The pioneering series returns to capture the dramatic and emotional interconnected stories of iconic savannah animals. There’s humour, heartbreak and nail-biting tension as new characters move in and familiar faces continue their stories. Bakari the baboon struggles with family life. Kali the lioness makes a difficult decision. A family of leopards arrive – and the adorable and adventurous cubs test their mother’s patience as they get used to their new home. Immerse yourself in the complex relationships, thrilling battles and tender moments that punctuate the lives of nature’s most captivating characters.

Programme 1

Intrigue

The Emmy nominated series returns to capture the dramatic and emotional stories of iconic savannah animals once again. There’s humour, heartbreak and nail-biting tension as new characters move in and familiar faces continue their stories. This time they are not only facing their own personal challenges, their whole world will soon be in crisis.

As the programme opens, a spectacular buffalo hunt exposes the growing tensions within Kali’s pride. The big male, Sefu, is not pulling his weight and he has started to suspect her cubs aren’t his. There is trouble ahead.

Bakari’s troop is now under his peaceful and generous leadership, and he’s had a new baby with Cheka. But jealousy soon threatens their idyllic world. Bibi a female who was deposed when Cheka took her place is out to cause trouble and she’ll stop at nothing to restore her power.

Nalla, the elephant matriarch, soon puts pay to the scheming as she sends the baboons packing. There has been a baby boom in her family, her sister has had a new baby Kadogo. He will soon be enjoying his first mud bath but it’s not all fun and games. He is about to face an event that will change his young life forever.

We meet a leopard family with two adorable cubs, Mzuri and Dada. Their first challenge is to escape the jaws of Zalika the hyena. They’ve never climbed before  and need to learn fast.  Other problems lie ahead when Mzuri goes on an adventure where she meets some of the most entertaining, as well as some of the most dangerous animals in Africa.

Shani, the Zebra, has had a new baby but is soon at risk from a roving stallion out to kidnap her from the herd. In a spectacular battle, her family’s stallion, Punda, has the fight of his life trying to defend Shani and their newborn foal.

The wildebeest are also giving birth. Gnu, a wildebeest calf, is among the many that have just been born. He appears completely helpless and the hyena Zalika is on the prowl. If he is to survive, he must learn to run in record time.

All the while, Kali’s story is continuing until it reaches a climax in a showdown with Sefu. The cubs run for their lives and vanish from view. Kali sets off to find them but what she does find will set her on a path of distrust and confrontation with her pride.

As our character’s dramatic storylines reach a climax, something far greater is about to change everything. Climate change has played havoc with the season and a great storm is building. When the clouds break, they unleash an almighty deluge and the land begins to flood. Everyone runs for higher ground, leaving the baboons trapped up their roosting tree while the fast-flowing floodwaters lead to catastrophe for Nalla.

Programme 3

Renewal

Nalla, the Matriarch, is grieving the loss of her sister but with Kadogo missing there is no time to lose. She sets off to find him. Once the elephants have left Kadogo’s mother’s remains, a new jackal couple, Shavu and Shaba, see an opportunity for a meal, but first they must fight the vultures who never waste an opportunity. The jackals need to be careful they have a litter of adorable pups to look after. The jackals live by stealing food from under the noses of Africa’s most dangerous predators. They may pair for life but unless they are careful that won’t be for long.

After the floods, the land is starting the process of renewal. Bakari is enjoying the perks of being an alpha male with both Cheka and Bibi vying for his attention. He is blissfully unaware of the conflicts going on behind his back.

For the leopards, the aftermath of the floods allows opportunities for hunting. The leopard cubs decide they can do better than their mother by hunting mongoose, but with lots of holes for them to vanish into, it ends up more like a game of whack-a-mole.

The cheetahs are also learning the hard way, but Duma is showing promise and helps Aiysha in a successful hunt. An encounter with the jackals soon teaches him he has still much to learn.

Kali has been hunting too, but there is little to go around. As the lion pride argues among themselves, Kali leads her cubs and closest friends away for a life on the run. But when the infamous Black-maned males return to the Pride Lands, it seems like she’s made a terrible decision.

Nalla finds a relieved and tired Kadogo and takes him back to his mother’s remains for a last farewell. In touching scenes, he comes to terms with her passing as all the elephants gather round. Even Tembo, a young male elephant who left the family in season 1, makes an appearance as he shows his last respects.

There is drama among the baboons when Bibi oversteps the mark by grabbing Cheka’s baby. She was trying to show that she too would make a good mother but the mask slips when she attacks Bakari’s older son. It looks like she will be ostracized from the troop forever.

The one thing no one was expecting was an invasion – the aftermath of the floods has caused army ants to leave their nests and march to find a new home. No one can stand in the way of their biting jaws, including hyenas, the leopard mother and, worst of all, the jackals’ pups. Once the ants decide that the pups’ den would make the perfect home, all they have to do is evict the current owners.

Kali may have left the pride, but she still has her followers and cubs to feed. She finds the remains of a recently killed giraffe and the feast begins. There is only one problem – it belongs to the Black-maned males.

Programme 5

Power

For Kali the threat from Sefu has been replaced with a far bigger threat from the Black-maned males. Will she never stop living in fear?

Duma is growing up fast, but when he tries to take on the vultures he ends up alone and lost. With Kali roaming nearby, it’s a dangerous time to be without his mother.

Bakari struggles to exert his power over the intruder males. He tries to calm things down by taking his troop on a gazelle hunt.  When he fails to catch Tamu, his position in the troop is starting to look precarious. But when Bakari comes up with a plan to steal from Aiysha and her cubs, will it be enough to win back his throne?

Duma is still searching for his family but instead is found by a group of male cheetahs. He tries to join their gang but he’s too young to be accepted. Once again, he’s lost and alone and facing many dangers. Unable to catch food by himself, his only hope is to find his family

When Zalika finally finds a way to reunite her clan she has the power to take revenge on Kali. But Askari, the black maned male, is more powerful than ever, and comes to Kali’s rescue. Why has he suddenly become her ally?

Tamu and his mother are in constant danger, not least from the Black-maned lions, but when the unthinkable happens, is Tamu brave enough to defend himself against so many predators?

The great herds are gathering and Shani’s foal and Gnu are growing up. It’s time to visit the huge river for the first time. Excitement aside, there are dangers lurking beneath the surface, just when everyone is desperate to quench their thirst.