Primal Survivor (2016) s09e06 Episode Script
Serengeti
1
[animal squawking]
[♪]
HAZEN AUDEL:
You can see that's a zebra
that was taken down.
I don't know why the culprits
aren't still here right now,
but they're not very far.
They wouldn't have left this
like that.
They could be anywhere
in there.
It'd be wise of me
to get out of here
and stay away
from those bushes.
[animal howls]
Look, look, look, look,
look, look, look, look.
There's something else
looking for food.
[hyena cackling]
[whispering]:
Wow, I'd never think
I'd get this close
but look at this.
Look at those hyenas
right there.
They are feeding
on a leg of something,
and they are ravenous.
They have to pound in
as much food
as they possibly can.
They don't want anybody to steal
their rotten leg meat.
They can carry off carcasses,
dragging it away
from anything else
that's competing
for food with them.
But these notorious scavengers
are also fierce hunters.
Big muscles,
big bones, big teeth.
They're incredibly capable.
I need to be careful
out here and keep moving.
If hyenas are there,
then there's
probably more coming.
I'm Hazen Audel,
wilderness explorer.
I've been on an epic
solo safari
through Africa's
Great Rift Valley.
On a mission to see
this continent's magnificent
wildlife first-hand.
My expedition south
has taken me
through some
of the most unique
and bio-diverse environments
on earth.
Now, the place I've battled
over 500 miles to see
lies just ahead of me,
the animal kingdom
of the Serengeti.
What a journey in extreme
and challenging conditions.
It's taken everything I got
to get me this far.
The Serengeti is home
to an unrivaled
wildlife phenomenon
when an annual journey
by millions of wildebeest
brings Africa's most iconic
wildlife together
in the heart
of the grasslands.
[growls]
Known as
"the Great Migration,"
it's the largest congregation
of land animals
anywhere on earth.
And I'm determined
to witness it
for myself.
I've waited my life
to be here.
I'm on the edge
of the Garden of Eden.
It's where the millions
and millions
of migrating animals are going.
But the final leg
of my journey
will push me
to the extreme.
I will need
to make it 80 miles
through the harsh scrubland
and arid plains
of the Eyasi Valley
before battling past
the untamed wilderness
and apex predators
of the Serengeti.
And the rains
that trigger the migration
are due any day now.
The sky is full of clouds.
The rains are coming.
I need to get there
for when they break.
If I could make it,
I timed it just right.
Or the spectacle I've come
all this way to see
will have already moved on.
Time is short.
And getting through Eyasi
to the Serengeti grasslands
won't be easy.
My first challenge is to get
to the valley floor below.
All this volcanic
igneous granite
means I'm getting
into the valley.
And this little trickle
of water here
is everything I need to know.
It all goes downhill.
Descending this rift line
requires complete concentration
and as much grip
as I can muster.
[grunting]
When the water is really
charging through here,
it just polishes
this granite.
Whoo. Makes it very slick.
I've made it hundreds
of miles to get here,
but one wrong step now
could end my journey.
Whoo-hoo-hoo.
Okay, there we go.
Sometimes it just feels like
inch by inch, I'm making it
to my final destination,
but it's been miles
and miles.
[grunts]
Finally, I see the scrubland
of the valley floor,
my pathway ahead.
Look at that. Way out there.
Leading me right
to the Serengeti.
But here in the Eyasi Valley,
the landscape is a harsh
and ruthless environment.
[panting]
Look at all those bones.
It's a big pile of bones.
Look at this.
Look at all these bones.
At first glance, you'd think
that this would all be
some sort of
giant cave bear.
But the animal
that is responsible
for all of this,
there's the evidence
right there.
Look.
The quills, the spines
of an African porcupine.
The biggest
and most spectacular porcupine
in the world.
They can get
real big and nasty,
big enough to ward off lions.
They have this
very peculiar habit
of hoarding bones,
bones from animals that
have been killed by predators.
So a porcupine can always have
something to gnaw on.
Bones are a fantastic source
of calcium,
extra minerals, salts.
So, nobody alive is home
but probably lots of ghosts.
Out here,
only the most ingenious
scavengers prevail.
Food is scarce.
The dry season has stripped
the scrubland
of most of its life.
And the remaining animals
will be desperate.
Because of the lack of rain,
there's not a lot of game
but in places like this
it can be full of predators,
and it stays very well hidden.
Wherever you're going,
you have to try
to almost imagine
what might be
behind every bush.
It's a wild place.
This area's resilient
plant life
is my best hope
for refuge and nutrients.
Have you ever seen a tree
like that?
So this tree is called
a baobab tree.
Among the oldest plants
in the world,
baobab trees can live
up to 2,000 years.
This baobab's fruits
have dried up
and fallen to the ground.
But it does bear
some encouraging evidence
that I'm not
completely alone out here.
This is manmade.
It's very, very soft wood.
So you can hollow it out.
You can use it like a,
like a big storage chest.
So if you find
a surplus of food,
you can block this up
with wood, stacks of rocks.
Hyenas, other predators
can't get to it.
You'll have a supply of food
that you can depend on.
The baobab plays
an important role
in the culture
of the ancient tribe
that still wanders
these lands.
The legendary Hadza
are one of the last hunter
and gatherer tribes in Africa,
living deep in
the Eyasi Valley.
They've been thriving
in this beautiful
but brutal landscape
for over 50,000 years.
The Hadza believe the spirits
of their ancestors' rest
within the baobab trees.
For the Hadza,
trees that are like this,
sometimes
they're birthing trees.
So where women can go
and actually have their own
private secluded spot
to give birth.
And then the village
and community will come in
and feed her,
keep her protected
inside this tree
for a few weeks,
and then she'll finally come out
and reveal her newborn.
It's cool in there.
Okay.
Locating the elusive Hadza
will give me the best chance
of finding
a way into the Serengeti
and witnessing
the Great Migration.
Without their expert
local knowledge,
tracking down moving herds
of animals
in such a vast area
will be like looking
for a needle in a haystack.
But sometimes,
wild animals find you.
[animal trumpets]
[whispering]:
Oh, look at that.
Look at the baby.
One thing to know
about baby elephants
is they never stray far
from their mothers.
[elephant trumpets]
Ooh, you can hear them, too.
I can't see them all
because it's so dense
in here.
[bellows]
[whispering]
There's a whole family of them.
Elephants are fiercely
protective of their young.
I need to be calm
and stay out of sight.
It notices me.
It's got its ears
right at me.
It knows I'm here,
it's the only one
that knows I'm here.
But if the others notice,
it could be trouble.
