1 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:04,520 Earth's great rivers... 2 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:07,560 ..from source to sea... 3 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:11,000 ..make extraordinary journeys. 4 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:20,360 Carving through continents... 5 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:25,520 ..nurturing ancient civilisations... 6 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:34,400 ..feeding and connecting life across our world. 7 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:39,560 From the mountains and deserts of the Nile... 8 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:48,600 ..to the cities and mysterious swamps of the Mississippi... 9 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:55,840 ..and the steaming waters and secret worlds 10 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:57,120 of the tropical Amazon... 11 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:04,240 ..great rivers are the lifeblood of planet Earth. 12 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:26,240 One river stretches further than any other on the planet... 13 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:29,360 ..the Nile. 14 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:33,520 Travelling all the way from the equator, 15 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,560 across North Africa, to the Mediterranean. 16 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:43,480 A river that flows through astonishing hidden worlds... 17 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:51,240 ..changing at every twist and turn 18 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:53,080 of its 4,000-mile journey. 19 00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:01,000 A river that gave rise to great civilisations. 20 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:06,800 Its miraculous waters bring life 21 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:09,200 to where there would otherwise be none. 22 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:19,080 The source of the Nile has been a mystery for thousands of years. 23 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:23,760 Ancient Greeks spoke of it beginning 24 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:26,520 in the legendary mountains of the moon. 25 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,200 A name now given to a mighty mountain range... 26 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:35,120 ..the Rwenzoris. 27 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,720 Towering over Congo and Uganda, 28 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:44,920 this is the highest and most 29 00:02:44,920 --> 00:02:47,520 spectacular source of the Nile. 30 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:10,000 Torrents of rain and snow melt tumble off colossal 31 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,080 peaks 5,000m high. 32 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,240 Water that will eventually reach the Mediterranean Sea... 33 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:25,520 ..but first has to embark on an incredible voyage across some 34 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:27,840 of the wildest parts of Africa. 35 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:36,080 As these Nile headwaters start to gather on the lowlands below, 36 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,480 they move islands of floating papyrus. 37 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:47,440 This shifting world is problematic 38 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:50,240 for those trying to make their home here. 39 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:28,120 This is one of only 150 shoebill storks left in Uganda's wetlands. 40 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:35,760 As the landscape moves around him, spotting fish is a struggle. 41 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:50,320 Nosedives just result 42 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:51,680 in a mouthful of leaves. 43 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:58,320 But, in this confusing world, 44 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:01,320 he has found an unexpected solution. 45 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:16,160 He's on the search for one of the Nile's biggest bulldozers. 46 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:31,560 By following in its giant footsteps, 47 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:33,880 the shoebill is able to spot fish 48 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:35,400 in the channels 49 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,920 that the hippopotamus leaves behind. 50 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:03,280 In the Nile, there are 51 00:06:03,280 --> 00:06:05,600 always opportunities for those 52 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:08,000 resourceful enough to find them. 53 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:16,720 As all these early streams of the Nile gather together... 54 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:22,840 ..they create a world of equatorial lakes in the heart of Africa. 55 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:28,600 The greatest of all 56 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:30,640 is called Victoria... 57 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:35,360 ..a lake almost the size of Ireland. 58 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:46,760 So vast that water is trapped here for an average of 23 years, 59 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:48,880 before continuing its journey. 