Once Upon a Time in Tsavo

In arid regions across Africa, a remarkable relationship between elephants and termites creates a waterhole – a green oasis which is central to every animal’s life. The story follows an extraordinary community of creatures, that call the waterhole ‘home’ over a season in their lives. They range from a family of elephants to a pair of hornbills (aka ‘Zazu’ of The Lion King) alongside dung-beetles, chameleons, bullfrogs, geese and killifish.

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Created By	Mark Deeble Victoria Stone
Status	Ended
Original Name	Kenia - Eine Oase im Sand
First Air Date	October 14, 2023
Last Air Date	October 14, 2023
Seasons	1
Episodes	2
Episode Runtime	1h 30min
Language	English
Original Language	German
Production Countries	Austria, Japan, United Kingdom, United States of America
Production Companies	Waterhole Films Terra Mater Factual Studios NHK The WNET Group
Networks	PBS ARTE

S01E02

Fight to survive

A waterhole can exist for a hundred years. But every year it goes through a profound change. The arc spans from decline to rebirth. The water is slowly evaporating and the level of the waterhole in Kenya's Tsavo National Park is beginning to fall. When the seeds of the grasses ripen in the surrounding bushland, a true force of nature appears at the waterhole. The sky darkens as the blood-billed weavers arrive at the start of the dry season. They are considered the most common birds in the world and their flocks consist of tens of thousands of animals. They come from the north, where they raised their young in huge breeding colonies.

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