They look like gentle giants,
but that could easily change.
This is way too close
to be safe.
[bellows]
Oh, they see me.
HAZEN:
It's amazing how big they are,
but sometimes they can
just come out of nowhere
if they are in this brush
like this.
A whole family of elephants.
From what I can see,
there are about 20 of them.
Okay, time to give them
their space.
As I trek closer
towards the Serengeti,
I expect to see
more wild animals.
But I'm also finding
more signs of people.
There are some houses
over there.
This is good.
It's definitely a house
but nobody's home.
Yeah
these are
Hadza-style houses.
They're always migrating.
They never stay
in one place for very long
because they're always following
the patterns of their prey.
So it looks like
they were here for a while.
There wasn't enough game here,
so they moved on.
This Hadza camp still looks
pretty fresh.
They must have left it
just recently.
I'll just keep heading west,
and then I might meet up
with this family
or a whole another community
or family group of Hadza.
That's what I'm hoping.
I need to keep pushing on.
[thunder rumbling]
Ooh.
You hear that?
And there's just
a little bit of rain,
but this could all change
real fast.
It's a sign that the rains
are getting closer,
and I could be running
behind schedule
for the Great Migration
I'm desperate to see.
But my luck
could be changing.
Look at this.
Good, clean freshwater.
Anywhere where there's water,
especially here in Africa,
could be people.
And with these trails,
you can just see
how much animal activity
is around.
These are people trails too.
I need to follow them.
[people chattering]
You hear that?
I think
they're right down here.
Whoo!
It looks like the Hadza,
a hunting party.
Jambo!
Jambo!
Check it out.
Jambo! Hoo!
I'm just traveling through.
[Hadza chattering
in native language]
I'm walking.
Hello! I'm Hazen.
I was coming east.
- Coming from way east.
- [speaking native language]
Yeah.
And I was trying to get
to the Serengeti.
So you speak
a little bit of English?
Yeah, yeah, great.
Yeah, yeah.
Wh-what's your name?
[speaking native language]
Julius is the head
of this hunting party.
I got it.
He's brought his men out
into the bush looking for game.
And you guys got
the, the bird? Wow.
They've shot a guineafowl
with a bow and arrow.
You got that?
[speaking native language]
And now,
they're heading back to camp.
This is the real deal,
hunters and gatherers.
Okay, they're heading
that way.
I found them. I got to go.
Around 20 or so Hadza live
in this settlement.
But as nomadic people,
this clan will move on
every few months.
Alright, a little barbecue
happening right now.
I guess it might
as well be lunchtime.
JULIUS:
Yeah. To enjoy lunch time now,
because too much hungry.
HAZEN: When you guys went out
this morning to go hunting,
what did you guys think
you would find?
JULIUS:
I wanted to find warthog.
HAZEN: Oh, you wanted
to find warthog?
JULIUS: But they were missing.
HAZEN: Catching anything
from guineafowl to antelopes,
the Hadza's hunting
is entirely opportunistic,
and they kill
only what they eat.
It looks like some arrow making
too in the free time.
So this is,
this is the tendon, right?
JULIUS:
Yeah. Tendon from animal.
We take feathers
and then make like this.
Then to bend.
- HAZEN: Very, very cool.
- JULIUS: Yeah.
HAZEN:
So these bigger feathers,
the big tail feathers,
the big wing feathers,
they are saved for the fletching
for these arrows.
Makes the arrow
fly straighter.
The perfect marksmanship
needed for hunting
requires constant training.
HAZEN:
This is where you do it?
- [Hadza speaking]
- Right here.
So with their down time,
they're going to show me
one of the things
that they do
the very best,
how good they are
at hitting a target
with their bow and arrow.
This is something
they do every day.
Oh, man, bullseye.
Oh, dead on.
Golly!
Oh! Another bullseye!
Geez! These guys are good.
Man!
Killer shots.
And then
that's right into a log,
so you can imagine
just the penetrating power
of each one of these.
[straining]
Now, it's time for me
to give it a shot.
Oh, boy,
this is gonna be embarrassing.
Let's see if I still got this.
Oh, I way overshot it. Okay.
I'm a little rusty,
but we'll get there.
- Okay.
- JULIUS: Try again.
HAZEN:
Oh!
Man, that was like
this close!
Takes a while
to get used to these.
Come on.
Ay! Yeah! There we go.
[Hazen laughs]
Yeah, I mean, I got it,
but it was
[applauding]
This is all
very friendly competition,
but being the one that's
the very best at a bow and arrow
is probably the one that's
bringing the most meat home
to the community.
I'm hanging out
with the best of the best.
Nice. Thank you.
[speaks native language]
With dusk approaching,
Julius has me spend
the night in
with the community.
These are some of the last
true hunters and gatherers
that still exist
on this huge planet Earth.
I am so happy
to be seeing this
and experiencing this
for myself.
I am very fortunate.
[birds chirping]
Morning has come.
Before I head off,
I need advice on a route
into the Serengeti
that will give me
the best chance of witnessing
the Great Migration.
And master hunter Julius
knows this region
and its wildlife
better than anyone.
JULIUS:
If you follow down in sunset?
- HAZEN: Yes. Okay, so west
- JULIUS: Yeah.
HAZEN:
where the sunset is?
JULIUS:
Then go, go, go, go.
There are big plains.
HAZEN:
Big plains. Yeah.
A vast arid plain
lies ahead of me.
Water will be scarce
until I reach a river.
But here, I will face
another problem.
JULIUS: If you are
passing here, careful,
because there are
many, many crocodile.
Big!
- HAZEN: Yeah, yeah.
- JULIUS: Huge!
HAZEN:
After these dangerous waters,
I'll face new terrain
marked by
a distinctive formation.
JULIUS:
Then there are big rocks
and very nice striped,
like zebra.
HAZEN:
The rocks have stripes on them?
- Like a zebra?
- JULIUS: Stripes, stripes
HAZEN:
Beyond zebra rock
and the rocky ranges
lie the grasslands
at the heart of the Serengeti.
And if I can
make it in time,
the spectacle I've come
so far to see.
JULIUS:
And then you are near
to go the migration.
HAZEN:
Uh-huh! Okay. Great.
With my route to
the Great Migration set out,
it's time to leave the Hadza.
And I push west
into the arid barren plains.
No grass, no herbivores.
No herbivores, no predators.
It's just me.
Truly in the middle
of nowhere.
This kind of landscape,
this is where
the majority
of human evolution occurred.
Places that are wide open,
places where you could walk
and walk and walk
for miles
and miles and miles.
