Once Upon a Time in Tsavo

In arid regions across Africa, a remarkable relationship between elephants and termites creates a waterhole – a green oasis which is central to every animal’s life. The story follows an extraordinary community of creatures, that call the waterhole ‘home’ over a season in their lives. They range from a family of elephants to a pair of hornbills (aka ‘Zazu’ of The Lion King) alongside dung-beetles, chameleons, bullfrogs, geese and killifish.

Episodes

Life in abundance

Dust, sand and shimmering heat – it is the dry season in Tsavo. The drought makes life difficult for many creatures. Without the precious water there is no long-term existence - the few water points are all the more important. The first episode describes how the rare but heavier rains affect the flora and fauna - and how a waterhole is created. It all starts with an abandoned termite burrow. The building material of the crumbling tower magically attracts elephants because it contains mineral nutrients that enrich the gray giants' diet. And so the elephants, as well as wind and rain, completely remove the termite burrow over time until a shallow depression is created.

50 min

Fight to survive

A waterhole can exist for a hundred years. But every year it goes through a profound change. The arc spans from decline to rebirth. The water is slowly evaporating and the level of the waterhole in Kenya's Tsavo National Park is beginning to fall. When the seeds of the grasses ripen in the surrounding bushland, a true force of nature appears at the waterhole. The sky darkens as the blood-billed weavers arrive at the start of the dry season. They are considered the most common birds in the world and their flocks consist of tens of thousands of animals. They come from the north, where they raised their young in huge breeding colonies.

50 min