WEBVTT 00:00:07.529 --> 00:00:10.445 Winter in Southern Africa 00:00:10.575 --> 00:00:13.274 brings drought, 00:00:13.404 --> 00:00:15.058 ice, 00:00:15.189 --> 00:00:16.538 and storms. 00:00:17.756 --> 00:00:19.106 The days are short. 00:00:20.368 --> 00:00:23.197 This is the season of death 00:00:23.327 --> 00:00:25.721 and resurrection. 00:00:25.851 --> 00:00:29.768 The animals that live here must compete with the weather, 00:00:29.899 --> 00:00:31.944 the land, 00:00:32.075 --> 00:00:33.729 and each other. 00:00:35.426 --> 00:00:37.559 But winter also offers hope 00:00:37.689 --> 00:00:39.909 for those that know where to look. 00:00:41.345 --> 00:00:43.826 From these pressures come stories 00:00:43.956 --> 00:00:45.262 of companionship... 00:00:46.916 --> 00:00:49.310 ...and ingenuity. 00:00:50.659 --> 00:00:52.356 And new life emerges 00:00:52.487 --> 00:00:53.575 from winter's grip. 00:00:56.969 --> 00:00:59.102 The stakes have never been higher... 00:01:00.538 --> 00:01:02.932 ...in Africa's wild year. 00:01:41.753 --> 00:01:43.929 It's the 21st of June, 00:01:44.060 --> 00:01:46.976 the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere. 00:01:50.458 --> 00:01:52.112 In the Kalahari Desert, 00:01:52.242 --> 00:01:55.158 a family of meerkats emerge to a chilly morning. 00:01:57.334 --> 00:01:59.293 They've spent the night huddled together 00:01:59.423 --> 00:02:00.990 deep in their burrows. 00:02:02.687 --> 00:02:04.950 Back in the summer, they woke at dawn 00:02:05.081 --> 00:02:08.040 to avoid the scorching temperatures of the midday sun. 00:02:10.260 --> 00:02:11.914 Now that it's winter, 00:02:12.044 --> 00:02:13.742 they wait for the temperature to rise 00:02:13.872 --> 00:02:15.222 before they start their day. 00:02:18.877 --> 00:02:21.663 The group line up to face the weak winter sun. 00:02:26.102 --> 00:02:27.930 Their bellies act as solar panels 00:02:28.060 --> 00:02:31.194 to help soak up the warmth of the first rays. 00:02:37.679 --> 00:02:39.550 This morning, new family members 00:02:39.681 --> 00:02:41.770 join the morning's sunbathing ritual. 00:02:52.563 --> 00:02:55.305 These three-week-old pups are the last to emerge 00:02:55.436 --> 00:02:57.873 from the safety of the underground burrow... 00:03:00.615 --> 00:03:04.009 ready and primed to learn the ropes from their elders. 00:03:34.692 --> 00:03:36.694 Recharged by the winter sun, 00:03:36.825 --> 00:03:39.262 they prepare to set off to find some breakfast. 00:03:43.048 --> 00:03:45.747 The cold months ahead will challenge the meerkats 00:03:45.877 --> 00:03:47.314 as food becomes scarcer. 00:03:49.533 --> 00:03:52.797 They will have to travel further from their den to hunt 00:03:52.928 --> 00:03:54.973 and, without long grass to hide in, 00:03:55.104 --> 00:03:57.193 they are more vulnerable to predation. 00:04:01.415 --> 00:04:05.114 The family must cooperate to survive in the months ahead. 00:04:11.381 --> 00:04:13.078 Over the next three months, 00:04:13.209 --> 00:04:17.213 Southern Africa will be gripped by shorter, colder days. 00:04:18.475 --> 00:04:21.826 Sunlight travels further to reach the land, 00:04:21.957 --> 00:04:23.785 losing its power along the way. 00:04:25.395 --> 00:04:28.572 Winter is harsh and unrelenting. 00:04:30.052 --> 00:04:31.662 Ice grips the mountaintop. 00:04:33.490 --> 00:04:36.624 And drought spreads across the savannah. 00:04:43.979 --> 00:04:46.851 For one species, cooling temperatures signals 00:04:46.982 --> 00:04:48.984 the start of a new opportunity. 00:04:56.208 --> 00:04:59.386 African penguins are the only species of penguin found 00:04:59.516 --> 00:05:02.214 on the continent. 00:05:02.345 --> 00:05:04.565 They live on the Southwestern Coast 00:05:04.695 --> 00:05:06.349 of South Africa and Namibia. 00:05:09.047 --> 00:05:12.007 Winter marks the start of their breeding season. 00:05:14.270 --> 00:05:17.795 Algoa Bay is home to the largest colony in South Africa. 00:05:21.625 --> 00:05:23.453 Among the noisy inhabitants, 00:05:23.584 --> 00:05:27.022 two dedicated penguins stand guard over their nest. 00:05:30.025 --> 00:05:31.896 They arrived a couple of weeks ago 00:05:32.027 --> 00:05:34.682 and the female has already laid two eggs. 00:05:37.206 --> 00:05:39.426 African penguins bond for life... 00:05:41.428 --> 00:05:44.866 ...and this pair reunite on the island every year 00:05:44.996 --> 00:05:46.520 to raise their chicks. 00:05:52.047 --> 00:05:54.876 While the female keeps their eggs warm, 00:05:55.006 --> 00:05:58.532 the male carries out some urgent repair work to the nest. 00:06:07.932 --> 00:06:10.848 The pair only lay one to two eggs a year 00:06:10.979 --> 00:06:13.416 and depend on the winter season to raise their young. 00:06:16.114 --> 00:06:19.553 Today, more than ever, their efforts will be crucial 00:06:19.683 --> 00:06:21.468 for the survival of the species. 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:26.603 Numbers of African penguins have plummeted 00:06:26.734 --> 00:06:30.346 by up to 95% since the last century. 