In the North of Botswana
there is a haven,
where the Chobe river provides
a lifeline for wildlife.
But in the dry season
many animals face a daily battle
with the fierce heat.
Including three of Africa's
most iconic families.
Though they may be
vastly different,
they all have the same goal:
to raise their young.
Childhood in Chobe is a time
of vulnerability and learning.
And the only way to survive
is with the guidance of family.
Chobe is Botswana's
second largest National Park.
And for the sheer abundance
of its animals,
it is among the greatest
on the African continent.
Home to vast numbers of game,
its immensity is matched only
by the diversity of life found
within its borders.
The Chobe river is the only
permanent source of water
all year round.
Flowing all the way from the
Angolan highlands to the east,
it forms the northern border
of the park.
It is a wonderland,
unrivaled for both
its nourishment and security.
The large aggregations of game
that continuously roam the park
funnel to this single oasis.
In the dry season
some animals travel up to
300 miles to reach it.
Within this water world,
families make their home.
And though they may be
vastly different;
the herd,
the troop
and the pride
all face the challenges
of raising young.
This newborn elephant calf
is dependent on the knowledge
of her herd's matriarch
to guide her.
At this small size
she is at her most vulnerable.
During her first
few weeks of life
the herd must show the youngster
the necessary skills to survive.
She is the first
of the new generation,
so she is in line
to become the next matriarch.
A young lion cub faces
very different challenges.
She must learn how to hunt.
She will need all of the
experience and support
of her family
to show her what it takes
to live in the savanna.
This young baboon
is reliant on the protection
of his entire troop.
He is completely dependent
on all of those around him
to show him
how to navigate his world.
For him the river
is a sight of discovery.
He must learn how to eat,
climb, and groom
so that he can call on these
skills when he most needs them.
Leading a family
through the wilderness of Chobe
is a journey
fraught with challenges.
During the summer months
all inhabitants
feel the oppressive heat.
As temperatures
exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit,
the Savanna becomes unforgiving.
By mid-morning everyone
is desperate to find shelter.
The pride and cub
take refuge from the sun
in the shade of a thicket.
Lions can spend up to 21 hours
of their day resting.
They are doing this to conserve
vital energy for the hunt.
When the time comes,
the youngest cub will have
to pay close attention.
She will need to learn
from her mother how to kill.
Soon the pride will have to
leave the shelter of the thicket
to find food.
The survival of their
young family depends on this.
The lions must make a kill
every few days
to support all pride members.
They do this
through cooperation,
working as a unit
to take down prey.
But hunting must wait
until the cover of night,
when it's cooler.
Chobe is home to over
120,000 Elephants.
It is the highest concentration
on the planet.
And they too need to deal with
the harsh temperatures
Over the 55 million years
that they have been around,
they have developed
age-old tricks
to cope with their landscape.
And it is through the family
that these are passed
from generation to generation.
As the smallest member
of the herd,
the youngest
has much to discover.
She is a Kalahari elephant
though she is vulnerable now, if
she survives these early years
she will one day tower above all
other animals in the park.
To support their mass,
adults need at least
20 gallons of water a day.
So the herd breaks cover
and heads to the river.
Despite its thickness,
an elephant's skin
is very sensitive
and requires frequent bathing.
But instead of water,
the family has chosen
an unexpected substitute:
These impressive showers
help to keep them cool.
Dust and sand not only
protects them from UV radiation,
but from parasites too.
It is an important lesson
for the young calf to learn
and one she seems to enjoy.
For the baboons, refuge
is also found at the river.
And for the boisterous
young male
it is a training ground
full of learning and play.
He will learn everything
he needs to know
by watching
and respecting his elders.
And he is in the company
of other youngsters,
all discovering the world
around them at the same time.
They are always active;
their antics start before,
and end after,
the other baboons have stirred.
But raising a child
is not the mother's job alone.
She has a lot of help
from the males.
Unrelated males
play "Godfather" to youngsters
from birth
until their second year.
Almost all friendly contact
between males and infants
stems from this relationship.
This includes holding, grooming,
and even sharing food.
Females benefit from this
because it offers
their babies protection.
What the male gains
is the good favor of the mother,
Increasing his chance to mate.
By proving that
he can care for this infant,
this male is showing that he is
fit enough to produce his own.
Males move around
from troop to troop,
so females make up
the stable core of the group.
And they exist
in a strict hierarchy.
Higher-ranking females
and their offspring
have the first choice of food.
And the entire group is lead
by a single dominant male.
He is the best fighter
and most successful
mating partner.
And everyone else
shows him respect.
Those that do not are harshly
reminded of who is the boss.
This hierarchy is the only way
they can survive
in such large numbers
and has to be enforced.
The young male has much to learn
if one day he is to rule
over a troop of his own.
These
seemingly innocuous jostles
are the beginning
of his climb to the top.
There are many others
he will have to contend with,
but if he wants
to lead the family
he must prove
that he is the strongest.
He must show everyone
that he will be able
to defend them
when the time comes.
But for now,
the mothers are still in charge.
Elephant herds also function
in a complex hierarchy,
but leadership is not sought
from the most dominant male,
but rather
from the oldest female.
