I AM WITH ZAMBEZI.

SHE DOESN'T TALK TOO MUCH.

I KNOW SHE WILL GIVE ME SOMETHING.

AND IF I CATCH ENOUGH FISH TO SELL,

I CAN BUY MEALY-MEAL AND SOME TEA.

Abraham: ABOVE THE FALLS,

ELEPHANTS RETURN TO THE ZAMBEZI

AS THE LAND AROUND BEGINS TO DRY OUT.

HERE THEY CAN DRINK THEIR FILL.

[ ELEPHANTS RUMBLING ]

WITH LITTLE FOOD TO BE FOUND ELSEWHERE,

THE ELEPHANTS COME TO THE RIVER TO FEED ON THE LUSH GRASSES

THAT GROW IN THE EMERGING ISLANDS.

THEY REMEMBER WHERE TO CROSS THE SHALLOW RAPIDS.

BUT THIS YEAR, THE HEAVY RAINS

HAVE MADE THE ZAMBEZI STRONGER THAN EVER.

IF THEY MAKE A MISTAKE, THEY COULD BE SWEPT OVER THE FALLS.

THE ADULTS TRY TO PROTECT THE BABY

FROM THE FULL FLOW OF THE WATER, BUT IT'S TOO STRONG

AND THEY ARE FORCED TO TURN BACK.

THEY MUST WAIT FOR THE ZAMBEZI TO LET THEM CROSS.

FOR NOW, THEY CAN ONLY WAIT AND WATCH

AS THE GRASSES ARE PLUNDERED BY HERDS OF BACHELOR MALES.

BEING LARGER AND MORE POWERFUL, THESE GROUPS OF BULLS

CAN EASILY CROSS THE HIGH WATER

AND TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE RICH BOUNTY

ON THE ISLANDS.

WITH GRASS MAKING UP MORE THAN 50% OF THEIR DIET,

REACHING THE ISLANDS EARLY IS A HUGE ADVANTAGE TO THE BULLS.

THEY FORAGE FOR UP TO 16 HOURS A DAY,

SO THE FAMILY HERD WILL HAVE TO CROSS SOON,

OR THERE WILL BE NO GRASS LEFT.

BY MAY, A TRANSFORMATION BEGINS.

THE CLOUDS HAVE BURNED FROM THE SKIES,

AND THE THUNDER FROM VICTORIA FALLS GROWS QUIET,

AS THE MIGHTY ZAMBEZI BEGINS

TO SUCCUMB TO THE POWER OF THE SUN.

AS THE RIVER DROPS, ITS WATERS BECOME CLEAR,

MAKING LIFE EASIER FOR THE AFRICAN FISH EAGLE.

[ EAGLE CALLING ]

THIS IS THE TIME THAT ALL THE FISHERMEN AROUND THE FALLS

HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.

White: NOW THE NIGHTS ARE COLD,

SO, SO COLD.

THE RIVER ABOVE THE FALLS IS LOST IN MIST EVERY MORNING.

I LIKE THIS TIME.

EACH DAY, AS THE MIST LIFTS,

I SEE MORE LIFE RETURNING TO ZAMBEZI.

AH, THE SKIMMERS HAVE COME HOME.

THEY HAVE BEEN AWAY FOR MANY MONTHS.

THEY COME BACK

AS THE RECEDING WATERS REVEAL SAND BANKS AND ISLANDS,

SAFE FROM DANGER.

THEY ARE PERFECT PLACES TO NEST.

FOR NOW, THEY FLY IN FORMATION,

CALLING AND DISPLAYING AS THEY SEARCH

FOR THE BEST SPOTS.

THEY WILL WAIT UNTIL THE BEACHES HAVE EMERGED

BEFORE THEY BEGIN TO BUILD THEIR NESTS.

AND AS THE WATERS DROP,

THE SHALLOW POOLS ARE FULL OF FISH.

THIS IS A GOOD TIME FOR THEM TO START TO RAISE A FAMILY.

THE BULL HIPPOS ARE DISPLAYING NOW.

EVERY MORNING, THEIR CALLS ECHO ACROSS THE RIVER,

LETTING OTHER MALES KNOW WHO'S BOSS.

[ HIPPO GRUNTING ]

THERE ARE MANY HIPPOS ABOVE THE FALLS.

THEY ARE SO, SO DANGEROUS.

