Africa's Wild Year

During the summer months on the African plains, conditions become both harsh and rewarding. While many species manage to find plentiful forage, others are forced to contend for scarce water and food, battling the relentless heat that dominates the landscape.

The programme titled Summer is presented as a single episode within a broader series. It falls under the generic label of a programme and is classified as an episode, offering a concise glimpse into a specific time of year. Set on the African plains during the hottest months, the episode shows how the season creates a mix of abundance and struggle. While a number of animals find plenty to eat, others are forced into fierce contests for the limited food and water that remain. The relentless heat acts as a harsh backdrop, turning the landscape into a testing ground for survival. Those creatures that must compete for scarce resources face a constant battle, their movements dictated by the need to locate nourishment and hydration before the sun’s intensity overwhelms them. At the same time, the same conditions provide opportunities for species that can capitalise on the plentiful offerings. The episode highlights this dual nature of summer: a period that can be both generous and unforgiving, where the balance between feast and fight is dictated solely by the unforgiving climate of the plains.