Stories of Africa Season 1, Episode 3: Leopard Fight Club

Elephants in the Room

At a luxury lodge in Zambia something bizarre is happening; - a phenomenon that has the world's elephant experts stumped. Every year, tourists flock to witness an extraordinary event: Six wild elephants, led by a matriarch called Wonky Tusk, climb the stairs of the lodge and enter the foyer. The giants stroll past the reception desk and through the dining room. Their destination is a 100-year-old mango tree growing in the courtyard and the fruit that falls from its branches. This "check in" is accomplished without as much as bumping a tea-trolley or breaking a crystal...

Cheetah: Race to Rule

Gunner is a young cheetah born into a cheetah coalition in Linyanti, Botswana. From the moment he opens his eyes the odds are stacked against him. He is the runt of the litter. Gunner's mother tries her best to tame and teach her growing cubs. His brothers take her no-nonsense cheetah boot camp seriously. Their survival depends on how quickly they can learn to hunt alone, and together. Out of the south another coalition of cheetahs emerges from the Savuti. Young, fit, and shameless, these three brothers declare their intention to take over the Linyanti at all costs. ...

Hippo Ganglands

There's a gang war happening in the Luangwa Valley in Zambia, a battle among hippos for territory, dominance, mating rights, and survival. The reason? Dry season: a seven-month drought that forces over 30,000 hippos to the deepest part of the river to stay wet and cool. Follow these three-ton beasts as they fight lions, crocodiles, and other hippo gangs, struggling to stay alive until the next rainfall. Only then can they return to the lush paradise they once called home.

The Real Lion Queen

Filmmaker Herbert Bauer discovers the last remaining lioness of Liuwa in Zambia purely by chance when she steps out of myth and into his viewfinder. A remarkable bond develops between filmmaker and this lonely lioness that he calls Lady. Inspired by her resilience, African Parks and the Carnivore team at the Zambia Wildlife Authority decide to re-establish a viable pride in Liuwa. They build a shelter also known as a boma. They dart two males in a neighboring park and transport them to Lady's core territory. Lady considers both males but after a year, she's still not ...

50 min