“The combatants are full-grown elephants and hungry lions; the battleground is a muddy waterhole in Botswana; the prize is life itself”

This extraordinary film, narrated by Jeremy Irons, takes us to a remote, arid place deep in Africa, where all kinds of wildlife head for a waterhole. As the temperature rises, the precious water drains and the desperate animals are forced to share.

A young pride of lions sets out on a grand adventure, leaving their safe home range and walking west into the unknown. When they finally arrive at a water hole, it is a vision of paradise, except the huge bull elephants that dominate stop them from drinking.

Their first kill, a kudu, secures them a place in this territory, but this strange status quo changes. Two huge bull elephants lock tusks in a battle. One elephant collapses and the lions come out of the shadows. What happens next changes the course of nature in this area and affects the relationship between these two ultimate of enemies, as the lions develop techniques for hunting the largest animals in their range.

The lions have learned to do the impossible: to bring down elephants. This astonishing and deadly clash between Africa’s largest and fiercest adversaries is both compelling and deeply moving.

With renowned wildlife filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert documenting this astonishing, rarely-filmed behaviour, Ultimate Enemies vividly depicts how the territorial battle for a precious waterhole in Botswana evolves into an unexpected battle for survival between lion and elephant.

Spectacular footage of these audacious and improbable assaults reminds us that the inhabitants of the African wilderness, while commanding in their beauty, are also an unforgiving and unpredictable lot.

Filmed by Derek and Beverly Joubert.
Narrated by Jeremy Irons.
Produced by Wildlife Films Botswana for National Geographic Channels.

For more details of this film visit the National Geographic website or watch a preview below.

Below is a sample clip of this film on the AOL Video website: