All language subtitles for Africa.s.Hidden.Kingdoms.S01E02.Gardens.in.the.Clouds.576p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP2.0.x264-RCVR Eng

NARRATOR: The cloud mountains
of South Africa

contain natural enclaves of
incredible beauty and diversity.

A lost world.

Swirling in silver mists.

The majestic realm
of the Rain Queen.

Indigenous forests teem
with life.

Giant prehistoric plants
are a window

into the time of dinosaurs.

This is one
of the last strongholds

of the ancient mountain forests
of Africa.

XXX

The mighty
Drakensberg Mountains.

250 miles of jagged peaks

extending along the entire
eastern side of South Africa.

They separate the arid heart
of the country

from the moist air
of the Indian Ocean.

In the very northern reaches
of the range are the Wolkberg

or cloud mountains,

so named because
they are often blanketed in fog.

A diverse landscape
of grassy covered summits

and ravines cloaked
in mountain forest.

One of the rarest types
of forest in the world.

And across
this ancient landscape,

three clever species of primates
are adapting to the challenges

and opportunities found
in these gardens in the clouds.

It is summer in the Wolkberg

and a troop of vervet monkeys
are in search of breakfast.

Vervets are found
throughout southern Africa.

Rarely seen out in the open,

they seldom leave the shelter
of the trees.

They live in large families
sometimes numbering

as many as 70 individuals.

Both males and females
live according

to a strict pecking order,

which is often
aggressively enforced.

But there is no need
for aggression today, however.

It's December, mid-summer,
and many of their favorite trees

are in fruit.

The troop is on the move
across its territory.

The monkeys are heading

to the extraordinary
Modjadji cycad forest,

which is also found
in these mountains.

This contains
the largest collection

of a single cycad species
anywhere on earth.

Cycads are living fossils
and evolved

before dinosaurs
roamed the earth.

During the Jurassic,
some 180 million years ago,

cycads were one
of the most common plant types.

These forests not only have
an ancient history,

each tree grows slowly
and is long lived.

Some are more
than 1,000 years old.

This forest has grown here
for millennia,

but now it is threatened
by an invasion of exotic trees.

Exotic forestry plantations
now surround

these natural outposts.

During summer,

when the ancient forest
is in fruit,

vervets have learned
to visit every day

to gorge on the giant cones.

Another monkey
is also making the most

of the summer fruits

in the enchanted mountain
forests of this range.

Samangos are close relatives
of vervets

but are even more reliant
on these forests.

They are the only exclusive
forest species in the region.

Thick fur guards
against the chill,

and their characteristic
white eyebrows keep rain

out of their eyes.

A long tail helps with balance.

Living 65 feet
above the ground

in these threatened
mountain forests,

every day is a balancing act.

Summer in the Wolkberg
means food is plentiful.

But it also brings rain.

The clouds that blanket
these mountains are born

310 miles to the east.

Easterly winds move in

over the coast from the warm
waters of the Indian Ocean.

This moist air moving inland
hits the Wolkberg.

Rising, it cools
and condenses into clouds

and ultimately falls as rain.

This is the kingdom
of the Rain Queen.

Local people believe
that their tribal monarch

is able to control the rain.

Her powers are widely revered.

During summer, the open slopes
of the cloud mountains

are regularly drenched,

creating perfect
growing conditions for grasses.

More than 50 species thrive
on these open plains,

adapted to the well-drained,
nutrient-poor soil.

There are not enough nutrients
in these soils,

so bushes and trees struggle
to survive on these open slopes.

Plants here are also exposed
to seasonal fires,

so forests can only survive
in the wet ravines.

The resulting mix
of forest and grass

is critical
for a number of species.

Chacma baboons are the largest
monkeys in the region.

Large males can weigh
more than 110 pounds.

They are highly social
and, like vervets,

their family life
is strictly organized.

A dominant male is in charge.

He heads the troop
and gets first dibs

on any food on offer.

He is experienced and knows
all the best feeding spots.

Female society
is also organized.

Females inherit their rank
from their mothers,

while for males,

dominance is
constantly changing.

This troop is foraging
through the grass,

looking for underground bulbs
and tubers.

Baboons are well adapted
to survive in open grasslands

and they divide their time
between grassy areas

and the surrounding forests.

A host of other species
also make its home

in the open grassy plains.

Rocky outcrops
are prime habitats for snakes

such as this berg adder.

The chilly evening
has slowed its metabolism.

Like all cold-blooded reptiles,

it must warm up before it can
get moving.

So it's recharging itself
by sunbathing.