I need to keep pushing hard
to reach
the Serengeti grasslands
in time for the rains.
There are just
a few rain bursts
maybe way far off there
in the horizon.
But nothing on me.
This place is still so dry.
On these exposed plains,
temperatures reach 90 degrees,
and there's zero shade,
meaning I'm facing
a very real risk
of dehydration
and heatstroke.
I got to find some water bad.
HAZEN: Miles of trekking
across the arid plains
take their toll
and ahead,
I finally see a river.
But I don't think this is
the one that Julius mentioned.
There are no crocodiles.
And look, it's dry.
I desperately need
to find water.
Look at all these
little depressions here.
Here they go
all along the sand.
Those are dug out by animals.
Yeah, it's wet.
This is going to be good.
Yeah. I've already hit water.
You can see how wet
this sand is.
I'm reaching water right here.
I'll just dig it deep enough
so I can collect it.
I've had a lifetime
of drinking questionable water
and at this point,
I pretty much have
the constitution of a warthog.
[♪]
Okay.
Well, it's not
the best-looking water.
It's not
the best-tasting water.
But this is the only stuff
that's out here.
It's a last resort.
I'm thankful
for what I found.
Okay, I'll top up
and be on my way.
I consider that a success.
But just as I'm about
to move on,
I spot
some concerning tracks.
Look at this.
Look at this, though.
Right here. See that?
This is so fresh.
It's a leopard.
See that?
Yeah.
Passing right through here.
You've got to keep in mind
that they're somewhere,
and you hope that you see them
before they see you.
Might be better
to kind of get up
into the open plains
so I can keep a lookout
for exactly what we just saw.
Moving past the dry river,
the harsh arid plains seem
to finally be behind me.
The vegetation starts
to green up.
But with those
fresh prints nearby,
the tree line ahead
is potentially more dangerous.
As I'm walking
through here,
you've got to look
at every single one
of these little hiding spots.
There might be something
ready to pounce.
Whoa!
[whispering]
Oh, my God,
are you seeing this?
Are you seeing this?
Up in the tree.
They're so
incredibly well camouflaged,
they stay up
in the branches.
Even from here,
it's hard to see.
It is a real live leopard,
a juvenile one.
I am so close to it
that I can hear
its jaws crunching
the bones of its prey.
It's a very hungry cat.
I think it just got
a monkey.
They're such incredible hunters.
They can easily carry
their own body weight in food.
They have big powerful claws,
powerful jaws.
That camouflage paint job,
they can sneak up on prey.
More than likely,
its mother is around
in another hiding spot.
An adult would be
twice that big.
Adult leopards are known
to defend themselves
and can attack
and kill humans,
especially if they
feel exposed
or threatened.
They pounce when
your back is turned
or when you're
least suspecting.
There is
a lot more eyes on me
than what my eyes
can see out there.
I'll have to keep a lookout.
I have to be especially wary
of where I'm going now.
This feasting leopard
is the first clear sign
that I'm closing in
on the animal kingdom
of the Serengeti
and an early reminder
I'm heading into a totally
untamed wilderness.
I'm not always going
to be the one
that's at the top
of the food chain.
So you always have
to be on the lookout.
Ahead of me, I finally see
flowing waters.
This must be the river
Julius told me about.
[exhales forcefully]
But it's not crocodiles
I should have been
watching out for.
Instead, it's one of the most
temperamental animals out here.
[hippo snorting]
Wow, there are a lot of eyes
looking in my direction,
a lot of ears pointed
in my direction.
They know I'm here.
Hippos kill more people than
any other large animal
in the entire world.
Being so packed together
in such limited water,
they're stressed and ready
to defend their territory.
Ooh, ooh, ooh.
Look at that one.
It's starting to come up,
it's starting to come up.
- [hippo bellows]
- Oh, oh, oh.
Just showing me their jaws,
showing me their tusks
that could literally
cut a man in half.
[hippos grunting]
They're telling me
to back off.
Hippos are dangerous
in and out of the water.
They can run
up to 22 miles an hour.
And in this area,
I need to keep a lookout
everywhere around me.
Oh, oh, oh, oh.
Here's what I'm talking about.
The ones that are up on land,
those are just
on the land feeding,
which means there could be
more out here.
That's when they get
really dangerous.
Okay, time to go.
[hippo bellows]
I'll need make sure to give
this river a wide berth
and push on in search
of the Great Migration.
Julius told me that
once I pass the river,
I need to find
a zebra-striped rock.
It marks the start
of a rocky range
that leads up
to my ultimate destination,
the lush grasslands
of the Serengeti.
You see those clouds
where I'm heading towards?
Those are cumulus clouds,
and they're getting bigger
and bigger
as I'm getting closer
and closer.
It might mean rain,
turning this
into green, lush grass.
As soon as the rains
have fallen,
new grasses will sprout,
bringing the wildebeest.
I need to make it
to the Serengeti
before the herds have eaten
and moved on deeper
into the vast wilderness.
I think that's the big rock
that the Hadza
were telling me about,
the one that looks
like a zebra.
I'll find out
when I get closer.
So these big rocky outcroppings
are called kopjes.
This formed deep underground,
crystallized,
made these big stripes,
and then millions
of years of uplifting,
it brought those rocks
up above.
And it is definitely
the biggest,
tallest rock around by far.
This is a very important
marker for me.
It gives me a good idea
that I'm still on track.
Ahead of me
is the rocky terrain
Julius told me about.
The final passageway
separating me
from the lush
central grasslands.
This landscape makes
for ideal ambush territory
for large predators
like lions.
And with dusk approaching,
I need to find
somewhere safe to sleep.
- [animal chittering]
- Huh?
Have a look at that lizard.
Isn't that a beautiful one?
It's called an agama lizard,
in breeding colors.
Bright orange and blue.
It went in there.
Okay.
Lizard went in there
but disappeared.
It's revealed a potential place
to spend the night.
It's very simple,
tight with only
one access hole.
If I had a big poky branch,
like an acacia branch,
put it right in there.
I'd be tucked in
but nice and safe.
Considering what's out here
in this kind of an environment.
They've been
incredibly long days
the last couple days.
So sometimes,
you just make do.
Tomorrow is going
to be a big push.
And if I can keep up with
the herd and actually find them,
tomorrow's going to be
the big day.
So I've slept
in better places.
But if I make it
through the night
and, uh
that's really
all that matters.
Okay.
But after dark
is when the Serengeti
truly comes alive.
[animals roaring]
The lions
you can hear
different prides of lions.
Some of them
are really close.
