A majestic male lion, a focused lioness, and a curious cub gather around a partially visible buffalo carcass in the dry grass. The lioness licks her lips while the cub looks inquisitively at the proud lion.
A lioness is resting on the sandy ground with her three playful lion cubs around her in a grassy area. One lion cub is cuddling up to her, while the other two stand nearby on the sand. The scene is calm and natural.
A large herd of buffaloes gathers near a watering hole in a vast, arid landscape. Sparse trees and palm trees rise in the background under a clear blue sky, hinting at a savanna where lions might lurk nearby.
A lion, majestic and powerful, drinks from a small waterhole in the savannah landscape, surrounded by dry grass and sparse palm trees under a clear blue sky. Nearby, a gnarled tree stands by the water's edge.
A lioness crouches fiercely under another lion, resolutely guarding the zebra carcass with her paw. Her intense gaze and the tension in the scene underscore the rawness of nature. The dry grass-covered ground enhances this wild setting.
A leopard with a spotted coat stands alert on a blurred, light-colored background, possibly a savannah. Its focused gaze and forward stance suggest it is attentive or stalking, much like a lion on the prowl.
A large African buffalo with curved horns stands amidst tall, dry grass, its dark, textured fur contrasting with the light brown stalks. Nearby, a lion lurks in the blurry background under a clear blue sky.
A savannah scene under a cloudy sky reveals two lions engaging with a fallen buffalo. Sparse grass and a lone tree punctuate the background, epitomizing the wild, natural environment.

The Lions Rule

Nature & Wildlife·3 x 50 min·Completed

In Tanzania’s Ruaha, three lion prides battle for survival and dominance, where power, betrayal, and coming of age shape their destinies.

Factsheet

You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.

More Information
Unblock content Accept required service and unblock content
Genre
Nature & Wildlife
Duration
3 × 50 min
Definition
HD
Audio
5.1
Status
Completed
Back to all projects

Synopsis

A gripping, natural drama – a story of power, betrayal and coming of age – played out in one of Africa’s most remote locations. Ruaha is Tanzania’s largest national park. Here, abundant prey species roam landscapes where humans seldom venture. And they sustain one of the world’s last, big populations of lions. Filmed over eight years, this series presents never before seen behaviour, extraordinary insights, and high drama in Ruaha’s kingdom of lions.2

THE SERIES
‘The Lions Rule’ is the saga of three lion families linked together by a strange, charmed place called the Glade: a beautiful oasis in Ruaha National Park where there is always water.
The Glade is the territory of two old lionesses and their cubs. The Glade pride can bring down an adult giraffe – a remarkable skill.
A magical Baobab forest spreads out beyond the Glade. This is the territory of the Baobab pride. They are the largest pride in all of Ruaha.
The third pride are drifters – lean, mean and ruthless. They are the Njaa. The Njaa follow the buffalo. The herd is their territory and they are experts in the dark art of the buffalo kill.

All three prides are lead by lionesses; there are no adult males in residence. This will play a major role in their fates.

Other characters vie for the spotlight. Some behave in ways contrary to their natural instincts, while others perform astounding acts. In Ruaha, baboons help lions hunt, and giraffes appear to mourn their dead. But lioness politics are always bubbling just below the surface.

When destiny conspires to bring the prides together in forbidden territory, the Njaa brutally attack the Baobab pride. Not just once, but twice.
Why are these lions intent on destruction? As the series unfolds we discover that the prides are not only connected through the water of the Glade but by something much more precious.

‘The Lions Rule’ is a bewitching and intimate journey with never before filmed behavior, spanning generations of lion families.

EPISODE 1
At the height of summer, the Glade is a paradise in the desiccated plains of Ruaha. There is always water here. This bounty spawns strange relationships; like the pact that exists between a baboon family and a lion family. Against all natural instincts, predator and prey live side by side. But peace in the Glade is shattered when thousands of buffalo arrive to drink. The Glade pride know that many lions must follow. They are just a small pride, so to keep their cubs safe they abandon the Glade. Even in their absence, the Glade remains out of bounds to other prides – it is forbidden territory.

More prides are on the way. The buffalo are being followed by the Baobab pride – the biggest in all of Ruaha. When they enter the Glade to hunt the herd they unleash the wrath of the Njaa, who consider the herd to be their territory. Not only do the Baobab pride hunt in the forbidden zone, they also poach the Njaa’s prey. War breaks out inside the Glade. Before this day is over, lioness politics will deliver brutal retribution. And now the males are on their way.

EPISODE 2
As the dry continues in Ruaha, herds of elephants arrive in the Glade. They dig deep into the sand with their trunks to tap the cleanest waters. The Glade pride copy the elephants – unusual behavior. Life carries on in its own idiosyncratic way. Soon, things will change. Adult male lions are on the horizon. They are following the buffalo. The buffalo follow a well-worn circuit around the river systems, constantly being pushed on by the threat of lions. Soon they will enter the Glade again.