But it is a balancing act.

Sunny surfaces such as these are
exposed to predatory raptors.

Adders are part
of the viper family

that have long, hinged fangs
to inject venom.

And when they feel threatened,
they let you know.

They resort to hissing loudly

and puffing themselves up
in threat.

The triangular-shaped head
allows room

for large venom glands
located behind the upper jaw.

They are ambush predators,

lying in wait for prey such
as frogs, rodents, and lizards

on these rocky islands

in the sea of grass.

But this one is not yet
warm enough to hunt.

Rocky outcrops are
not the only breaks

in the uniform grasslands.

Small seeps and streams
crisscross these slopes

that are home to a number
of plants and animals

not found elsewhere.

The entire Wolkberg forms
a giant water catchment.

The mountains act like a sponge,

retaining water
and slowly releasing it

into myriad streams,

which are the birthplace
of the rivers

that will ultimately carry
this water back to the ocean.

Once the stream is formed,
it burbles downhill,

cutting into the topsoil
until it reaches bedrock.

This abundance
of water brings life.

Mosses thrive
on the moist banks.

Algae coats the rocks,

fed by nutrients dissolved
in the water.

The larvae of net-winged midges

cling to the smooth,
rocky surface.

Blackfly larvae filter algae
from the water.

It's a precarious existence.

Plants and animals are
constantly blasted by water.

Floods can wash both algae
and invertebrates

from the rocks and,
during extreme dry conditions,

little streams can run dry.

Mountain wagtails hunt bugs
along the banks.

Breeding pairs
can hold territories

along streams such as this
for life.

They defend their boundaries
against intruders.

In this, two wagtails
are better than one

and pairs that share territories
gain significantly more food

than if they live alone.

Mountain wagtails are the
longest lived of all wagtails

and can survive longer
than 12 years.

Wagtails get their name
from their habit

of flicking their tails
repeatedly.

It is thought that this deters
predators by telling them

that the wagtail is aware of
its surroundings and any danger.

As the stream flows
into the mountain forests,

life changes in the water.

Less sunlight hits the surface,

and so less algae grows
on the rocks.

The food chain is now fueled
by falling leaves,

rather than growing plants
photosynthesizing in the water.

And a different suite of animals
patrols the shallow waters

specially adapted
to consume fallen leaves.

Minnows patrol deeper pools.

The shadowy habitat
is also perfect for frogs.

Nearly all frogs must return
to water in order to breed.

This male Queckett's river frog
has attached himself

to his partner's back to mate.

His specially thickened thumbs
enable him to keep hold

of her slippery skin.

He's not letting go.

When she's ready, the female
will lay hundreds of eggs.

This is costly, and so
the females are much larger

than the males, due to the
reproductive effort required.

With her partner aboard,

the female searches for
a safe place to lay her eggs.

The main stream contains
many predators

that will eat her eggs
and tadpoles when they hatch.

So she's looking for a
small pool away from the danger.

Males have no say,
they must just hang on.

His only role is to fertilize
the eggs once laid

and prevent interlopers
from displacing him.

A single male tries to muscle
in on the action.

He's persistent,

doing all he can to split
the courting couple.

But she's happy
with her chosen partner

and the single male
is left out in the cold.

Put in his place, he heads off

to find a more
accommodating female.

The streams merge to form
bigger and bigger rivers.

These gather energy,
cutting deep into the landscape

as they flow downhill.

Where rocky outcrops resist
the erosive power of the water,

waterfalls form.

A natal green snake is hunting
along the edge of the river.

While they resemble deadly
green mambas, they are harmless.

Active during the day,

he's searching the shallows
for frogs.

Snakes are surprisingly
good swimmers,

but currents in the steep
mountain streams are strong.

If he's misjudged the water, he
risks being washed downstream.

The rocks are wet and slippery,
and he battles to gain traction.

XXX

He's made it.

The rivers flowing
through this landscape

provide an abundance of water,

the lifeblood
of its ancient forests.

(birds singing)

Entering Africa's
mountain forests

is like going back in time.

Many ancient trees thrive
on the abundance of water.

Across the Wolkberg,
rainfall is supplemented

by mist rolling
over the landscape.

Drops of moisture form
on everything it touches.

With sufficient water,

forest giants tower
above the ground.

These forests are sustained
by water and light.

Here it's every tree
for itself

as they strive
to raise their leaves high

above their neighbors
to gather sunlight.

Leaves act like solar panels,

capturing light energy
so it can be converted into food

so the plants can grow,

ultimately feeding
the entire forest.

