In the first of three Natural World films from Africa, Hugo van Lawick records the epic journey of more than a million and a half wildebeest, travelling in a 500-mile arc across the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
Van Lawick is one of the world's leading wildlife film-makers, and has lived In the Serengeti for more than 25 years. He follows the herds as they move on in search of food and water, with drinking holes turning into dustbowls beneath the summer sun. As the wildebeest travel they are prey to lions and hyenas, and crocodiles are waiting for them when they do find water. They are taking part in the natural world's last great terrestrial migration. Narrated by John Shrapnel.
Executive producer John Sparks
(Another film by Hugo van Lawick, Cheetahs - in the Land of Lions, can be seen on BBC at at 8.00pm. Thursday)
(Stereo)
The dangerous life of the wildebeest
See Feature page 34