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NARRATOR: Lying
in South Africa's heartland
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is a mystical world.
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A land of extremes,
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where high, barren peaks
border rich, rolling grasslands.
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Giants soar in the skies,
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and the most vulnerable
seek shelter.
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The vast mountain range
poses a constant danger
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and a daily challenge.
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But for those that have adapted,
it's home.
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Still, even for the mightiest,
life is never easy
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in the Drakensberg's
barrier of spears.
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♪ ♪
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NARRATOR:
The Zulu people
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who live along the eastern
shadow of the mountain range
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call it Ukhahlamba--
the Barrier of Spears.
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The first Dutch settlers
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to drive their ox-wagons
into the foothills
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named it the Drakensberg--
the Dragon's Mountain.
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Both names are still
in use today,
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but most South Africans
simply refer to it as the Berg--
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the Mountain.
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Regardless of what it is called,
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the gargantuan sequence of peaks
that divides Kwazulu-Natal
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from the cloud-reaching
Kingdom of Lesotho
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is among the most impressive
landscapes in South Africa.
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The Drakensberg mountain range
extends more than 550 miles
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across southern Africa.
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It encompasses massive
sandstone buttresses,
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grass-covered slopes,
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and two mile high
cathedral-like rock towers.
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Dangerous thunderstorms can
gather in a matter of moments.
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(thunder rumbling)
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And a mighty waterfall plummets
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more than 3,000 feet
from its cliffs.
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The mountains' rugged character
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is paired with stunning
natural beauty,
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and surviving here
requires the ability to adapt
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and use the mountain
to your advantage.
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Overnight temperatures
regularly drop below freezing,
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so for many mountain residents,
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the rising sun is their cue
to get moving.
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The Drakensberg is home
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to a number of species
of birds of prey.
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Soaring high over the mountain,
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they glide vast distances
along the many peaks and cliffs.
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But one species requires
a little more assistance
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to get airborne.
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The Cape vulture
is not an early riser.
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One of the most widely spread
scavengers on the mountain,
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you don't see them out and about
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until the sun
is well above the horizon
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and the thermals
are strong enough
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to get them,
and keep them, airborne.
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Highly sociable,
they nest and roost
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in large colonies
along the cliffs,
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where they sit and wait
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for the first air currents
of the day
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to rise up the mountainside.
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On still days,
they may not take off at all;
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at almost 22 pounds
they are just too heavy.
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But when the conditions
are right,
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they launch themselves
off the cliffs.
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♪ ♪
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Making use of updrafts
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produced as wind blows
over the mountain ridges,
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they fly back and forth
to gain height.
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Once up, the vultures flap
as little as possible.
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They have a special arrangement
of muscles
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that enables them
to lock their wings,
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keeping them extended
in the soaring position
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for hours at a time.
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Using thermals
decreases the need
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to flap their huge,
three-feet-long wings,
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meaning the birds use
three times less energy
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than they would need
for flapping.
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Vultures coast and soar
with so little wasted effort,
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they can range over a distance
of almost 90 miles
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on a good day.
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As scavengers,
they feed mostly on carrion.
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When searching for food,
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they form a foraging net
across the sky,
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watching each other
as they search large areas
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to locate a suitable carcass.
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This can require traveling
great distances.
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When they spot a potential meal,
Cape vultures can swoop down,
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circling in a two-and-a-half
mile radius
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and dropping
980 feet to the ground
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in less than six minutes.
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These heavy birds have evolved
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to use the updrafts and thermals
created by the warming sun
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to master the skies
over the Drakensberg.
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Cape vultures are one
of a number of species
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that soar between the peaks.
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Lammergeyers, black eagles,
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and harrier hawks
are all found here.
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And for many on the mountain,
they pose a constant threat.
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As rocks warm in the morning,
cold-blooded reptiles
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use the sun's heat
as an energy source.
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The rocky outcrops
of the Drakensberg
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provide a refuge
for many lizards,
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and the ideal spot for basking.
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Lizards control
their body temperature
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through a process
known as thermoregulation.
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They use the environment
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to raise and lower
their body temperature.
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Either by basking
in full sunlight
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or by sheltering under a rock.
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The mountains are home
to some striking species.
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These speckled rock skinks
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seem to almost enjoy
their sunbathing
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despite the threat from above.