I PREFER TO FISH THE GORGE,

WHERE THERE ARE NONE,

BUT I LIKE TO VISIT ZAMBEZI UP HERE.

EVERY DAY, SHE SHOWS ME SOMETHING NEW.

[ BIRDS CALLING ]

Abraham: AS THE ZAMBEZI BEGINS TO SUBSIDE,

THE DRYING RIVERBANKS BECOME PRIME REAL ESTATE

FOR A COLONY OF BEE-EATERS, JUST IN TIME FOR NESTING SEASON.

THOUSANDS OF BIRDS BEGIN EXCAVATIONS,

THEIR APARTMENT COMPLEXES

DOTTING THE EMERGING SAND CLIFFS.

THEY MUST DIG THEIR NESTS FAST, BEFORE THE SUN DRIES THE MUD

AS HARD AS STONE.

A COLONY IS A SAFE PLACE TO BE --

SO MANY EYES FOR GUARD DUTY

AND BEAKS FOR DEFENSE.

A PAIR OF PIED KINGFISHERS ARE TRYING TO FIND

A SPACE HERE, TOO, SAFE AMONG THE BEE-EATERS.

BUT THEY ARE NOT WELCOME,

AND THEY HAVE COME TOO LATE.

BUT FINDING A GOOD SPOT OUTSIDE THE PROTECTION

OF THE BEE-EATERS WILL BE DIFFICULT.

[ BIRD CALLING ]

THE LARGEST KINGFISHER IN THE WORLD,

THE GIANT KINGFISHER,

CHOOSES TO NEST AWAY FROM THE NOISY BEE-EATERS.

THEY ARE NEARLY AS LARGE AS A CROW,

AND WHEREVER THEY RAISE A FAMILY,

THERE MUST BE PLENTY OF FISH.

AS THE RIVER CLEARS AFTER THE RAINS,

THE FISHING WILL BE GOOD.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR THEM TO START A FAMILY.

THE MALE WILL ALWAYS KEEP ONE EYE OPEN FOR PREDATORS

NEAR HIS NEST.

[ BABOON SCREECHES ]

BUT THE BABOONS ARE NO THREAT TO HIM.

ALTHOUGH THEY WILL EAT ALMOST ANYTHING

AND WOULD RAID HIS NEST IF THEY COULD FIND IT,

THEY ARE HERE FOR A DIFFERENT FEAST.

PALM TREES LINE THE BANKS OF THE RIVER ABOVE THE FALLS.

AND AS THE RAINS COME TO AN END, THEY FRUIT.

THE BABOONS STRIP THE SOFT OUTER LAYER,

DISCARDING THE TOUGH NUT INSIDE.

WHILE ONE YOUNG MALE SITS IN THE CROWN OF THE TREE,

OTHERS WAIT BELOW FOR THE FRUITS HE DROPS.

THERE IS NOT MUCH OF A MEAL IN EACH ONE,

BUT THERE ARE MANY TO BE FOUND, AND THE BABOONS KNOW

WHERE AND WHEN TO LOOK.

HIGH ABOVE THE TREES AND THE MIGHTY ZAMBEZI,

FISH EAGLES SCAN THE WIDENING WATERS.

WITH THE RAINS LONG OVER AND THE RIVER RUNNING CLEAR,

IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO RAISE THEIR FAMILY.

[ EAGLE CALLING ]

THEY MUST RAISE THEIR CHICKS DURING THE DRY SEASON,

SO THEY CAN LEARN TO HUNT BEFORE THE RIVER RISES ONCE AGAIN.

THIS PAIR HAS BEEN TOGETHER FOR MANY YEARS.

THEY ALWAYS NEST IN THE SAME SPOT,

HIGH IN THE CANOPY ON ONE OF THE ISLANDS ABOVE THE FALLS.

[ BOTH CALLING ]

THEY CALL TO TELL EVERYBODY THAT THEY HOLD THIS TERRITORY.

IT IS A PRIME FISHING SPOT, DIRECTLY ABOVE THE FALLS,

A TERRITORY MADE UP OF SHALLOW POOLS AND RAPIDS.

White: IN SEPTEMBER,

THE SUN BURNS HARD ON THE LAND.

EVERY DAY IT DRINKS ZAMBEZI DRY.

VICTORIA IS FORCED TO RETREAT ALONG THE ROCKS,

HER THUNDEROUS SONG NOW JUST A WHISPER.