60 00:06:56,800 --> 00:07:01,080 Here, in November, the new moon triggers one of the Nile's 61 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:03,200 most remarkable events. 62 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:09,640 One that fisherman Charles has been waiting for 63 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,080 with some trepidation. 64 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:15,200 Many people die on this lake. 65 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:18,920 It's dangerous. 66 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:48,440 Tonight, there are 30,000 boats out on the water... 67 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:56,480 ..and the fishermen are hopeful. 68 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:09,920 At last, tiny pupae emerge from the depths, 69 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:13,120 hatches flies and gather around the light. 70 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,160 The perfect lure for hungry fish. 71 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:28,240 This is what the fishermen have been waiting for... 72 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:35,200 ..the catch of the year. 73 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:47,960 Charles and his crew paddle home, triumphant, and the air is thick 74 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:50,280 with billions of flies. 75 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:04,160 Swarms of a biblical scale sweep across the lake. 76 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:12,600 Spiralling 100 metres high 77 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:14,720 in their final act, 78 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:15,920 a mating dance. 79 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:28,360 Welcomed, not only by fishermen, but also by the islanders. 80 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:32,040 Within a few hours, these flies' short lives 81 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:38,080 will be over, so the game is on to catch as many as possible. 82 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:49,000 A fly burger has five times more protein than a beefburger. 83 00:10:00,680 --> 00:10:04,600 Understanding the cycles of this changing world 84 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:06,640 is key to existence here. 85 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:17,320 Despite thousands of streams entering the lake, 86 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:20,920 there is only one way out for all this water... 87 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:33,080 ..the aptly named White Nile. 88 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:40,680 Most stay away from its perilous rapids. 89 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:46,880 But, for local mum Amina, the turbulent water 90 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:48,720 provides a lifeline. 91 00:10:51,560 --> 00:10:56,040 She left school at 16 to work on her small patch of land, 92 00:10:56,040 --> 00:11:00,000 but then a chance meeting changed her life forever. 93 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:08,440 I was in the village and I saw a white guy from the UK 94 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:10,480 and I was like, "Can you take me kayaking?" 95 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:11,880 And he was like, "Sure." 96 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:14,920 And that time, I didn't know anything about kayaking. 97 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:22,720 Within six months, she got a job as a kayak guide and is now able 98 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:24,520 to support her family of ten. 99 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:31,200 And today, she's trying to prove her skills in an endurance 100 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:36,720 race against world-class athletes, in a borrowed kayak, 101 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:38,840 and using a home-made paddle. 102 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:10,520 25 billion litres of water cascade down these rapids each day. 103 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:18,440 It's not long before Amina falls prey to the Nile's ferocious power. 104 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:29,320 If you go upside down, it's hard sometimes 105 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:32,440 because my wrists are a bit short, so, after seconds, 106 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:34,320 I am finished. 107 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:40,200 But Amina is nothing if not determined. 108 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:43,760 Because I am born from the Nile, nothing I can't do. 109 00:12:51,680 --> 00:12:54,160 It's such a dangerous stretch of river 110 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:57,480 that competitors have to stay in pairs for safety. 111 00:13:04,680 --> 00:13:07,800 When we are racing, you need to be close 112 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:11,040 so that you can save your friend if something happens. 113 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:17,800 Especially when taking on Itanda Falls. 114 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:25,120 Class six rapids, the most dangerous white water in the world. 