Secrets of the Elephants lands on Disney+

This past week, I had the privilege of attending a media trip for the launch of National Geographic’s 4 part series called “Secrets of the Elephants.” We were hosted by the team from Disney+ and National Geographic at the Ivory Tree Game Lodge in the Pilanesberg in the North West Province, South Africa. More about this incredible trip will follow in later posts, including the game drives we experienced, where we saw magnificent, close up elephant sightings.

For now, here’s what you need to know about the broadcast of this truly amazing series.

With today being Earth Day, it was apt for National Geographic to premiere the next instalment of the award-winning Secrets Of natural history franchise. On Saturday 22 April 2023, the four-part “Secrets Of The Elephants” premiered on Disney+ as well as across Africa on National Geographic Wild (DStv 182, StarSat 221).

An adult desert elephant uses its trunk to throw dust onto their back as a form of ‘sunscreen’ which helps cool them down and protect them from insects. (National Geographic for Disney/Robbie Labanowski). © National Geographic

From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer-at-Large James Cameron, the series travels the world, from the Savannahs of Africa to the urban landscapes of Asia, to discover the strategic thinking, complex emotions and sophisticated language of elephants. Narrated by Academy Award®-winning actress Natalie Portman and featuring renowned National Geographic Explorer and elephant expert Dr. Paula Kahumbu, the four-part series not only reveals the extraordinary lives of different families of elephants but also highlights how similar they are to us. Secrets Of The Elephants will change everything you thought you knew about elephants forever.

View the trailer below.

Episodes include:

Desert

This episode reveals the secrets of Namibia’s last remaining desert elephants. When droughts, sandstorms and even floods threaten them, their shared knowledge passed down from generation to generation keeps them alive. This is the toughest place on earth to be an elephant, and their story is one of triumph in a land of extremes.

Savanna

Big families and strong relationships are the basis of success for savanna elephants. As we uncover their secrets, we start to understand their remarkable language. It’s not just noise; they communicate like us. Good leadership and close friendships help them through the hard times as they scale cliffs, find their place in the hierarchy and mourn their dead.

Wildlife expert, Dr Paula Kahumbu, has loved wildlife since she was a child and is now a passionate activist, speaking on behalf of the animals that can’t speak for themselves. (© National Geographic for Disney/Wim Vorster)

Asia

As humans encroach ever further into their environment, Asian elephants are learning to adjust to the challenges facing them. They know how to use tools to break down electric fences, strike deals with farmers, and develop a cooperative arrangement on tea plantations where they do the weeding without damaging the crops.

Rainforest

The Congo rainforest is home to one of the world’s most elusive species, the African forest elephant. Everything about them—their bodies, their behaviors, their families—is adapted to life in the rainforest. But surviving here means more than just adapting. These elephants have shaped the forest around them to their needs and, in doing so, have created a habitat unlike any other on Earth.