Zambia: The Heart of Southern Africa

Welcome to a perspective like never before. Real adventure over epic landscapes. Where incredible people thrive in spectacular places. Alongside some of the world's most iconic wildlife. It's time to see Africa from above. This is Zambia, a land of great, flowing rivers. Breathtaking landscapes, engineering triumphs, and vibrant traditions. Where wildlife battles for survival or thrives in spectacular numbers. This is Zambia from above. In the heart of southern Africa, mighty rivers carve through this nation. Our journey tracks east along the Zambezi to the northern wetlands. Before reaching the Luangwa River Valley. It begins in Zambia's far west on the Zambezi floodplain. This is the mighty Zambezi, one of the continent's longest rivers. Flowing over 2,500 kilometers across southern Africa. Its valley sustains 32 million people, a true lifeline for Zambia. Supporting both people and wildlife along its course. The river creates a fertile floodplain here in the western lowlands. A homeland for the Lozi people. Life along the Zambezi is intricately tied to the seasons. When the rains arrive, the river swells. Stretching 25 kilometers wide. Submerging everything in its path. But for the Lozi, the floodwaters aren't something to fear. They're a cause for celebration. Sparking one of Africa's most stunning traditions. This is Kamboka, which means getting out of the water. Kamboka is a ritual as old as time. When the Zambezi floods hit their peak. The Lozi must move to higher ground. The mass migration begins with the thunder of ancient war drums. Calling everyone from miles away, led by the royal family. The Lozi leave their flooded homes for the plains edge. They stay until the rains end, marking the Zambezi's natural rhythm. And here, it reaches a spectacular crescendo. A true wonder of the natural world. Victoria Falls is among the largest on the planet. Over 500 million liters of water plunge over the edge every minute. Creating a constant, misty veil. David Livingstone was the first European to spot them in 1855. Naming them for his queen, Victoria. But locals have always known them as Mewsuitunia. For the smoke that thunders. Their war carries for miles. 350,000 tourists flock here every year. The best way to see their grandeur is from the sky. And one pilot has spent the last six years doing just that. Aviation is in Grant Welch's blood. He's been eyeing the skies since he was a kid. It was a dream I've had since I was very, very young. Mostly because my uncle actually had a pilot's license back in the day. And he'd take me up on weekends. Ever since then, I've been completely bitten by the aviation bug. That ambition has taken him to new heights. When you fire up a helicopter and feel that raw power. Then lift that aircraft right off the ground. The feeling of hitting that hover is. It's indescribable. Just pure satisfaction and bliss. Now he flies charters over Africa's most iconic landmark. Flying in a place like this is a true privilege. I love sharing this experience with everyone who flies here. Giving them my own perspective of Victoria Falls. Heading downstream, the Zambezi carves deep gorges, creating the perfect. Playground for Grant and his thrill-seeking passengers. The gorge flight is all about getting the heart racing. You're skimming just above the water. You're flying through the gorge, moving at high speed. Most people have never experienced anything like that in a helicopter. Navigating this winding chasm takes nerves of steel. I found my true passion in flying helicopters. Over a century ago, a bold feat of engineering allowed people to cross these canyons. Built in 1905, this was the first bridge to span the Zambezi. At 128 meters, it was the highest railway bridge of its era. Pushing Victorian engineering to the limit. When Zambia was still part of the British Empire. It was part of an ambitious plan to link the colonies from Cape Town to Cairo. The bridge has truly stood the test of time. Still in use, it's the only rail link between Zambia and Zimbabwe. One local train offers passengers a chance to travel back in time. This is the Royal Livingston Express, a relic from a bygone era. Steam engines once powered the Industrial Revolution. Shaping the world as we know it today. Now, they're mostly confined to history books. With only a few still in operation. But fully restored, this antique is in perfect working order. The 1924 locomotive weaves through the bush. Whisking passengers back to the age of steam. It crosses the century-old bridge. Continuing its spectacular journey along one of the most historic railway lines on the continent. Just