[roaring continues]
[♪]
- HAZEN: The next morning
- [thunder rumbling]
I am awoken by the sound
of heavy rainfall.
[grunts]
It's raining.
Wow!
It's really coming down!
This is just the beginning!
Look at it!
The seasonal downpours
that trigger
the Great Migration
have broken.
I've made it here
just in time.
I am not the only one happy
about this rain,
I'm sure of it.
Incredibly,
wildebeest can smell rain
in the air
from 40 miles away
and then follow it
to find the freshest pastures.
They'll be on the Serengeti
grasslands very soon.
I need to get moving.
Okay, let's find
this migration.
If Julius is right,
this rocky range
is my last hurdle
before I reach the Serengeti.
With the rains easing off,
I head higher up
for a better vantage point.
[tense music]
[grunts]
Last little bit here.
[grunting]
Okay.
And there you go.
All that there.
That's what I came to see.
Amazing how you can just see
for miles and miles
of untouched wilderness.
At last.
The grasslands
of the Serengeti.
Five hundred miles
after starting my epic journey,
I've set eyes
on this garden of Eden.
I still have miles
ahead of me,
but this is the Serengeti.
If the migration is nearby,
this would be the place
to spot it.
The big contenders
are the wildebeest
and the zebra.
It's hard to imagine that you
couldn't see them from up here
because some of the herds
are so big.
And then,
I see something
in the distance.
There is, though,
a bunch of dust
coming up over the horizon.
If there was a herd
in the millions,
it'd be awfully dusty.
A dust cloud that big
could only be from the animals
of the Great Migration.
It finally looks
within reach.
Heading down
into the grassland,
I see the impact
of the recent downpours.
Look at what the rains
have done.
They've turned this place
into this
bountiful land
and it's brought
all this green.
And the Serengeti's reputation
as being one of the planet's
wildlife paradises
becomes immediately clear.
Oh wow, look at the giraffes.
They're pretty close.
You're looking at
the tallest animal
in the entire world.
The giraffes,
they're pretty much residents.
They don't have
huge migrations
because they have the advantage
over the other animals.
When all the grass is dried up
and there's no more food,
they're the ones that can reach
up at the tops of these branches
and always have
something to eat.
Giraffes are one of
the most iconic species
found in Serengeti.
But I'll have
to push deeper still
into this wild kingdom
to reach the Great Migration.
And to get to it,
first I've got to pass
right through the territory
of apex predators.
[lion growling]
There are a lot of lions
around here,
but that's a special pride
right up there
with all those females
and the little cubs up, up high,
where they can just have
such a good view.
Yeah. The kid in me
wants to get closer
and closer
just to get a little bit
of a better look,
but the adult in me
knows enough
about animal behavior
to give these wild animals
the space that they need.
Up to 30 lions
can belong to one pride.
And it's not long
before I'm face to face
with the defender
of this one.
[lion growling]
Look at that big male.
Big lion.
Oh, it's got its eyes
right on me.
HAZEN:
When you get a stare-down
by a giant predator like that,
it's a little unnerving.
It's marking its territory
right now.
If that lion
wanted to eat me,
I really wouldn't stand
a chance out here.
And these lions are hungry.
You can see the females,
almost their hip bones
sticking out,
It's been a hard lean year,
not very much food.
Fortunately, for me,
these lions are waiting
for the migration
to pass through.
Tasty morsels
of big wildebeest, big zebras,
that's what
they're all waiting for.
Not a funky-looking human
with a backpack on.
This pride is
the clearest sign yet
that I'm in striking range
of the vast herds
I'm looking for,
but staying this close
to hungry lions
is never a good idea.
I think I'll just,
I'll just move on.
Stay out of their hair.
You've got to keep
your guard up around here.
The Great Migration
stages the largest interaction
of predator and prey
on the planet,
with lion, leopards,
and hyenas taking advantage
of the millions of animals
crossing the Serengeti.
Right now though,
my trail has run cold.
I've lost track of
the dust cloud
I've been chasing.
[distant rumbling]
Ooh.
Oh!
Then
Look, look, look, look!
- I see them.
- Wow.
Can you make out?
Can you see?
It's just a continuous line
of wildebeest,
one after the next.
And it just keeps going
out of sight
from as far as I can see.
They're not just running.
They're galloping.
Look at them.
Look at them go.
They're all going
in unison.
These rampaging wildebeest
are running
towards the epicenter
of the Great Migration,
the mega herds.
Where they're going,
it should be amazing.
I'm just going
to follow them.
Over a million wildebeest
move together
through the Serengeti
searching for
the lushest of grasses
the largest herd
of animals on earth.
Oh wow!
This is all magic
right here.
It's nature.
Look at this.
What a spectacle.
And I've managed
to place myself
right in the heart of it.
Look at what
I am experiencing,
what I am
what I am breathing in.
I am surrounded
by millions of animals.
Wow. Wow.
The biggest land migration
in the entire world.
And I timed it just right
to be able to see it right now.
The great migration covers
up to 600 miles every year.
But it comes
at a heavy price.
For the wildebeest,
about 250,000 of them die
trying to complete
this annual migration.
And the luckiest
and the strongest
are the ones that are able to
carry on their genetics
to the next generation.
Every single one
of these animals
is a product of survival
of the fittest.
Africa's most iconic animals
follow in the wildebeest's wake,
bringing an extraordinary collection
of wildlife together
all in one place.
You've got wildebeest, zebra,
gazelle, eland.
Over there, there's hyenas.
[hyena cackling]
Wow!
All of these animals,
all living together,
all dependent
on one another.
The complexity
of the natural world.
The Serengeti is
the world's last
true animal kingdom,
and I've managed to see it
in its most incredible moment.
It's the perfect finale
to my once-in-a-lifetime
adventure
through Africa's legendary
Great Rift Valley.
This is one of
the most amazing spectacles
anyone could ever be
able to experience.
This is one of the top wonders
of the world right here.
This is the most amazing thing
I have ever seen
in my entire life.
This is a dream come true
that I never thought
I'd ever be able to see.
Having trekked
over 500 miles
to reach the Serengeti,
tackling immense challenges
and unforgiving landscapes.
Okay, it's starting
to get scary now.
Meeting amazing people
along the way.
Ay! Yeah! There we go.
And seeing this continent's
legendary wildlife first-hand.
Whoa. Whoa!
That one just hit me.
What I'm seeing right now
is so incredibly rare!
I feel like I've been
on a "great migration" of own.
It's given me
a true understanding
of the journey of survival
these animals go through
every year.
I now have
even more respect
for Africa's
magnificent creatures.
