Am a big fan of nature documentaries, especially the work of David Attenborough. Having been recommended 'Wild Africa', through Amazon and the recommended for you section here, but with variable knowledge of the wildlife, it was instantly put down on my list as a must see. Also heard nothing but praise for it from those who saw it, so that further sparked interest.
'Wild Africa' is as good as others have said and there is not much to add, it is nearly one of the best documentaries personally seen and most of the time it actually feels much more than a documentary. Throughout it's an awe-inspiring, utterly transfixing experience where one forgets they're watching a documentary and instead feeling like they're watching art. This may sound like extreme hyperbole, but to me 'Wild Africa' is completely deserving of its praise and even deserving of more, more exposure wouldn't go amiss either.
It is hard knowing when to start with the praise. 'Wild Africa' for starters looks amazing, reasons enough to make book a trip to Africa. It is gorgeously filmed, done in a completely fluid and natural, sometimes intimate (a great way of connecting even more with the animals), way and never looking static. In fact much of it is remarkably cinematic. The scenery and habitats are some of the most breath-taking personally seen anywhere, whether in visual media and real life. The rich colours just leap out and the habitats literally become characters of their own. The music here is a remarkably good fit, throughout it not only complements the visuals but enhances them and there is an authentic flavour to it.
What of the narrative and information aspects? Can't fault 'Wild Africa' in this aspect either. The narration has a great well-balanced mix of facts that will be familiar to the viewer and others that will induce the right amount of surprise. In short, it's just fascinating, informative and thoughtful and the intimate approach worked wonders. Watched the series with a smile on my face, a few tears and feeling inspired.
All the six episodes managed to intrigue and illuminate, and there is a freshness to the material, even if the information is not always new. The narration is delivered beautifully, there's an enthusiasm and precision about the delivery, as well as an intimacy, and it never feels preachy.
The wildlife themselves are quite unique and a wonderful mix of the adorable and the dangerous, and one actually finds they're rooting for them in exactly the same way they would a human character. 'Wild Africa' contains a good deal of suspense and emotional impact, as it makes one feel inspired and uplifted. There are some scenes where one is amazed that they managed to be filmed in the first place.
It doesn't feel like six episodes either, and none of the episodes feel episodic or repetitive. 'Wild Africa' instead feels like a collection of six individual stories with real, complex emotions and conflicts and animal characters developed like they were human in a way that put a lot of films and visual media to shame.
Overall, mesmerising and should be seen more. 10/10 Bethany Cox