a few kilometers upstream along the northern banks. Live some of Africa's most hunted creatures. Here, in the Savannah scrub, is a rare sight. Rhinos were declared extinct in Zambia over 20 years ago. Wiped out by poachers hunting for their horns. Falsely believed to cure everything from cancer to impotence. But today, eight southern white rhinos walk Zambian soil again. All thriving within these 66 square kilometers of protected bush. Relocated from South Africa to jumpstart the population, these rhinos. Are guarded by anti-poaching ranger Ernest Mutomba. Poachers are nothing but thieves. If you don't guard and monitor them, they'll have nothing left. As custodians of this precious herd, rangers are the final line of defense. Our main duty is to protect and monitor these rhinos 24-7. It's dangerous work. And it's not just poachers he has to watch for. Weighing over two tons, these giants are the world's second largest land mammals. And can be incredibly aggressive. A few times, I've had some close calls. It's tough work, so you have to be fully committed. You need to be strong, and you need to be brave. That bravery is starting to pay off. The herd is slowly breeding and growing. White rhino pregnancies last 18 months. And usually result in just one calf, making every new birth absolutely vital. The goal is simple, keep these animals alive. We need to grow the numbers so we can translocate them across the nation. Zambia once held one of the largest rhino populations on the continent. Now, from this small group, there's real hope for a comeback across all of Zambia. As the Zambezi flows 170 kilometers downstream. It feeds into a massive expanse of water. Lake Kariba spans over 200 kilometers. Reaching depths of nearly 100 meters. Yet it isn't natural. It's one of the largest man-made reservoirs on earth. Drowned trees are all that remain. Reminders of a once dry valley. Now submerged by this engineering marvel. Completed in 1959, it was once the world's largest dam. And remains a vital power source for southern Africa. Today, it supplies nearly half of Zambia's energy. But this mammoth structure is on the brink of disaster. Flowing water is eroding its foundations, creating a major threat. There are growing fears the Kariba dam could collapse. Spelling catastrophe for thousands downstream. To prevent disaster, a massive reconstruction project is underway. An epic task costing over 200 million euros across a decade. It's a true race against time. Zambia's power grid and countless lives hang in the balance. Only time will tell if the dam can keep taming the Zambezi. But this reservoir offers more than just power. It is the ancestral home of the Batonga. Known as the great river people, they've fished these waters for millennia. 50,000 were displaced when Lake Kariba was born. But now, many make a living from these waters. Fish were introduced to the lake back in the 60s. Today, Zambia's fishing industry thrives right here. The lake's vegetation creates a nutrient-rich habitat for fish farming. And these farms are highly productive. Yielding thousands of tons of tilapia. Providing a unique livelihood for Remi Chinana. His work all happens beneath the surface. Entirely self-taught, he learned to dive in these deep waters. Now he spends his days maintaining the large offshore floating cages. Few can do Remi's job, and it's not without its risks. Not all operations here happen in the light of day. As the sun sets, the lake becomes a hive of activity. This is the start of Triwell Sigil's long night shift. He targets kapenta, a tiny sardine-like fish. These rigs use massive nets and powerful lights lowered deep into the water. This is my top light, and this is my top light. I've been out here for 20, 30 years. Zooplankton are drawn to the light like moths to a flame. And the fish follow soon after. Kapenta makes up 90% of the haul here. The schools here are 5 feet deep. This is the top of the kapenta. This tiny fish packs a real punch. High in protein, it's a vital staple across much of Africa. Crucial for regional food security. High demand strains kapenta numbers. But strict rules prevent overfishing. Securing livelihoods for Triwell and his people. Heading west, the Zambezi Valley opens into vast savanna. Dotted across this landscape sits Mukwa Lantilla Village. Accessible only by dirt tracks, it remains quite remote. Light here is typical for rural Zambia. The sparse population relies on small-scale farming. Onik Lubendo works here as a milkmaid. She spends her days tending to her cattle. Without transport, getting milk to market is a struggle. As a woman, I have to carry 20 liters of milk. On my head