Simon King and Kate Humble present Africa 2013: Countdown to the Rains
Witness the gladiators of the African Bush battle for survival during the deadliest month of the year – a new unmissable natural history story is about to unfold on BBC2
The scene is set….. a wonderful black tie bush dinner on the final evening of our amazing safari in the Masai Mara, Kenya, hosted by Simon King. The party swap stories and recall their personal highlights of this amazing safari experience; lots of big cats – lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas devouring their kill on the banks of the Talek river, a lion roaring as they sat out under the starlit African sky, the elephant that slept in camp one night, and the lion waiting and watching just 200 yards away as the camp was being dismantled on their final morning.
But it was all over too soon and time to leave for home. No more Simon cooking bacon, bush-tucker style on a spade for us. Simon bid farewell to his guests in Nairobi and then took a flight to Luangwa in Zambia, where he immediately began his next adventure; filming the ultimate African bush battle for survival.
It hasn’t rained in South Luangwa since April. Vast herds of elephants and buffalo, hippos and zebra weaken as they search for food. For their predators, it is the complete opposite, lions, leopards and wild dogs are in top form, ambushing weakened prey at will.
October marks the end of the dry season and it’s a critical time of year for African wildlife. When the rains come, tables are turned and it is the turn of these predators to go hungry.
Africa 2013: Countdown to the Rains, is a fast turnaround series that is shot and transmitted as the long dry season comes to an end. A series of 75 cameras rigged at strategic points will capture the gripping wildlife stories. Thermal and infrared cameras will follow all the action, wherever and whenever it occurs.
With the help of two specialist wildlife teams and animal behavioural scientists, Kate Humble and Simon King will explore and analyse the amazing footage, bringing us compelling viewing.
It’ll be good to see Simon back onTV and working with Kate Humble again, and wonderful to see natural history portrayed at its best – witnessing raw wildlife encounters.
Not to be missed – Africa 2013: Countdown to the Rains.
It is a 3 part series starting this Sunday, 3 November at 8pm on BBC2.
Wildlife encounters with Simon King are above and beyond the ordinary safari.