The Flood (Full Episode) | SPECIAL

The Okavango Delta, located in the heart of the Kalahari Desert, is a unique oasis that comes alive annually when distant rainfall replenishes its waters. This natural phenomenon creates a paradise for wildlife, as the dry land transforms into a lush habitat. The delta's ecosystem supports a variety of species, including cheetahs and their cubs, which rely on the abundant prey like impalas. The script also highlights the struggle for survival in the dry season, where food is scarce, and the anticipation of the life-giving flood.

The script describes the hunting prowess of the cheetah, with its speed and agility being key to a successful hunt. A mother cheetah is shown teaching her cubs the art of the hunt, while a leopard utilizes its cunning to ambush impalas. The leopard waits patiently for the perfect moment to strike, demonstrating the different hunting strategies employed by these big cats in the dry season.

The narrative shifts to the impact of the great flood's first pulse on the landscape. As water fills the dry riverbeds, the barren sands are rejuvenated, promising renewal. The flood transforms the environment, creating an oasis that attracts grazers like buffalo, which travel long distances to partake in the feast. The script also touches on the challenges faced by a buffalo mother and calf, highlighting the protective nature of the herd.

The floodwaters continue to infiltrate the delta, creating a new world beneath the surface. Migratory species find a welcoming home, and wild dogs enjoy the healing waters. However, the script introduces a lurking threat in the form of a giant rock python, which poses a danger to the wild dog pups. The narrative emphasizes the interplay between the floodwaters and the delta's diverse inhabitants.

The script focuses on the emergence of tiny insects like midges and mayflies, which are a crucial source of protein for the ecosystem. The quelea birds, typically seed eaters, adapt to this abundant food source. Over a hundred different species gather in the area, making it one of the largest concentrations of insects on Earth. The insects' mating rituals are described, with males making the first move and the pair remaining locked in an embrace for hours.

As the flood reaches its peak, the once vast savannah is now a vast wetland with only small islands visible. The script details how various antelope, like lechwes, thrive in these conditions, while others, like elephants, adapt by acting as 'tree surgeons', shaping the swamp's vegetation and water flow. The elephants' role as the architects of the swamp is emphasized, highlighting their impact on the delta's ecology.

The script introduces hippos as the Okavango's greatest engineers, capable of moving massive amounts of earth with their bodies, creating underwater highways that direct water flow and shape the delta. The hippos' dominance in the realm is highlighted, with even crocodiles avoiding confrontation. The narrative also describes how water lilies thrive in the slowing floodwaters, creating a delicate balance in the swamp ecosystem.

The narrative focuses on the lily trotter, a creature with oversized feet that can skip across the water's surface. This animal takes on the role of a single parent, tending to its floating nest and protecting its eggs. The script describes the challenges faced by the lily trotter as it deals with the arrival of its chicks and the potential threats from larger animals, like elephants, that could disrupt its home.

The script details how the great flood disrupts the usual hunting patterns of lions, who are no longer in command due to the submerged terrain. The lions attempt to adapt by targeting slower prey, like a lone hippo, but the changing environment presents new challenges. The narrative emphasizes the lions' struggle to maintain their dominance in a world where the rules have changed.

As the flood reaches its peak, the Kalahari transforms into a vast wetland teeming with life. The script describes the flourishing of secret gardens beneath the surface, where lilies and other aquatic life thrive. The flood's impact is felt by all, from crocodiles waiting in the shallows to lions cautiously navigating the unfamiliar swamp. The narrative highlights the flood's role as a giver that continues to support the ecosystem.

The script narrates the receding of the floodwaters, leaving behind a landscape rich with opportunities. The Carmine bee eaters arrive to find mates and start families, while the falling water levels reveal new habitats for various species. The narrative describes the tactical advantages for some, like wild dogs, and the challenges faced by others, such as a young male hippo searching for a new home amidst territorial disputes.

The narrative focuses on the aquatic life that flourishes as the floodplains fill with water, creating rich breeding grounds. The script describes the arrival of build storks and black egrets, which take advantage of the abundant food sources. The story also highlights the perilous journey of small fish as they navigate the drying delta, facing predators at every turn.

The script details the life of African skimmers, which find the perfect nesting sites on sandbanks as the delta dries. The narrative describes the skimmers' unique fishing technique and the challenges they face in feeding their newborns. The abundance of fish in the receding floodwaters is highlighted as a gift to all the delta's inhabitants.

As the floodwaters recede, the delta transforms back into savannah, providing a bountiful hunting ground for lions. The script describes the return of the lions, now with their young cubs, to a landscape devoid of the swamp that previously provided antelope with an escape. The narrative emphasizes the lions' regained advantage and the abundance of food that supports the growth of their pride.

The script focuses on the murmur aids, small fish with large brains that emit electrical pulses for navigation. As they mature, they become targets for larger predators like catfish and tiger fish, leading to a feeding frenzy. The narrative describes the chaotic scene where even the hunters become hunted, highlighting the unique and deadly spectacle that is unparalleled on Earth.

The narrative concludes with the arrival of lightning storms that signal the coming rain, but first, the dry land experiences fire. The flames consume the papyrus, releasing nutrients that will enrich the soil when the rains arrive. The script describes the cycle of wet and dry that governs life in the Okavango, with the land reviving and becoming a fertile ground for new life, setting the stage for the next cycle to begin with the return of the great flood.