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A lower transparent eyelid
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provides a window
for the lizards to peep through
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while closing their eyes,
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an evolutionary adaptation
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offering protection
to the skinks' eyes
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as well as allowing them
to stay alert to predators.
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Camouflage is crucial
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when you have to lie
out in the open
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for long periods,
unable to make a quick getaway.
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It allows this southern
rock agama to blend in,
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making it harder to spot
from above.
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The Drakensberg's lizards
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are not the only creatures
that depend on the sun.
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A large mole snake has been
warming up in the grasslands.
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Being cold-blooded,
they too must heat up
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before they can perform their
regular reptilian activities.
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Most days,
this means finding a meal.
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Up on the exposed surface,
it is now a balancing act
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between gaining enough warmth
from the sun,
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while at the same time
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having to deal
with a chilling wind.
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It's a slow start to the day.
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A cold snake cannot hunt.
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They feed predominantly
on small warm-blooded mammals
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such as rats, mice, and moles.
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They are not venomous.
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Instead, they constrict
their prey with powerful coils,
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which they wrap
around the unfortunate rodents.
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Once fully charged,
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the three-foot-long serpent
heads off in search of a meal.
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It pays to make the most
of the sun when it's out.
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(thunder rumbling)
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The weather can change
in a matter of hours
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on the mountain.
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At this altitude,
days and nights
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can be bitterly cold,
often dropping below freezing.
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To survive here,
it is vital you keep warm.
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The Cape rock hyrax
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live in large colonies
of up to 25 animals
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among the crags and boulders
of the Drakensberg.
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And there is nothing
they enjoy more
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than a spot of sunbathing.
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♪ ♪
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Once warm, the colony
begins to forage.
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Their mountain home provides
all the food they need.
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But on a warm day,
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predators patrol the skies
above the Drakensberg.
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The hyraxes are exposed,
vulnerable,
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but they are always alert
to danger.
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The black eagle dives.
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(squeaking loudly)
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The more pairs of eyes,
the better.
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Up here, working as a team
can be the difference
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between life and death.
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Living in large groups
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has provided the hyrax
with the security they need
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to survive the slopes
of the Drakensberg.
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But not all
of the Drakensberg's mammals
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have chosen communal living
as a survival method.
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Some have opted
for a life of solitude
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and use the cover of darkness
to their advantage.
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On the grasslands below,
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one of the mountain's most
secretive residents emerges:
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a climbing mouse.
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At a little over two inches
long, it is minute.
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Living in the shadow
of the mountain,
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it inhabits the savanna,
feeding on grasses.
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A long prehensile tail
and specially adapted toes
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help them climb stalks
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to reach the succulent seeds
at the top.
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In this mighty landscape,
they can easily be overlooked.
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But the Drakensberg has
supported the great and small
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throughout its history.
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The story of how this
extraordinary mountain range
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got to be here begins
around three billion years ago,
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when this landmass was part
of a supercontinent
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known as Gondwana.
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Scientists believe that
at that time,
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a massive lake
covered the granite foundation
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on which the mountain
now stands.
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Over the course
of millions of years,
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runoff carried sand and mud
into the lake,
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where it settled
into sedimentary layers
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that hardened
under the compacting weight.
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This process carried on
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until several hundred
million years ago.
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The youngest of these
sedimentary layers
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now lies exposed in the cliffs
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at the base
of the Drakensberg range.
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Then, around 160 million
years ago,
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00:17:35,655 --> 00:17:38,958
immense pressure
deep within the Earth
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caused Gondwana to split apart.
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The slowly drifting
tectonic plates
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formed the continents of today.
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00:17:52,138 --> 00:17:56,909
In this period of great change,
vast lava flows poured out
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through fractures
in the Earth's crust,
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00:17:59,545 --> 00:18:03,582
hardening into layers of basalt.
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00:18:08,287 --> 00:18:13,559
Over about 20 million years,
the basalt deposits grew to be
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nearly a mile thick
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over the sandstone below.
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The results were majestic.
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When the lava flows stopped,
it halted the construction
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00:18:31,010 --> 00:18:33,713
of this extraordinary
mountain range,
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00:18:33,713 --> 00:18:39,452
and a slow process
of wearing away began.
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00:18:43,456 --> 00:18:45,458
Along the escarpment,
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00:18:45,458 --> 00:18:48,260
erosion often follows
fracture planes
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that form deep within the rock.
