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Take a trip through the spectacularly diverse terrain of the Waterberg--a South African land so old it was formed before terrestrial life itself. Today, its sprawling grasslands are home to some of the most eclectic wildlife on Earth, all sustained by the region's abundant water supply.
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00:00In the Limpopo region of South Africa lies an ancient land.
00:11Forged by water, today it provides life to many.
00:18From rolling grasslands to rocky gorges,
00:23wildlife has learnt to make the most of what's on offer.
00:27At its heart, life-giving waters burst from giant rocks and spread across the landscape,
00:37supporting everything from miniatures to the masses.
00:51This is the Waterberg, a land of plenty.
00:57I'm here.
00:58I'm here.
01:01I'm here.
01:05You have a dream.
01:07This has never been an end of the rest.
01:10You have an end of the two years.
01:12Clean up.
01:14You have an end of the run.
01:16It's not a mission to survive.
01:17The water berg runs from west to east for over 90 miles.
01:39Lying in the north-eastern corner of South Africa, it sprawls across an area of over
01:48five and a half thousand square miles and makes up the first UNESCO reserve in the region.
02:04Created by mineral-rich rivers almost two billion years ago, it is so old it has been
02:10around for longer than terrestrial life itself.
02:22Today it stands at the centre of an incredibly diverse landscape of open grassy plains, bushveldt
02:32faverna, rocky gorges, ravines, and cliffs that tower up to 2,000 feet high.
02:59But it's the bedrock of these mountains that holds their greatest gift.
03:11Bands of porous rock soak up water like a sponge, storing it in underground aquifers.
03:24Once full, they pour out of the mountains themselves, giving rise to the name Waterberg or Water Mountain.
03:45As they descend, the waterfalls and streams merge, creating rivers that carve their way through
03:52the landscape.
03:57As they shape the land, they also support a rich variety of life.
04:10Grazers feast on the lush grass of the plateau's rolling plains.
04:16In the lowlands, sprawling savannah stretches as far as the eye can see.
04:43And present throughout is water.
04:50Streams, rivers, dams and water holes bind the landscape together.
05:06And?'
05:09That's my favorite part of the water.
05:13We can see all the trees.
05:15I'll look back.
05:16I'm going back.
05:19I'm going back.
05:21I'm going back.
05:25This diverse wilderness is the setting for many natural dramas.
05:46Battles will be fought, mates will be won, and a new generation will be born.
05:55But all will rely on the waterberg for sustenance.
06:04The annual rains arrive in November and can last for up to five months.
06:13Their arrival ushers in a time of plenty in the waterberg.
06:20Animals are preoccupied with one thing, eating their fill.
06:25This is a time to bulk up.
06:45Grazers move in large mixed herds, feasting on the bounty.
06:49The grass is the quickest place to stand.
06:53The grass makes anyway.
06:55The grass is the quickest place to stand.
06:59After months of drought, the grass is the quickest place to take advantage.
07:02After months of drought, the grass is the quickest to take advantage of the landscape's
07:20renewed moisture.
07:26More than 200 different species grow in the Waterberg, offering a banquet to all manner
07:31of herbivores.
07:41And the elephants are amongst those cashing in.
07:50They have one of the most varied diets of all herbivores, eating everything from leaves
07:56to roots and bark.
08:06But with the coming of the rainy season, they shift their focus to the sweet new growth
08:23of tender grass.
08:33It is also the perfect time of year to raise young.
08:43With the abundance of food on offer, mothers are full of milk and in prime condition to
08:52support the next generation.
08:55For many antelope, the first few days of life are spent hidden away among the long grass,
09:03safe from unwanted attention.
09:05But as soon as they are fit enough to follow their mothers, they rejoin the herd.
09:17And within four and a half months, they'll be fully independent.
09:32For others in the grasslands, the introduction to herd life is much swifter.
09:41The flock mothers give birth surrounded by others.