to the collection center. But now, a visionary initiative is helping. By providing bicycles to the village women. This bicycle has changed our lives. Because I no longer walk those long distances. Once I collect the milk, it's much easier to reach the collection center. Cycling the 7 kilometers to the depot. Saves her hours every single day. Onik can now carry double the milk in less time. Doubling her profits. Now I can afford school fees for my children. I can buy new clothes for my kids and myself too. Even my husband's putting on weight now. Because I have the money to feed our family. Her bike has become a lifeline for a brighter future. Empowering her and the women of her village. This scheme aims to expand across much of Zambia. Helping the 7 and a half million rural residents. Still isolated from the country's road network. Connecting communities through pedal power. From the villages of southern Zambia, we journey 400 kilometers to the heart of the country and its capital. Lusaka. Once a remote colonial outpost, it became capital in 1935. And later the seat of government when the nation gained independence. Now a sprawling metropolis. It's one of southern Africa's fastest-growing cities, home to 3 million people. It's a vibrant boomtown on the rise. Today is election day. Most of the population is out on the streets. The stakes are high. This is set to be one of the tightest races in history. Zambia has enjoyed decades of free elections. Yet, democracy remains fragile. Political tension and corruption threaten the stability. So, today's turnout is the highest in decades. People are exercising their democratic right to vote. Zambia is a young country. And empowered youth are casting ballots to shape their future. Offering hope that Zambia's peaceful election streak continues. Just 20 kilometers from the chaos of Lusaka sits a tranquil oasis. Meaning place of rest, Lalei Game Reserve is set in pristine bushveld. For 20 years, these grounds have been a sanctuary for Zambia's most vulnerable. The first of its kind in southern Africa. This nursery provides a lifeline for orphaned elephants. They spend their first decade here. Hand-raised by a dedicated team. Meet headkeeper Oliver Mugnama. We cover all of Zambia to rescue them and bring them home. They usually arrive dehydrated and very frail. They need our help. These sensitive calves often arrive traumatized and grieving. Deemed worthless to poachers, they're abandoned when mothers are killed for ivory. Unable to fend for themselves, most wouldn't survive without Lalei. Oliver and his team provide the family they desperately need. Our main focus is ensuring they feel loved and cared for. If you're good to the elephants, they're good to you. We've built a truly special bond with them. But rehabilitation is no easy task. It's a 24-hour job. These growing infants have huge appetites. They're bottle-fed formula every three hours until weaned at three years old. Bushwalks help stimulate their natural instincts. All preparing them for life beyond the nursery. The day will come when they head back to the wild. I love conservation. My job is done when I see them thriving out there. African elephants are threatened, pushed to the brink by hunters. But these calves will roam Zambia's plains. Becoming icons of hope for the future of the species. Leaving the capital's heart. Our journey heads into northern Zambia. Reaching the remote sanctuary of Kasenka National Park. This pocket of wilderness is one of Zambia's most protected sites. A rich tapestry of forests, papyrus swamps, and sweeping grasslands. Kasenka's woodlands are part of a vast forest network. Stretching over 2 million square kilometers. It covers much of southern Africa, forming a vital forest ecosystem, providing essential wildlife habitat and resources supporting the livelihoods of more than 65 million people. The long dry season begins today. Temperatures are soaring. The grasslands are bone dry. These woodlands have become a tinderbox. Wildfires rage through the trees. Destroying thousands of hectares of habitat every year. But in Kasenka, the battle to control these fires is fierce. Targeted burns scorch the dry grass. Creating firebreaks to stop the blaze in its tracks. Fighting fire with fire. This shields the forest from the worst of the flames. From the ash, new growth returns to heal the land. But wildfires are surging, becoming harder to contain. The future of this habitat hangs in the balance. Yet these very woodlands host one of nature's greatest spectacles. They are the destination for the world's largest mammal migration. The epic journey of the giant straw-colored fruit bat. With