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00:18:53,132 --> 00:18:56,736
As the rocks crumble
along these planes,
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broad cliff faces form,
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sometimes extending
in a straight line
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00:19:02,274 --> 00:19:04,577
for many miles.
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00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:11,584
Higher still,
much of the hard basalt
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has long since
been whittled down
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00:19:13,619 --> 00:19:17,490
by time and the elements.
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00:19:17,490 --> 00:19:21,327
Blocks and slabs
were shorn away,
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00:19:21,327 --> 00:19:25,698
then pulverized
over centuries of weathering,
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00:19:25,698 --> 00:19:30,603
or were swallowed by the
Drakensberg's deep ravines.
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00:19:33,773 --> 00:19:39,578
Now, only towering peaks remain,
a chain of sentinels
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00:19:39,578 --> 00:19:42,715
keeping watch
over the landscape.
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00:19:45,151 --> 00:19:48,621
The debris
from this long process
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00:19:48,621 --> 00:19:51,524
has been churned
into a black soil
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00:19:51,524 --> 00:19:55,261
that supports the grasses,
covering the slopes below.
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00:20:00,199 --> 00:20:04,670
From every vantage point,
this barrier of spears
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00:20:04,670 --> 00:20:07,273
bears the scars
of the powerful forces
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00:20:07,273 --> 00:20:10,109
that have shaped it
through the ages.
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00:20:10,109 --> 00:20:15,147
But the Drakensberg too
is a force,
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00:20:15,147 --> 00:20:18,350
and has an impact
on the surrounding landscape.
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00:20:18,350 --> 00:20:25,324
For this reason, it is also
known by another name:
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00:20:25,324 --> 00:20:28,594
the Creator of Rivers.
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00:20:39,805 --> 00:20:44,310
High rainfall combined
with winter snow
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00:20:44,310 --> 00:20:48,214
and porous basalt rock
makes the Drakensberg
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00:20:48,214 --> 00:20:52,318
the most important watershed
in southern Africa.
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00:20:52,318 --> 00:20:57,590
It's the source
of several significant rivers,
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00:20:57,590 --> 00:21:00,793
including South Africa's
two largest:
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00:21:00,793 --> 00:21:06,198
the west-flowing Orange,
which runs over 1,300 miles
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00:21:06,198 --> 00:21:10,102
before emptying
into the Atlantic Ocean;
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00:21:10,102 --> 00:21:13,139
and the east-flowing Thukela,
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00:21:13,139 --> 00:21:16,876
which flows over 300 miles
in the opposite direction
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00:21:16,876 --> 00:21:19,778
before it reaches
the east coast.
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00:21:22,181 --> 00:21:24,850
Up to 6-1/2 feet of rain
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00:21:24,850 --> 00:21:29,788
can fall on the high plateau
in a single year.
253
00:21:29,788 --> 00:21:32,892
There is snow cover
for four months of the year
254
00:21:32,892 --> 00:21:38,764
in protected gullies
and in south-facing slopes.
255
00:21:38,764 --> 00:21:42,768
Mists shroud the peaks,
256
00:21:42,768 --> 00:21:45,771
strong winds batter
their summits...
257
00:21:45,771 --> 00:21:48,274
(thunder rumbling)
258
00:21:48,274 --> 00:21:50,843
...and torrential thunderstorms
regularly build
259
00:21:50,843 --> 00:21:52,411
during the summer months.
260
00:21:55,147 --> 00:22:01,754
The lifeblood of the Drakensberg
combines and overflows,
261
00:22:01,754 --> 00:22:03,923
pouring off the mountain.
262
00:22:03,923 --> 00:22:08,260
Nowhere is this more impressive
than at the Thukela falls.
263
00:22:10,663 --> 00:22:14,166
With a total drop of
over 3,000 feet,
264
00:22:14,166 --> 00:22:17,403
it is the highest waterfall
in Africa
265
00:22:17,403 --> 00:22:19,805
and the second highest
in the world.
266
00:22:23,842 --> 00:22:25,411
It is so high that
267
00:22:25,411 --> 00:22:27,680
by the time the water
has reached the bottom,
268
00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:35,454
much of it has turned into mist,
disappearing into thin air.
269
00:22:40,259 --> 00:22:41,794
From their very beginning,
270
00:22:41,794 --> 00:22:43,696
the Drakensberg's rivers
support life
271
00:22:43,696 --> 00:22:46,599
despite the harsh conditions.
