A sailboat glides across a tranquil river at sunset, reminiscent of the Nile, surrounded by lush greenery and silhouetted trees. The vibrant orange and yellow sky reflects on the water's surface, creating a warm, serene atmosphere.
An aerial view reveals a lush, green island in the Nile, surrounded by muddy brown waters. Small buildings peek from among the trees, and a strip of greenery connects the island to the larger landmass, offering a serene yet vibrant landscape.
Close-up of a gelada baboon with long, flowing fur resembling the rich hues of the Nile. The baboon's face is expressive, with deep-set eyes and a prominent snout. Its tan and brown fur gives this magnificent creature a truly majestic appearance.
A shoebill stork stands in the tall green grass of the Nile marshes, facing slightly to the left. It has a large, distinctive shoe-shaped bill, shaggy gray feathers, and a watchful, calm demeanor. The blurred green background hints at its lush habitat.
Three large Nile crocodiles rest on the grass in a natural setting. One lies down while the other two are partially hidden by foliage. The scene captures a peaceful interaction among these majestic creatures amidst lush greenery.
As the sun dips below the horizon, a person rides a camel through the sandy landscape, with two pyramids towering in the distance under a hazy sky, reminiscent of tales along the banks of the Nile.
Two black-and-white colobus monkeys with long, fluffy tails sit closely together on a tree branch surrounded by lush green leaves. They appear to be resting or observing their surroundings in a forested area near the Nile, blending seamlessly into this serene landscape.

Nile – The ultimate River

Nature & Wildlife·3 x 50 min·Completed

The Nile spans 6650 km through diverse ecosystems, from lush mountains to deserts, sustaining unique wildlife and millions of people from Rwanda to Egypt.

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Genre
Nature & Wildlife
Duration
3 × 50 min
Definition
HD
Audio
5.1
Status
Completed
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Synopsis

Additionally available in Spanish

Two qualities define the Nile as the ultimate river. First, it is the world’s longest river. From the source in Rwanda to the end at the Mediterranean Sea, it travels 6650 kilometres (4130 miles). Second, the Nile is a truly cosmopolitan water. Its source lies in tropical Africa, its most important tributary – the Blue Nile – originates in the Ethiopian highlands. Its longest stage – through Sudan and Egypt – is characterised by Arab influences. Travelling through a sea of sand, this river gives life. It passes Africa’s largest city – Cairo – and ends only a few hundred kilometres away from Europe, in the Mediterranean Sea.

Episode 1: Mountains of the Moon
In the Rwenzori mountains, the wide source area of the Nile contains a spectacular feature. One snow-covered peak reaches 5000 metres (5500 yards) above sea level. Underneath its glacier, a fairy-tale forest expands, covered with Giant Lobelia and Aster plants. In this damp and cold world, the stunningly beautiful Lobelia Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird lives its life. The males defend their plants, until the female birds arrive from warmer climes for the mating season. Forests at lower altitudes provide a paradise for reptiles like the insect-hunting chameleons unique to these mountains. The source furthest away from the Nile delta lies in Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park. Thirteen species of primates live there, most notably the truly acrobatic Angola Colobus.
From Rwanda, the Nile feeds Lake Victoria, famed for its colourful cichlids and its emerald green island, and notorious for its environmental problems. Magic moments: Billions of lake flies dance their mating ritual, hovering high above the lake like smoke from distant fires.

Episode 2: Wild Waters
A few hundred kilometres after leaving Lake Victoria, the Nile plunges noisily over massive waterfalls and into the new territory of Murchison Falls National Park. Thousands of hippos enjoy the water. In the afternoons, elephant herds leave the savannah to drink and bathe. At the river banks, you can witness a curious partnership. Female crocodiles and tiny birds defend their eggs together against a thief, the Nile Monitor. The Nile’s greatest wilderness is situated in the crisis-torn South Sudan, where the river turns into the Sudd, Africa’s largest swamp. This is the perfect habitat for a fantastic variety of bird species, among them the extremely rare Shoebill. Giants, too, can make a living here. Some four hundred elephants live among the papyrus. With the help of a plucky helicopter pilot from Kenya, the film team succeeded in recording the great antelope migration of the South Sudan for the first time. With the onset of the rainy season, over a million Mongalla gazelles and White-eared kob leave the swamps for the savannah east of the Nile.

Episode 3: Lifeline in the Desert
The Blue Nile is the White Nile’s most important tributary. Its source springs from the Ethiopian highlands, one of the most beautiful landscapes on the planet. The rocks and canyons of the Simien mountains are a vulture’s paradise and home to some rare animal species. The Walia Ibex and the fantastic Gelada are unique to the land of the Blue Nile. There used to be a Yellow Nile, too, originating in the Chad. This tributary to the Nile dried out some 6000 years ago, but at its source, there is still water and even a tiny lake, sustaining a species of crocodile not found elsewhere in Africa. The last stage of the Nile leads through Egypt, past temples and tombs. Today, more than 80 million people live in the delta, among them two brothers who earn a living by hunting the Egyptian cobra. Finally, the Nile loses its way in a vast delta streaked by countless channels and ends in the Mediterranean Sea.

Team

Written and directed by Harald Pokieser
Executive producers Andrea Gastgeb, Sabine Holzer
Production companies A Terra Mater Factual Studios/Cosmos Factory production in co-production with National Geographic Channel in association with France Télévisions and WDR

Awards & Recognitions

Gödöllö, Hungary International Nature Film Festival 2nd place (Episode 1) Category: Nature films 2016
Graz, Austria Mountainfilm Graz Kamera Alpin Austria (Episode 1) 2015
Sondrio, Italy Sondrio Festival Achille Berbenni Award, assigned by the Audience Jury (Episode 1) 2015
New York, USA New York Festivals Gold World Medal (Episode 1) (Category: Nature & Wildlife) 2015
New York, USA New York Festivals Gold World Medal (Episode 2) (Category: Nature & Wildlife) 2015
Redondo Beach, USA US International Film & Video Festival Certificate for Creative Excellence (Episode 1) 2015
Vaasa, Finland Wildlife Vaasa International Nature Film Festival Best Water & Underwater Film (Episode 1) 2014
Montana, USA IWFF - International Wildlife Film Festival Nomination Episode 01 (Category: Environmental) 2016
Olomouc, Czech Republic Academia Film Olomouc Nomination (Episode 1) 2015
Albert, France Festival International du Film Animalier d'Albert Nomination (Episode 2) 2015
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