115 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:33,800 Itanda can make me nervous because these are grade six, 116 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:34,880 it's really big, 117 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:38,360 and you are like, "Oh, my God. How am I going to do this?" 118 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,320 Exhausted after three hours of paddling, 119 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:14,720 Amina is approaching the finish. 120 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:17,640 Amina, go! Amina, our enemies are closer! 121 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:20,880 We go, we go! They are coming, go hard, go hard! 122 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:32,000 Amina and her partner are the first ladies team across the finish line. 123 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:34,960 The most time when I'm happy, when I'm winning, 124 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:36,560 when I'm, like, the champion, 125 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:38,760 that's why I'm called the Queen of the Nile. 126 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:48,040 Beyond these treacherous rapids, the Nile has created a barrier 127 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:50,760 even Amina can't pass. 128 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:09,400 The 50-metre-wide river is squeezed through a seven-metre chasm... 129 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:32,520 ..creating one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world. 130 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:47,680 Murchison Falls. 131 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:55,840 A gateway into a wild, Savannah world. 132 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:07,080 250 miles from its equatorial beginnings, 133 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:12,320 the Nile enters the land of the giants. 134 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:14,440 HIPPOS GROAN 135 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:22,680 Crocodiles up to six metres long 136 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:26,000 await carrion delivered by the river. 137 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:38,640 The Nile is the only water for miles around... 138 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:44,880 ..a magnet for Africa's biggest game. 139 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:46,480 ELEPHANT TRUMPETS 140 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:56,960 This crocodile mother 141 00:16:56,960 --> 00:17:00,480 has found a secluded spot to bury her eggs. 142 00:17:04,360 --> 00:17:07,680 And for two long months, she has fasted, 143 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:11,040 waited, watching over them, 144 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:12,960 keeping them safe. 145 00:17:24,120 --> 00:17:26,440 But she cannot hide their scent. 146 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:32,560 A Nile monitor lizard. 147 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:37,760 An egg thief. 148 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:00,840 Out of the water, 149 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:04,600 the monitor is the faster of the two reptiles... 150 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:07,040 ..and knows it. 151 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:14,520 It also seems aware of the crocodile's Achilles' heel. 152 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:20,480 On land, 153 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:24,600 crocodiles can die from heat exhaustion. 154 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:38,480 Leaving the mother with a terrible dilemma. 155 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:45,520 The Nile is the only place where she can lower her body 156 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:48,280 temperature to safe levels. 157 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:55,200 If she leaves now, 158 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:57,840 her brood will be devoured. 159 00:19:17,120 --> 00:19:21,520 The mother is now at near lethal temperature. 160 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:32,320 Finally, she has to choose her own life 161 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:36,120 over that of her young. 162 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:46,720 And hope that the monitors won't finish all 60 of her eggs. 163 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:56,240 But the Nile's crowded banks are home to other hungry mouths. 164 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:14,600 Marauding baboons raid what's left of the undefended nest. 165 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:23,600 BABOON SHRIEKS 166 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:30,160 Taking every last one. 167 00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:44,720 Only 2% of Nile crocodile eggs 168 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:48,000 reach adulthood, due to the hordes 169 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:52,360 of hungry animals drawn together by the Nile. 170 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:20,840 Once, this was the country home of brutal dictator Idi Amin. 171 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:29,880 Known as the Butcher of Uganda, 172 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:34,800 Amin ordered the deaths of 300,000 people... 173 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:44,920 ..and encouraged hunting parties, devastating to Uganda's wildlife. 