272
00:22:46,599 --> 00:22:50,269
River frogs embrace the cold.
273
00:22:50,269 --> 00:22:52,871
Living in high altitude streams,
274
00:22:52,871 --> 00:22:55,407
some even spend
the winter months sheltered
275
00:22:55,407 --> 00:22:56,709
under a layer of ice.
276
00:23:00,980 --> 00:23:04,984
Freshwater crabs breed
successfully,
277
00:23:04,984 --> 00:23:08,821
populating the waterways.
278
00:23:15,327 --> 00:23:17,730
♪ ♪
279
00:23:35,881 --> 00:23:41,754
And the abundance of life
attracts visitors.
280
00:23:41,754 --> 00:23:45,858
A lone black stork
feeds along a river
281
00:23:45,858 --> 00:23:49,995
on one of the high plateaus.
282
00:23:49,995 --> 00:23:54,033
These migratory birds
are attracted to the mountain
283
00:23:54,033 --> 00:23:57,369
as they make their way north.
284
00:23:59,605 --> 00:24:01,273
An African spoonbill
285
00:24:01,273 --> 00:24:06,779
has also made its way up
from the plains below.
286
00:24:09,648 --> 00:24:11,450
The rich, fertile lands
287
00:24:11,450 --> 00:24:16,288
provide a wealth of feeding
opportunities for them both,
288
00:24:16,288 --> 00:24:20,292
with frogs and crabs
being favored items
289
00:24:20,292 --> 00:24:22,961
on the stork's menu--
290
00:24:22,961 --> 00:24:27,933
the perfect pit stop
on their annual migration.
291
00:24:40,412 --> 00:24:44,416
As the waterways flow
further down the mountain,
292
00:24:44,416 --> 00:24:47,553
they finally spread out
into the vast grasslands
293
00:24:47,553 --> 00:24:50,823
surrounding its peaks.
294
00:24:55,928 --> 00:24:58,831
Despite looking like
one homogenous mass,
295
00:24:58,831 --> 00:25:01,667
these plains
are actually made up
296
00:25:01,667 --> 00:25:06,905
of an incredibly diverse mix
of species.
297
00:25:08,974 --> 00:25:10,976
The montane grasslands have
298
00:25:10,976 --> 00:25:15,314
an exceptionally rich
biodiversity.
299
00:25:18,384 --> 00:25:20,953
And this has contributed
to the Drakensberg's status
300
00:25:20,953 --> 00:25:24,590
as a world heritage site.
301
00:25:24,590 --> 00:25:29,361
The total number
of plant species recorded
302
00:25:29,361 --> 00:25:35,033
equates to about a tenth of all
plant species in South Africa.
303
00:25:40,139 --> 00:25:44,977
Incredibly, 13% of these
are found nowhere else on earth.
304
00:25:56,588 --> 00:25:59,992
The grasslands harbor
a wealth of life.
305
00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:09,768
The vast expanse of land
306
00:26:09,768 --> 00:26:13,038
lying at the foot
of the mighty Drakensberg
307
00:26:13,038 --> 00:26:18,877
plays host to animals
of all shapes and sizes.
308
00:26:18,877 --> 00:26:25,517
Each species has adapted to make
the most of what's on offer.
309
00:26:25,517 --> 00:26:30,722
But to do so,
they must cover huge distances
310
00:26:30,722 --> 00:26:35,894
as food and resources
are spread far and wide.
311
00:26:35,894 --> 00:26:41,834
Black-backed jackals thrive
on the lives the mountain takes,
312
00:26:41,834 --> 00:26:43,936
scavenging on carcasses.
313
00:26:57,649 --> 00:26:59,084
For one family,
314
00:26:59,084 --> 00:27:02,120
the day's foraging starts
in the open grasslands.
315
00:27:04,189 --> 00:27:06,725
After spending
the freezing nights
316
00:27:06,725 --> 00:27:09,728
sheltering in the mountain's
endless caves and overhangs,
317
00:27:09,728 --> 00:27:13,966
this troop of Chacma baboons
has come down to forage.
318
00:27:14,833 --> 00:27:16,468
(baboon call)
319
00:27:20,072 --> 00:27:22,708
The family move as one unit,
320
00:27:22,708 --> 00:27:26,078
and those that can't keep up
are carried.
