Africa's Hidden Kingdoms

For the wildlife of South Africa's rugged coastline, life is a constant balance of extremes. While some species have the luxury of choosing between the dangers of the Atlantic or the severity of the land, all of its inhabitants learn to cope with the area's unyielding, yet beautiful, landscape.

On the western coast of South Africa, a unique desert landscape experiences the contrasts of a punishing 10-month dry period, followed by a brief flurry of rain and floral bloom. Follow the speckled padloper, mole snake, and other species that call Namaqualand home, as they celebrate their reward for months of resilient survival.

In the Western Cape province of South Africa, De Hoop Nature Reserve is bringing back countless endangered species from the brink of extinction. From the docile bontebok to gargantuan southern right whales, meet some of the world's most vulnerable creatures as they battle against overwhelming odds.