Serengeti

Many tales have been told of Africa.

But this is our story.

A drama set in the heart of our world

experienced as we live and breathe it.

It was a year that would change all our lives forever.

We raised our young against the odds,

fought for what mattered most,

and battled to find our place in the world.

This is the next chapter in our story

of a place they call Serengeti.

Change is in the air.

All of us wait for the Great Migration.

With so much hunger, it can't come a moment too soon.

To reach us,

the herds must risk their lives crossing the river.

Before the masses arrive,

the baboons have come in search of a seasonal delicacy.

Bakari has a family at last.

The orphan he's tried to raise as his own

has been adopted by Cheka.

Both share the parenting and Bakari keeps them safe.

But the troop leader still keeps Bakari in his place.

Fighting back would only provoke him more

and today there are far greater dangers.

The leader is taking everyone on a risky mission.

They're here to steal the eggs of a crocodile.

She guards her buried treasure

and hunts down thieves who dare come near.

Bakari is cautious.

Does Cheka realise the danger?

Their leader doesn't care. He's impulsive and reckless

and the nest is on the other side.

He may have got away with it

but Bakari won't be crossing.

There must be a safer route.

Where Bakari leads, Cheka follows,

and now so do the troop.

Bakari has a plan:

Use the tree as a bridge.

No problem for a youngster.

And no problem for Bakari.

Now it's Cheka's turn,

but she's jumping with a baby.

Bakari reassures her.

To nearly lose someone so precious

makes you value them even more.

Here fortunes can change in a heartbeat,

but the seasons bring their own certainty.

Rain carries the promise of better times,

just what Kali's waiting for.

She's made peace with Sefu,

a male who once exiled her from the Great Pride.

Along with her sister,

they have the beginnings of a new pride.

The lean times will soon be over.

The rains will bring the Great Migration and food for all.

The elephants are already in their element.

The deluge will produce lush new growth

and the herds will follow.

On distant plains, this timeless journey has begun...

Drawn by the scent of rain

and the promise of fresh pasture.

But one family of zebra has reason to pause.

Shani is their leader,

and one bold stallion protects them all.

Today, Shani has given birth to the stallion's foal.

Shani has little time to enjoy the moment.

A gruelling trek lies ahead.

He finds his feet.

Now he must find his stamina.

When the herds arrive,

Kali won't have to scrape a living any more.

And with Sefu to care for their cubs,

she and her sister will be free to hunt.

They head to the river in anticipation,

leaving Sefu to babysit.

But with their mothers away,

the cubs can't resist the chance to explore.

For now, the river is calm.

Or it was, until Kali arrived.

The migration will arrive on the opposite bank.

Could there be early arrivals?

A brave move.

Hippos resent having their peace disturbed.

She won't cross here again.

Now to search for clues.

A smell, fresh dung,

any hint that the first wildebeest have arrived.

As they approach the nest, Bakari is still leading.

But the crocodile is still guarding her eggs.

It won't be easy.

And it's just got riskier.

The gully would make a prime spot for an ambush.

Kali isn't the only one waiting for the herds.

But a twist of fate brings opportunities.

Bakari and Cheka won't waste this moment.

They must eat quickly,

and not just because of the crocodile.

The leader finally arrives.

As usual, he won't be sharing.

Bakari has to let it go.

But greed brings retribution.

Baboons are expected to watch each other's backs.

Not one of them warned him.

When a leader can no longer trust his troop,

there's trouble ahead.

The promise of the migration draws new families to our land.

The Wild Dogs.

Jasari is their leader.

He brought them here for the promised feast.

And the pups were born to share it.

OnlyJasari and his lifelong partner have young.

Yet the rest of the group are devoted to raising them.

And defending them.

-(LOW GROWL) -Jasari hears a disturbing sound.

Sefu is sleeping on the job.

To the dogs, he's too close for comfort.

Both will kill each other's young.

But first they have to catch them.

And not get killed trying.

For the dogs, fighting the sisters is too risky.

But where are their cubs?

The mud tells its own story.

Now to deal with their babysitter.

Perhaps next time he'll take his duties more seriously.

Best for now to make himself scarce.

At last, some peace and quiet.

Or maybe not.

It's just not Sefu's day.

For all, change is on the horizon,

and it gets closer every day.

Shani's foal has risen to the challenge of the journey.

But jeopardy comes when you least expect it.

The family are forced to stop.

Shani's stallion is being challenged by another.

The victor will take control of her and her family.

As leader, Shani is the ultimate prize.

She won't be taken easily.

Her stallion will defend her to the death.

A takeover could tear Shani's family apart.

Her stallion wins.

Order is restored.

For now.

Far greater perils lie ahead.

The wild dogs are marking time.