All language subtitles for Victoria Falls PBS Nature 2009 720p HDTV EN sub

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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