“Deep inside an isolated volcanic crater in East Africa, the area’s oldest lioness struggles to reign over her kingdom and endures fierce competition from other ravenous carnivores”

This documentary takes viewers on an intimate and powerful, high-definition journey into the unique neighbourhoods of some of Africa’s most fearsome predators and divulges the dramatic stories of a lioness and her gripping daily struggle for survival.

The beautiful, lush Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania is home to the highest density of large carnivores in Africa. Thirteen thousand wildebeest, zebra and buffalo graze on the 12-mile crater floor. Surrounded on all sides by walls reaching 2,000 feet high, Ngorongoro seems like a stunning paradise for its inhabitants.

This land is where one of the crater’s oldest lionesses, Malkia, or ‘Queen’ in Swahili, reigns over her kingdom. Planet Carnivore: Lion follows Malkia and her pride’s daily struggles as they endure failed attacks on prey, fierce rivals, unexpected invaders and the powerful loss of one of their own.

The pride's young lioness, and their best hunter, is missing. Days later, she is found, dying from a virus. As proof of the timeless war between lions and hyenas, within hours, the savannah's other apex predators move in and soon there is nothing left of the big cat.

Planet Carnivore: Lion takes you deep inside this isolated volcanic crater to meet the crater's oldest lioness as she struggles to reign over her kingdom.

Narrated by Alec Baldwin
Produced by James Byrne for National Geographic Television (2006).