The matriarch can rule
up to the age of 65.
She is the wisest of the group,
drawing on all her knowledge
to guide them through Chobe.
Elephants exist in family units,
consisting
of closely related cows
and their immature offspring.
And, just like the baboons,
the new mother has lots of help
caring for her youngster.
But unlike the baboons,
it is not the group's males
that help care for the infant.
Young females
called 'allmothers'
play a key role
in raising little elephants.
And this is a role
they take on gladly.
They help
in the calf's education,
by baby-sitting,
guiding, and protecting her.
In return they receive training
for the day
they will become mothers.
Because she's young,
many of Chobe's sights,
sounds and smells are still new.
She must learn
from every experience
so that one day she too may be
a successful member of the herd.
Family structures are in place
for a reason.
In a land as diverse,
dangerous and vast as this,
all the wisdom and learning
of the whole group
will be needed
to make it through.
Chobe comprises
4,000 square miles
of undisturbed wilderness.
During the dry season
all animals funnel towards
the river to escape the heat.
With less than a quarter of
an inch of rain falling a month,
it is the main source of water
in the park.
As vast numbers are forced to
share space, conflict arises.
Throughout the park rising
temperatures raise tempers.
But soon it's too hot to fight.
By midday temperatures are
pushing 100 degrees Fahrenheit
and the herd returns
to the water for a mud bath.
For the calf the mud is not only
a way to cool off,
it is also
a great source of fun.
She discovers her dexterity
by tumbling around.
Her new environment
is a site of discovery.
As she explores
her surroundings,
she learns vital lessons
about how to endure Chobe.
One day she will have to pass
them onto her own young in turn.
With many residents seeking
nourishment at the river,
it is at its most crowded.
Buffalo are ruminants.
This means they must ferment
their food in a special stomach
before they can digest it.
It is then regurgitated
and chewed again
before it can be consumed.
This process requires
great amounts of liquid.
So they need to spend
a large portion of their day
around water.
But mud is just as important
for the buffalo
especially when it's hot.
Mud helps the animal
regulate its temperature.
It traps water
close to the skin,
slowing down the rate
at which it evaporates.
By caking itself in mud
the animal can keep cool
throughout the day.
Being able to control
your body temperature
is vital at this time of year.
Hippos are bound to the river
for this very reason.
Though they do leave the water
to bask in the sun,
if they are exposed for too long
their skin dries and cracks.
When they do venture out,
it is only ever
for brief periods to forage,
before they head back
to the shelter of the water.
With so much life
drawn to the river,
opportunities
present themselves.
Cattle Egrets have developed
an innovative hunting technique.
By hitching rides on
the backs of far larger animals,
they can eat the small creatures
that are disturbed in the grass.
This has allowed
the Cattle Egret
to form
some unlikely friendships.
This unorthodox relationship
highlights the benefits
of cooperation.
By accommodating the birds,
the buffalo gets an
on-board insect repellent.
Many species rely on the river
and what it provides.
But some have to travel
massive distances to reach it.
Plains zebra hold the record
for the longest migration
of any mammal in Africa.
They sometimes travel
nearly 300 miles
across Namibia and Botswana
as they follow the rains.
The Chobe river is
a common stop along the journey.
Providing a vital rest
for the young foal.
But the river
is also full of dangers.
Those seeking to get
to the other side
have no option
but to go through it.
This is where their foal
is most vulnerable.
Seizing their chance,
they make it across.
But they are not the only family
wanting to get
to the other side.
The calf has to make
the same hazardous trip.
This is the biggest test
that she has had to face.
She will need to draw
on all of the skills
she has learned from her family.
A large crocodile
is easily capable
of taking a young elephant.
As the river deepens,
the crossing
becomes more dangerous.
If the calf gets swept away now,
the herd will be powerless
and unable to save her.
This is the first time ever
she has been fully submerged,
drowning is a serious risk.
She must trust in the leadership
of all those around her
if she is going to survive.
With the help of her family
she makes it across.
Working hand-in-hand is vital
in a land as varied as Chobe.
Cooperation is one of
the most important aspects
of family life
across all species.
Close personal relationships
are the building blocks
of a successful group.
It's now late afternoon,
and as temperatures cool
the pride begins to stir.
Forming a bond
with dominant pride members,
especially the females,
is of utmost importance
for the young cub.
Female relationships are
the very basis of lion society.
Prides are almost
entirely made up of lionesses
and their offspring.
Competition for food
and mates can be fierce
so members form partnerships
to help them navigate
the hierarchies of group living.
It is something the cub
needs to learn quickly.
There is more to this affection
than meets the eye.
She has much to gain
from being on the good side
of a stronger pride member.
It has been a while
since they last ate.
When times are tough,
having a dominant friend
will help her
in the competition for food.
When the females
are successful in the hunt,
their favorites get first pick.
This bonding is as much tactical
as it is tactile.
These two
are forming a coalition,
one that could come back
to help the cub
when she most needs it.
It's not only the pride
that exhibits this behavior,
it's an age-old trick
of the troop as well.
And it is a result
of similar circumstances.
