The Okavango in Southern Africa is a special river born in the highlands of Angola. Unlike most rivers that flow toward the shores of a nearby ocean, it instead runs inland through Botswana. After more than 1,000 miles, the waters of the Okavango create a huge river delta before finally disappearing into the Kalahari Desert. The Okavango Delta is a true natural wonder – an unlikely oasis and lush paradise in the middle of a hostile desert that supports and feeds an incredible abundance of wildlife. Here an all-star cast of charismatic African wildlife lives and dies in the timeless drama of survival. This three-part, blue-chip series, filmed by award-winning Dereck and Beverly Joubert (Nature: Soul of the Elephant), presents a unique ecosystem at its finest and most beautiful. Narrated by F. Murray Abraham.
Episode 1: Paradise – premiered Wednesday, October 23 at 8 pm ET on PBS (check local listings)
Explore the landscape and wildlife of the Upper Okavango River. A lioness severely injured by a buffalo is left for dead by her pride. Now handicapped, she has to survive in the swamp alone, hunting to feed her little cubs.
Episode 2: Limbo – premiered Wednesday, October 30 at 8 pm ET on PBS (check local listings)
Delve into the landscape and wildlife of the “Middle World,” the delta of the Okavango River. A hyena and a warthog family share neighboring dens, helping each other by keeping an eye on threatening predators such as lions and leopards.
Episode 3: Inferno – premiered Wednesday, November 6 at 8 pm ET on PBS (check local listings)
Discover the landscape and wildlife of the Lower Okavango River, where the land is baked dry by the scorching sun. Large herds of zebra and wildebeest migrate to the dry plains in search of the precious salt that these animals need.
