Channel 4 Readies New Levison Wood-Fronted Docuseries

Channel 4 has ordered a new three-part series, Walking with Elephants, which follows explorer, conservationist, author and presenter Levison Wood as he treks alongside elephants across Botswana.

Produced by October Films, the series sees Wood go on a new kind of journey, as he is led by the elephants themselves instead of a compass or map. Following the migration route from the salt pans of the Kalahari Desert, where the journey begins, to the nutrient-rich lands of the Okavango Delta, Walking with Elephants aims to give viewers a deeper understanding than ever before of the elephants of Botswana.

Each year, thousands of elephants head to the Okavango Delta to feed on its lush vegetation in one of the biggest natural events on Earth. Wood will travel over 650 miles, following the elephants on their epic migratory route by foot to gain brand-new insight into this still-mysterious journey—one that the elephants have done for millennia, but which no person has done on foot.

It’s a journey fraught with risks and dangers and one that is increasingly seeing the elephants coming under threats, both natural and manmade. Along the way, Wood will work with local trackers and anti-poaching units to give viewers unprecedented access and insight into the dangers these resilient animals must overcome, including poachers, predatory wildlife and dehydration, to arrive at their final destination.

Wood said: “Walking with these magnificent animals was a dream come true. It was an opportunity to really understand up close how this remarkable species survives against the odds. Spending time with local Botswanans provided a fascinating insight into the lives of communities that live alongside the elephants and who have to deal with the difficult consequences of life on the frontline of human-wildlife conflict.”