174 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:52,480 Since his exile in 1979, 175 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:56,800 this lodge has supposedly been uninhabited. 176 00:21:59,120 --> 00:22:03,720 But local whispers now speak of strange goings on 177 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:06,480 and of new guests... 178 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:08,800 ..who play by different rules. 179 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:14,960 Filmed for the very first time, 180 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:19,400 these ruins are starting to reveal their secrets. 181 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:23,520 A family of warthog 182 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:28,080 have taken up residence in what was once the kitchen... 183 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:31,400 ..whilst the baboon troop 184 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:34,960 have opted for a room with a Nile view. 185 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:48,480 As night closes in... 186 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:55,760 ..the warthog family snuggle up... 187 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:57,920 WARTHOG GRUNTS 188 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:01,360 ..whilst others are just waking. 189 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:08,800 A pair of porcupine are denning under the stairs... 190 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:16,240 ..while some bats are reconsidering their choice of roommate. 191 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:22,160 The most exclusive name in the visitor's book 192 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:25,040 is the rare pangolin. 193 00:23:32,360 --> 00:23:36,280 It's best to stick close to mum. 194 00:23:40,120 --> 00:23:42,160 But one of her piglets 195 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:45,320 is bolder and more curious than the others. 196 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:55,440 ANIMAL CHATTER 197 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:12,400 In this maze of rooms, 198 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:15,240 it's easy to lose your way. 199 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:51,920 Lost and alone, the piglet is sleeping. 200 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:53,560 LEOPARD PURRS SOFTLY 201 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:03,160 PIGLET SQUEALS 202 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:21,480 A piglet is usually an irresistible snack to a predator... 203 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:30,560 ..but the leopard leaves it alone, unharmed. 204 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:48,120 WARTHOG GRUNTS 205 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:53,880 Mum calls in her piglets - 206 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:57,480 all have survived the night. 207 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:19,640 Could it be that there is some truth to the rumours after all 208 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:22,160 that, within these crumbling walls, 209 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:25,960 nature does play by different rules? 210 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:44,040 As the Nile leaves the Savannah, 211 00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:47,440 it comes to a pivotal point in its voyage. 212 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:52,960 In south Sudan, 213 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:56,560 the land flattens and the river transforms 214 00:26:56,560 --> 00:27:00,520 into a swamp the size of England. 215 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:08,920 This is the Sudd, 216 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:12,080 Arabic for barrier. 217 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:21,280 It's this sea of plants that prevented early explorers 218 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:23,520 from finding the Nile's source. 219 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:30,560 In this floating world, 220 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:33,800 you have to learn to navigate the maze. 221 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:48,960 ELEPHANT RUMBLES 222 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:54,360 For one animal in particular, 223 00:27:54,360 --> 00:27:58,280 the river's swamplands are a haven. 224 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:03,080 ELEPHANTS TRUMPET 225 00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:06,480 Nile elephants seem to spend more time in the water 226 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:08,040 than out of it. 227 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:19,440 But first they need to learn how to swim. 228 00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:28,160 And baby swimming classes are a family occasion. 229 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:33,720 ELEPHANTS RUMBLE GENTLY 230 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:39,720 The biggest of the family go first, 231 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:41,600 leading the way. 232 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:53,840 With little legs, this youngster is quickly out of her depth. 233 00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:10,200 Surprisingly buoyant for their great weight, 234 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:12,880 her body keeps her afloat... 235 00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:18,160 ..allowing her to practise her trunk control. 