ALL AROUND, THE LAND IS DRY.

ONLY THE STUBBORN MOPANE TREES HOLD ON TO THEIR LEAVES.

ZAMBEZI IS NOW JUST A SNAKE IN THE DESERT.

SHE HAS DROPPED 20 METERS IN JUST THREE MONTHS.

NOW THAT SHE HAS BEEN TAMED BY THE SUN, THEY ARRIVE.

FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, MEN COME HERE IN THEIR RUBBER BOATS.

THEY SAY IT IS FUN.

[ SHOUTING ]

Abraham: ABOVE THE FALLS,

THE ZAMBEZI IS SLOW AND LAZY ONCE AGAIN,

A MEANDERING OASIS IN A SUN-BAKED SAVANNA,

HER ISLANDS THE ONLY FRESH VEGETATION FOR MILES AROUND.

NOW IT IS SAFE FOR THE YOUNG ONES TO CROSS,

THE FAMILY HERD CAN FINALLY REACH THE ISLANDS TO FEAST

ON THE LUSH GRASSES.

BUT THE FAMILY IS NOT ALONE.

NOW THE RIVER IS ALIVE WITH ELEPHANTS.

HUNDREDS ARRIVE, DRAWN TO THE RIVER

BY THE FRESH FOOD AND COOL WATERS.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, THE ELEPHANTS TAKE REFUGE

FROM THE HOT SUN BY WALLOWING AND PLAYING.

[ WOMAN SINGING IN AFRICAN LANGUAGE ]

FORCED OUT OF THE BEE-EATER COLONY,

THE PIED KINGFISHERS HAVE NESTED ALONE.

NOW THEY HAVE CHICKS, THEY SPEND ALL DAY LONG FISHING

TO FEED THEIR GROWING FAMILY.

THE CHICKS WILL ONLY SPEND A FEW WEEKS IN THE NEST.

THEY HAVE TO GROW FAST,

FOR THEY ARE AT THEIR MOST VULNERABLE NOW.

FAR OUT ON THE PLAINS,

THE WATER HOLES HAVE ALL DRIED UP

IN THE SEARING HEAT,

FORCING MANY ANIMALS

ONTO THE SHORES OF THE ZAMBEZI TO DRINK.

PREDATORS ARE DRAWN TO THE GATHERING...

RELAXING ON THE BEACH, WHERE THEY CAN KEEP AN EYE

ON THEIR NEXT MEAL.

ON THE ISLANDS, THE SKIMMER CHICKS ARE DOING WELL.

THEY HIDE FROM PREDATORS IN THE DUNES

WHILE THEIR PARENTS HUNT THE WATERS ABOVE THE FALLS.

DESPITE THEIR AWKWARD-LOOKING BEAKS, SKIMMERS

ARE DEFT FISHERMEN.

THEY GLIDE ABOVE THE SURFACE,

TROLLING FOR FISH WITH THAT LOWER JAW.

AT LEAST, THAT'S THE IDEA.

[ BIRD CALLS ]

THE CHICKS AVOID PREDATORS BY LYING STILL,

CAMOUFLAGED AGAINST THE SAND.

THIS TACTIC IS RISKY

AGAINST ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST THREATS.

AS HIPPOS LUMBER ONTO THE ISLANDS TO FORAGE AT NIGHT,

THEY CAN ACCIDENTALLY TRAMPLE THE TINY CHICKS.

BUT DURING THE HEAT OF THE DAY,

THE HIPPOS WALLOW IN THE COOL, DEEP CHANNELS.

[ HIPPOS GRUNTING ]

THEY LIVE IN FAMILY GROUPS AND ARE HIGHLY TERRITORIAL.

AS THE RIVER RECEDES, ALL THE GROUPS ARE FORCED TO GATHER

IN THE SAME REMAINING CHANNELS AND POOLS.

NOW THERE ARE TOO MANY HIPPOS IN EVERY POOL,

AND THE BIG BULLS CAN'T SEEM TO TOLERATE EACH OTHER.

[ BULL RUMBLING ]

[ WOMAN SINGING IN AFRICAN LANGUAGE ]

THE SHALLOW POOLS THE HIPPOS HAVE ABANDONED

ARE NOW PERFECT HUNTING GROUNDS FOR THE PIED KINGFISHERS.