To survive the predators
and perils of Chobe,
the baboons have formed
a giant group
that sometimes numbers
over a hundred.
With their combined strength
they are a match for even their
most dangerous adversaries.
Living in large groups
has many advantages,
but it also
has one major drawback -
the need to compete for food
and for mates.
The hierarchy of females bears
the brunt of this pressure.
They are both the source of
cooperation and of competition.
This double bind is solved
by the most basic
of baboon instincts.
Grooming removes dirt,
flakes of skin, and lice.
But there is more to it
than hygiene.
When the baboons
groom each other,
they begin to form
individual relationships.
Those lower down
on the hierarchy
are willing to give more
attention than they receive.
What they get in return
is tolerance
at choice feeding sites.
For this strategy to work,
a baboon will focus
its grooming efforts
on someone that will be able
to support it in a fight.
Weaker, lower ranking members
will spend much of their time
grooming more dominant baboons.
These partnerships are born from
the necessity for protection.
To survive,
the young male will need to
choose his partners wisely.
He must learn
that grooming is the glue
that holds the troop together.
It is a vital skill:
the better he is at it,
the quicker he will be able
to rise through the ranks.
But there's another reason
it's so important
to the group dynamic.
Grooming releases endorphins.
These lower stress levels.
This, in turn,
aids conception success.
The more successfully
a female conceives,
the higher her rank
in the baboon society.
So it not only
makes them feel better,
but it can improve
their standing too.
This is both a physical
and a political activity.
And one all young members
of the troop must learn.
Elephants rely
on close contact too.
The young calf
is rarely out of trunks reach.
And it is largely through touch
that her mother will guide her
through the
early stages of life.
It's their primary method
of communication
and a habit that will remain
with the youngster
throughout her life.
The instrument used
to convey the sense of touch
is one of the most fascinating
in the animal kingdom.
An elephant's trunk
is extremely nimble.
Powerful enough to uplift trees,
it can also
pluck tufts of grass.
Around 55,000 muscles
allow it to bend
and contort in any direction.
It has two
finger-like lips at the end,
and is covered
in fine sensory hairs -
making it acutely sensitive.
And for this young one,
it's a vital way of accessing
the world around her.
Baby elephants learn to eat
by putting their trunks
inside the mouths
of other herd members.
And it is through imitation
that they discover the
dimensions of their environment.
But the trunk is not only
a useful way to feel
its immediate surroundings;
it is also exceedingly good
at maintaining contact
over long distances.
By lifting their trunks
into a prevailing breeze,
elephants can use
their deft sense of smell
to gain a picture
of what lies ahead.
This again, the calf learns
through imitation.
Elephants' trunks enable them
to gain knowledge
not only sensually,
but vocally too.
A large portion
of the elephant's communication
is oral.
The trunk
is a resonating chamber,
able to amplify
a variety of emotions.
An elephant's call can be heard
all across savanna.
Communication is vital
for holding the family together
and keeping the youngsters
out of harm's way.
Unfortunately,
for one member of the herd
the dry season
has proved too long.
Weakened by the heat,
one of the
older members has died.
But this is important
for the land.
The end of one life
is sometimes necessary
for the survival of others.
In need of food and water
the herd moves on.
As time passes, the giant body
attracts scavengers.
A carcass of this size
goes a long way toward feeding
some of the park's
smaller carnivores.
Chobe has many predators.
But not all of them
are carnivores.
Little bee-eaters
are deft aerial hunters.
They manipulate the wind
with ease
overpowering their insect prey.
They owe their name to their
proficiency at hunting bees.
To sustain
their brilliant aerial prowess
they need to eat
at least 250 bees a day,
or find enough
suitable alternatives.
And for the pride too,
patience and perseverance
have finally paid off.
They have killed a Warthog
in the night.
Bonding with the dominant female
has allowed the cub
a seat at the table.
The cub has learned
how to get food,
and soon she must put this
into practice.
By the time she's 11 months old
she'll be expected
to join on the hunts
and start
providing for the pride.
The young baboon
has an advantage
over many in the park.
He is able to evade predators
by going where they cannot.
This is something
he must master.
He is discovering
just what he is able to do.
The baboon's evolution
to life in the trees
has been driven by
their need to escape predators.
And learning this skill
starts at the earliest stages.
Every family that lives in Chobe
is more vulnerable while
they have young to look after.
They have to
survive the elements
as well as
the other residents of the park.
But one thing
they all have in common
is the opportunities
that living along the riverfront
provides.
Hundreds of thousands of animals
rely on this water source,
creating a spectacular mix.
Combined with
the natural beauty of the park
they make Chobe one of Africa's
greatest wildlife marvels.
For the pride,
the herd and the troop
raising young in Chobe
is a journey
where lessons are taught
Bonds are formed
And enemies are encountered
It is a place
of unrivaled abundance.
And amongst
the vast numbers of animals
that roam this landscape,
the smallest
must make their home.
Only with the guidance of family
can they endure the park
and all of its challenges.
It is with
the nurturing of elders
that the young will learn
how to survive.
Chobe is a land of learning,
and it is
one of the most spectacular
on the African continent.