321
00:27:34,853 --> 00:27:39,625
But out on the plains,
they are all vulnerable.
322
00:27:39,625 --> 00:27:43,161
Exposed by the enormity
of the landscape,
323
00:27:43,161 --> 00:27:45,998
the Drakensberg's
aerial predators
324
00:27:45,998 --> 00:27:51,737
are a constant threat
even for these heavyweights.
325
00:28:03,582 --> 00:28:08,887
But baboons are opportunists,
and a clear morning
326
00:28:08,887 --> 00:28:11,590
has enticed them
out of last night's dwellings.
327
00:28:15,127 --> 00:28:17,596
Chacma baboons
are highly adaptable
328
00:28:17,596 --> 00:28:21,300
and can survive
in a range of habitats.
329
00:28:21,300 --> 00:28:24,570
The key to their success
in the Drakensberg
330
00:28:24,570 --> 00:28:28,307
is to not be picky eaters.
331
00:28:28,307 --> 00:28:33,145
The baboons' diet includes
almost anything that is edible.
332
00:28:34,780 --> 00:28:37,583
When foraging,
they use their fingers
333
00:28:37,583 --> 00:28:39,184
to dig through the hard soil
334
00:28:39,184 --> 00:28:44,323
to reach the nutritious plant
roots, bulbs, and grubs below.
335
00:28:44,323 --> 00:28:47,659
This technique has allowed them
to carve out
336
00:28:47,659 --> 00:28:50,729
a life for themselves
in this barren landscape.
337
00:28:53,632 --> 00:28:58,270
These grasslands also attract
visitors from afar.
338
00:29:03,942 --> 00:29:05,944
These white storks
339
00:29:05,944 --> 00:29:08,880
spent the warm summer months
of the breeding season
340
00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:12,084
in parts of central
and southern Europe,
341
00:29:12,084 --> 00:29:14,720
the Middle East, and Asia.
342
00:29:18,857 --> 00:29:20,826
As winter arrived,
343
00:29:20,826 --> 00:29:24,763
they undertook
a spectacular migration,
344
00:29:24,763 --> 00:29:28,700
flying directly across the
vast expanse of the Sahara...
345
00:29:33,739 --> 00:29:35,907
Before eventually
taking up residence
346
00:29:35,907 --> 00:29:39,277
in the shadow
of the Drakensberg's peaks.
347
00:29:43,982 --> 00:29:47,386
The white stork is a largely
carnivorous bird,
348
00:29:47,386 --> 00:29:50,088
consuming a wide range of prey
349
00:29:50,088 --> 00:29:52,257
including snakes, frogs,
insects,
350
00:29:52,257 --> 00:29:56,662
and, on occasion,
some rodent species.
351
00:30:11,043 --> 00:30:14,079
They are not picky eaters;
352
00:30:14,079 --> 00:30:19,885
almost anything will do,
allowing them to scrape a living
353
00:30:19,885 --> 00:30:23,722
from the Drakensberg's
meager offerings.
354
00:30:23,722 --> 00:30:27,159
The white stork
is a tough character,
355
00:30:27,159 --> 00:30:31,797
but it's not the only animal
drawn to the Drakensberg.
356
00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:38,770
Down on the plains,
large grazers gather,
357
00:30:38,770 --> 00:30:44,309
but all are dwarfed
by their surroundings.
358
00:30:51,116 --> 00:30:55,320
Black wildebeest used to migrate
across the region
359
00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:59,157
in their thousands,
but due to human activity,
360
00:30:59,157 --> 00:31:02,294
they are now restricted
to the Drakensberg's territory.
361
00:31:07,099 --> 00:31:11,002
Small grazing herds
roam the grasslands and plateaus
362
00:31:11,002 --> 00:31:14,005
as they feed.
363
00:31:14,005 --> 00:31:15,874
They are hardy survivors.
364
00:31:21,079 --> 00:31:23,181
Thick, dark coats insulate them
365
00:31:23,181 --> 00:31:26,718
better than their relative,
the blue wildebeest,
366
00:31:26,718 --> 00:31:29,955
making them more adapted
to the severe cold.
367
00:31:36,795 --> 00:31:38,964
They require little protection
368
00:31:38,964 --> 00:31:41,032
during the mountain's
cold winter
369
00:31:41,032 --> 00:31:42,768
and at its higher altitudes.