They are this planet's
true primal survivors.
[animal squawking]
[♪]
HAZEN AUDEL:
You can see that's a zebra
that was taken down.
I don't know why the culprits
aren't still here right now,
but they're not very far.
They wouldn't have left this
like that.
They could be anywhere
in there.
It'd be wise of me
to get out of here
and stay away
from those bushes.
[animal howls]
Look, look, look, look,
look, look, look, look.
There's something else
looking for food.
[hyena cackling]
[whispering]:
Wow, I'd never think
I'd get this close
but look at this.
Look at those hyenas
right there.
They are feeding
on a leg of something,
and they are ravenous.
They have to pound in
as much food
as they possibly can.
They don't want anybody to steal
their rotten leg meat.
They can carry off carcasses,
dragging it away
from anything else
that's competing
for food with them.
But these notorious scavengers
are also fierce hunters.
Big muscles,
big bones, big teeth.
They're incredibly capable.
I need to be careful
out here and keep moving.
If hyenas are there,
then there's
probably more coming.
I'm Hazen Audel,
wilderness explorer.
I've been on an epic
solo safari
through Africa's
Great Rift Valley.
On a mission to see
this continent's magnificent
wildlife first-hand.
My expedition south
has taken me
through some
of the most unique
and bio-diverse environments
on earth.
Now, the place I've battled
over 500 miles to see
lies just ahead of me,
the animal kingdom
of the Serengeti.
What a journey in extreme
and challenging conditions.
It's taken everything I got
to get me this far.
The Serengeti is home
to an unrivaled
wildlife phenomenon
when an annual journey
by millions of wildebeest
brings Africa's most iconic
wildlife together
in the heart
of the grasslands.
[growls]
Known as
"the Great Migration,"
it's the largest congregation
of land animals
anywhere on earth.
And I'm determined
to witness it
for myself.
I've waited my life
to be here.
I'm on the edge
of the Garden of Eden.
It's where the millions
and millions
of migrating animals are going.
But the final leg
of my journey
will push me
to the extreme.
I will need
to make it 80 miles
through the harsh scrubland
and arid plains
of the Eyasi Valley
before battling past
the untamed wilderness
and apex predators
of the Serengeti.
And the rains
that trigger the migration
are due any day now.
The sky is full of clouds.
The rains are coming.
I need to get there
for when they break.
If I could make it,
I timed it just right.
Or the spectacle I've come
all this way to see
will have already moved on.
Time is short.
And getting through Eyasi
to the Serengeti grasslands
won't be easy.
My first challenge is to get
to the valley floor below.
All this volcanic
igneous granite
means I'm getting
into the valley.
And this little trickle
of water here
is everything I need to know.
It all goes downhill.
Descending this rift line
requires complete concentration
and as much grip
as I can muster.
[grunting]
When the water is really
charging through here,
it just polishes
this granite.
Whoo. Makes it very slick.
I've made it hundreds
of miles to get here,
but one wrong step now
could end my journey.
Whoo-hoo-hoo.
Okay, there we go.
Sometimes it just feels like
inch by inch, I'm making it
to my final destination,
but it's been miles
and miles.
[grunts]
Finally, I see the scrubland
of the valley floor,
my pathway ahead.
Look at that. Way out there.
Leading me right
to the Serengeti.
But here in the Eyasi Valley,
the landscape is a harsh
and ruthless environment.
[panting]
Look at all those bones.
It's a big pile of bones.
Look at this.
Look at all these bones.
At first glance, you'd think
that this would all be
some sort of
giant cave bear.
But the animal
that is responsible
for all of this,
there's the evidence
right there.
Look.
The quills, the spines
of an African porcupine.
The biggest
and most spectacular porcupine
in the world.
They can get
real big and nasty,
big enough to ward off lions.
They have this
very peculiar habit
of hoarding bones,
bones from animals that
have been killed by predators.
So a porcupine can always have
something to gnaw on.
Bones are a fantastic source
of calcium,
extra minerals, salts.
So, nobody alive is home
but probably lots of ghosts.
Out here,
only the most ingenious
scavengers prevail.
Food is scarce.
The dry season has stripped
the scrubland
of most of its life.
And the remaining animals
will be desperate.
Because of the lack of rain,
there's not a lot of game
but in places like this
it can be full of predators,
and it stays very well hidden.
Wherever you're going,
you have to try
to almost imagine
what might be
behind every bush.
It's a wild place.
This area's resilient
plant life
is my best hope
for refuge and nutrients.
Have you ever seen a tree
like that?
So this tree is called
a baobab tree.
Among the oldest plants
in the world,
baobab trees can live
up to 2,000 years.
This baobab's fruits
have dried up
and fallen to the ground.
But it does bear
some encouraging evidence
that I'm not
completely alone out here.
This is manmade.
It's very, very soft wood.
So you can hollow it out.
You can use it like a,
like a big storage chest.
So if you find
a surplus of food,
you can block this up
with wood, stacks of rocks.
Hyenas, other predators
can't get to it.
You'll have a supply of food
that you can depend on.
The baobab plays
an important role
in the culture
of the ancient tribe
that still wanders
these lands.
The legendary Hadza
are one of the last hunter
and gatherer tribes in Africa,
living deep in
the Eyasi Valley.
They've been thriving
in this beautiful
but brutal landscape
for over 50,000 years.
The Hadza believe the spirits
of their ancestors' rest
within the baobab trees.
For the Hadza,
trees that are like this,
sometimes
they're birthing trees.
So where women can go
and actually have their own
private secluded spot
to give birth.
And then the village
and community will come in
and feed her,
keep her protected
inside this tree
for a few weeks,
and then she'll finally come out
and reveal her newborn.
It's cool in there.
Okay.
Locating the elusive Hadza
will give me the best chance
of finding
a way into the Serengeti
and witnessing
the Great Migration.
Without their expert
local knowledge,
tracking down moving herds
of animals
in such a vast area
will be like looking
for a needle in a haystack.
But sometimes,
wild animals find you.
[animal trumpets]
[whispering]:
Oh, look at that.
Look at the baby.
One thing to know
about baby elephants
is they never stray far
from their mothers.
[elephant trumpets]
Ooh, you can hear them, too.
I can't see them all
because it's so dense
in here.
[bellows]
[whispering]
There's a whole family of them.
Elephants are fiercely
protective of their young.
I need to be calm
and stay out of sight.
It notices me.
It's got its ears
right at me.
It knows I'm here,
it's the only one
that knows I'm here.
But if the others notice,
it could be trouble.
They look like gentle giants,
but that could easily change.