Below the canopy, the forest
is dark and moist,

shaded from above.

A thick layer
of plicanthus shrubs survives

in the shadows.

The forest is not uniform,
but a mosaic of patches.

Young trees struggle
to gain a foothold

on the dark forest floor.

Sometimes it's simply down
to being in the right place

at the right time.

Eventually, even
the mightiest trees fall.

This creates gaps
allowing light to penetrate

into the lower reaches
of the forest.

And in these gaps,
new, up-and-coming trees

get a precious chance to grow.

Birds and other creatures
prefer the mix of light

and shade found in these gaps.

A Wolkberg dwarf chameleon
is relishing the sunlight.

Insects too are drawn
by the warming rays.

The chameleons are careful
in the open areas,

wary of bird predators
who can attack without warning.

Contrary to popular belief,
chameleons change color

primarily to communicate
with each other

rather than match
their background.

They rely more
on their characteristic gait

for camouflage, mimicking
swaying branches and leaves,

thereby avoiding detection

by both their predators
and their prey.

Chameleons are not able
to lap from pools of water.

They can only drink from
droplets on leaves and branches.

Like all reptiles,
chameleons are cold-blooded

and sunlight provides
the warmth they need

to fuel their metabolism.

Sunlight is so precious
in these forests

that some plants are ruthless
in their pursuit

of sufficient light to grow.

While most forest trees
invest heavily in reaching

for the light
by building strong trunks,

there are some species
that cheat the system.

Strangler figs
parasitize other trees,

using them as scaffolding
to carry their leaves aloft.

Eventually, once the host
has served its purpose,

the strangler slowly
suffocates it,

conveniently eliminating
the competition in the process.

The gnarled shape
of the strangler's trunk

traps leaf litter and water,

creating a microcosm
all of its own.

Epiphytic plants grow
in the cup-like folds

of the strangler fig.

Unlike the parasitic fig,
these do not harm the tree

and only live on its surface,
using the tree's cracks

and crevices to reach up
into the sunlight.

Another opportunistic plant
crisscrosses the forest.

Lianas root themselves
in the ground

but use established trees
to climb into the light

of the forest canopy rather
than investing heavily

in their own trunks.

Affected trees grow more slowly

and have lower
reproductive success.

Lianas form forest highways
for a number of species,

enabling them to cross
the open spaces between trees.

While this is good
for many species of animals,

for the trees, it allows
parasites and herbivores

to access the canopy.

Trees that remain free of lianas
have a terrific advantage.

For the Wolkberg
dwarf chameleon,

streams and rivers
are impassable barriers

in the forest...

unless the liana highway
bridges the gap.

This spiny liana links
discreet forest patches,

allowing small animals
to cross the streams

that thread through
these forests.

Wolkberg dwarf chameleons
live only in the forests

of this area,

one of 17 dwarf chameleons
unique to South Africa.

He's made it to the other side,
thanks to the liana bridge.

Afromontane forests contain many
species that occur nowhere else.

Tragically, the surrounding
landscape is ideal

for forestry, and these forests
have been destroyed

to make room
for exotic plantations.

The Wolkberg's valleys
are an important refuge

for Africa's mountain forests,

usually referred to
as Afromontane forests.

Only half a percent
of South Africa is suitable

for indigenous
Afromontane forest.

These are some of the last
fragments in the country.

The warming of the continent
after the last ice age

caused forests
to recede drastically.

And, more recently,
what was left has been decimated

by agriculture and forestry.

They are surrounded
by plantations

of Australian eucalyptus
and American and European pines,

species exotic to this region.

These plantations are uniform
and biologically sterile...

large areas with few native
species of plant and animal

compared to the rich diversity
within the natural forests.

Within the plantation, super
trees tower above the canopy.

This 105-year-old Sydney Gum
stands 265 feet high

and is believed
to be the largest planted tree

anywhere on earth.

The Woodbush Forest Reserve
to the north of the Wolkberg

is the second largest continuous
patch of indigenous forest

in South Africa.

Fed by the rain and mist
that cover the mountains...

it is an ideal habitat
for a number of bird species

including rare Cape parrots.

They're looking for yellowwoods
growing in the forest.

The cones of these trees are
an important source of food.

While there is plenty
of other food,

a compound found only
in these cones

is particularly important
to parrots.

If they can't find enough,

they rapidly lose condition
and will eventually die.

Samangos also enjoy
yellowwood cones,

but they are less particular.

They eat fruit and seeds,
flowers and even fungi.