236 00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:27,800 Trunks contain 40,000 muscles... 237 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:32,720 ..making them excellent snorkels. 238 00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:46,720 Once she masters the skill, 239 00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:50,640 she will be able to freely roam across great areas, 240 00:29:50,640 --> 00:29:53,400 using the Nile as a highway. 241 00:30:25,840 --> 00:30:27,640 THEY TRUMPET PLAYFULLY 242 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:48,920 No other animal seems to celebrate the Nile's waters 243 00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:51,960 as much as the elephant. 244 00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:56,480 But in the Sudd, 245 00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:00,640 over half of the Nile's waters are lost 246 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:02,160 to the scorching sun. 247 00:31:05,680 --> 00:31:10,120 And it still has over 2,000 miles to go 248 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:12,840 and a mighty desert to cross. 249 00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:23,680 But events hundreds of miles to the east 250 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:26,520 are about to change everything. 251 00:31:26,520 --> 00:31:28,240 THUNDER RUMBLES 252 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:35,760 This region is known as Africa's water tower. 253 00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:51,560 Storms in the Ethiopian highlands 254 00:31:51,560 --> 00:31:54,440 fill the Nile's greatest tributary... 255 00:31:56,160 --> 00:31:57,760 ..the blue Nile. 256 00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:18,080 Some believe that this is the biblical river 257 00:32:18,080 --> 00:32:21,000 that flowed out from the Garden of Eden... 258 00:32:25,040 --> 00:32:28,400 ..and some of the world's oldest Christian communities 259 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:31,200 are found on its banks. 260 00:32:34,440 --> 00:32:36,560 In the ancient city of Gondar, 261 00:32:36,560 --> 00:32:39,040 the Ethiopian waters of the Blue Nile 262 00:32:39,040 --> 00:32:42,400 are diverted for a religious ceremony of rebirth... 263 00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:49,640 ..an annual event called Timket... 264 00:32:53,320 --> 00:32:57,440 ..a Christian festival, where thousands gather to be baptised 265 00:32:57,440 --> 00:32:59,800 in the Nile's sacred water. 266 00:33:01,240 --> 00:33:03,200 For Thomas Alamu, 267 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:07,640 this is the most important event of the year. 268 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:10,440 The feeling after I've been baptised 269 00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:12,480 is really more than anything. 270 00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:17,560 I have no words even to explain the feelings that I would have. 271 00:33:31,560 --> 00:33:34,120 Before the baptism takes place, 272 00:33:34,120 --> 00:33:37,440 Thomas prays in an all-night vigil. 273 00:33:41,240 --> 00:33:44,920 The crowd is waiting for the priest's sign 274 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:46,800 that the water is blessed. 275 00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:54,120 When the cross takes the water, 276 00:33:54,120 --> 00:33:58,080 it means the baptism is just beginning 277 00:33:58,080 --> 00:34:01,080 and everybody will jump up and is baptised. 278 00:34:13,560 --> 00:34:16,360 It's the biggest celebration of the year, 279 00:34:16,360 --> 00:34:18,320 bigger than Christmas. 280 00:34:27,640 --> 00:34:30,720 Worshippers believe that the Nile's waters 281 00:34:30,720 --> 00:34:32,720 have extraordinary powers 282 00:34:32,720 --> 00:34:35,440 of rebirth and transformation. 283 00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:05,920 They feel like they are baptised and that's true. 284 00:35:05,920 --> 00:35:07,520 When they get holy water, 285 00:35:07,520 --> 00:35:10,120 they feel like their sins go away. 286 00:35:24,240 --> 00:35:27,160 Thomas takes his time... 287 00:35:29,840 --> 00:35:33,080 ..savouring the moment. 288 00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:52,080 After I jump into the water 289 00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:53,960 and just coming out - wow! 290 00:35:55,360 --> 00:35:57,680 It puts a smile on my face 291 00:35:57,680 --> 00:36:00,960 and I feel amazing. 292 00:36:00,960 --> 00:36:03,440 I don't know how I can explain it, 293 00:36:03,440 --> 00:36:05,680 but I feel like I am a peaceful man. 294 00:36:19,960 --> 00:36:24,040 As the Blue Nile leaves its sacred beginnings, 295 00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:28,720 it transports its rich waters across Ethiopia. 296 00:36:32,240 --> 00:36:36,880 Its banks are some of the most fertile land in Africa... 297 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:46,720 ..making them the perfect place for a bird 298 00:36:46,720 --> 00:36:50,200 who relies on the greenest plants to win a mate. 299 00:36:59,880 --> 00:37:03,320 Male village weaver birds build intricate nests 300 00:37:03,320 --> 00:37:07,240 and display their skills to scrutinising females. 301 00:37:12,320 --> 00:37:15,320 The freshest, greenest nests 302 00:37:15,320 --> 00:37:16,960 are the most alluring. 