In the Limpopo region of South
Africa lies an ancient land.
Forged by water,
today it provides life to many.
From rolling grasslands
to rocky gorges,
wildlife has learnt to make
the most of what's on offer.
At it's heart life giving waters
burst from giant rocks
and spread across the landscape.
Supporting everything
from miniatures...
to the masses.
This is the Waterberg,
a land of plenty.
(♪♪♪)
The Waterberg runs from west to
east for over 90 miles.
Lying in the northeastern
corner of South Africa
it sprawls across an area of
over five and half thousand
square miles
and makes up the first UNESCO
reserve in the region.
Created by mineral rich rivers
almost two billion years ago,
it is so old;
it has been around for longer
than terrestrial life itself.
Today, it stands at the center
of an incredibly diverse
landscape
of open grassy plains...
Bushveld savannah...
Rocky gorges...
Ravines...
And cliffs that tower up
to two thousand feet high.
But it's the bedrock
of these mountains
that holds their
greatest gift.
Bands of porous rock soak up
water like a sponge,
storing it
in underground aquifers.
Once full, they pour out
of the mountains themselves.
Giving rise to the name
Waterberg or Water Mountain.
As they descend, the waterfalls
and streams merge,
creating rivers that carve their
way through the landscape.
(♪♪♪)
As they shape the land,
they also support
a rich variety of life.
Grazers feast on the lush grass
of the plateau's rolling planes.
In the lowlands,
sprawling savannah stretches
as far as the eye can see.
And present throughout;
is water.
Streams, rivers, dams
and waterholes
bind the landscape
together.
(♪♪♪)
This diverse wilderness is the
setting for many natural dramas.
Battles will be fought...
Mates will be won...
And a new generation
will be born.
But all will rely on the
Waterberg for sustenance.
The annual rains
arrive in November
and can last
for up to five months.
Their arrival ushers in a time
of plenty in the Waterberg.
Animals are preoccupied with
one thing: eating their fill.
This is a time to bulk up.
(Chirping)
Grazers move in large, mixed
herds - feasting on the bounty.
After months of drought,
the grass is the quickest
to take advantage of the
landscape's renewed moisture.
More than 200 different species
grow in the Waterberg,
offering a banquet
to all manner of herbivores.
And the elephants are amongst
those cashing in.
They have one of the most varied
diets of all herbivores,
eating everything
from leaves to roots and bark.
But with the coming of the rainy
season they shift their focus
to the sweet new growth
of tender grass.
It is also the perfect
time of year to raise young.
With the abundance
of food on offer,
mothers are full of milk
and in prime condition to
support the next generation.
For many antelope,
the first few days of life
are spent hidden away
among the long grass.
Safe from unwanted attention.
But as soon as they are fit
enough to follow their mothers,
they rejoin the herd.
And within
four and a half months
they'll be fully
independent.
For others in the grasslands
the introduction to herd life
is much swifter.
Blesbok mothers give birth
surrounded by others.
The lambs will stand
within 5-10 minutes
and walk within 20.
This ensures the young
are ready to flee
as soon as possible
making them less vulnerable.
It is a technique
that has been adopted
by a number of the grazers.
Wildebeest and zebra
newborns are quick learners.
They too are up and running
in a matter of minutes.
But for the wildebeest,
there's more to things
than just being able to run.
Timing is everything.
Up to 90% of calves will drop in
the space of a three-week period
coinciding with
the coming of the rains.
And if you want to survive,
you better arrive on time.
When pursued by predators,
a wildebeest's best hope
is to mix in
with the fleeing herd.
But youngsters have tan coats,
making them easy for predators
to single out.
In the two months it takes
for a darker coat to grow,
some calves will be lucky,
some will not.
While escaping danger
is the primary concern for many,
there are those
who have little to fear
from the local predators.
White rhino calves have
formidably armed parents
to look after them.
The youngsters will spend
the first two to three years
of their lives
with their mothers.
Staying side by side
under her protection
until she calves again.
But for the grazers timing
the birth of their offspring
with the arrival of the rains
gives them the best chance
of survival
and results in a sudden increase
in herd members.
But despite all
their best efforts,
it doesn't go unnoticed.
