This tale of a little elephant named Jani and her family’s extraordinary trek across the Kalahari Desert is based on the true story of the great Kalahari elephant herds who make this perilous journey every year across the desert in search of water.
Making a 300 mile journey of its own, this rainwater will soon be flooding the Delta, bringing with it a lush green paradise and, most importantly for little Jani and her entire family, an abundance of the food and water they desperately need for survival. In an inexplicable feat of nature, this mission, lead by Jani’s mother, the Matriarch, must be timed to perfection. Arriving a week early would mean certain death after their excruciating trek through the desert; a few weeks late and the delta’s plants will no longer hold the nutrients that the herd needs to recover…
And so, the arduous adventure to reach the Okavango Delta begins, and is quickly steeped with danger, dehydration, and exhaustion. Weeks of walking with barely any water or food leaves the herd depleted. But the powerful, wise and headstrong Matriarch trudges on, and the herd follows with absolute resolve, determination and trust in her internal map to show them the way.
The elephants’ emotions are clearly visible throughout their epic journey. Sadness, fear, excitement and distress… but then eventually, when there is barely an ounce of energy left in the legs of these majestic beasts – Joy!
As we gaze ahead, we see they have finally made it, the Matriarch has delivered them to paradise – and the visual and emotional effect of the flooded Okavango Delta is staggering. Words can barely describe the monumental change that the flooding brings to this, the world’s largest wetland (covering a staggering 58,000 kilometres – almost half the size of England). We see its kaleidoscope of animals and birds and fish; eagles flying. The elephants rejoice in the vast pools of water accompanied by great herds of zebras, giraffes, buffalos, cheetahs leopards, and crocodiles. A cacophony of sound like no other. Millions of water birds sing and squawk and flap their wings; monkeys chatter; baboons shriek and lions roar. The hippos grunt; elephants call.
A staggering half of Africa’ Elephants make this journey through the blistering heat of the Kalahari Desert to reach the Okavango Delta. This is a story about one herd – Jani’s family – and their trials and tribulations in an adventure like none other. The beauty of Africa fills the screen in a spectacle unlike any other ever put to film. The ELEPHANTS OF THE OKAVANGO is the March of the Elephants!