09:50The lambs will stand within five to ten minutes and walk within 20.
09:58This ensures the young are ready to flee as soon as possible, making them less vulnerable.
10:08It is a technique that has been adopted by a number of the grazers.
10:14Wildebeest and zebra newborns are quick learners.
10:18They too are up and running in a matter of minutes.
10:24But for the wildebeest, there's more to things than just being able to run.
10:30Timing is everything.
10:34Up to 90% of calves will drop in the space of a three-week period, coinciding with the
10:40coming of the rains.
10:44And if you want to survive, you better arrive on time.
10:56When pursued by predators, our wildebeest's best hope is to mix in with the fleeing herd.
11:06But youngsters have tan coats, making them easy for predators to single out.
11:17Within the two months it takes for a darker coat to grow, some calves will be lucky, some
11:23will not.
11:33While escaping danger is the primary concern for many, there are those who have little
11:39to fear from the local predators.
11:48White rhino calves have formidably armed parents to look after them.
11:58The youngsters will spend the first two to three years of their lives with their mothers,
12:07staying side by side under her protection until she calves again.
12:17But for the grazers, timing the birth of their offspring with the arrival of the rains gives
12:30them the best chance of survival, and results in a sudden increase in herd members.
12:39But despite all their best efforts, it doesn't go unnoticed.
12:47Lions patrol the grasslands and savannas, on the lookout for an easy meal.
12:53The herd's many pairs of eyes watch back, and the age-old battle of predator versus prey
12:59continues.
13:03But sometimes the danger lies closer to home.
13:19A male zebra must fight off the challenge of a rival in order to secure sole breeding access
13:29to his hareen females.
13:40Fights can be fierce.
13:48A combination of biting and high-powered kicks is used to secure victory.
13:57The waterberg provides a home for huge numbers of creatures, and it is not only out
14:27on the grasslands where this can be witnessed.
14:34The mountain range is home to one of the rarest animals on the planet, the waterberg copper.
14:41The waterberg copper.
14:42Thought to have gone extinct in the 1980s, it was recently rediscovered living on a small
14:48plateau.
14:50A micro habitat no larger than seven and a half acres has harbored the species and sheltered
14:57it from the encroachment from the encroachment of the modern world.
15:04It is an amazing story of survival against the odds.
15:11The waterberg copper requires a unique set of conditions to reproduce and has a fascinating life cycle.
15:18It will only lay eggs near one of two host plants.
15:19It will only lay eggs near one of two host plants.
15:25And a particular species of sugar ant must have a nest within the vicinity.
15:32The ants build their homes in sandy soil, close to wetlands.
15:39Making the waterberg the ideal environment for them.
15:40This is the only place in the world where these birds are living on the ground.
15:41The birds are living on the ground.
15:42It will only lay eggs near one of two host plants.
15:46And a particular species of sugar ant must have a nest within the vicinity.
15:55The ants build their homes in sandy soil, close to wetlands.
16:00Making the waterberg the ideal environment for them.
16:06This is the only place in the world where these butterflies are known to exist.
16:14Females lay their eggs in the sand.
16:20Once hatched, the caterpillars live within the ant nest.
16:25But by night, the ants escort the caterpillar to the host plant, where it feeds.
16:35There is a reason the ants go to so much trouble to accommodate and protect the caterpillars.
16:44As they feed, they produce a sweet honeydew secretion from glands on their abdomen.
16:50Which the ants find irresistible.
16:54Ants are one of the few creatures in the world that farm other animals.
17:01In this incredible symbiotic relationship, both the ant and the butterfly are rewarded.
17:09For the security of their nest, the ants receive an invaluable food source.
17:15And the caterpillars are provided with a safe place to grow and develop.
17:21During its next stage of life, the waterberg copper transforms into a stunning butterfly.
17:28The bright colours are a warning to predators.
17:34It's poisonous.