00:06:32.957 --> 00:06:35.917 Commercial fishing has decimated the marine life 00:06:36.047 --> 00:06:37.745 the penguins rely on for food. 00:06:39.921 --> 00:06:42.576 And now, another threat is helping 00:06:42.706 --> 00:06:45.753 to push the species further towards extinction. 00:06:48.103 --> 00:06:50.061 Climate abnormalities are impacting 00:06:50.192 --> 00:06:51.411 local weather patterns. 00:06:54.196 --> 00:06:57.808 Extreme rainfall can flood baby birds from their nests. 00:06:59.723 --> 00:07:01.856 And even the most doting of parents 00:07:01.986 --> 00:07:04.685 are forced to abandon their eggs and offspring. 00:07:06.513 --> 00:07:09.690 Unseasonably cold temperatures have also been known 00:07:09.820 --> 00:07:11.300 to freeze chicks to death. 00:07:13.911 --> 00:07:18.263 If this pair are to successfully raise a new generation, 00:07:18.394 --> 00:07:19.787 they must beat the odds. 00:07:28.143 --> 00:07:31.407 Inland, June is the start of the dry season 00:07:31.538 --> 00:07:33.931 in South Africa's Kruger National Park. 00:07:37.195 --> 00:07:38.849 Over the next three months, 00:07:38.980 --> 00:07:41.548 only three days' worth of rain will fall. 00:07:43.767 --> 00:07:45.682 The dry winter landscape 00:07:45.813 --> 00:07:48.946 is a hunting paradise for predators. 00:07:52.820 --> 00:07:55.475 The bare vegetation and short grass 00:07:55.605 --> 00:07:57.346 makes it easier to spot prey. 00:08:00.741 --> 00:08:04.005 These cheetah brothers haven't eaten in days. 00:08:06.137 --> 00:08:08.009 Each hunt is a roll of the dice. 00:08:10.577 --> 00:08:12.883 And the odds are never very favourable. 00:08:15.799 --> 00:08:19.368 Only one out of every two cheetah hunts is successful. 00:08:23.807 --> 00:08:26.027 Cheetah are ambush predators. 00:08:27.811 --> 00:08:29.247 For a successful hunt, 00:08:29.378 --> 00:08:31.902 they need the element of surprise. 00:08:37.647 --> 00:08:39.736 They head deep into thickets, 00:08:39.867 --> 00:08:42.739 where they can blend into the dry vegetation, 00:08:49.224 --> 00:08:50.051 Waterbuck. 00:08:54.621 --> 00:08:57.188 The cheetah must approach their target unseen 00:08:57.319 --> 00:09:00.888 to within 160 feet before they can launch an attack 00:09:03.586 --> 00:09:06.763 With a top speed of 70 miles per hour, 00:09:06.894 --> 00:09:09.287 nothing can escape them at close range. 00:09:12.377 --> 00:09:15.032 These first steps are crucial. 00:09:24.738 --> 00:09:26.522 Then they strike. 00:09:37.315 --> 00:09:39.666 The brothers pull down the much larger antelope. 00:09:42.103 --> 00:09:44.279 With jaws clamped around the windpipe, 00:09:44.409 --> 00:09:46.107 the buck has no room to move. 00:09:51.025 --> 00:09:52.940 The fight is over. 00:09:54.724 --> 00:09:57.988 Using speed as your weapon has many advantages... 00:09:59.555 --> 00:10:01.949 ...but it costs a lot of energy. 00:10:03.124 --> 00:10:05.213 This is their chance to refuel. 00:10:09.913 --> 00:10:14.614 While the arrival of winter brings drought to the savannah, 00:10:14.744 --> 00:10:18.748 370 miles away, in the Drakensberg Mountains... 00:10:20.532 --> 00:10:23.927 ...plummeting temperatures turn water to ice. 00:10:30.238 --> 00:10:33.850 At over 9,500 feet above sea level, 00:10:33.981 --> 00:10:38.725 waterfalls, streams, and lakes freeze. 00:10:44.644 --> 00:10:47.821 Fish and frogs are trapped as ice blankets the land. 00:10:53.130 --> 00:10:54.828 Animals that can 00:10:54.958 --> 00:10:57.178 descend the mountain to the milder slopes below. 00:11:04.576 --> 00:11:07.057 Those that remain are specially adapted 00:11:07.188 --> 00:11:09.233 to survive the freezing temperatures. 00:11:12.846 --> 00:11:16.153 On a clear morning, an ice rat emerges into the sun. 00:11:19.417 --> 00:11:21.681 He relies on a complex underground network 00:11:21.811 --> 00:11:23.465 of tunnels and burrows 00:11:23.595 --> 00:11:25.859 to keep warm when temperatures are low. 00:11:28.383 --> 00:11:30.211 The system also leads him straight 00:11:30.341 --> 00:11:32.300 to the best feeding grounds. 00:11:33.997 --> 00:11:36.870 Out in the open, he can't let his guard down. 00:11:38.785 --> 00:11:41.396 It's not only the cold he needs to be wary of. 00:11:44.094 --> 00:11:47.532 Raptors scour these high-altitude plains. 00:11:49.665 --> 00:11:53.190 The further he strays from his burrow in search of food, 00:11:53.321 --> 00:11:54.409 the riskier it is. 00:11:58.413 --> 00:12:02.417 With nowhere to hide, his only weapon is to freeze... 00:12:05.202 --> 00:12:06.726 ...and try to evade detection. 00:12:10.512 --> 00:12:12.644 Except, in these mountains, 00:12:12.775 --> 00:12:14.951 the weather can change in an instant. 00:12:16.997 --> 00:12:20.304 Rising warm air collides with the cold mountaintops. 00:12:24.787 --> 00:12:27.224 And a thick mist blankets the peaks. 00:12:30.488 --> 00:12:33.622 They provide the ice rat with cover just in time. 00:12:34.884 --> 00:12:36.016 The blanket of winter 00:12:36.146 --> 00:12:38.105 is this rodent's friend... 