This is way too close
to be safe.
[bellows]
Oh, they see me.
HAZEN:
It's amazing how big they are,
but sometimes they can
just come out of nowhere
if they are in this brush
like this.
A whole family of elephants.
From what I can see,
there are about 20 of them.
Okay, time to give them
their space.
As I trek closer
towards the Serengeti,
I expect to see
more wild animals.
But I'm also finding
more signs of people.
There are some houses
over there.
This is good.
It's definitely a house
but nobody's home.
Yeah
these are
Hadza-style houses.
They're always migrating.
They never stay
in one place for very long
because they're always following
the patterns of their prey.
So it looks like
they were here for a while.
There wasn't enough game here,
so they moved on.
This Hadza camp still looks
pretty fresh.
They must have left it
just recently.
I'll just keep heading west,
and then I might meet up
with this family
or a whole another community
or family group of Hadza.
That's what I'm hoping.
I need to keep pushing on.
[thunder rumbling]
Ooh.
You hear that?
And there's just
a little bit of rain,
but this could all change
real fast.
It's a sign that the rains
are getting closer,
and I could be running
behind schedule
for the Great Migration
I'm desperate to see.
But my luck
could be changing.
Look at this.
Good, clean freshwater.
Anywhere where there's water,
especially here in Africa,
could be people.
And with these trails,
you can just see
how much animal activity
is around.
These are people trails too.
I need to follow them.
[people chattering]
You hear that?
I think
they're right down here.
Whoo!
It looks like the Hadza,
a hunting party.
Jambo!
Jambo!
Check it out.
Jambo! Hoo!
I'm just traveling through.
[Hadza chattering
in native language]
I'm walking.
Hello! I'm Hazen.
I was coming east.
- Coming from way east.
- [speaking native language]
Yeah.
And I was trying to get
to the Serengeti.
So you speak
a little bit of English?
Yeah, yeah, great.
Yeah, yeah.
Wh-what's your name?
[speaking native language]
Julius is the head
of this hunting party.
I got it.
He's brought his men out
into the bush looking for game.
And you guys got
the, the bird? Wow.
They've shot a guineafowl
with a bow and arrow.
You got that?
[speaking native language]
And now,
they're heading back to camp.
This is the real deal,
hunters and gatherers.
Okay, they're heading
that way.
I found them. I got to go.
Around 20 or so Hadza live
in this settlement.
But as nomadic people,
this clan will move on
every few months.
Alright, a little barbecue
happening right now.
I guess it might
as well be lunchtime.
JULIUS:
Yeah. To enjoy lunch time now,
because too much hungry.
HAZEN: When you guys went out
this morning to go hunting,
what did you guys think
you would find?
JULIUS:
I wanted to find warthog.
HAZEN: Oh, you wanted
to find warthog?
JULIUS: But they were missing.
HAZEN: Catching anything
from guineafowl to antelopes,
the Hadza's hunting
is entirely opportunistic,
and they kill
only what they eat.
It looks like some arrow making
too in the free time.
So this is,
this is the tendon, right?
JULIUS:
Yeah. Tendon from animal.
We take feathers
and then make like this.
Then to bend.
- HAZEN: Very, very cool.
- JULIUS: Yeah.
HAZEN:
So these bigger feathers,
the big tail feathers,
the big wing feathers,
they are saved for the fletching
for these arrows.
Makes the arrow
fly straighter.
The perfect marksmanship
needed for hunting
requires constant training.
HAZEN:
This is where you do it?
- [Hadza speaking]
- Right here.
So with their down time,
they're going to show me
one of the things
that they do
the very best,
how good they are
at hitting a target
with their bow and arrow.
This is something
they do every day.
Oh, man, bullseye.
Oh, dead on.
Golly!
Oh! Another bullseye!
Geez! These guys are good.
Man!
Killer shots.
And then
that's right into a log,
so you can imagine
just the penetrating power
of each one of these.
[straining]
Now, it's time for me
to give it a shot.
Oh, boy,
this is gonna be embarrassing.
Let's see if I still got this.
Oh, I way overshot it. Okay.
I'm a little rusty,
but we'll get there.
- Okay.
- JULIUS: Try again.
HAZEN:
Oh!
Man, that was like
this close!
Takes a while
to get used to these.
Come on.
Ay! Yeah! There we go.
[Hazen laughs]
Yeah, I mean, I got it,
but it was
[applauding]
This is all
very friendly competition,
but being the one that's
the very best at a bow and arrow
is probably the one that's
bringing the most meat home
to the community.
I'm hanging out
with the best of the best.
Nice. Thank you.
[speaks native language]
With dusk approaching,
Julius has me spend
the night in
with the community.
These are some of the last
true hunters and gatherers
that still exist
on this huge planet Earth.
I am so happy
to be seeing this
and experiencing this
for myself.
I am very fortunate.
[birds chirping]
Morning has come.
Before I head off,
I need advice on a route
into the Serengeti
that will give me
the best chance of witnessing
the Great Migration.
And master hunter Julius
knows this region
and its wildlife
better than anyone.
JULIUS:
If you follow down in sunset?
- HAZEN: Yes. Okay, so west
- JULIUS: Yeah.
HAZEN:
where the sunset is?
JULIUS:
Then go, go, go, go.
There are big plains.
HAZEN:
Big plains. Yeah.
A vast arid plain
lies ahead of me.
Water will be scarce
until I reach a river.
But here, I will face
another problem.
JULIUS: If you are
passing here, careful,
because there are
many, many crocodile.
Big!
- HAZEN: Yeah, yeah.
- JULIUS: Huge!
HAZEN:
After these dangerous waters,
I'll face new terrain
marked by
a distinctive formation.
JULIUS:
Then there are big rocks
and very nice striped,
like zebra.
HAZEN:
The rocks have stripes on them?
- Like a zebra?
- JULIUS: Stripes, stripes
HAZEN:
Beyond zebra rock
and the rocky ranges
lie the grasslands
at the heart of the Serengeti.
And if I can
make it in time,
the spectacle I've come
so far to see.
JULIUS:
And then you are near
to go the migration.
HAZEN:
Uh-huh! Okay. Great.
With my route to
the Great Migration set out,
it's time to leave the Hadza.
And I push west
into the arid barren plains.
No grass, no herbivores.
No herbivores, no predators.
It's just me.
Truly in the middle
of nowhere.
This kind of landscape,
this is where
the majority
of human evolution occurred.
Places that are wide open,
places where you could walk
and walk and walk
for miles
and miles and miles.
I need to keep pushing hard
to reach
the Serengeti grasslands
in time for the rains.