17:36While feeding on the toxic host plants, the caterpillars absorb the poisons, retaining them through their metamorphosis into adulthood.
17:49Not all of the waterberg's residents have such an intricate life cycle.
18:05But there are some who face the same pressures of extinction.
18:08White rhino populations are being decimated throughout southern Africa by an insatiable demand for their horn from Asia.
18:22In traditional Asian medicine, rhino horn is thought to cure illness and guarantee good health.
18:29It is a problem that is affecting parks and reserves across the region, including the waterberg.
18:42Drastic measures are being taken and armed guards are posted throughout the area.
18:48It is a battle that must be won if the rhino is to have a chance of survival in the wild.
19:02But for now, life is good for the waterberg's rhino.
19:09There is plenty of grass, which makes up their entire diet.
19:16An inability to lift their heads above shoulder height, combined with poor eyesight, means they must rely mainly on their sense of smell and hearing to detect threats.
19:31Big ears move independently, focusing in on the direction of sounds like huge satellite dishes.
19:52Their inability to lift their heads above shoulder height means that they are unable to swim and can't submerge themselves completely.
20:08Rhinos are dependent on the presence of water, often drinking twice a day to quench their thirst.
20:18The waterholes are a common meeting place for the large mammals, and they offer more than just drinking water.
20:25Wallowing serves many purposes.
20:31It discourages and removes irritating insects like ticks.
20:37But it is also a bit of fun.
20:44Elsewhere in the country, elephant herds can walk for many days in their search for food, often going without water.
20:57But here in the Waterberg, they never go thirsty.
21:01Once refreshed, the muddy elephants find a scratching post and rub up against it, dislodging any unwanted passengers in the process.
21:11Returning to the same waterholes and rivers year after year, their favourite trees become smoothed over time.
21:30But some itches require a little extra soothing.
21:58The hot, wet months of the rainy season see a boom in insect numbers.
22:06Swarms of flies follow the herds.
22:17For the buffalo, it seems there is a price to pay for the abundance of food and water.
22:29The grassland's largest animal has developed another technique for keeping the invaders at bay.
22:36Elephants don't only bathe in the water.
22:40They also cake their skin with soil to avoid biting and sucking insects.
22:46While the insects are a nuisance for most, they are an opportunity for others.
23:05Golden orb spiders are prepared for the infestation.
23:15One of the oldest types of spider in existence, they hold the crown for the world's strongest spider's web.
23:22Spun from yellow silk, it is maintained on a daily basis, ensuring it is as sticky as possible.
23:38It's done the job.
23:42Neurotoxic venom is injected, immobilising the victim.
23:50Before it is wrapped in silk, taken deeper into the nest and stashed.
24:13With so much food available in the Waterberg at this time of year, the spider stores some for a later date.
24:29Throughout the Waterberg, predators are taking advantage of the new food on offer.
24:37Whirligigig beetles feed on other aquatic insects.
24:45Compound eyes allow them to see both above and below the water.
24:52And their ability to turn sharply helps them evade larger predators,
24:58casting neat circular shadows on the stream bed.
25:07Of all the animals benefiting from the glut of food, the oxpecker is one of the most successful.
25:22Attaching themselves to a host, they rid the animals of their parasites.
25:27Ticks, fleas and almost anything that moves stand no chance against their nimble beaks.
25:40Perfectly equipped for this life, they have evolved a number of adaptations.
25:44Short legs and sharp claws help them grip their host.
25:54And an incredible feeding technique of combing hair with their beaks has allowed them to thrive.
25:59Known as scissoring, it is a very effective method for them to find food.
26:14But despite their reputation, some oxpeckers seem to have a darker side.
26:19Individuals have been witnessed feeding from wounds.
26:32It is believed that some oxpeckers have developed a taste for the blood they find within the ticks they feed on.
26:38And they have been observed opening up existing wounds on their host animals' hide in order to drink their blood.