00:12:38.975 --> 00:12:41.282 ...and he will live another day. 00:12:48.855 --> 00:12:50.378 By the end of June, 00:12:50.508 --> 00:12:53.163 prevailing winds begin to blow along the West Coast. 00:12:55.078 --> 00:12:59.300 Warm offshore air collides with the frigid coastal waters 00:12:59.430 --> 00:13:01.302 and creates thick fog. 00:13:03.826 --> 00:13:08.526 A winter phenomenon in which the ocean feeds the barren coastline 00:13:08.657 --> 00:13:11.312 and shapes the flora across the land. 00:13:16.534 --> 00:13:19.886 The plants that grow here are specialists. 00:13:21.409 --> 00:13:24.847 Only a meagre four inches of rain falls here per year. 00:13:27.763 --> 00:13:30.505 During this time, the vegetation receives 00:13:30.635 --> 00:13:32.246 triple the amount of moisture 00:13:32.376 --> 00:13:35.031 from the winter fog rolling in from the ocean 00:13:35.162 --> 00:13:37.077 than it does from the annual rainfall. 00:13:38.426 --> 00:13:41.429 Because of this, the plants have adapted their structure 00:13:41.559 --> 00:13:43.866 to maximise the abundance of water. 00:13:44.998 --> 00:13:47.043 The roots of many species have lots 00:13:47.174 --> 00:13:51.221 of small, fine divisions just below the surface of the Earth, 00:13:51.352 --> 00:13:54.311 acting like a net to catch droplets. 00:13:55.530 --> 00:13:58.185 But the most successful coastal resident 00:13:58.315 --> 00:14:00.752 is neither a plant nor an animal. 00:14:02.624 --> 00:14:07.194 Lichen is a community of microscopic algae and fungi 00:14:07.324 --> 00:14:08.543 living in partnership. 00:14:11.285 --> 00:14:14.549 Along the West Coast, it thrives on the coastal fog... 00:14:15.724 --> 00:14:17.726 ...spreading across the landscape. 00:14:20.033 --> 00:14:24.646 And, in turn, these tangled lichen fields provide shelter 00:14:24.776 --> 00:14:27.040 for a community of smaller characters. 00:14:30.173 --> 00:14:32.654 An expansive natural city 00:14:32.784 --> 00:14:35.222 which could not exist without winter. 00:14:40.444 --> 00:14:43.839 Further north, in the vast deserts of Namibia, 00:14:43.970 --> 00:14:45.710 these same winter mists 00:14:45.841 --> 00:14:50.063 offer a brief period of respite from the dry, hot air. 00:14:52.065 --> 00:14:55.285 The Namib desert is devoid of surface water. 00:14:57.200 --> 00:15:01.161 And that means, when moisture does roll in, 00:15:01.291 --> 00:15:04.120 the desert dwellers are quick to capitalise. 00:15:06.079 --> 00:15:08.516 This Tenebrionidae beetle 00:15:08.646 --> 00:15:09.952 is a fog harvester. 00:15:12.215 --> 00:15:14.478 Tiny bumps on his exoskeleton 00:15:14.609 --> 00:15:17.133 allow him to gather droplets of moisture. 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:24.140 He faces into the wind and tilts forward, head-down. 00:15:26.229 --> 00:15:28.884 The droplets travel along the length of his body 00:15:29.015 --> 00:15:30.277 and into his mouth. 00:15:31.713 --> 00:15:33.106 A welcome drink. 00:15:35.108 --> 00:15:39.155 Only the most innovative can survive this vast, empty land. 00:15:41.810 --> 00:15:44.595 This beetle is one of 50 dessert species 00:15:44.726 --> 00:15:47.294 that rely on the fog to get their drinking water. 00:15:49.470 --> 00:15:52.255 Without winter, they would not exist here. 00:15:57.217 --> 00:15:59.523 3,500 miles away, 00:15:59.654 --> 00:16:01.699 in Ethiopia's Simien Mountains, 00:16:01.830 --> 00:16:04.789 cloud shrouds the high-altitude peaks. 00:16:08.315 --> 00:16:11.274 It's July, and the height of the wet season. 00:16:12.928 --> 00:16:15.017 The heavy moisture will feed the vegetation 00:16:15.148 --> 00:16:16.976 throughout the colder winter months... 00:16:18.281 --> 00:16:23.199 ...helping to form cloud forests. 00:16:23.330 --> 00:16:27.290 This is an ideal home for a very peculiar type of goat... 00:16:30.641 --> 00:16:32.252 ...the walia ibex. 00:16:34.515 --> 00:16:38.084 These endangered rock climbers thrive in the Simien Mountains, 00:16:38.214 --> 00:16:41.652 living up to 14.5 feet above sea level. 00:16:46.048 --> 00:16:48.137 Surviving the erratic fluctuations 00:16:48.268 --> 00:16:51.749 of their high-altitude home is no walk in the park. 00:16:56.667 --> 00:16:57.929 On an average day, 00:16:58.060 --> 00:17:00.367 temperatures range from near freezing 00:17:00.497 --> 00:17:02.543 to over 75°. 00:17:06.155 --> 00:17:07.504 During the dry season, 00:17:07.635 --> 00:17:09.419 these plateaus are barren, 00:17:09.550 --> 00:17:11.682 but winter brings a bounty 00:17:11.813 --> 00:17:13.423 of food for the ibex. 00:17:14.772 --> 00:17:16.731 Their greatest strength is their ability 00:17:16.861 --> 00:17:18.733 to reach food others can't. 00:17:21.518 --> 00:17:23.520 Their hooves have sharp edges 00:17:23.651 --> 00:17:26.697 that allow them to clasp the steep mountain slopes. 00:17:31.354 --> 00:17:34.662 But this becomes especially hard in the wet season. 00:17:37.360 --> 00:17:40.581 Those that can't manoeuvre through the slippery domain 00:17:40.711 --> 00:17:43.584 fall victim to the steep cliffs. 