a meter-wide wingspan, these bats are incredible flyers. A skill needed to migrate thousands of kilometers across Africa. They gather here in numbers unseen anywhere else on earth. Millions crowd into this tiny patch of swamp forest. At dusk, they emerge to feast on the abundant fruit. The colony consumes over a billion fruits during their stay. Eating up to twice their own body weight. And this feeding frenzy plays a vital role. Known as the gardeners of Africa, these bats scatter seeds far and wide. Regenerating the woodlands below and making this spectacle. Crucial for the future of Africa's forests. A hundred kilometers north lies the Bangmulu wetland. Spanning 10,000 square kilometers, one of earth's largest. 17 rivers feed these plains, seasonally flooding. The lowlands and providing a lifeline for 50,000 people living here. Its rich biodiversity makes these wetlands globally vital. A unique habitat. Teeming with wildlife. One rare species calls this home, an antelope adapted to survive. And thrive right here. This is a refuge for the swamp-dwelling black lechwe. The Bangmulu wetlands are the only place on earth. To see them in the wild. Gathering here in the tens of thousands. But that attracts predators. The lechwe find safety in numbers. And their long legs are built to run through water. Yet, not all escape the danger. The young and elderly often fall to hungry hunters. Despite this, their adaptation has caused the population to boom. With herds numbering over 50,000. Making this a major hub for African wildlife. In the English countryside. An extravagant manor house hidden deep in the Zambian bush. This is Siwa Nandu, built by eccentric British aristocrat. Sir Stuart Gore-Brown in the 1920s. A colonial settler captivated by the Zambian wilderness. Building Siwa was a monumental task. Its remoteness meant everything had to be crafted on site. It took 30 years, but Gore-Brown's vision finally came to life. A labor of love, modeled after a grand English country estate. Gore-Brown passed away in 1967 and was laid to rest on the grounds. Today, Siwa has been restored to its former glory. This remarkable site stands as a relic of a bygone colonial era. From the northern granite hills, we head south into the valley of the. Luangwa River. Known as the Pearl of Zambia, Luangwa sits at the tail end of Africa's Great Rift. Valley. This epic geological fracture tears right through the continent. It has carved a massive valley into the plateau. Nurturing the winding, dynamic Luangwa River. It's one of Africa's premier wildlife sanctuaries. Ecologically rich and teeming with life. It serves as a stronghold for top predators. But these hunters aren't the most dangerous animals around. This valley holds the largest population of hippos on the planet. While vulnerable elsewhere, here, they are thriving. Over 25,000 hippos call these waters home. Drawn by the lush vegetation and the thriving river system. But such density often leads to conflict. Despite their ungainly look, they are Africa's deadliest mammal. Weighing up to three and a half tons. And with a bite force twice that of a lion. Even the mightiest predators know to steer clear. They're highly aggressive and defend their territory with ferocity. Giving them the upper hand here in Luangwa. The area's rich wildlife has long drawn the attention of poachers. Scattered across the region are rural communities. Where poverty and nature collide. Meet Julius Kapombo. For 20 years, he was trapped in a life of poaching. After being caught and serving time, he was in desperate need of. A different way of life. It felt like a dead end, but help was at hand. A visionary project is offering a lifeline to former poachers. Training them as farmers. And lifting them out of poverty. Now, they must coexist with the wildlife they once hunted. Elephants often wreak havoc by raiding crops. The farms have to be defended. But Julius has traded bullets for spice. His ammunition is a mix of crushed chili and gunpowder. As soon as elephants are spotted, Julius grabs his gear. Blasts of chili powder safely repel the invaders. Avoiding conflict and protecting his livelihood. Over 1,700 poachers have turned into farmers. Julius is no longer a threat to the animals he once hunted. Here, hunters are becoming allies in the fight against wildlife crime. The Luangwa River heads south, joining the Zambezi as it leaves Zambia. Along the way, these mighty rivers shape epic landscapes, sustaining everyone who lives here. This is a land of optimism. Home to an incredible diversity of life that people are fighting to protect as communities continue to keep their vibrant traditions alive.