THEY ARE THE WORLD'S LARGEST TRUE HOVERING BIRD,

ABLE TO HOLD A STEADY POSITION

WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF A HEAD WIND --

A VALUABLE SKILL FOR FISHING.

[ GROUP SINGING IN AFRICAN LANGUAGE ]

WITH CHICKS TO RAISE, THEY MUST FISH CONSTANTLY,

LEAVING THE NEST EXPOSED AND VULNERABLE.

THEY ARRIVE HOME A SECOND TOO LATE.

THE MONGOOSE IS A SNEAKY CHARACTER

AND WILL TAKE ANY OPPORTUNITY HE FINDS.

HE IS A GREAT DANGER TO ALL WHO NEST ALONG THE RIVERBANK.

[ BIRDS SCREECHING ]

DESPITE THEIR DARING ACROBATICS, THE PARENTS CAN DO NOTHING.

THEY CANNOT RISK MEETING THE MONGOOSE IN THE TUNNEL.

EVEN WITH THEIR RAZOR-SHARP BEAKS,

THEY ARE NO MATCH FOR HIM.

THE ALARM CALLS SOON ATTRACT THE ATTENTION

OF ANOTHER KINGFISHER, BUT THEY ARE HELPLESS.

THE MONGOOSE WILL TAKE ALL OF THEIR CHICKS.

WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF THE BEE-EATER COLONY,

THEY HAVE LEFT THEMSELVES EXPOSED, AND PAID THE PRICE.

IT WILL BE A YEAR

BEFORE THEY HAVE THE CHANCE TO NEST AGAIN.

[ GRUNTING ]

[ MAN SINGING IN AFRICAN LANGUAGE ]

THE SETTING SUN BRINGS QUELEAS HOME TO ROOST.

THESE SMALL, BROWN FINCHES FILL THE SKY

AS THEY SEARCH FOR A PLACE TO SETTLE FOR THE NIGHT.

QUELEAS ARE THE MOST NUMEROUS BIRDS ON EARTH,

FORMING FLOCKS MILLIONS STRONG.

ABOVE THE FALLS, THEY SEEK SANCTUARY

AMONG THE TALL GRASSES ON THE ISLANDS.

AS THEIR CHATTER FADES AWAY,

MR. WHITE SETS HIS LINES FOR THE NIGHT

IN THE GORGE BELOW VICTORIA FALLS.

[ WOMEN SINGING IN AFRICAN LANGUAGE ]

White: THE GORGE IS A WONDERFUL PLACE

AT NIGHT, SO QUIET.

SOMETIMES I SIT DOWN HERE FOR A MONTH,

DRINKING TEA AND FISHING EVERY NIGHT,

LEAVING WHEN I HAVE GOT PLENTY OF FISH FOR MY FAMILY.

VICTORIA IS MOST BEAUTIFUL AT NIGHT.

THE LIGHTS FROM ZIMBABWE

SHINE THROUGH HER SPRAY AND SET HER ON FIRE.

THEN, AS THE MOON CLIMBS HIGH IN THE SKY,

MOON RAINBOWS APPEAR AND SHE BECOMES

MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN YOU CAN EVER IMAGINE.

Abraham: HIGH IN THE TREES,

EAGLE EYES, PIERCING TALONS, AND POWERFUL WINGS

ARE ABOUT TO GO TO WORK.

THE FISH EAGLES MAKE IT ALL LOOK SO EASY.

THE EAGLES HAVE CHICKS.

THEIR SKILL AS FISHERMEN HAS PAID OFF,

AND THEY HAVE RAISED A FINE FAMILY.

FOR NOW, THE ADULTS MUST DO ALL THE WORK.

BUT SOON THE YOUNGSTERS WILL BE ABLE

TO CATCH FISH FOR THEMSELVES.

THE EAGLES HAVE HAD PERFECT TIMING.

THEIR CHICKS CAN PRACTICE FISHING

IN THE SHALLOW, CLEAR WATERS WHILE THE RIVER IS STILL LOW.

THEY MUST LEARN FAST, THOUGH.

THE ZAMBEZI'S MOODS ARE ALWAYS CHANGING,

AND IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE THE RAINS RETURN.

WHILE LIFE HAS BEEN EASY FOR A FISHERMAN,

IT'S BECOME HARD FOR THE BORDER TROOP.

THE SPRAY FROM THE FALLS

NO LONGER REACHES THEIR LITTLE FOREST.