00:17:44.367 --> 00:17:46.717 Their lives won't be wasted. 00:17:48.763 --> 00:17:51.070 A carcass will provide a lifeline 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:52.767 to an entire food chain. 00:18:03.386 --> 00:18:07.303 Thick-billed ravens devour the intestines and fat 00:18:07.434 --> 00:18:10.132 of an ibex that has fallen to its death. 00:18:16.660 --> 00:18:19.141 But they don't have long to enjoy the free meal. 00:18:21.622 --> 00:18:23.928 Soaring on the thermals high above, 00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:25.626 Rueppell's griffon vultures. 00:18:27.976 --> 00:18:30.239 And they've spotted the commotion below. 00:18:32.589 --> 00:18:34.504 With a wingspan of eight feet 00:18:34.635 --> 00:18:37.159 and standing at over three feet tall, 00:18:37.290 --> 00:18:39.161 they dominate the carcass. 00:18:42.295 --> 00:18:44.688 The ravens are forced to move aside. 00:18:47.300 --> 00:18:50.520 Once the vultures have had their full, they can try again. 00:18:54.872 --> 00:18:57.745 Backwards-facing spikes on the vultures' tongues 00:18:57.875 --> 00:19:01.270 help them strip meat from the carcass in large chunks. 00:19:02.837 --> 00:19:05.013 As the feeding frenzy intensifies, 00:19:05.144 --> 00:19:08.016 another scavenger glides above the commotion. 00:19:11.237 --> 00:19:12.412 A lammergeier. 00:19:14.414 --> 00:19:17.547 This mysterious bird isn't interested in the meat. 00:19:19.723 --> 00:19:23.379 He has a taste for what the others will leave behind. 00:19:25.947 --> 00:19:28.689 Bones make up 90% of his diet. 00:19:34.651 --> 00:19:36.175 But he'll have to wait it out. 00:19:38.307 --> 00:19:40.222 Nothing goes to waste here. 00:19:40.353 --> 00:19:43.443 The carcass supports a growing cast of characters. 00:19:45.488 --> 00:19:50.450 Below, an impatient tawny eagle spots a window of opportunity 00:19:50.580 --> 00:19:52.930 and sweeps in to steal the remains. 00:20:05.029 --> 00:20:07.554 But it's too heavy for the eagle to get airborne. 00:20:09.251 --> 00:20:11.514 And the chancer is forced, instead, 00:20:11.645 --> 00:20:12.733 to share the meal. 00:20:20.349 --> 00:20:22.177 The arrival of another vulture 00:20:22.308 --> 00:20:24.527 inspires the raptor to try again. 00:20:29.010 --> 00:20:30.620 But to no avail. 00:20:33.144 --> 00:20:35.234 Finally, the ravens get another chance 00:20:35.364 --> 00:20:36.713 to grab their free meal. 00:20:44.895 --> 00:20:49.117 Once the masses have had their full, the lammergeier descends. 00:20:57.168 --> 00:20:59.432 This is the only creature on the planet 00:20:59.562 --> 00:21:03.131 whose diet consists almost exclusively of bones. 00:21:09.006 --> 00:21:11.400 Thanks to its incredibly acidic stomach, 00:21:11.531 --> 00:21:14.925 the bird swallows the 12-inch bone whole. 00:21:21.410 --> 00:21:23.586 A victim of the winter weather 00:21:23.717 --> 00:21:26.589 has sustained life in the Simien Mountains. 00:21:42.388 --> 00:21:45.652 It's mid-July, and life in the Kalahari Desert 00:21:45.782 --> 00:21:48.959 is adapting to the shorter, colder days of the season. 00:21:53.181 --> 00:21:55.357 The meerkat family is on the hunt. 00:21:58.142 --> 00:21:59.274 In the summer, they gorge 00:21:59.405 --> 00:22:01.624 on a glut of lizards and scorpions. 00:22:03.278 --> 00:22:04.714 With the arrival of winter, 00:22:04.845 --> 00:22:06.325 these are much harder to come by. 00:22:07.935 --> 00:22:09.980 Instead, the family turn their attention 00:22:10.111 --> 00:22:11.852 to smaller bugs and grubs. 00:22:14.245 --> 00:22:17.118 By using their long claws to dig into the sand, 00:22:17.248 --> 00:22:20.034 they are able to find delicacies hiding below. 00:22:23.646 --> 00:22:27.433 The pups are now six weeks old and eager to join in... 00:22:29.609 --> 00:22:31.915 ...even if they can't yet dig down very deep. 00:22:35.832 --> 00:22:39.836 What they lack in technique, they make up for in enthusiasm. 00:22:46.190 --> 00:22:48.323 The dominant male and female pair 00:22:48.454 --> 00:22:50.978 are the parents of nearly 80% of the group. 00:22:51.979 --> 00:22:53.937 Along with their family, they teach the pups 00:22:54.068 --> 00:22:56.070 the essential skills of foraging... 00:22:58.507 --> 00:23:00.204 ...where to find millipedes... 00:23:01.380 --> 00:23:03.120 ...which worms are the tastiest... 00:23:05.209 --> 00:23:07.168 ...and how best to chew a beetle. 00:23:20.181 --> 00:23:22.749 The family spends their entire day foraging 00:23:22.879 --> 00:23:24.620 in order to find enough food. 00:23:28.145 --> 00:23:30.234 There's a struggle in one of the holes. 00:23:34.064 --> 00:23:35.762 An elder has found a scorpion. 00:23:38.286 --> 00:23:40.462 A rare treat at this time of year. 00:23:42.508 --> 00:23:45.119 It's a potentially deadly catch for the pups. 00:23:47.077 --> 00:23:48.905 He gets to work by disabling it. 00:23:51.038 --> 00:23:54.302 Fully grown meerkats are immune to a scorpion's sting... 