There are just
a few rain bursts
maybe way far off there
in the horizon.
But nothing on me.
This place is still so dry.
On these exposed plains,
temperatures reach 90 degrees,
and there's zero shade,
meaning I'm facing
a very real risk
of dehydration
and heatstroke.
I got to find some water bad.
HAZEN: Miles of trekking
across the arid plains
take their toll
and ahead,
I finally see a river.
But I don't think this is
the one that Julius mentioned.
There are no crocodiles.
And look, it's dry.
I desperately need
to find water.
Look at all these
little depressions here.
Here they go
all along the sand.
Those are dug out by animals.
Yeah, it's wet.
This is going to be good.
Yeah. I've already hit water.
You can see how wet
this sand is.
I'm reaching water right here.
I'll just dig it deep enough
so I can collect it.
I've had a lifetime
of drinking questionable water
and at this point,
I pretty much have
the constitution of a warthog.
[♪]
Okay.
Well, it's not
the best-looking water.
It's not
the best-tasting water.
But this is the only stuff
that's out here.
It's a last resort.
I'm thankful
for what I found.
Okay, I'll top up
and be on my way.
I consider that a success.
But just as I'm about
to move on,
I spot
some concerning tracks.
Look at this.
Look at this, though.
Right here. See that?
This is so fresh.
It's a leopard.
See that?
Yeah.
Passing right through here.
You've got to keep in mind
that they're somewhere,
and you hope that you see them
before they see you.
Might be better
to kind of get up
into the open plains
so I can keep a lookout
for exactly what we just saw.
Moving past the dry river,
the harsh arid plains seem
to finally be behind me.
The vegetation starts
to green up.
But with those
fresh prints nearby,
the tree line ahead
is potentially more dangerous.
As I'm walking
through here,
you've got to look
at every single one
of these little hiding spots.
There might be something
ready to pounce.
Whoa!
[whispering]
Oh, my God,
are you seeing this?
Are you seeing this?
Up in the tree.
They're so
incredibly well camouflaged,
they stay up
in the branches.
Even from here,
it's hard to see.
It is a real live leopard,
a juvenile one.
I am so close to it
that I can hear
its jaws crunching
the bones of its prey.
It's a very hungry cat.
I think it just got
a monkey.
They're such incredible hunters.
They can easily carry
their own body weight in food.
They have big powerful claws,
powerful jaws.
That camouflage paint job,
they can sneak up on prey.
More than likely,
its mother is around
in another hiding spot.
An adult would be
twice that big.
Adult leopards are known
to defend themselves
and can attack
and kill humans,
especially if they
feel exposed
or threatened.
They pounce when
your back is turned
or when you're
least suspecting.
There is
a lot more eyes on me
than what my eyes
can see out there.
I'll have to keep a lookout.
I have to be especially wary
of where I'm going now.
This feasting leopard
is the first clear sign
that I'm closing in
on the animal kingdom
of the Serengeti
and an early reminder
I'm heading into a totally
untamed wilderness.
I'm not always going
to be the one
that's at the top
of the food chain.
So you always have
to be on the lookout.
Ahead of me, I finally see
flowing waters.
This must be the river
Julius told me about.
[exhales forcefully]
But it's not crocodiles
I should have been
watching out for.
Instead, it's one of the most
temperamental animals out here.
[hippo snorting]
Wow, there are a lot of eyes
looking in my direction,
a lot of ears pointed
in my direction.
They know I'm here.
Hippos kill more people than
any other large animal
in the entire world.
Being so packed together
in such limited water,
they're stressed and ready
to defend their territory.
Ooh, ooh, ooh.
Look at that one.
It's starting to come up,
it's starting to come up.
- [hippo bellows]
- Oh, oh, oh.
Just showing me their jaws,
showing me their tusks
that could literally
cut a man in half.
[hippos grunting]
They're telling me
to back off.
Hippos are dangerous
in and out of the water.
They can run
up to 22 miles an hour.
And in this area,
I need to keep a lookout
everywhere around me.
Oh, oh, oh, oh.
Here's what I'm talking about.
The ones that are up on land,
those are just
on the land feeding,
which means there could be
more out here.
That's when they get
really dangerous.
Okay, time to go.
[hippo bellows]
I'll need make sure to give
this river a wide berth
and push on in search
of the Great Migration.
Julius told me that
once I pass the river,
I need to find
a zebra-striped rock.
It marks the start
of a rocky range
that leads up
to my ultimate destination,
the lush grasslands
of the Serengeti.
You see those clouds
where I'm heading towards?
Those are cumulus clouds,
and they're getting bigger
and bigger
as I'm getting closer
and closer.
It might mean rain,
turning this
into green, lush grass.
As soon as the rains
have fallen,
new grasses will sprout,
bringing the wildebeest.
I need to make it
to the Serengeti
before the herds have eaten
and moved on deeper
into the vast wilderness.
I think that's the big rock
that the Hadza
were telling me about,
the one that looks
like a zebra.
I'll find out
when I get closer.
So these big rocky outcroppings
are called kopjes.
This formed deep underground,
crystallized,
made these big stripes,
and then millions
of years of uplifting,
it brought those rocks
up above.
And it is definitely
the biggest,
tallest rock around by far.
This is a very important
marker for me.
It gives me a good idea
that I'm still on track.
Ahead of me
is the rocky terrain
Julius told me about.
The final passageway
separating me
from the lush
central grasslands.
This landscape makes
for ideal ambush territory
for large predators
like lions.
And with dusk approaching,
I need to find
somewhere safe to sleep.
- [animal chittering]
- Huh?
Have a look at that lizard.
Isn't that a beautiful one?
It's called an agama lizard,
in breeding colors.
Bright orange and blue.
It went in there.
Okay.
Lizard went in there
but disappeared.
It's revealed a potential place
to spend the night.
It's very simple,
tight with only
one access hole.
If I had a big poky branch,
like an acacia branch,
put it right in there.
I'd be tucked in
but nice and safe.
Considering what's out here
in this kind of an environment.
They've been
incredibly long days
the last couple days.
So sometimes,
you just make do.
Tomorrow is going
to be a big push.
And if I can keep up with
the herd and actually find them,
tomorrow's going to be
the big day.
So I've slept
in better places.
But if I make it
through the night
and, uh
that's really
all that matters.
Okay.
But after dark
is when the Serengeti
truly comes alive.
[animals roaring]
The lions
you can hear
different prides of lions.
Some of them
are really close.
