The Drakensberg Mountains are Southern Africa’s Alps, rising more than 11,000 feet into the sky. But beneath their shimmering beauty lies an incredibly hostile environment for the creatures that manage to live there. Each spring, drenching rains destroy the grasslands at the base of the mountains, and those who would survive must climb up sheer cliffs of volcanic rock, through gauntlets of storms and snow, to reach the carpets of new grass on the plateau. The baboons that make their home halfway up the heights may have the advantage of agility, but eland, the world’s largest antelope, have long, spindly legs and heavy bodies, which make their climb to the top all but unbelievable. All have babies at their sides. And the vultures circle overhead.
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Drakensberg: Barrier of Spears originally aired February 8, 2009.
(20 votes)
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What a great show.
This show brought me back to the very special place the Drakesberg is,to my time as Officer-in-Charge, Monk’s Cowl Section of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park between 1998 and 2002, very well presented and narrated. No doubt a jewel of Africa.
this show really touched my heart.
Phenominal production! For some reason the narration was missing from Sunday’s GPB broadcast; we have no idea why. So glad I could watch it on the computer and get the narration. Very unusual story and amazing things I never heard of before. Amazing is our planet earth!
The soundtrack’s Zulu? choir — who is that?
Is this information on the website somewhere?
If you like the soundtrack — look up Ladysmith Black Mambazo :)
wonderful show
It was great!
THE BEST SHOW I EVER SEE BEFORE
I was deeply impressed.
Can I get the full script?
I’m looking for a way to buy the music from Drakensberg:Barrier of Spears.
Thank you so much.
Loved it. I grew up at the foot of the Drakensberg and it really took me home.
Very subtle and powerful nature movie.
I loved that it didn’t impose any ideas “about” but just narrated mother nature in its workings, thank you!
I would love to add one of the video clips to the art history site I am creatine.
http://www.ahaafoundation.org
I am putting “a walk about” the world of art online because art is important to life
I learned so much from this. Thanks.
I just love all the episodes that PBS has.