26:49By keeping the wound open in this way, the bird gets a constant supply of blood.
27:03But it also exposes the host to an increased risk of infection.
27:08It seems not all oxpeckers are as helpful as we once thought.
27:13Throughout the Waterberg, the daily search for food has driven creatures to adapt.
27:34While many utilise the daylight hours, others emerge after dark.
27:38The lesser bush baby.
27:52Sleeping in groups of up to seven during the day, they spend the night foraging alone.
27:58Tree sap makes up a large part of their diet.
28:03And is vital to their survival during the winter months.
28:06But tonight, there is more than just sap on the menu.
28:13The abundance of insect life has caught the bush baby's attention.
28:20Long hind limbs and short forelimbs make them well adapted to launching attacks from vertical branches.
28:27Feeding on a range of arthropods, they are one of the night's most accomplished predators.
28:36For another mammal, the search for insects is not all about food.
28:41A troop of vervet monkeys bask in the morning sun.
28:42Ranging all the way from South Africa to Ethiopia, they are found in healthy numbers in the Waterberg.
28:55Living in large groups, they are highly social.
29:11living in large groups they are highly social and one of the best ways of
29:24reinforcing bonds is by grooming relatives sift through one another's fur
29:32removing any parasites grooming is commonly used as a courtship strategy as it brings
29:45males and females into close proximity to one another it is vital to the troops success
29:54for the vervets the waterbergs rains will provide a glut of fruits to see them through the dry months
30:07despite the abundance the waters bring some creatures still rely on the dry and dead in
30:27order to find what they need a bearded woodpecker is on the hunt for a meal he uses a sharp barbed tongue
30:45to remove anything he uncovers unlike the waterbergs other insectivores
30:57bearded woodpeckers feed mainly on wood boring beetles and their larvae which can be found all
31:03year round as well as helping locate a tasty meal drumming on trees also helps him establish a
31:13territory and attract a mate the hollow tree acts as the perfect megaphone
31:27another of the waterbergs feathered inhabitants doesn't need to drink in fact ground hornbills don't need
31:41to drink at all they can survive entirely on the moisture in their food these unusual creatures are the
31:54largest hornbills in the world and can live for over 60 years
31:58the savannahs spending most of their day searching the savannahs for food ground hornbills are predominantly
32:12carnivorous feeding on a large range of insects reptiles amphibians and even small mammals and birds
32:19living in groups of up to 12 individuals they occupy and vigorously defend large territories
32:38reaching 38 square miles these groups normally have one breeding pair and as a species they have
32:58one of the slowest reproductive rates in the bird world on average they breed successfully every nine
33:05years females always lay two eggs three to five days apart the first chick to hatch invariably out
33:21competes the second which will be killed by its elder sibling or starved to death the surviving chick
33:32then takes another six years to reach adulthood these birds have evolved to survive in the harshest of
33:41environments but in the waterberg they are provided with more than they need
34:02ziehen migrants
34:10Although water doesn't play a key role in all life cycles it impacts most
34:16And most animals couldn't exist without it
34:20The waterbird's water levels are dictated by the rains, but there are areas of permanent
34:30water. Rivers and waterholes remain full year-round.
34:43These wetlands provide a residence for a host of animals. But one group appears in more variety
34:54than most. The waterbird's rivers, streams and waterholes team with birds of many shapes
35:04and sizes. Wattled lapwings patrol the wetland fringes. Terrestrial birds, they never venture
35:20into deeper water. This domain is reserved for true waterfowl.
35:42Unlike the lapwing, knob-billed ducks are buoyant, allowing them to float on the water's surface.
35:52This ability allows them to reach the rich aquatic grasses and water lilies other birds can't.
35:58Some have taken life on the water a stage further. Cormorants feed exclusively on fish.
36:13Special feathers allow water to penetrate, enabling the birds to swim well underwater as they chase
36:20their prey.
36:30After fishing, cormorants stand in a characteristic pose, with wings out and neck extended.