00:23:55.999 --> 00:23:58.959 ...but that doesn't mean the pincers can't do damage. 00:24:01.135 --> 00:24:04.138 This delicacy is reserved for the adults. 00:24:06.053 --> 00:24:08.969 The pups will have to wait until they are older, 00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:11.188 when they will learn to disarm the scorpions. 00:24:15.541 --> 00:24:18.326 For now, they enjoy the less dangerous-- 00:24:18.457 --> 00:24:20.676 and less tasty-- meals on offer. 00:24:30.120 --> 00:24:31.600 With the sun setting, 00:24:31.731 --> 00:24:34.298 the family make their way back to their burrow. 00:24:36.562 --> 00:24:40.130 But suddenly, the dominant male picks up a scent 00:24:40.261 --> 00:24:42.002 and it puts him on edge. 00:24:43.830 --> 00:24:46.310 A large snake has shed its skin 00:24:46.441 --> 00:24:48.574 and it may still be in the area. 00:24:50.053 --> 00:24:53.448 While meerkats eat some species of small snakes, 00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:56.973 large venomous snakes are a danger to pups. 00:24:59.193 --> 00:25:02.022 They check it out, to see if it still poses a threat. 00:25:03.893 --> 00:25:05.895 If faced with a Cape cobra, 00:25:06.026 --> 00:25:07.549 the family will gather together 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:10.160 to mob the reptile until it retreats. 00:25:13.033 --> 00:25:15.426 The adults gather around to inspect, 00:25:15.557 --> 00:25:17.733 while the pups keep their distance. 00:25:21.998 --> 00:25:23.434 Teamwork is essential. 00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:26.960 This trial run will stand them in good stead 00:25:27.090 --> 00:25:30.224 for when the time comes to meet the owner of the snakeskin. 00:25:46.022 --> 00:25:47.067 Danger averted. 00:25:58.208 --> 00:26:00.515 Satisfied, the adults relax 00:26:00.646 --> 00:26:02.778 and allow the pups in to investigate. 00:26:05.868 --> 00:26:08.610 They must learn the scent of their enemies. 00:26:21.144 --> 00:26:22.929 With dusk fast approaching, 00:26:23.059 --> 00:26:26.454 it's a sprint back to their burrow for a good night's rest. 00:26:28.717 --> 00:26:30.327 As the sun sets, 00:26:30.458 --> 00:26:32.808 the temperature drops dramatically. 00:26:32.939 --> 00:26:35.202 For one young pup, 00:26:35.332 --> 00:26:38.466 the day's excitement is just all too much. 00:26:41.904 --> 00:26:45.560 The day has been a success, and lessons learned. 00:26:48.302 --> 00:26:50.870 Cooperation, for a meerkat, is key. 00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:56.789 The family gather together for one last grooming session 00:26:56.919 --> 00:26:59.313 and a chance to affirm their social bonds... 00:27:01.663 --> 00:27:05.928 ...before heading underground, ready for a sound night's sleep. 00:27:30.257 --> 00:27:32.085 By the end of July, 00:27:32.215 --> 00:27:35.871 the grazing is reduced to dust on the savannah. 00:27:38.482 --> 00:27:40.310 For the frail and the weak, 00:27:40.441 --> 00:27:42.704 the dry season is too much to bear. 00:27:49.363 --> 00:27:51.887 An old giraffe is the latest victim. 00:27:59.416 --> 00:28:03.333 Misfortune for some means opportunity for others. 00:28:08.295 --> 00:28:10.340 These red-billed oxpeckers 00:28:10.471 --> 00:28:13.561 are not actually after the carcass. 00:28:13.692 --> 00:28:16.085 Rather, what's on the carcass. 00:28:17.173 --> 00:28:17.913 Ticks. 00:28:20.263 --> 00:28:22.048 Ticks feed on the blood of mammals... 00:28:23.353 --> 00:28:24.833 ...and this giraffe was the host 00:28:24.964 --> 00:28:27.575 for hundreds of the bloodsucking parasites. 00:28:30.056 --> 00:28:32.188 Even on the giraffe's eyelashes. 00:28:36.845 --> 00:28:38.281 The oxpeckers will eat 00:28:38.412 --> 00:28:40.719 up to 100 tickets each in a sitting. 00:28:46.986 --> 00:28:49.031 Riding the thermals above, 00:28:49.162 --> 00:28:50.554 scavengers. 00:28:54.907 --> 00:28:56.909 White-backed vultures are attracted 00:28:57.039 --> 00:28:58.475 by the scent of the carcass. 00:29:05.439 --> 00:29:07.746 These are the cleanup crew. 00:29:10.574 --> 00:29:12.141 They pierce through the hide 00:29:12.272 --> 00:29:14.187 and make quick work of the organs. 00:29:16.493 --> 00:29:18.931 Their stomach acid is highly corrosive. 00:29:19.061 --> 00:29:23.674 It allows them to safely digest putrid flesh, however old... 00:29:27.461 --> 00:29:29.637 ...including all the dangerous bacteria 00:29:29.768 --> 00:29:31.813 growing in it as it decomposes. 00:29:42.998 --> 00:29:46.567 The setting sun forces them to abandon the fresh carcass... 00:29:48.874 --> 00:29:51.398 ...and retreat to the treetops to roost. 00:29:54.053 --> 00:29:57.534 The vultures will return to their feast in the morning. 00:30:02.365 --> 00:30:04.977 As the day shift ends on the savannah, 00:30:05.107 --> 00:30:07.196 the night shift takes over. 00:30:17.728 --> 00:30:21.776 A pair of bat-eared foxes set out in search of food. 00:30:23.212 --> 00:30:25.780 They have spent the day underground in their den. 00:30:28.652 --> 00:30:30.785 Their thick coats make them better suited 00:30:30.916 --> 00:30:33.135 to hunt during the cool of the night. 