Lions patrol the grasslands
and savannahs,
on the look out for
an easy meal.
The herds many pairs of eyes
watch back
and the age-old battle of
predator versus prey continues.
But sometimes the danger
lies closer to home....
A male zebra must fight off
the challenge of a rival...
in order to secure sole breeding
access to his harem of females.
Fights can be fierce.
A combination of biting
and high-powered kicks
is used to secure victory.
(♪♪♪)
The Waterberg provides a home
for huge numbers of creatures...
(Hooting)
And it is not only
out on the grasslands
where this can witnessed.
The mountain range is home
to one of the rarest animals
on the planet.
The Waterberg Copper.
Thought to have gone extinct
in the 1980s
it was recently rediscovered
living on a small plateau.
A microhabitat no larger
than 7-1/2 acres
has harbored the
species and sheltered it
from the encroachment
of the modern world.
It is an amazing story of
survival against the odds.
The Waterberg Copper requires
a unique set of conditions
to reproduce and has
a fascinating life cycle.
It will only lay eggs
near one of two host plants
and a particular species
of sugar ant
must have a nest within
the vicinity.
The ants build their homes in
sandy soil, close to wetlands,
making the Waterberg the ideal
environment for them.
This is the only place
in the world
where these butterflies
are known to exist.
Females lay their eggs
in the sand.
Once hatched, the caterpillars
live within the ant nest.
But by night, the ants
escort the caterpillar
to the host plant,
where it feeds.
There is a reason the ants go to
so much trouble to accommodate
and protect the caterpillars.
As they feed they produce
a sweet honeydew secretion
from glands on their abdomen.
Which the ants
find irresistible.
Ants are one of the few
creatures in the world
that farm other animals.
In this incredible symbiotic
relationship,
both the ant and the butterfly
are rewarded.
For the security of their nest
the ants receive
an invaluable food source
and the caterpillars are
provided with a safe place
to grow and develop.
During its next stage of life
the Waterberg Copper
transforms into
a stunning butterfly.
The bright colors are
a warning to predators.
It's poisonous.
While feeding on
the toxic host plants,
the caterpillars absorb
the poisons,
retaining them through their
metamorphosis into adulthood.
Not all of
the Waterberg's residents
have such an
intricate life cycle
but there are some who face the
same pressures of extinction.
White rhino populations are
being decimated throughout
Southern Africa by an insatiable
demand for their horn from Asia.
In traditional Asian medicine,
rhino horn is thought
to cure illness
and guarantee good health.
It is a problem
that is affecting parks
and reserves across the region,
including the Waterberg.
Drastic measures are being taken
and armed guards are posted
throughout the area.
It is a battle that must be won
if the rhino is to have chance
of survival in the wild.
But for now, life is good
for the Waterberg's rhino...
There is plenty of grass,
which makes up
their entire diet.
An inability to lift their heads
above shoulder height
combined with poor eyesight
means they must rely mainly on
their sense of smell and hearing
to detect threats.
Big ears move independently,
focusing in on the direction
of sounds
like huge satellite dishes.
Their inability to lift their
heads above shoulder height
means that they are
unable to swim
and can't submerge
themselves completely.
Rhinos are dependent
on the presence of water,
often drinking twice a day
to quench their thirst.
The waterholes are
a common meeting place
for the large mammals
and they offer more
than just drinking water.
Wallowing serves many purposes;
it discourages and removes
irritating insects like ticks.
But it is also a bit of fun.
Elsewhere in the country,
elephant herds can walk for many
days in their search for food,
often going without water
but here in the Waterberg
they never go thirsty.
Once refreshed, the muddy
elephants find a scratching post
and rub up against it,
dislodging any unwanted
passengers in the process.
Returning to the same waterholes
and rivers year after year,
their favorite trees become
smoothed over time.
But some itches require
a little extra soothing.
The hot, wet months
of the rainy season see a boom
in insect numbers.
Swarms of flies
follow the herds.
For the buffalo it seems
there is a price to pay
for the abundance
of food and water.
The grasslands largest animal
has developed another technique
for keeping the invaders at bay.
Elephants don't only bathe
in the water.
