A view of one of the greatest river systems on the planet, produced by multi award-winning South African film makers Beverly and Dereck Joubert is coming to Nat Geo this September.

The Okavango is a river that starts inland and ends inland. It is the only one in the world that goes from nowhere, to nowhere…. but what a journey. One of the last remaining wild places on Earth, the Okavango Delta in Southern Africa was named by UNESCO as the 1 000th World Heritage Site. Okavango, River of Dreams, a three-part series which presents the amazing landscapes and wildlife of the Upper Okavango river, will premiere on National Geographic Wild on 5 September at 18:00 CAT.

Like all wild ecosystems, the Okavango thrives on change and everything is connected to everything else. Lions chase elephants, who chase hippos, who chase crocodiles, who chase barbell fish, who chase insects driven up the grass stalks by rising waters. These circles of life are the real stories that tell the larger story of this river. The river is just the connecting tissue. Okavango, River of Dreams presents an inspiring exploration of the exceptional life in this unique wilderness, which provides refuge to vast populations of wildlife.

This unique series also tells the story of Fekeetsa, a lioness, and her life in this watery world. Fekeetsa, meaning “overcoming challenges”, became a talisman for Beverly Joubert as they shared a parallel journey. At the time of shooting Okavango, River of Dreams, Beverly was recovering from a brutal Buffalo attack. She describes Feeketsa as “a source of strength and perseverance, who inspired me to keep on, as she too was recovering from the same injury. Her resilience and tenacity were incredible to see.”

“This series is based on the premise that someone’s paradise is someone else’s hell. And it is. A lioness hunts in the swamp and turns a lechwe antelope’s life upside down, as her baby is killed. However, the lioness carries this kill back to her own cubs and saves their lives. This series is designed to be a poetic balance of adoration for the magic of the Okavango and an understanding of the science it presents us to unravel” said Dereck Joubert.

Okavango, River of Dreams is produced by National Geographic explorers-in-residence, Beverly and Dereck Joubert. They have lived in the Okavango for 35 years, a place that has given them nine Emmy Awards, a Peabody and a range of others, as well as a few scrapes and bruises, 21 scorpion stings, three snake bites, four elephant attacks, a nearly deadly buffalo attack, malaria, and airplane crashes.

Join National Geographic Wild on this magical journey of the Okavango and understand why it is sometimes referred to as the place of the ‘Untamed Spirit’. Perhaps it will speak to your own wild side, on 5, 6 and 7 September 2019 at 18:00.

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Nat Geo Wild’s ninth annual big cat event packs in five new premieres over the month of February 2019, featuring surprising behaviours and inspiring stories of big cats around the world. Every year the channel shines a light on these majestic creatures to remind people of their struggle and their importance in our world.

The month starts with Dereck – and Beverly Joubert’s Birth of a Pride which follows the extraordinary journey of lions returning to a reserve in Botswana as they grow from a single female and her cub into a fully formed, majestic hunting pride. Next up, Leopard Kingdom tells the tale of Karula the leopard, who ruled her South African kingdom for over a decade, and the struggles among her successors.

Showcasing rarely seen behaviour in Man vs. Puma, host Boone Smith observes pumas hunting penguins in Patagonia.  Clash of the Tigers follows the extraordinary tale of a strong-willed mother tiger who risks everything to rear her young cubs, and Regime of the Queen puts a spotlight on the role of the lioness in a pride.

More than a television event, Big Cat Month is an extension of the Big Cats Initiative, a long-term commitment by the National Geographic Society to halt the decline of big cats in the wild. This global programme actively supports on-the-ground research and conservation projects to protect the planet’s top felines. For more information on the Big Cats Initiative and how you can get involved, visit NatGeoBigCats.org

Big Cat Month Line-up

Birth of a Pride

Premieres 3 February at 18:00

In Selinda, Bostwana, lions had been hunted to near extinction but, thanks to conservation, the number of lions has grown from two to over 60. Witness an incredible and heart-warming story of survival through the eyes of the lions that beat the odds. Follow six cubs as they navigate the world and learn to hunt, socialise and survive in the now flourishing wilderness.

Tree Climbing Lions

Premieres 3 February at 18:45

Big cat biologist Alexander Braczkowski is on a mission. He’s got 90 days to count lions in Uganda and learn how the population is doing. But these aren’t ordinary lions. The prides in Queen Elizabeth National Park spend most of their lives up in the trees, a rare and mysterious behaviour unique to this part of Africa. On his journey, he’ll witness mothers battling the odds to raise cubs through their first year of life, and the threats tree climbing lions face as the human population expands. Alex’s experience will become more personal than he could have imagined, and he’ll learn that saving lions can be about much more than counting cats.

Leopard Kingdom

Premieres 10 February at 18:00

Karula, the Queen of Djuma, reigned over South Africa’s Sabi Sand Reserve for over a decade. Throughout her rule she endured droughts, attacks on her territory, and staved off hunger. She had three suitors, six cubs, and five grand-cubs. Her kingdom was strong, but now she is gone. Between Thandi, Shadow, and Xongile – three of Karula’s eldest daughters – a new queen will take the throne. But when an interloper finds his way into their domain and aims to take the thrown for himself, will the sisters put family first?

Leopard Huntress

Premieres 10 February at 18:45

When a vicious fight with the Male leopard results in her cub’s death, Malika must reinvent herself after the loss. In the battle to survive she faces dangerous enemies and must hunt way outside her comfort zone. Her desperation inspires ingenious new ambush techniques and each success slowly rebuilds her confidence till she has the courage to face her enemies and regain her former glory.

Clash of the Tigers

Premieres 17 February at 18:00

Two royal Bengal tigers in Ranthambore, India, are sisters, natural born killers, granddaughters of the most famous queen tiger in the world and heirs to her magnificent throne. They live in a paradise that is one of the last tiger sanctuaries on Earth. And they want only one thing: to remove their mother, destroy the other sister and reign supreme. This is their story.

Man vs. Puma

Premieres 24 February at 18:00

Big cat expert Boone Smith travels to Patagonia to observe pumas thriving in the wild under increased conservation efforts. The cats have not learned to fear humans, making this the one area in the world where people can observe their behaviour up close. Once there, Boone is fascinated to watch the pumas hunting penguins, an incredibly rare behaviour. The tables are turned when a big cat starts to stalk HIM and he comes face to face with a hungry mother on the hunt.

Regime of the Queen

Premieres 24 February at 18:45

The lion is the king of beasts but it is the lioness that is the real power behind the throne. She is 135 kilograms of predator, part of a pride that forms family groups that work together to strike down prey and ferociously patrol the boundaries of their territory. The lioness will let nothing threaten her family’s rule. Through creating alliances and ruthlessly eliminating enemies, the land is hers to rule.

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