00:30:36.791 --> 00:30:38.575 Unique adaptations help them 00:30:38.706 --> 00:30:41.927 to locate prey under cover of darkness. 00:30:45.104 --> 00:30:47.062 Their enormous ears rotate 00:30:47.193 --> 00:30:49.456 to pick up the slightest movement... 00:30:51.762 --> 00:30:54.113 ...even below the Earth's surface. 00:30:57.638 --> 00:30:59.596 During spring and summer, 00:30:59.727 --> 00:31:02.338 the foxes feed mainly on termites. 00:31:05.515 --> 00:31:07.430 In the dry of winter, 00:31:07.561 --> 00:31:12.000 insects are harder to come by, as they remain deep underground. 00:31:17.179 --> 00:31:21.531 The foxes have to make do with worms and mice, instead. 00:31:26.841 --> 00:31:29.496 Their adaptable diet will help carry them 00:31:29.626 --> 00:31:32.847 through the dry season, until the rain's return, 00:31:32.978 --> 00:31:35.589 and lure the termites back to the surface. 00:31:41.116 --> 00:31:42.901 But they need to stay wary. 00:31:44.772 --> 00:31:46.817 They are not the only predators 00:31:46.948 --> 00:31:48.950 looking for a meal tonight. 00:31:59.178 --> 00:32:02.659 A male lion picks up the scent of the giraffe 00:32:02.790 --> 00:32:05.140 and calls in the rest of his pride. 00:32:08.230 --> 00:32:12.234 The King of Beasts is not about to pass up an easy meal. 00:32:35.866 --> 00:32:39.827 Sunrise reveals an unwelcome sight to the vultures. 00:32:45.180 --> 00:32:47.704 The lion pride is still feasting. 00:32:50.925 --> 00:32:54.450 The family will only feed every three to four days. 00:32:56.757 --> 00:32:58.193 When given the chance, 00:32:58.324 --> 00:33:01.762 they've been known to eat 110 pounds of meat each 00:33:01.892 --> 00:33:04.069 in a single sitting. 00:33:04.199 --> 00:33:07.463 As winter picks off the weakest animals, 00:33:07.594 --> 00:33:11.380 the lions will be able to hunt less and scavenge more. 00:33:16.168 --> 00:33:18.648 The male joins his cubs at the carcass. 00:33:27.092 --> 00:33:29.050 Despite the feast on offer, 00:33:29.181 --> 00:33:31.574 they must submit to him and wait, 00:33:31.705 --> 00:33:34.186 or risk his wrath. 00:33:34.316 --> 00:33:37.580 He has no interest in sharing the prize cuts. 00:33:39.756 --> 00:33:43.282 For the onlooking vultures, it's a waiting game. 00:34:04.477 --> 00:34:07.610 As the lions take a break to digest their meal, 00:34:07.741 --> 00:34:09.569 it's a chance to try their luck. 00:34:16.793 --> 00:34:19.318 But the vultures will need to keep an eye out. 00:34:23.713 --> 00:34:25.976 The lions aren't full, yet, 00:34:26.107 --> 00:34:28.370 and will feed for several more days. 00:34:32.809 --> 00:34:35.247 They are hardwired to guard their food. 00:34:38.032 --> 00:34:39.990 Even if they didn't hunt it. 00:34:41.949 --> 00:34:44.691 In winter, every morsel counts. 00:34:52.394 --> 00:34:53.830 As drought intensifies 00:34:53.961 --> 00:34:55.919 across Southern Africa's savannahs... 00:34:57.399 --> 00:34:58.879 ...along the West Coast, 00:34:59.009 --> 00:35:02.056 the life-giving fog begins to retreat. 00:35:14.155 --> 00:35:15.287 By August, 00:35:15.417 --> 00:35:17.637 mountain white Spot Caterpillars 00:35:17.767 --> 00:35:18.812 flood the vegetation. 00:35:24.905 --> 00:35:26.298 They emerge every year 00:35:26.428 --> 00:35:29.301 to feast on the leaves of their host plant, 00:35:29.431 --> 00:35:30.476 the bush. 00:35:34.001 --> 00:35:36.743 When the males transform into moths, 00:35:36.873 --> 00:35:40.486 they emerge as beautiful specimens with large wings. 00:35:44.403 --> 00:35:48.276 But this female faces a very different future, 00:35:48.407 --> 00:35:52.062 instead, donating her body to feed her babies. 00:35:52.846 --> 00:35:54.587 She will never grow wings 00:35:54.717 --> 00:35:57.503 and her legs will remain too small to function. 00:35:59.505 --> 00:36:02.072 Her head and antenna will never emerge... 00:36:04.249 --> 00:36:06.860 ...and she will never leave her cocoon. 00:36:06.990 --> 00:36:09.036 It's all part of a waiting game. 00:36:11.343 --> 00:36:13.345 Males will seek her out to mate 00:36:13.475 --> 00:36:17.044 and, afterwards, she'll lay around 100 eggs. 00:36:19.002 --> 00:36:21.962 This last act will kill her. 00:36:22.092 --> 00:36:24.965 Her eggs will hide out inside of her shrivelled body 00:36:25.095 --> 00:36:28.403 over the long, harsh summers and wet winters... 00:36:30.318 --> 00:36:33.321 ...before hatching to consume these leaves 00:36:33.452 --> 00:36:36.498 and reproduce again under the blanket of fog. 00:36:45.942 --> 00:36:47.944 Back in Algoa Bay, 00:36:48.075 --> 00:36:50.512 the male African penguin is returning 00:36:50.643 --> 00:36:53.254 from a fishing trip in the South Atlantic Ocean. 00:37:01.175 --> 00:37:05.179 He's been 12 miles offshore to find shoals of anchovies. 00:37:10.184 --> 00:37:13.013 He heads straight to his partner 00:37:13.143 --> 00:37:17.496 and is greeted with the traditional penguin-- 00:37:17.626 --> 00:37:19.541 braying. 