The Njaa pride have already spotted the males. But even these fearless lionesses will not hunt while the lions are about. Hunger keeps them at the Glade. Once more, events conspire to bring the prides together. When the Glade pride outrun and seize an adult giraffe in the Glade, the Baobab pride leave their territory to join the take down. Again in forbidden territory, they stay to feast with the Glade Pride. The Njaa take their retribution once more. This is the beginning of the end for the largest pride in all of Ruaha.

The future of the Glade pride may also be in jeopardy. A rogue male has entered the Glade – and he is hungry. When the Glade pride team with him to take down a buffalo, they do so with full knowledge of the dangers they may soon unleash.

EPISODE 3
The Baobab pride have suffered a dreadful loss. Their leader was badly injured in the Njaa attack. It will mean starvation for many, and the fragmentation of the pride. But now the dry season finally breaks; returning Ruaha to the time of plenty. The Glade Pride have been reunited. The rogue male who came to hunt buffalo in the Glade was the father of the Glade cubs. He has taken his place beside the lionesses once more.

Rogue males have also taken up residence in the fragmented Baobab pride. No longer are the prides being lead by lionesses. The balance of power has changed, bringing an end to inter-pride battles. Now, with male lions in charge, the violence will happen inside the prides – because fathers will soon attack their sons.

Cubs are growing up fast; learning to hunt and kill. Life in the Glade remains charmed, until one of the young lions begins to change. Fathers turn on young males when they reach adolescence – expel them from paradise. To survive, the young male from the Glade must join with other exiles. But staying alive in a kingdom of lions is a challenge that few can hope to overcome. It’s a jungle out there. The only security is in the pride.

Team

Produced and directed by Owen Prümm
Executive producers Susanne Lummer, Sabine Holzer
Production companies Produced by Terra Mater Factual Studios in co-production with National Geographic Channel and Doclights/NDR Naturfilm in association with ARTE France / Unité Découverte et Connaissance and Shibumi Films

Awards & Recognitions

Gödöllö, Hungary International Nature Film Festival Gödöllö Nomination (Category: Nature Films Episode 02) 2019
Gödöllö, Hungary International Nature Film Festival Gödöllö Nomination (Category: Nature Films Episode 01) 2019
Gödöllö, Hungary International Nature Film Festival Gödöllö Nomination (Category: Nature Films Episode 03) 2019
Sondrio, Italy Sondrio Festival First Prize "Town of Sondrio" Award Episode 01 2018
Eckernförde, Germany Green Screen Internationales Naturfilmfestival Best Story Episode 01 2018
Chicago, USA US International Film & Video Festival Gold Camera Episode 01 (Category: Nature, Wildlife) 2018
Chicago, USA US International Film & Video Festival Best of Festival Nominee Episode 01 (Category: Nature, Wildlife) 2018
Chicago, USA US International Film & Video Festival Gold Camera (Category: Writing/Concept) 2018
Chicago, USA US International Film & Video Festival Gold Camera Episode 02 (Category: Cinematography) 2018
Chicago, USA US International Film & Video Festival Gold Camera Episode 03 (Category: Music) 2018
Vienna, Austria Kurier ROMY Akademiepreis Best TV Documentary 2018
New York, USA New York Festivals Gold World Medal (Category: Nature & Wildlife) 2018
New York, USA New York Festivals Gold World Medal (Category: Best Camerawork) 2018
New York, USA New York Festivals Gold World Medal (Category: Best Editing) 2018
New York, USA New York Festivals Gold World Medal (Category: Best Writing) 2018
New Delhi, India WIFF - Woodpecker International Film Festival Nomination Episode 01 2018
Netherlands Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam Nomination Episode 01 2018
Bristol, United Kingdom Wildscreen Panda Awards Nomination Series (Category: Series Award) 2018
Bristol, United Kingdom Wildscreen Panda Awards Nomination Episode 01 (Category: Animal Behaviour Award) 2018
Belgium Festival International Nature Namur Nomination Episode 01 2018
Albert, France FIFA - Festival International du Film Animalier d'Albert Nomination Episode 03 2018
Abbeville, France Festival de L´Oiseau - Bird and Nature Festival Nomination Episode 01 (Category: Birds/Wildlife) 2018

Listen to the O.S.T.

Listen to the O.S.T.
Distributor

Talk to our Distributor

Interested in licensing and watching the full production? Contact our distributor here.

Get in touch
Footage rights

Licensing & Usage

Interested in licensing or footage usage?
Contact us directly.

Get in touch

In the same Genre