303 00:37:18,880 --> 00:37:21,480 Females fly from nest to nest, 304 00:37:21,480 --> 00:37:24,800 giving everything the complete once over. 305 00:37:26,280 --> 00:37:28,960 Brown, older nests 306 00:37:28,960 --> 00:37:30,960 are of little interest, 307 00:37:30,960 --> 00:37:34,600 so these males will have to undo all of their hard work 308 00:37:34,600 --> 00:37:37,120 and start over... 309 00:37:41,680 --> 00:37:45,320 ..whilst other males will use every trick in the book 310 00:37:45,320 --> 00:37:47,360 to avoid a rebuild, 311 00:37:47,360 --> 00:37:51,480 disguising the brown with fresh strands of vegetation. 312 00:37:52,880 --> 00:37:56,480 Not that every female is so easily deceived. 313 00:38:02,840 --> 00:38:07,520 This young weaver is trying to build one of his first ever nests. 314 00:38:11,080 --> 00:38:13,440 It can take a couple of years to perfect 315 00:38:13,440 --> 00:38:16,880 this intricate and delicate task 316 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:20,120 and, so far, this novice has only succeeded 317 00:38:20,120 --> 00:38:22,960 in tying his foot to the papyrus. 318 00:38:33,000 --> 00:38:37,040 A neighbour has particularly impressive building skills. 319 00:38:45,280 --> 00:38:49,640 He makes trips to the water to get the very best nesting material 320 00:38:49,640 --> 00:38:51,880 that the Blue Nile can provide. 321 00:39:00,960 --> 00:39:04,560 And he has got the art of tying knots down to a T. 322 00:39:12,320 --> 00:39:14,880 He's clearly a hit with the ladies. 323 00:39:19,320 --> 00:39:23,160 This romantic interlude is the perfect opportunity 324 00:39:23,160 --> 00:39:26,240 for the novice to steal some nest material. 325 00:39:46,440 --> 00:39:48,760 But, however hard he tries, 326 00:39:48,760 --> 00:39:51,320 he can't seem to get it right. 327 00:39:59,560 --> 00:40:02,400 Perhaps next year he'll be more successful 328 00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:06,160 in using the Blue Nile's fertile waters to his advantage. 329 00:40:13,560 --> 00:40:18,120 The replenishing Blue Nile finally joins the depleted White Nile 330 00:40:18,120 --> 00:40:22,000 1,000 miles downstream in Khartoum. 331 00:40:25,480 --> 00:40:29,360 Their combined power allows them to tackle the final 332 00:40:29,360 --> 00:40:32,720 but most challenging leg of the journey... 333 00:40:41,360 --> 00:40:43,400 ..crossing the Sahara, 334 00:40:43,400 --> 00:40:47,880 an expanse of sand the size of China. 335 00:41:02,800 --> 00:41:05,920 Life seems like an impossibility. 336 00:41:10,280 --> 00:41:12,600 But the Nile persists... 337 00:41:14,200 --> 00:41:19,240 ..a fragile ribbon of blue in an ocean of sand. 338 00:41:21,720 --> 00:41:25,960 The only permanent river in the whole of Egypt. 339 00:41:29,280 --> 00:41:31,040 ANIMAL CALLS 340 00:41:35,000 --> 00:41:38,440 One animal has an incredible ability 341 00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:42,160 to take the Nile's water with it, wherever it goes. 342 00:41:49,600 --> 00:41:54,600 Able to consume 200 litres in just three minutes, 343 00:41:54,600 --> 00:41:58,200 camels can then go months without drinking again... 344 00:42:08,720 --> 00:42:12,120 ..allowing them to venture deep into the desert. 345 00:42:21,200 --> 00:42:24,000 A moving oasis. 346 00:42:26,560 --> 00:42:28,800 The perfect pack animal. 347 00:42:35,320 --> 00:42:37,680 For over 2,000 years, 348 00:42:37,680 --> 00:42:42,360 they have provided shepherds with transport, milk and food. 349 00:42:46,080 --> 00:42:48,040 SHEPHERDS SING 350 00:42:48,040 --> 00:42:52,280 But they also provide in another, more unexpected way. 351 00:43:01,480 --> 00:43:04,560 Water is so sparse out here 352 00:43:04,560 --> 00:43:09,080 that even the moisture inside camel dung is sought after. 353 00:43:14,560 --> 00:43:16,400 Dung beetles... 354 00:43:17,920 --> 00:43:22,960 ..brought in from far and wide by their incredible sense of smell. 355 00:43:39,080 --> 00:43:41,360 And once they have found it, 356 00:43:41,360 --> 00:43:45,560 the game is on to seize the prize and run for the hills. 357 00:43:47,760 --> 00:43:50,680 It's a feat equivalent to a human 358 00:43:50,680 --> 00:43:53,440 pushing a car up a steep slope... 359 00:43:58,440 --> 00:44:00,680 ..but worth the exertion. 360 00:44:03,280 --> 00:44:08,360 This may be the only moisture that this beetle comes across 361 00:44:08,360 --> 00:44:11,120 in its entire lifetime. 362 00:44:23,680 --> 00:44:27,000 But the human need for water is so critical 363 00:44:27,000 --> 00:44:31,920 that civilisation in the Sahara is chained to the river. 364 00:44:34,320 --> 00:44:37,720 And remarkably, life not only survives 365 00:44:37,720 --> 00:44:40,600 along the Egyptian Nile, 366 00:44:40,600 --> 00:44:42,560 it thrives. 367 00:44:44,880 --> 00:44:48,440 95% of the country's population 368 00:44:48,440 --> 00:44:50,920 live on the river's banks... 369 00:44:52,160 --> 00:44:56,960 ..making Cairo one of the most densely populated places on Earth. 370 00:45:02,440 --> 00:45:04,960 Home to 20 million people, 371 00:45:04,960 --> 00:45:07,960 it's the biggest desert city in the world. 372 00:45:12,440 --> 00:45:15,400 Famous for its vibrant, exotic markets... 373 00:45:22,240 --> 00:45:25,920 ..with an abundance of produce grown from the Nile. 374 00:45:40,400 --> 00:45:42,720 But the demands on the Nile's waters 375 00:45:42,720 --> 00:45:45,520 are starting to exceed its supply. 376 00:45:47,520 --> 00:45:49,680 By 2025, 377 00:45:49,680 --> 00:45:52,800 Cairo is predicted to be running dry. 378 00:46:00,680 --> 00:46:04,640 The Nile's future hangs in the balance... 379 00:46:07,440 --> 00:46:09,720 ..because, in this great desert, 380 00:46:09,720 --> 00:46:12,360 the river's waters are everything. 381 00:46:16,800 --> 00:46:22,560 Just as true now as it was 5,000 years ago, 382 00:46:22,560 --> 00:46:25,680 when the Nile gave rise to one of the greatest kingdoms 383 00:46:25,680 --> 00:46:27,920 in Earth's history... 384 00:46:32,720 --> 00:46:34,640 ..Ancient Egypt. 385 00:46:40,880 --> 00:46:43,680 Lasting 3,000 years, 386 00:46:43,680 --> 00:46:47,400 this was one of the world's longest-running civilisations. 