The Wild Sides

A wild corner of Botswana is at the peak of a punishing drought. Families here are forced to live side by side and as their sagas collide - everyone pushes through the hardship with wins and losses swinging in roundabouts. An elephant matriarch leads her herd along ancient trails to places where only they can find water. But as potential prey is drawn to the pools opened up by the gentle giants, cheetahs, leopards, and an entourage of scavengers take notice… each with their own agenda, but all with a common goal. Survival is never guaranteed – one’s victory is another’s fall.

A wild corner of Botswana has been ravished by a drought, forcing all animals to crowd around the river. Just as they think things can’t get any worse, lions move into the neighbourhood. A young jackal family should benefit from carcasses provided by the drought and the lions, but the hyenas that follow suit are a thorn in the jackals’ side. The pesky scavengers are also trouble for the pregnant leopard who has set up camp next to the river. The drought finally breaks and the river flows again. What should be a relief, suddenly brings life-threatening situations to the animal families who live side by side. Finally, the lions make a kill that rattles the food chain.

A wild corner of Botswana has been transformed into a lush Eden and the animals are celebrating abundance. There are babies in all the families of Mashatu, and parents are focused on teaching and feeding their young. Leopard and jackal youngsters go against the grain of their parents’ and carve their own path by hunting differently. While the cheetah kids embrace what’s in their blood – hunting at speed – just like mom. But even paradise has its problems, and the abundance has brought competition for everyone. As the landscape starts to dry once again, everyone is forced to adapt and carve their niche alongside others. In Mashatu, nothing happens in isolation.