[roaring continues]
[♪]
- HAZEN: The next morning
- [thunder rumbling]
I am awoken by the sound
of heavy rainfall.
[grunts]
It's raining.
Wow!
It's really coming down!
This is just the beginning!
Look at it!
The seasonal downpours
that trigger
the Great Migration
have broken.
I've made it here
just in time.
I am not the only one happy
about this rain,
I'm sure of it.
Incredibly,
wildebeest can smell rain
in the air
from 40 miles away
and then follow it
to find the freshest pastures.
They'll be on the Serengeti
grasslands very soon.
I need to get moving.
Okay, let's find
this migration.
If Julius is right,
this rocky range
is my last hurdle
before I reach the Serengeti.
With the rains easing off,
I head higher up
for a better vantage point.
[tense music]
[grunts]
Last little bit here.
[grunting]
Okay.
And there you go.
All that there.
That's what I came to see.
Amazing how you can just see
for miles and miles
of untouched wilderness.
At last.
The grasslands
of the Serengeti.
Five hundred miles
after starting my epic journey,
I've set eyes
on this garden of Eden.
I still have miles
ahead of me,
but this is the Serengeti.
If the migration is nearby,
this would be the place
to spot it.
The big contenders
are the wildebeest
and the zebra.
It's hard to imagine that you
couldn't see them from up here
because some of the herds
are so big.
And then,
I see something
in the distance.
There is, though,
a bunch of dust
coming up over the horizon.
If there was a herd
in the millions,
it'd be awfully dusty.
A dust cloud that big
could only be from the animals
of the Great Migration.
It finally looks
within reach.
Heading down
into the grassland,
I see the impact
of the recent downpours.
Look at what the rains
have done.
They've turned this place
into this
bountiful land
and it's brought
all this green.
And the Serengeti's reputation
as being one of the planet's
wildlife paradises
becomes immediately clear.
Oh wow, look at the giraffes.
They're pretty close.
You're looking at
the tallest animal
in the entire world.
The giraffes,
they're pretty much residents.
They don't have
huge migrations
because they have the advantage
over the other animals.
When all the grass is dried up
and there's no more food,
they're the ones that can reach
up at the tops of these branches
and always have
something to eat.
Giraffes are one of
the most iconic species
found in Serengeti.
But I'll have
to push deeper still
into this wild kingdom
to reach the Great Migration.
And to get to it,
first I've got to pass
right through the territory
of apex predators.
[lion growling]
There are a lot of lions
around here,
but that's a special pride
right up there
with all those females
and the little cubs up, up high,
where they can just have
such a good view.
Yeah. The kid in me
wants to get closer
and closer
just to get a little bit
of a better look,
but the adult in me
knows enough
about animal behavior
to give these wild animals
the space that they need.
Up to 30 lions
can belong to one pride.
And it's not long
before I'm face to face
with the defender
of this one.
[lion growling]
Look at that big male.
Big lion.
Oh, it's got its eyes
right on me.
HAZEN:
When you get a stare-down
by a giant predator like that,
it's a little unnerving.
It's marking its territory
right now.
If that lion
wanted to eat me,
I really wouldn't stand
a chance out here.
And these lions are hungry.
You can see the females,
almost their hip bones
sticking out,
It's been a hard lean year,
not very much food.
Fortunately, for me,
these lions are waiting
for the migration
to pass through.
Tasty morsels
of big wildebeest, big zebras,
that's what
they're all waiting for.
Not a funky-looking human
with a backpack on.
This pride is
the clearest sign yet
that I'm in striking range
of the vast herds
I'm looking for,
but staying this close
to hungry lions
is never a good idea.
I think I'll just,
I'll just move on.
Stay out of their hair.
You've got to keep
your guard up around here.
The Great Migration
stages the largest interaction
of predator and prey
on the planet,
with lion, leopards,
and hyenas taking advantage
of the millions of animals
crossing the Serengeti.
Right now though,
my trail has run cold.
I've lost track of
the dust cloud
I've been chasing.
[distant rumbling]
Ooh.
Oh!
Then
Look, look, look, look!
- I see them.
- Wow.
Can you make out?
Can you see?
It's just a continuous line
of wildebeest,
one after the next.
And it just keeps going
out of sight
from as far as I can see.
They're not just running.
They're galloping.
Look at them.
Look at them go.
They're all going
in unison.
These rampaging wildebeest
are running
towards the epicenter
of the Great Migration,
the mega herds.
Where they're going,
it should be amazing.
I'm just going
to follow them.
Over a million wildebeest
move together
through the Serengeti
searching for
the lushest of grasses
the largest herd
of animals on earth.
Oh wow!
This is all magic
right here.
It's nature.
Look at this.
What a spectacle.
And I've managed
to place myself
right in the heart of it.
Look at what
I am experiencing,
what I am
what I am breathing in.
I am surrounded
by millions of animals.
Wow. Wow.
The biggest land migration
in the entire world.
And I timed it just right
to be able to see it right now.
The great migration covers
up to 600 miles every year.
But it comes
at a heavy price.
For the wildebeest,
about 250,000 of them die
trying to complete
this annual migration.
And the luckiest
and the strongest
are the ones that are able to
carry on their genetics
to the next generation.
Every single one
of these animals
is a product of survival
of the fittest.
Africa's most iconic animals
follow in the wildebeest's wake,
bringing an extraordinary collection
of wildlife together
all in one place.
You've got wildebeest, zebra,
gazelle, eland.
Over there, there's hyenas.
[hyena cackling]
Wow!
All of these animals,
all living together,
all dependent
on one another.
The complexity
of the natural world.
The Serengeti is
the world's last
true animal kingdom,
and I've managed to see it
in its most incredible moment.
It's the perfect finale
to my once-in-a-lifetime
adventure
through Africa's legendary
Great Rift Valley.
This is one of
the most amazing spectacles
anyone could ever be
able to experience.
This is one of the top wonders
of the world right here.
This is the most amazing thing
I have ever seen
in my entire life.
This is a dream come true
that I never thought
I'd ever be able to see.
Having trekked
over 500 miles
to reach the Serengeti,
tackling immense challenges
and unforgiving landscapes.
Okay, it's starting
to get scary now.
Meeting amazing people
along the way.
Ay! Yeah! There we go.
And seeing this continent's
legendary wildlife first-hand.
Whoa. Whoa!
That one just hit me.
What I'm seeing right now
is so incredibly rare!
I feel like I've been
on a "great migration" of own.
It's given me
a true understanding
of the journey of survival
these animals go through
every year.
I now have
even more respect
for Africa's
magnificent creatures.
They are this planet's
true primal survivors.