370
00:32:00,986 --> 00:32:04,122
Despite the abundance of land
in the Drakensberg,
371
00:32:04,122 --> 00:32:09,094
the rules of Africa's savannas
still apply here
372
00:32:09,094 --> 00:32:11,062
when it comes to territory.
373
00:32:11,062 --> 00:32:15,433
The best are prime sparring
grounds for male hartebeests.
374
00:32:24,543 --> 00:32:29,314
Their domains must incorporate
a rich source of food,
375
00:32:29,314 --> 00:32:31,850
easy access to water,
376
00:32:31,850 --> 00:32:34,820
and a firm footing
during the rains.
377
00:32:35,987 --> 00:32:39,858
Competition for such
pivotal lands is fierce.
378
00:32:43,862 --> 00:32:48,934
Ruling individuals will
regularly meet at their borders
379
00:32:48,934 --> 00:32:51,036
and lock horns.
380
00:33:07,919 --> 00:33:12,290
Serious fights, though rare,
can result in fatalities.
381
00:33:12,290 --> 00:33:18,930
For now, it seems they are just
letting off a bit of steam.
382
00:33:24,603 --> 00:33:28,139
With so many grazers competing
383
00:33:28,139 --> 00:33:31,276
for the mountain's fresh,
succulent grasses,
384
00:33:31,276 --> 00:33:36,514
some have been forced higher
to find land of their own.
385
00:33:36,514 --> 00:33:40,518
The grey rhebok
ekes out a living
386
00:33:40,518 --> 00:33:43,488
on these steep slopes.
387
00:33:46,925 --> 00:33:50,629
It has evolved to survive here
by subsisting off grasses
388
00:33:50,629 --> 00:33:53,632
that are either inaccessible
or unpalatable
389
00:33:53,632 --> 00:33:58,103
to most other antelope
in the Drakensberg.
390
00:34:01,573 --> 00:34:04,342
The rhebok lives in some
of the more barren areas
391
00:34:04,342 --> 00:34:05,944
of the Drakensberg,
392
00:34:05,944 --> 00:34:08,480
where some of the very first
species to settle here
393
00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:11,016
continue to thrive.
394
00:34:13,385 --> 00:34:16,021
♪ ♪
395
00:34:26,264 --> 00:34:29,200
One of the earliest life forms
to take hold
396
00:34:29,200 --> 00:34:30,936
had a lasting influence.
397
00:34:37,676 --> 00:34:40,512
The arrival of lichen
is a vital step
398
00:34:40,512 --> 00:34:43,014
in the colonization
of bare rock.
399
00:34:55,427 --> 00:34:58,296
As soil slowly begins
to accumulate
400
00:34:58,296 --> 00:35:00,031
in the cracks of rocks
401
00:35:00,031 --> 00:35:02,500
and the dead bodies of lichens
begin to gather,
402
00:35:02,500 --> 00:35:08,206
larger plants are able to gain
a hold on the layer of remains.
403
00:35:19,718 --> 00:35:23,421
As these gather,
they break up the rock even more
404
00:35:23,421 --> 00:35:27,025
and they add their own
dead bodies to the pile...
405
00:35:35,166 --> 00:35:38,336
Creating soil
where the seeds of small plants
406
00:35:38,336 --> 00:35:41,106
are able to root and grow.
407
00:35:48,279 --> 00:35:53,918
But the entire process starts
with the lowly lichen.
408
00:35:59,624 --> 00:36:01,226
And without it,
409
00:36:01,226 --> 00:36:05,630
the Drakensberg would have
a very different appearance.
410
00:36:09,601 --> 00:36:12,370
Throughout the range,
plants and animals
411
00:36:12,370 --> 00:36:15,573
have adapted to survive
the extreme conditions
412
00:36:15,573 --> 00:36:18,777
faced on a daily basis.
413
00:36:18,777 --> 00:36:23,615
At higher altitudes,
the soil is like a dry sponge.
414
00:36:28,486 --> 00:36:34,125
This prevents it from freezing
in the severe cold.
415
00:36:34,125 --> 00:36:37,228
Above the tree line,
plants survive
416
00:36:37,228 --> 00:36:42,400
because many of them have
subterranean bulbs and roots.