36:39Originally thought to dry their wings, it is now also considered to aid digestion by helping the birds swallow fish.
36:50Darts and greeds have evolved the same technique for fishing.
37:00And all can be found along the permanent water sources of the waterbird.
37:04While many have mastered life under the water, one has adapted to a life on top of it.
37:22African jacanas spend their lives foraging on floating lily pads.
37:26They even build their nests here.
37:32In what is known as lily trotting, elongated toes enable them to spread their weight enough
37:38to stop them sinking.
37:40It is an adaptation that has allowed them to conquer a habitat few other birds can.
37:53Meaning all the more insects for them to feed on.
37:57The birds are not the only ones feeding here.
38:09The birds are not the only ones feeding here.
38:13They are not the only ones feeding here.
38:15They are not the only ones feeding here.
38:17They are not the only ones feeding here.
38:19They are not the only ones feeding here.
38:25Hippos spend the majority of their day in the water.
38:30And have evolved a number of adaptations as a result.
38:35Their ears fold closed when submerged.
38:38And flick open in a flurry when surfacing.
38:49High ridged eyes protrude above the water.
38:55And nostrils have evolved to seal shut while swimming.
39:00Adults can spend up to five minutes below the surface.
39:08And surfacing is as instinctive as breathing itself.
39:19Even in their sleep.
39:29Feeding out of the water, mainly at night,
39:32days are spent digesting, sleeping and socialising.
39:38Feeding out of the water.
39:46Hippos are so at home in their aquatic habitat,
39:49calves are able to suckle underwater.
39:58There are others who depend on the Waterberg's permanent oases.
40:02There are others who depend on the Waterberg's permanent oases.
40:05Modern-day dinosaurs, their adaptations have evolved over millions of years.
40:13Crocodiles' ears are now just slits,
40:16and their eyes are coated in a protective membrane.
40:23They are the ultimate freshwater predator.
40:26Lying undetected in the water, they ambush animals as they come down to drink.
40:56Lying undetected in the Waterberg's permanent oases.
41:08Rows of deadly teeth drag prey into the depths, holding them there until they drown.
41:26Lying undetected in the Waterberg's permanent oases.
41:41For many, the dependence on water is because it provides food.
41:45And crocodiles are not the only reptiles patrolling the Waterberg.
41:55Water monitor lizards bask in the sun.
42:03Like crocodiles, they need to warm up before heading off to hunt.
42:15They are also perfectly adapted to their habitat.
42:34Once warm, they head to the water's edge to fish.
42:36At home, in or out of the water, a long, powerful tail powers the belong.
42:51While long nails and sharp claws are perfect for catching prey.
42:56They are not the only ones relying on the waters to provide a meal.
43:26They are not the only ones relying on the water.
43:32It's not long before their patience is rewarded.
43:50The monitor lizards, hammer cops and herons all have different techniques.
43:56But the result is always the same.
44:26The waterberg supports a diverse mix of habitats and a host of creatures.
44:40The waterberg supports a diverse mix of habitats and a host of creatures.
44:50It's the perché, so if there are no profound.
44:52That goes part to the ère …
44:57Điù?
44:57Should all play class, demand fruit.
45:03It's a very good word.
45:04I mean, but if I have all three of these og That might change.
45:04And that's why we have all your fellow crypto arcades.
45:05There's one, don't throw it in an hour until you get to eat.
45:07And that way toamoose.
45:08Of course, last time everything in the water.
45:08And we have all the air that devi- recomit for the schreiben.
45:11And they cannot be fly.
45:13The reason we go by it and to wash the politics of our parents often in the home areких at all.
45:15As if there are any geographies, that are all our teammates,
45:20From the ancient and deadly, to the weird and wonderful, almost all have come to depend
45:36on the land's waters for food and shelter.
45:43It is an ever-present life source in the mountain of life.
45:50To be continued...
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