They also cake their skin
with soil
to avoid biting and sucking
insects.
While the insects
are a nuisance for most...
they are an opportunity
for others.
Golden orb spiders are prepared
for the infestation.
One of the oldest types
of spider in existence,
they hold the crown for the
world's strongest spiders web.
Spun from yellow silk, it is
maintained on a daily basis.
Ensuring it is as sticky
as possible.
It's done the job.
Neurotoxic venom is injected,
immobilizing the victim.
Before it is wrapped in silk.
Taken deeper into the nest
and stashed.
With so much food available in
the Waterberg
at this time of year, the
spiders store some
for a later date.
Throughout the Waterberg
predators are taking advantage
of the new food on offer.
Whirligig beetles feed
on other aquatic insects.
(♪♪♪)
Compound eyes, allow them to see
both above and below the water.
And their ability to turn
sharply helps them
evade larger predators,
while casting neat circular
shadows on the streambed.
Of all the animals benefiting
from the glut of food,
the Ox-pecker is one of
the most successful.
Attaching themselves to a host,
they rid the animals
of their parasites.
Ticks, fleas and almost
anything that moves
stand no chance
against their nimble beaks.
Perfectly equipped
for this life;
they have evolved
a number of adaptations.
Short legs and sharp claws
help them grip their host.
And an incredible feeding
technique of combing hair
with their beaks
has allowed them to thrive.
Known as scissoring,
it is a very effective method
for them to find food.
But despite their reputation,
some Ox-peckers
seem to have a darker side.
Individuals have been witnessed
feeding from wounds.
It is believed
that some Ox-peckers
have developed a
taste for the blood
they find within
the ticks they feed on.
And they have been observed
opening up existing wounds
on their host animal's hide
in order to drink their blood.
By keeping the wound open
in this way,
the bird gets a
constant supply of blood
but it also exposes the host to
an increased risk of infection.
It seems not all Ox-peckers are
as helpful as we once thought.
Throughout the Waterberg
the daily search for food
has driven
creatures to adapt.
While many utilize the daylight
hours, others emerge after dark.
The Lesser Bush Baby.
Sleeping in groups
of up to 7 during the day,
they spend the
night foraging alone.
Tree sap makes up a large part
of their diet
and is vital to their survival
during the winter months.
But tonight, there is more than
just sap on the menu.
The abundance of insect life
has caught the Bush Babies
attention.
Long hind limbs and short
forelimbs make them well adapted
to launching attacks
from vertical branches.
Feeding on a range
of arthropods,
they are one of the night's
most accomplished predators.
For another mammal,
the search for insects
is not all about food.
A troop of Vervet monkeys
basks in the morning sun.
Ranging all the way
from South African to Ethiopia,
they are found in healthy
numbers in the Waterberg.
Living in large groups
they are highly social
and one of the best ways
of reinforcing bonds
is by grooming.
Relatives sift through
one another's fur,
removing any parasites.
Grooming is commonly used
as a courtship strategy
as it brings males and females
into close proximity
to one another.
It is vital
to the troop's success.
For the Vervets the Waterberg's
rains will provide
a glut of fruits to see them
through the dry months.
Despite the abundance
the waters bring,
some creatures still rely
on the dry and dead
in order to find what they need.
(Knocking)
A bearded woodpecker
is on the hunt for a meal.
He uses a sharp, barbed tongue
to remove anything he uncovers.
(Knocking)
Unlike the Waterberg's
other insectivores,
bearded woodpeckers feed mainly
on wood-boring beetles
and their larvae.
Which can be found
all year round.
(Knocking)
As well as helping locate
a tasty meal,
drumming on trees
also helps him establish
a territory and attract a mate.
The hollow tree acts as
the perfect megaphone.
(Knocking)
Another of the Waterberg's
feathered inhabitants
doesn't need to drink.
In fact, ground hornbills
don't need to drink at all.
They can survive entirely
on the moisture in their food.
These unusual creatures are the
largest hornbills in the world
and can live
for over sixty years.
Spending most of their day
searching the savannahs
for food.
Ground Hornbills are
predominantly carnivorous,
feeding on a large range of
insects, reptiles, amphibians
and even small mammals
and birds.
