African Safari

Climate changes and population growth

are threatening the natural equilibrium of our planet.

Nowhere is the challenge greater than in Africa

where the population is projected to grow

from one to two billion within a few decades.

More land is needed each year

to provide for this rapid growth

and vast areas of African wilderness

are vanishing at an alarming pace.

In years to come,

what remains of the untouched wilderness on this vast continent

could shrink to a few pockets of fenced in game reserves

that will be little more than large outdoor zoos.

Before it is too late,

we want you, to join us

on a safari adventure across the continent

to survey what remains of the real African wilderness.

Look who's join us.

Welcome, it's good to have you on board,

I am Mara Douglas-Hamilton...

and I am Kevin Richardson.

Welcome to Namibia.

We're going to take you on an incredible journey

across Africa all the way to Kilimanjaro.

And remember there is just one rule,

please keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times...

Oh yeah, remember to have some fun.

Let's.

I am really excited to share this incredible experience with Mara.

Born in a family of prominent conservationists in Kenya,

she was raised among wild elephants.

Inspired by her close connection to nature,

she has explored the remotest corners of the continent

and is active in the fight to protect African elephants.

As a child born in the suburbs of Johannesburg,

Kevin who always had a keen interest in animals

was not pre-destined to become

a world renowned wildlife expert.

But at the age of 23, a chance encounter

with the owner of a Lion Park in South Africa

ignited his passion for big cats.

With a lot of hard work and an amazing gift,

he managed to be accepted by a large pride of lion

as one of their own.

To achieve this amazing feat,

Kevin broke safety rules in the book.

Joining us on the expedition

are location manager, Marc Baar,

field engineer, Hal Bowker

and balloonist, Dany Cleyet Marrel.

Dany has customized a balloon, called the Cinebulle,

especially for this adventure.

Instead of a heavy basket,

the passenger sits on a lightweight aluminum bench,

increasing the balloon's flying range dramatically.

The propeller at the back gives us the ability to steer

instead of merely drifting along with the wind current.

As we take off on our maiden flight,

it is reassuring to know that

Dany is one of the world's leading ballooning expert.

He has lead countless...

scientific hot air balloon expeditions on all continents

and is the inventor of a wide range of flying devices

used in the famous canopy raft missions.

We will count on Dany

to get access to some remote parts of the African Wilderness.

The only draw back of the Cinebulle

is that it can only take one passenger.

So Kevin and I will have to take turns,

but today the pleasure is all mine.

My hair got all messed up!

A short distance from the dunes,

we drive east through some of the oldest canyons on earth,

the gateway to one of last safe havens for the elusive black rhino.

Numbering in the hundreds of thousands a century ago,

illegal poaching caused their population

to dwindle to less than 2500.

Thanks to aggressive protection programs in countries like Namibia,

the species recovered somewhat over the last decade to over 5000.

But poaching is on the rise again.

Around 120 black rhinos were killed last year alone.

Thought to have healing powers,

rhino horn is in fact mere keratin,

the same substance as our fingernail.

This protein has zero medicinal value,

yet it is pushing a magnificent species to the brink of extinction.

A number of private game reserves in Africa

have been restocked with rhinos.

But to see them in the wild would be a real treat.

Extremely skittish and fearful of poachers,

black rhinos spend most of their time hidden in thick bush.

There is no guarantee we will meet this pre-historic animal.

I think just up ahead here is where the road forks.

- Yeah, looks like it. - Did you see the Jackal!

- No. - Over there!

I think this is where we turn. Right about here.

Yeah. The river is on the right,

we head to the higher plateau on the left.

Hi, hi, Captain!

I'm glad you know who is in charge here...

Oh, give me a break, Mara!

In order to fight the renewed poaching activity,

Namibia has made vast areas of rhino habitat

inaccessible to the public.

On the express condition

that we do not reveal our actual location,

we've received special permission

to penetrate deep into a rhino sanctuary

accompanied by heavily armed anti-poaching rangers.

Over there in the hills.

- Is that where the hide is? - Yes.

OK. Bye guys. Good luck.

OK, thanks and you too, cheers.

As Mara goes to her hide with Bazil,

I am taken to an even more secret place,

a water hole next to a very remote research station.

A nearby radio tower used by the scientists

could be spotted on Google Earth

enabling poachers to find the location,

so we have been asked not to show any pictures of the surrounding area.

So Bazil, how many Rhinos are we going to see?

20, maybe more.

I wish.

I can't believe it,

we've been here less than an hour

and already our first sighting.

That's Eliza,

she has the longest horn on record of any white rhino in Africa.

You know her by name?

Yes, we see her quite often,

she's been around this area for years.

So we gave her a name.

This is such a great place to view rhinos.

Unlike white rhinos,

black rhinos are reclusive solitary animals,

seldom seen during the day.

But they do need to drink daily,

so they usually head for the waterholes after sunset.

Using infra red lights and special viewing equipment,

I hope to catch a glimpse of the elusive mammals.

Let's see if Kevin or I will have better luck...

See, a jackal!

He seems really nervous.

He must have heard something.

Hey, look at that, a leopard.

That's very unusual,

we seldom see them around here.

Did you hear that?

I think there are some rhinos approaching.

A jackal, a leopard, a white rhino,

all in a few minutes.

There are more coming.

This place is amazing, it's incredible.

I wonder how Mara is doing?

Still nothing.

I know, but sitting and waiting for rhinos is a patience game.

Look to the left Kevin, two more Rhinos.

What a night...

You are really lucky,

look at their mouths.

These are black rhinos.

These majestic animal.

I can't believe poachers would shoot them just for their horns...

But not if we shoot them first!

That's one way to look at it.

They are very skittish, look at their ears.

They know we are here, that's for sure.

Mara to the right...

Oh look, how wonderful.

A mother and her calf.

We must be very quiet.

See how nervous they are.

Oh no, they are leaving already.

What was that?

Something flashing over there.

It's an infra red camera trap.

That's how the researchers keep track of the animals around here.

Oh look here is another male who's approaching.

This is very unique to see so many rhinos in one place.

You are very fortunate,

sometimes we don't see any for a week or more.

Oh shoot...

I hit my lamp against the tablet.

It is sad to see how such fearless animal

have become so nervous because of poaching.

Leaving the Canyon region,

we head west to the Waterberg plateau,

the home of the Cheetah Conservation research center

and one of the largest protected habitats

for the fastest predator on earth.

Like black rhinos,

Cheetahs are on the verge of extinction.

About half of the 6000 remaining specimens

are found in Namibia.

This predator has a large hunting range

often spanning over 150 km.

The abundant wildlife and low population density

make Namibia an ideal sanctuary

for this majestic cat.

Contrary to lion and leopard