"Okavango: Water in the Desert" was a great start to one of the best, most comprehensive and must watch documentaries on African wildlife (and other things) and one of the series' more illuminating episodes. Loved all aspects of one of the standouts of the 'Wildest' series 'Wildest Africa' regardless of there being concerns for some regarding whether it provides much new. That episode was a perfect example of why.
Likewise with this equally as excellent second episode "Namibia: Sands of Time", watching it it did throughout make me wish that 'Wildest Africa' was seen more and higher regarded. Like that episode, "Namibia: Sands of Time" is one of the series' best and with there being even less familiar content a lot was learnt from it without anything going over my head. So it was hugely successful in the educational aspect. Again, much is covered without cluttering or bloating the episode and it goes at an assured but never hurried pace.
What made "Namibia: Sands of Time" as illuminating as it was was not just because it was in a very unfamiliar environment to me, and a visually striking one at that vividly photographed. 'Wildest Africa' also dealt with the a wide range of cultural aspects and how the environments and problems faced affect humans, and that can be seen with "Namibia: Sands of Time", for me this is where the episode educated me the most. Had seen nothing quite like the portrayal of the Himba people and their time tested rituals, their way of connecting with the ancestors.
As expected, various wildlife can still be seen. With the most memorable being the baboons, there is a sense of a story here, a compelling and poignant one of life and death. Not just with the baboons though but the desert plants too.
This information is written and delivered in a way that entertains and teaches, without being speculative, generalised or too gushing. Colin Salmon's delivery is enthusiastic and sincere.
Visually again, the scenery is beautiful yet unforgiving vividly and intimately photographed in a way seldom seen on film before. How such a lot of it managed to be filmed so intimately with such full impact is anybody's guess, meant in the best possible way. The music rouses and also has edge.
Excellent episode again. 9/10
Likewise with this equally as excellent second episode "Namibia: Sands of Time", watching it it did throughout make me wish that 'Wildest Africa' was seen more and higher regarded. Like that episode, "Namibia: Sands of Time" is one of the series' best and with there being even less familiar content a lot was learnt from it without anything going over my head. So it was hugely successful in the educational aspect. Again, much is covered without cluttering or bloating the episode and it goes at an assured but never hurried pace.
What made "Namibia: Sands of Time" as illuminating as it was was not just because it was in a very unfamiliar environment to me, and a visually striking one at that vividly photographed. 'Wildest Africa' also dealt with the a wide range of cultural aspects and how the environments and problems faced affect humans, and that can be seen with "Namibia: Sands of Time", for me this is where the episode educated me the most. Had seen nothing quite like the portrayal of the Himba people and their time tested rituals, their way of connecting with the ancestors.
As expected, various wildlife can still be seen. With the most memorable being the baboons, there is a sense of a story here, a compelling and poignant one of life and death. Not just with the baboons though but the desert plants too.
This information is written and delivered in a way that entertains and teaches, without being speculative, generalised or too gushing. Colin Salmon's delivery is enthusiastic and sincere.
Visually again, the scenery is beautiful yet unforgiving vividly and intimately photographed in a way seldom seen on film before. How such a lot of it managed to be filmed so intimately with such full impact is anybody's guess, meant in the best possible way. The music rouses and also has edge.
Excellent episode again. 9/10