AND THE FRUITS THEY RELIED ON DURING THE RAINS

HAVE SHRIVELED AND DIED.

THEY ARE REDUCED TO EATING INSECTS OFF OLD LEAVES

AND STRIPPING THE SEEDS OF DEAD GRASSES.

WHILE THE YOUNGSTERS ALWAYS FIND TIME TO PLAY...

[ SQUEALING ]

THE ADULTS ARE SAVING THEIR ENERGY.

THEY HAVE OTHER PLANS.

THE ZAMBEZI MARKS THE BORDER BETWEEN ZAMBIA AND ZIMBABWE.

AND ALL MUST CROSS ON A SINGLE BRIDGE

TO REACH THE OTHER SIDE.

THEY SAY THERE ARE BANDITS AT THE BORDER,

A FEARLESS GANG OF THIEVES.

[ TRUCK BEEPING ]

[ CROWD SHOUTING, ENGINES STARTING ]

ZIMBABWE IS IN THE GRIP OF A TYRANT AND IS FACING FAMINE.

SO EVERY DAY,

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE CROSS INTO ZAMBIA TO BUY FOOD.

AND WHEN THEY RETURN,

THE BORDER TROOP IS WAITING FOR THEM.

SO BOLD HAVE THE BABOONS BECOME,

IT SEEMS THAT THEY ARE NOW IN CHARGE

OF THE BORDER POST.

EVERY VEHICLE IS INSPECTED FOR AN EASY MEAL.

[ SCREECHING ]

THEY'LL STEAL FROM ANYONE.

THEY USUALLY AVOID THE MEN,

BUT WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE EASY TARGETS.

[ SCREECHING ]

SKILLED THIEVES, THEY SIZE UP THEIR MARKS,

ONLY SNATCHING BAGS THEY KNOW CONTAIN FOOD.

[ YELLING ]

THE BABOONS ARE SO FORMIDABLE, IT'S NOT WORTH

PUTTING UP A FIGHT OVER A BAG OF CHIPS.

THE BORDER TROOP HAS FOUND A WAY TO SURVIVE.

AND SO, WITH BELLIES FULL, THEY RETREAT

TO THE SAFETY OF THE GORGE NEXT TO THE FALLS.

BUT EVEN WHERE THERE IS NO SAFETY,

THE BEAUTY AND POWER OF THIS PLACE

SHES THROUGH.

[ MAN SINGING IN AFRICAN LANGUAGE ]

THE ZAMBEZI IS NOW SO SMALL, THERE IS MORE LAND THAN WATER

ABOVE THE FALLS.

THE YEAR HAS COME FULL CIRCLE.

AS THE RIVER SLIDES THROUGH THE SHALLOWS HALF ASLEEP,

THE WORLD SHE HAS CREATED IS MORE ALIVE THAN EVER.

[ WOMEN SINGING IN AFRICAN LANGUAGE ]

White: AH, SOON THE AWKWARD SKIMMER CHICKS

WILL BE READY TO FLY,

READY TO FISH, AND TO LEAVE THIS PLACE

WHEN ZAMBEZI AWAKES.

EVERYONE MUST BE READY WHEN THE CLOUDS BEGIN TO GATHER.

UNTIL THEN, LIFE HERE IS GOOD.

THESE FEW SHORT WEEKS AT THE END OF THE DRY SEASON

ARE MY FAVORITE TIME.

SO MUCH LIFE HAS COME TO MAKE A HOME

WITH MY FRIEND, ZAMBEZI.

THE CLOUDS ARE GATHERING IN THE SKIES.

SOON THE RAINS WILL RETURN,

AND THE LIFE WHICH RELIED ON THIS PLACE DURING THE DRY SEASON

WILL BE FORCED OUT

BY THE RISING WATERS.

VICTORIA WILL AGAIN BE MAGNIFICENT,

HER VOICE RISING FROM A WHISPER TO THUNDER.

[ THUNDER ]

[ MAN SINGING IN AFRICAN LANGUAGE ]

WHEN ZAMBEZI CARVED VICTORIA FROM THE ROCKS,

SHE BROUGHT LIFE TO THIS LAND.

SHE HOLDS A MILLION SECRETS BENEATH HER WATERS,

REVEALING A FEW TO EACH OF US

SO WE MAY SURVIVE HERE.

FOR THOSE THAT UNDERSTAND HER, SHE WILL ALWAYS PROVIDE.

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