387 00:46:51,000 --> 00:46:54,840 Pharaohs claimed they had power over the Nile's waters 388 00:46:54,840 --> 00:46:58,000 to win the obedience of the Egyptian people... 389 00:47:00,840 --> 00:47:05,280 ..who knew they were utterly dependent on the river's flow. 390 00:47:14,520 --> 00:47:18,320 They called the Nile the Mother of all Men... 391 00:47:22,240 --> 00:47:26,760 ..and worshipped its miraculous ability to bring life 392 00:47:26,760 --> 00:47:29,000 to where there would otherwise be none. 393 00:47:40,000 --> 00:47:44,680 Still today, the Nile's incredible journey is celebrated 394 00:47:44,680 --> 00:47:46,640 all along its great length... 395 00:47:49,280 --> 00:47:52,520 ..from its mountainous beginnings, 396 00:47:52,520 --> 00:47:54,480 to its desert ending. 397 00:47:56,080 --> 00:47:59,640 Those that live in the remarkable worlds of the Nile 398 00:47:59,640 --> 00:48:03,400 use its waters in varied and astonishing ways. 399 00:48:07,440 --> 00:48:11,840 And after 4,000 miles of voyaging through Africa, 400 00:48:11,840 --> 00:48:14,920 the Nile finally completes its journey 401 00:48:14,920 --> 00:48:17,200 in the Mediterranean Sea. 402 00:48:18,200 --> 00:48:22,640 The miracle river that brings life to all it touches. 403 00:48:36,920 --> 00:48:39,520 The Nile team were enticed to Uganda 404 00:48:39,520 --> 00:48:42,160 by rumours that Idi Amin's ruined lodge 405 00:48:42,160 --> 00:48:44,800 might still be harbouring guests. 406 00:48:49,000 --> 00:48:53,600 Producer Lydia Baines takes her first steps inside. 407 00:48:53,600 --> 00:48:56,600 It's quite incredible. This place is actually steeped in history 408 00:48:56,600 --> 00:48:58,560 and you can feel it walking around. 409 00:48:58,560 --> 00:49:00,000 It's quite mind-blowing. 410 00:49:13,320 --> 00:49:18,200 Joining her are cameramen Stuart Trowell and Mark MacEwan. 411 00:49:18,200 --> 00:49:22,320 This is the first film crew to enter these walls. 412 00:49:22,320 --> 00:49:28,280 They have no idea what secrets or horrors the lodge maybe hiding. 413 00:49:28,280 --> 00:49:31,880 Any of Africa's wildlife could be lurking inside. 414 00:49:33,840 --> 00:49:36,400 Every corner you turn, your heart's racing, 415 00:49:36,400 --> 00:49:39,000 just waiting to bump into something. 416 00:49:40,920 --> 00:49:42,880 It is incredibly nerve-racking. 417 00:49:45,440 --> 00:49:48,320 I did just hear something. 418 00:49:51,080 --> 00:49:53,720 HE LAUGHS 419 00:49:53,720 --> 00:49:57,040 They continue their search...cautiously. 420 00:49:58,760 --> 00:50:01,880 I just put my head in here because we could hear some noise 421 00:50:01,880 --> 00:50:05,160 and I was kind of expecting a hyena to come leaping out at me, 422 00:50:05,160 --> 00:50:09,600 but the best thing is just round this corner. 423 00:50:09,600 --> 00:50:12,200 It's a large porcupine and I've never really seen one 424 00:50:12,200 --> 00:50:15,480 in the wild before, so this is quite exciting. 425 00:50:15,480 --> 00:50:19,160 But what you don't want to do is get charged by one. 426 00:50:19,160 --> 00:50:21,800 Oh, look, he's sleeping. 427 00:50:21,800 --> 00:50:24,880 There's two porcupines. 428 00:50:24,880 --> 00:50:27,720 It's not quite what I expected to find, if I'm honest. 429 00:50:30,120 --> 00:50:34,120 And down here, a whole bat cave. Look, all the way down. 430 00:50:34,120 --> 00:50:36,400 There are bats everywhere. 431 00:50:40,880 --> 00:50:44,960 Convinced that these walls are harbouring more secrets, 432 00:50:44,960 --> 00:50:48,640 the crew place 12 camera traps around the site. 433 00:50:52,600 --> 00:50:56,720 But navigating all corners of the lodge is proving tricky. 434 00:50:56,720 --> 00:50:58,600 I'm actually just drawing a map. 435 00:50:58,600 --> 00:51:01,840 The main reason is, this place is absolutely huge. 436 00:51:01,840 --> 00:51:03,360 It's kind of like a labyrinth. 437 00:51:03,360 --> 00:51:05,160 There's so many nooks and crannies 438 00:51:05,160 --> 00:51:08,280 that we kind of need to see what's around. 439 00:51:08,280 --> 00:51:12,240 We've got no idea of what's actually living here and using this place, 440 00:51:12,240 --> 00:51:14,960 so we've littered the place with camera traps 441 00:51:14,960 --> 00:51:17,360 and we are marking down where we've put them. 442 00:51:17,360 --> 00:51:20,640 And every time we find something or spot an animal, 443 00:51:20,640 --> 00:51:24,520 we'll mark down on the map where each one was located. 444 00:51:26,600 --> 00:51:30,280 It's too dangerous to remain here overnight, 445 00:51:30,280 --> 00:51:33,360 so the team set the cameras and retreat. 446 00:51:35,440 --> 00:51:39,600 Who knows what they'll find when they return at dawn? 447 00:51:48,080 --> 00:51:51,240 Just come to collect our camera traps 448 00:51:51,240 --> 00:51:54,600 and this one has been pretty totally destroyed. 449 00:51:54,600 --> 00:51:57,480 They've done a pretty good job on chewing it up, 450 00:51:57,480 --> 00:52:00,680 but there might be some stuff on the card. 451 00:52:01,680 --> 00:52:04,280 The card still looks intact, so... 452 00:52:05,440 --> 00:52:08,280 They were obviously enjoying themselves last night 453 00:52:08,280 --> 00:52:11,160 at our expense. 454 00:52:11,160 --> 00:52:15,520 The culprit should be revealed if the card still works. 455 00:52:24,760 --> 00:52:26,120 SHE LAUGHS 456 00:52:26,120 --> 00:52:28,120 I see him. That's the end of it. 457 00:52:32,280 --> 00:52:35,520 This is what it must feel like to be eaten by a hyena. 458 00:52:39,360 --> 00:52:41,240 He's lying down and chewing it. 459 00:52:44,000 --> 00:52:46,280 SHE LAUGHS 460 00:52:47,360 --> 00:52:50,920 Despite being outwitted by the hyenas, 461 00:52:50,920 --> 00:52:56,360 the team is excited to find evidence of predators in the lodge. 