Leaves and insects also feature
on the menu for protein.

Samangos live in families

of between 14 and 30 individuals
consisting of one adult male

and a number of females
and young.

Males leave the troop
around six years old

and either seek out a new family
for themselves

or join a bachelor troop.

Within the indigenous forest,

exotic oak trees
from the Northern Hemisphere

have gained a foothold.

Samangos are clever opportunists
and make the most of the acorns.

On the other side of the forest,
other opportunists

are taking advantage
of the seasonal windfall.

During summer, the Modjadji
cycads explode in cones.

It's a feast not to be missed.

For three months there's plenty
of food for everyone

and the monkeys make this
a daily stop

on their foraging trips
through the forest.

While cycads are inedible to
humans and are often poisonous,

the vervets devour the starchy
seeds with impunity.

They're not the only species
relishing a forest feast.

Crowned eagles patrol
riparian forests

along the river courses,
hunting small mammals.

They are the most powerful
raptors in Africa.

Capable of capturing prey
weighing as much

as 75 pounds, they can pluck
a monkey out of the trees.

Even though they are
formidable hunters,

their efforts are outdone
by a much more lowly predator.

In these forests, spiders
are more prolific killers.

Incredibly, the weight
of butterflies eaten by spiders

in a year in these forests
is more than the weight

of all the monkeys consumed
by crowned eagles.

Surrounded by forest giants,

it is easy to overlook
smaller species.

(buzzing)

Potter wasps collect mud
for their nests.

In the natural world,

small creatures often have
big impacts.

Spiders have existed
for 100 million years,

during which time they've
perfected the art of capture.

Many create elaborate webs
of silk.

This is made from protein
and spun into thread

by their spinnerets.

By weight, spider silk is one

of the strongest substances
on earth.

Spiders are classified
by the webs they spin.

Tangle or cobwebs,
funnel webs, sheet webs,

and the largest of all,
spiral orbs

such as those spun
by golden orb spiders.

The webs are death traps

for flying insects.

Once they become entangled,
there is usually no escape.

And the spider is able
to inject a lethal cocktail

of venom to paralyze its victim,
before wrapping it in silk

to store for later.

Another group of ancients

inhabits one of the oldest
forests on earth,

a forest that has been rooted
here for millennia.

Giant modjadji cycad trees
are the largest cycad species

in the world, growing to over
40 feet in height.

They are prehistoric looking.

Their fruit looks like
a giant pineapple.

These are cones similar to pine
cones, only much bigger--

weighing 75 pounds or more,
the weight of a large monkey.

There are male and female cones.

Usually cone-bearing plants
are wind pollinated,

because cone-bearing plants,

called gymnosperms,
evolved before flowering plants.

When flowers evolved,
they enabled plants

to attract animal pollinators,
such as insects and birds.

Cycads don't have
colorful flowers,

and yet many of them
are, nonetheless,

pollinated by insects.

Researchers speculate
that animal pollination

may be older than we think
because cycads were doing this

before flowering plants evolved.

(thunder)

For generations,

the Rain Queen
of the Lobedu people

has protected
this ancient forest.

Outside of Modjadji,

cycads are one of the world's
most endangered plant groups,

threatened
by habitat destruction

and the exotic plant trade.

With so much on offer
in Modjadji,

there's less pressure
on the vervet family

to search for food
in the surrounding forests.

There's also time
for other important things,

like feeding the little ones.

Female vervets remain
with their family for life.

But when males reach maturity,

they migrate
to neighboring families,

helping to broaden
the gene pool.

Grooming is important
in building cohesion.

High-ranking females
receive the most grooming,

usually by subordinate females
to curry favor.

Male grooming is less common
and some males never groom.

Male dominance relies on
their prominent blue genitals

and sizing each other up.

But with so much to eat,

the males seem more interested
in food than showing off.

For youngsters it's not so easy.

They still need to learn
how best to tackle

the bountiful cones.

But persistence does
pay off eventually.

The cycads of Modjadji
only fruit once a year,

but are a valuable resource,

enabling these monkeys
to overcome the challenges

brought on by their
ever-shrinking forest homes.

The ancient plants and animals
of the cloud mountains

of South Africa have long
captured people's imagination.

It's a landscape defined
by weather

and threatened on all sides
by invaders.

Indigenous forest fragments
survive against the odds...

Providing homes
for an incredible array

of plants and animals.

But these mountains are
not only a vibrant sanctuary

for life in the present.

They also offer a fascinating
window into our past.

Captioned by Media Access Group
at WGBH, access.wgbh.org