417
00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:47,539
While lower down, specialists
fringe the streams and rivers
418
00:36:47,539 --> 00:36:49,274
running off the mountain.
419
00:37:01,286 --> 00:37:03,421
(water dripping)
420
00:37:03,421 --> 00:37:05,290
Mosses are perfectly adapted
421
00:37:05,290 --> 00:37:09,727
to make the most
of the wet conditions.
422
00:37:09,727 --> 00:37:12,230
Part of an ancient lineage,
423
00:37:12,230 --> 00:37:14,332
they were one
of the first plants
424
00:37:14,332 --> 00:37:16,568
to colonize
the mighty mountain range,
425
00:37:16,568 --> 00:37:21,673
along with the pioneering
lichen.
426
00:37:21,673 --> 00:37:24,509
The damp, shady,
427
00:37:24,509 --> 00:37:27,679
sparsely vegetated rock faces
of the Drakensberg
428
00:37:27,679 --> 00:37:31,749
are the ideal habitat for them
to thrive.
429
00:37:41,826 --> 00:37:47,098
And they create an ideal
hiding place for a hunter.
430
00:37:48,433 --> 00:37:53,104
A many-spotted snake
uses its surroundings as cover.
431
00:38:03,815 --> 00:38:07,218
Only its breathing
gives it away.
432
00:38:25,904 --> 00:38:30,475
Lurking along the Drakensberg's
streams, rivers, and marshes,
433
00:38:30,475 --> 00:38:33,645
it searches for a meal.
434
00:38:45,223 --> 00:38:49,260
It preys on amphibians,
like Karoo toads
435
00:38:49,260 --> 00:38:52,397
that have adapted to blend
into the rocky banks.
436
00:38:52,397 --> 00:38:56,301
But even when you are
well camouflaged,
437
00:38:56,301 --> 00:39:01,139
sometimes the best defense
is a hasty retreat.
438
00:39:07,378 --> 00:39:10,181
As the evening light settles
on the grasslands,
439
00:39:10,181 --> 00:39:12,617
its residents head for shelter.
440
00:39:12,617 --> 00:39:19,257
The white storks have to make do
with any form of high ground.
441
00:39:19,257 --> 00:39:24,295
A lone tree does the job.
442
00:39:24,295 --> 00:39:29,767
The travelers gather
in informal colonies.
443
00:39:29,767 --> 00:39:33,338
The Chacma baboons
also need to head home.
444
00:39:37,275 --> 00:39:40,878
They travel back up the mountain
to the safety of their caves.
445
00:39:49,520 --> 00:39:52,323
They are not the only primates
446
00:39:52,323 --> 00:39:55,293
to have used these caves
for shelter.
447
00:39:59,330 --> 00:40:03,868
Over time, many have gazed out
over this dramatic landscape.
448
00:40:06,337 --> 00:40:11,476
Formed over the centuries
by a slow process of weathering,
449
00:40:11,476 --> 00:40:14,012
these hollows
have served as a refuge
450
00:40:14,012 --> 00:40:16,914
from the Drakensberg's
fierce elements.
451
00:40:16,914 --> 00:40:21,486
For more than 4,000 years,
452
00:40:21,486 --> 00:40:25,023
they were home
to the indigenous San people,
453
00:40:25,023 --> 00:40:28,459
who created a vast body
of rock art...
454
00:40:32,597 --> 00:40:38,503
The largest and most prolific
collection in Africa.
455
00:40:38,503 --> 00:40:45,009
There are some 600 sites
and 35,000 individual images
456
00:40:45,009 --> 00:40:47,779
in the Drakensberg alone.
457
00:40:51,049 --> 00:40:54,319
The Bushmen were drawn here
458
00:40:54,319 --> 00:40:58,523
by the abundance of game
living on the grasslands.
459
00:41:02,293 --> 00:41:05,296
The images depict
a detailed account
460
00:41:05,296 --> 00:41:07,899
of their hunter-gather
existence.
461
00:41:13,004 --> 00:41:16,307
Among the animals represented
in these paintings,
462
00:41:16,307 --> 00:41:19,444
eland are given
a prominent role.
463
00:41:25,683 --> 00:41:29,420
Both the quantity and quality
of the eland paintings
464
00:41:29,420 --> 00:41:30,555
are remarkable,
465
00:41:30,555 --> 00:41:36,494
suggesting they were very
important in San culture.
