Africa's Hunters

The Mwamba lion pride are the largest in Zambia's Luangwa Valley: three dominant males, several experienced lionesses, plus their yearlings--adolescents on the cusp of adulthood. The future of the pride depends on these yearlings learning to hunt quickly, but an ambush by a local hyena clan has set them back. To survive, they will have to hone their skills and start contributing to the hunt.

For lion cub Milo, being born into a strong clan in the Luangwa Valley should be enough to secure his future. But a devastating loss triggers a chain of events that sees him rejected by his parents. As the sole surviving cub, he has become a burden for the pride. If Milo is to win his way back into favor, he will need to fend for himself and prove he can keep up--but does he have what it takes?

The members of the Nsefu pride take a huge risk: they're leaving their home turf, and crossing the Luangwa River in search of prey. Navigating croc-infested waters is a challenge, especially for the pride's yearling, dubbed the Misfit. It's a foolhardy gamble, but hunger has forced their hand. If they're to succeed, they'll need the Misfit to come of age--their very survival depends on it.

Chipazua is no ordinary leopardess. She relies on her mother Malaika for food, although she should be an independent adolescent by now. When Malaika tires of her behavior and wanders off, Chip faces a harsh new reality. She now must hunt for herself, evade danger, and even navigate courtship with a local male leopard. But can she acquire the necessary skills at this late stage of her life?

A pack of wild dogs in Zambia's Luangwa Valley lord over a home range of nearly 200 square miles. However, trouble is brewing: a nearby clan of hyenas are determined to make life difficult for the dogs, from stealing their food to hunting their pups. It's a turf war with deadly repercussions--and that's even before the lions become involved.

In the depths of the Luangwa Valley, an unusual confrontation brews between two unlikely and evenly-matched opponents: an elite pride of lions, and a 300-strong herd of buffalo. Male buffalo can weigh up to a ton, have thick 2-inch hides and lethal horns. It's an epic stand-off between two formidable adversaries, with neither willing to cede ground.