Living in groups of up to
12 individuals,
they occupy and vigorously
defend large territories
reaching 38 square miles.
These groups normally
have one breeding pair
and as a species they have
one of the slowest
reproductive rates
in the bird world.
On average they breed
successfully every 9 years.
Females always lay two eggs,
three to five days apart.
The first chick to hatch
invariably out-competes
the second,
which will be killed
by its elder sibling
or starve to death.
The surviving chick
then takes another six years
to reach adulthood.
These birds have evolved
to survive
in the harshest
of environments,
but in the Waterberg
they are provided with
more than they need.
(♪♪♪)
Although water doesn't play
a key role in all life cycles,
it impacts most.
And most animals
couldn't exist without it.
The Waterberg's water levels
are dictated by the rains,
but there are areas
of permanent water.
Rivers and waterholes
remain full year round.
These wetlands provide a
residence for a host of animals.
But one group appears
in more variety than most.
The Waterberg's rivers,
streams and waterholes
teem with birds
of many shapes and sizes.
Wattled Lapwings patrol
the wetland fringes.
Terrestrial birds, they never
venture into deeper water.
This domain is reserved
for true waterfowl.
Unlike the lapwing, Knob-billed
ducks are buoyant,
allowing them to float
on the waters surface.
This ability allows them to
reach the rich aquatic grasses
and water lilies
other birds can't.
Some have taken life
on the water a stage further.
Cormorants feed
exclusively on fish.
Special feathers
allow water to penetrate;
enabling the birds to
swim well under water
as they chase their prey.
After fishing, cormorants stand
in a characteristic pose,
with wings out
and neck extended.
Originally thought
to dry their wings,
it is now also considered
to aid digestion
by helping the birds
swallow fish.
Darters and Grebes have evolved
the same technique for fishing.
And all can be found along
the permanent water sources
of the Waterberg.
While many have mastered
life under the water,
one has adapted
to a life on top of it.
African Jacanas
spend their lives foraging
on floating lily pads.
They even build
their nests here.
In what is known as
'lily-trotting',
elongated toes enable them
to spread their weight enough
to stop them sinking.
It is an adaption
that has allowed them
to conquer a habitat
few other birds can.
Meaning all the more insects
for them to feed on.
The birds are not
the only ones feeding here.
Hippos spend the majority
of their day in the water
and have evolved a number
of adaptations as a result.
Their ears fold closed
when submerged.
And flick open
in a flurry when surfacing.
High, ridged eyes protrude
above the water.
And nostrils have evolved
to seal shut while swimming.
Adults can spend up to five
minutes below the surface.
And surfacing is as instinctive
as breathing itself,
even in their sleep.
Feeding out of the water,
mainly at night,
days are spent digesting,
sleeping and socializing.
Hippos are so at home
in their aquatic habitat,
calves are able
to suckle underwater.
There are others who depend
on Waterberg's permanent oases.
Modern day dinosaurs,
their adaptations have evolved
over millions of years.
Crocodiles' ears
are now just slits
and their eyes are coated
in a protective membrane.
They are the ultimate
freshwater predator.
Lying undetected in the water,
they ambush animals
as they come down to drink.
Rows of deadly teeth
drag prey into the depths,
holding them
there until they drown.
For many the dependence on water
is because it provides food.
And crocodiles
are not the only reptiles
patrolling the Waterberg.
Water monitor lizards
bask in the sun.
Like crocodiles,
they need to warm up
before heading off to hunt.
They are also perfectly adapted
to their habitat.
Once warm, they head
to waters edge to fish.
At home in or out of the water,
a long, powerful tail
powers them along.
While long nails and sharp claws
are perfect for catching prey.
They are not the only ones
relying on the waters
to provide a meal.
It's not long before their
patience is rewarded.
The monitor lizards,
Hamerkops and herons
all have different
techniques.
But the result
is always the same.
The Waterberg supports
a diverse mix of habitats
and a host of creatures.
(♪♪♪)
From the ancient and deadly...
To the weird
and wonderful.
Almost all have come to depend
on the land's waters for food
and shelter.
It is an ever-present life
source in the Mountain of Life.
(♪♪♪)
