Lions, leopards, hippos, buffalo, crocodiles, vultures and hyenas are crammed in together while grazing animals have no choice but to drink in the dangerous zone along the riverbank, making themselves easy targets.

Countdown to the Rains captures the dramatic transition from the last days of the dry season to the arrival of the rains. Starting at the edge of the river, where predators stalk their prey, the series moves inland, where their hungry young demand to be fed, and finally follows the moment when the heavens open and water transforms the landscape, bringing herds of antelope, giraffe, elephants and other herbivores. With 100 remote cameras and film crews dotted around the river bank area and a world class team of scientists analysing the animals' behaviour, this series gets to the heart of the action.

Catch series 1 of Countdown to the Rains from Sunday, 5 April at 19:00 on BBC Knowledge, channel 184 on DStv.