466
00:41:40,631 --> 00:41:42,967
While most other animals
467
00:41:42,967 --> 00:41:44,669
are regularly depicted
in a single color,
468
00:41:44,669 --> 00:41:48,339
the eland are painted
in combinations of several,
469
00:41:48,339 --> 00:41:54,846
often using sophisticated
shading techniques.
470
00:41:54,846 --> 00:41:59,784
Today, eland still have
a central role
471
00:41:59,784 --> 00:42:01,486
in the Drakensberg story.
472
00:42:01,486 --> 00:42:05,590
They are one of the most common
large mammals in the area,
473
00:42:05,590 --> 00:42:08,826
with an estimated
2,000 individuals
474
00:42:08,826 --> 00:42:13,865
representing around 20%
of the South African population.
475
00:42:17,435 --> 00:42:24,075
The Cape eland typically move
in herds of up to 15.
476
00:42:24,075 --> 00:42:27,011
Even at a distance,
477
00:42:27,011 --> 00:42:31,282
these giant 1,900 pound animals
are unmistakable.
478
00:42:35,153 --> 00:42:38,723
Their unique bulk
and heavy dewlap,
479
00:42:38,723 --> 00:42:43,060
once revered by the Bushmen
for its high fat content,
480
00:42:43,060 --> 00:42:45,696
give the animals
an iconic image.
481
00:42:49,467 --> 00:42:52,670
Their mountain home
has supported life
482
00:42:52,670 --> 00:42:55,506
throughout the ages.
483
00:43:07,919 --> 00:43:11,489
By the end of the 19th century,
484
00:43:11,489 --> 00:43:15,193
the San had disappeared
from the Drakensberg completely,
485
00:43:15,193 --> 00:43:19,931
driven out by European settlers.
486
00:43:19,931 --> 00:43:22,967
But their drawings remained.
487
00:43:22,967 --> 00:43:26,137
Based on known rates
of deterioration,
488
00:43:26,137 --> 00:43:29,474
most of the rock art
remaining in the Drakensberg
489
00:43:29,474 --> 00:43:33,077
belongs to the last 1,000 years
of occupation,
490
00:43:33,077 --> 00:43:36,647
if not the last few centuries.
491
00:43:39,050 --> 00:43:42,220
Today, they offer a glimpse
back in time,
492
00:43:42,220 --> 00:43:45,223
a reminder of the people
who lived, survived,
493
00:43:45,223 --> 00:43:49,427
and thrived for centuries
in this extreme land.
494
00:43:58,236 --> 00:44:01,572
While some have come and gone,
495
00:44:01,572 --> 00:44:05,643
others have stayed
and flourished.
496
00:44:05,643 --> 00:44:09,947
Conquering the Drakensberg
is not easy,
497
00:44:09,947 --> 00:44:14,218
but if successful, the mountain
will shelter and protect
498
00:44:14,218 --> 00:44:16,721
those willing to live here.
499
00:44:20,825 --> 00:44:23,561
The mighty barrier of spears
500
00:44:23,561 --> 00:44:28,132
is a formidable
and unforgiving landscape,
501
00:44:28,132 --> 00:44:34,605
a hostile wilderness
502
00:44:34,605 --> 00:44:38,576
where harsh conditions
make every day a challenge.
503
00:44:47,285 --> 00:44:53,224
But for the few
that have taken them on,
504
00:44:53,224 --> 00:44:58,195
the rewards have been worth it.
505
00:45:03,267 --> 00:45:05,536
In the mountain's
hidden corners,
506
00:45:05,536 --> 00:45:09,607
a host of creatures
have found sanctuary.
507
00:45:12,310 --> 00:45:16,180
While some rise
above the peaks,
508
00:45:16,180 --> 00:45:19,050
others thrive
in their shadows.
509
00:45:31,329 --> 00:45:34,198
Stretching as far
as the eye can see,
510
00:45:34,198 --> 00:45:38,936
it is called the barrier
of spears for good reason.
511
00:45:38,936 --> 00:45:41,606
It's a realm of sharp extremes,
512
00:45:41,606 --> 00:45:46,844
an unforgiving land that also
harbors a wealth of life,
513
00:45:46,844 --> 00:45:51,816
creating one of Africa's
greatest hidden kingdoms.
514
00:45:52,850 --> 00:45:55,086
♪ ♪
40510
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