462 00:52:56,360 --> 00:52:59,920 So, now we are going to put out the more expensive cameras 463 00:52:59,920 --> 00:53:03,640 and put them a little bit higher up, 464 00:53:03,640 --> 00:53:06,200 so they don't get chewed, so they don't end up like this one. 465 00:53:14,600 --> 00:53:19,240 But higher up doesn't work when you have baboons in town. 466 00:53:24,160 --> 00:53:27,120 And it soon becomes clear that this hotel 467 00:53:27,120 --> 00:53:29,640 has a large number of guests, 468 00:53:29,640 --> 00:53:33,160 all with a taste for technology. 469 00:53:43,560 --> 00:53:46,880 The wildlife are running rings around the film crew, 470 00:53:46,880 --> 00:53:51,200 who are settling in to their daily checks and repositioning of cameras. 471 00:54:09,840 --> 00:54:13,040 Just as the crew are starting to feel a little more at home, 472 00:54:13,040 --> 00:54:16,280 they get a rather big surprise. 473 00:54:16,280 --> 00:54:20,760 So, we've just got this camera trap fitted in, 474 00:54:20,760 --> 00:54:23,760 and we just saw a hyena on the front doorstep looking out, 475 00:54:23,760 --> 00:54:25,360 looking a bit worried. 476 00:54:25,360 --> 00:54:28,440 We were wondering what it was and now a lion has just walked 477 00:54:28,440 --> 00:54:31,840 straight into shot, through the front doorway. 478 00:54:31,840 --> 00:54:35,000 And we know there's lions in this park, 479 00:54:35,000 --> 00:54:38,000 but we did not think they'd be going near this building. 480 00:54:38,000 --> 00:54:41,600 It's the first time we've seen or heard of one around here 481 00:54:41,600 --> 00:54:44,680 and the rangers haven't seen lions around here before. 482 00:54:44,680 --> 00:54:47,160 Had we known there'd been lions around here, 483 00:54:47,160 --> 00:54:49,840 we might have been a little more cautious 484 00:54:49,840 --> 00:54:51,800 coming into some of these rooms. 485 00:54:52,880 --> 00:54:56,640 Every single clip, we go... This is 8.07, and we go to the next clip, 486 00:54:56,640 --> 00:55:00,160 it's 8.09, and it's a hyena walking through the same area. 487 00:55:00,160 --> 00:55:03,160 I've just never seen anything like it. 488 00:55:03,160 --> 00:55:07,920 So many predators living in such close proximity. 489 00:55:07,920 --> 00:55:10,440 We've just checked out the warthog room as well, 490 00:55:10,440 --> 00:55:12,680 which is where the warthog has got all its babies, 491 00:55:12,680 --> 00:55:15,440 and it's still there with its little ones, and these lions 492 00:55:15,440 --> 00:55:18,240 have walked right past it - and those babies are noisy. 493 00:55:19,280 --> 00:55:20,960 The lions haven't gone for them. 494 00:55:20,960 --> 00:55:23,440 It's... I just don't understand what's going on 495 00:55:23,440 --> 00:55:27,160 in this crazy, crazy place. 496 00:55:27,160 --> 00:55:29,800 Both Stuart and I are sitting here, 497 00:55:29,800 --> 00:55:33,320 and every time there's a rustle in the bushes, we're... 498 00:55:33,320 --> 00:55:36,720 ..just checking it out, cos it could be a lizard, it could be a lion. 499 00:55:38,560 --> 00:55:43,160 Everyone is going to be a little bit more wary from here on in... 500 00:55:43,160 --> 00:55:46,800 DISTANT BARKING 501 00:55:53,840 --> 00:55:56,360 ..especially as it's not only lion 502 00:55:56,360 --> 00:55:59,480 that the team have started picking up on the cameras. 503 00:56:05,640 --> 00:56:10,040 It's pretty amazing, we've put up a camera trap in a room 504 00:56:10,040 --> 00:56:12,920 following the family of warthogs, 505 00:56:12,920 --> 00:56:17,040 and that happened to catch a piglet in another room 506 00:56:17,040 --> 00:56:22,480 and, out of nowhere, a leopard just walks in. 507 00:56:22,480 --> 00:56:26,200 And it does nothing, just sniffs it and then just walks off, 508 00:56:26,200 --> 00:56:29,760 which is crazy because it's an easy meal right there... 509 00:56:29,760 --> 00:56:32,720 ..but it just goes and leaves it. 510 00:56:32,720 --> 00:56:34,960 This place is amazing. 511 00:56:37,920 --> 00:56:40,760 But neither the leopards nor the team's presence 512 00:56:40,760 --> 00:56:43,360 puts off the lodge's regular guests. 513 00:56:45,520 --> 00:56:47,320 Quite the opposite. 514 00:56:48,560 --> 00:56:51,400 It seems the crew have finally been accepted 515 00:56:51,400 --> 00:56:53,680 and footage of over 20 species 516 00:56:53,680 --> 00:56:56,720 starts coming in thick and fast. 517 00:56:56,720 --> 00:57:00,200 So we've been putting camera traps out for quite a few days now 518 00:57:00,200 --> 00:57:04,280 and getting hyenas, porcupines, a leopard, 519 00:57:04,280 --> 00:57:06,520 warthog, mongoose, you name it. 520 00:57:08,720 --> 00:57:11,800 I think the most incredible thing about all of these animals 521 00:57:11,800 --> 00:57:15,600 being found together is they seem to be living in harmony. 522 00:57:15,600 --> 00:57:17,800 It's like they have some sort of amnesty. 523 00:57:17,800 --> 00:57:20,120 It's a hotel of peace, it seems like, 524 00:57:20,120 --> 00:57:23,400 which is incredible, especially considering its history. 525 00:57:42,000 --> 00:57:46,560 Although the goings on in these ruins are not easily explained, 526 00:57:46,560 --> 00:57:48,880 through further investigations, 527 00:57:48,880 --> 00:57:52,920 scientists are hoping to unravel the mysteries 528 00:57:52,920 --> 00:57:55,280 of this intriguing animal hotel. 529 00:57:59,600 --> 00:58:01,400 Next time... 530 00:58:01,400 --> 00:58:04,480 ..the massive, muddy Mississippi, 531 00:58:04,480 --> 00:58:06,840 a vast river system 532 00:58:06,840 --> 00:58:10,120 gathering water from nearly half of the USA. 533 00:58:12,000 --> 00:58:16,080 From surprising beginnings in remote mountain streams, 534 00:58:16,080 --> 00:58:20,200 to the steaming swamps of the deep South, 535 00:58:20,200 --> 00:58:23,760 nothing connects and unites the states of America 536 00:58:23,760 --> 00:58:26,080 like the Mississippi River.