00:37:19.672 --> 00:37:22.588 The pair have their own distinctive signature call. 00:37:23.806 --> 00:37:25.939 It allows them to locate one another 00:37:26.069 --> 00:37:27.636 when the colony gets crowded. 00:37:37.994 --> 00:37:40.345 The breeding season has been a success 00:37:40.475 --> 00:37:42.260 for the experienced parents. 00:37:43.391 --> 00:37:45.132 The weather has been on their side. 00:37:47.830 --> 00:37:50.093 Their two chicks are now one month old 00:37:50.224 --> 00:37:51.617 and are growing strong 00:37:51.747 --> 00:37:54.315 on the fish and squid their parents bring back. 00:37:56.926 --> 00:37:58.319 After a quick greeting, 00:37:58.450 --> 00:38:00.974 the female swaps place with her partner 00:38:01.104 --> 00:38:02.671 and heads off to feed herself. 00:38:05.021 --> 00:38:07.197 Dad takes his turn to guard the chicks. 00:38:10.200 --> 00:38:12.725 The youngsters tap his beak to encourage him 00:38:12.855 --> 00:38:14.857 to share the spoils of his fishing trip. 00:38:24.563 --> 00:38:27.522 Over the coming months, the chicks will fledge 00:38:27.653 --> 00:38:29.698 and head out into the ocean alone. 00:38:30.786 --> 00:38:32.527 They'll spend two years at sea... 00:38:35.922 --> 00:38:38.359 ...before returning to this exact colony 00:38:38.490 --> 00:38:40.709 to moult into their adult plumage 00:38:40.840 --> 00:38:42.711 and find a mate of their own... 00:38:47.194 --> 00:38:49.805 ...completing the African penguin life cycle 00:38:49.936 --> 00:38:53.026 and helping an endangered species cling on to survival. 00:39:08.041 --> 00:39:10.260 With the end of the season in sight, 00:39:10.391 --> 00:39:12.959 late August brings a change in conditions 00:39:13.089 --> 00:39:15.222 to the southernmost point of the continent... 00:39:16.354 --> 00:39:19.008 ...the notorious Cape of Storms. 00:39:21.968 --> 00:39:23.578 It's cyclone season. 00:39:26.102 --> 00:39:29.845 Warm air's forced to rise under cool, dense air... 00:39:31.499 --> 00:39:34.894 ...causing annual showers and dramatic sea swells. 00:39:38.245 --> 00:39:40.508 For those who don't mind rough seas, 00:39:40.639 --> 00:39:43.685 this is a chance to have fun and show off. 00:39:47.036 --> 00:39:50.257 Surfing is a popular pastime in seal society. 00:39:53.129 --> 00:39:55.567 They harness the power generated by the waves 00:39:55.697 --> 00:39:57.699 to test their speed and agility. 00:40:01.790 --> 00:40:04.097 It also serves a serious purpose. 00:40:08.623 --> 00:40:10.843 The seals need to rely on their swimming skills 00:40:10.973 --> 00:40:12.932 to outwit a formidable predator. 00:40:16.544 --> 00:40:20.722 Great white sharks patrol these waters to hunt the seals. 00:40:27.773 --> 00:40:30.123 The only way the seals can survive is 00:40:30.253 --> 00:40:32.125 by outmanoeuvring the sharks. 00:40:35.084 --> 00:40:39.132 And these ocean waves provide the perfect training grounds 00:40:39.262 --> 00:40:41.700 to hone a high-speed escape. 00:40:50.186 --> 00:40:52.841 The winter swells also flood the shoreline 00:40:52.972 --> 00:40:54.756 with nutrient-rich water. 00:40:56.845 --> 00:40:59.457 Rock pools burst with life. 00:41:01.197 --> 00:41:05.288 Limpets, mussels, crabs, barnacles, and urchins... 00:41:06.420 --> 00:41:08.596 ...have all evolved hard exteriors 00:41:08.727 --> 00:41:11.947 in order to survive the power of the surf zone. 00:41:14.559 --> 00:41:17.997 Another inhabitant has adopted a different approach. 00:41:26.048 --> 00:41:29.182 This common octopus lacks a shell altogether. 00:41:31.880 --> 00:41:35.318 Soft skin and eight highly mobile legs 00:41:35.449 --> 00:41:37.712 covered in powerful * 00:41:37.843 --> 00:41:40.498 help the cephalopod navigate the shallows. 00:41:43.979 --> 00:41:45.938 As long as she can stay moist, 00:41:46.068 --> 00:41:49.376 she is equally at home in or out of the water. 00:42:00.735 --> 00:42:04.086 She's a master predator in search of lunch 00:42:04.217 --> 00:42:05.871 and she must not be seen. 00:42:10.397 --> 00:42:13.748 Her skin helps her blend into any background. 00:42:16.925 --> 00:42:19.754 Then her large eyes pinpoint a target. 00:42:31.549 --> 00:42:34.421 A crab distracted by its own meal. 00:42:42.342 --> 00:42:45.650 The octopus manoeuvres herself within striking distance. 00:42:48.261 --> 00:42:50.045 Then, with a final trick, 00:42:50.176 --> 00:42:52.744 she releases a cloud of ink into the water 00:42:52.874 --> 00:42:54.789 and disorientates the crab... 00:42:58.053 --> 00:42:59.751 ...before engulfing her prey. 00:43:03.493 --> 00:43:06.801 Her powerful * immobilise the crab's pincers. 00:43:10.588 --> 00:43:14.461 Once disarmed, the crab has no chance of escape. 00:43:19.684 --> 00:43:24.253 From within her soft exterior, a hard, parrot-like beak 00:43:24.384 --> 00:43:26.604 begins cracking into her victim's shell... 00:43:30.259 --> 00:43:33.828 ...while her * tighten their grip at every opportunity. 00:43:41.096 --> 00:43:44.883 The crab provides a good meal for the female octopus. 00:43:45.013 --> 00:43:48.626 She won't leave until only the shell remains. 00:43:52.804 --> 00:43:56.938 The offshore cyclones that bring the waves and nutrients coincide 00:43:57.069 --> 00:44:00.550 with the end to the wet season on the Cape Peninsula. 00:44:03.597 --> 00:44:06.165 The rains that have cloaked these forests and mountains 00:44:06.295 --> 00:44:08.646 over the last four months ease. 00:44:12.432 --> 00:44:15.087 As winter's grip weakens, 00:44:15.217 --> 00:44:18.481 deep in the undergrowth, life is stirring. 00:44:22.572 --> 00:44:25.227 The changing conditions awaken an urge 00:44:25.358 --> 00:44:27.316 in these western leopard toads. 00:44:29.231 --> 00:44:32.060 They've spent the year in the undergrowth feeding. 00:44:34.236 --> 00:44:37.544 And tonight, thousands start to emerge. 00:44:39.851 --> 00:44:42.027 They all share the same goal... 00:44:43.942 --> 00:44:45.030 ...finding a mate. 00:44:48.076 --> 00:44:51.036 Every toad in the area is heading to a pond, 00:44:51.166 --> 00:44:52.777 where all the action is. 00:45:13.667 --> 00:45:17.105 A male calls out as loudly as he can to attract a mate. 00:45:20.413 --> 00:45:23.111 Like humans, toads have vocal cords. 00:45:26.419 --> 00:45:29.291 But they also have a vocal sac, 00:45:29.422 --> 00:45:31.641 which works like an inflatable amplifier. 00:45:34.819 --> 00:45:38.648 He closes his nostrils and forces air back and forth. 00:45:42.435 --> 00:45:44.959 If he's successful and attracts a female, 00:45:45.090 --> 00:45:48.006 she will mate with him and lay thousands of eggs. 00:45:52.053 --> 00:45:54.534 The toads are explosive breeders 00:45:54.664 --> 00:45:57.842 and only have one, short week to seal the deal... 00:45:59.104 --> 00:46:00.496 ...before they melt away, 00:46:00.627 --> 00:46:02.020 back into the undergrowth. 00:46:05.850 --> 00:46:08.548 Their calls provide an iconic soundtrack 00:46:08.678 --> 00:46:12.334 to the end of winter in this corner of the continent. 00:46:25.652 --> 00:46:28.916 As September, and spring, approaches, 00:46:29.047 --> 00:46:32.354 the Southern Hemisphere begins to tilt towards the sun. 00:46:33.878 --> 00:46:36.881 The days grow longer and temperatures start to rise. 00:46:38.143 --> 00:46:41.146 Where once there was drought... 00:46:42.582 --> 00:46:44.714 ...rains bring relief. 00:46:59.860 --> 00:47:03.124 Where the cold plagued, warmth returns. 00:47:04.256 --> 00:47:06.780 The meerkats have weathered the worst of the season. 00:47:08.303 --> 00:47:09.652 The warmth of the sun 00:47:09.783 --> 00:47:11.654 brings out their playful side. 00:47:13.700 --> 00:47:16.007 Having to spend less time searching for food 00:47:16.137 --> 00:47:17.878 means more time for fun. 00:47:20.576 --> 00:47:22.404 And it's not just the young that join in. 00:47:23.797 --> 00:47:24.929 Everyone is in the mood. 00:47:28.976 --> 00:47:31.370 It's a chance to let off steam 00:47:31.500 --> 00:47:34.242 and it also helps to strengthen family bonds 00:47:34.373 --> 00:47:36.114 and reaffirm dominance. 00:47:37.593 --> 00:47:39.813 The pups have grown. 00:47:39.944 --> 00:47:43.121 They've mastered the skill of catching their own food 00:47:43.251 --> 00:47:46.776 and are now more equipped to face the coming seasons. 00:47:46.907 --> 00:47:49.170 As the weather warms, they'll swap 00:47:49.301 --> 00:47:53.087 their early morning lie-ins for afternoon siestas. 00:47:55.742 --> 00:47:58.179 As September arrives, the icy slopes 00:47:58.310 --> 00:48:01.052 of the Maluti Mountains in the Drakensberg begin 00:48:01.182 --> 00:48:03.184 to melt and release their water. 00:48:15.370 --> 00:48:16.806 Feeding numerous rivers, 00:48:16.937 --> 00:48:20.201 including South Africa's two largest, 00:48:20.332 --> 00:48:22.247 the Orange and the Tugela. 00:48:26.338 --> 00:48:29.645 As the rivers grow, they head their separate ways. 00:48:32.039 --> 00:48:33.823 The Orange turns west, 00:48:33.954 --> 00:48:37.566 running 1,200 miles to the Atlantic Ocean. 00:48:39.960 --> 00:48:43.050 While the Tugela arcs east, 00:48:43.181 --> 00:48:44.965 towards the Indian Ocean. 00:48:47.011 --> 00:48:48.882 Moving across the country, 00:48:49.013 --> 00:48:50.928 the two mighty rivers 00:48:51.058 --> 00:48:53.495 end the drought in many areas, 00:48:53.626 --> 00:48:56.455 refuelling life across South Africa. 00:49:05.681 --> 00:49:10.121 The short days of winter have meant hardship for some 00:49:10.251 --> 00:49:13.602 and a time of plenty for others. 00:49:13.733 --> 00:49:18.216 Predators have taken advantage of favourable conditions, 00:49:18.346 --> 00:49:20.609 while the vulnerable have weathered the storm. 00:49:23.395 --> 00:49:24.918 Across the savannah, 00:49:25.049 --> 00:49:27.138 rains will end the dry season 00:49:27.268 --> 00:49:29.705 and trigger a burst of life. 00:49:30.663 --> 00:49:33.448 As spring breaks winter's grasp, 00:49:33.579 --> 00:49:38.410 the extraordinary cycle of Africa's wild year 00:49:38.540 --> 00:49:40.629 will begin again.