Product Details

• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: National Geographic Video
• VHS Release Date: July 11, 1997
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304473834
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #148,240 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The astonishing footage and poetic narrative that National Geographic is known for bring pure drama to a slice of African history. Filmmakers follow Botswana's Savuti Channel for seven years at it is dries up, causing hippopotamuses, elephants, and other wild animals to struggle, often in vain, to survive. While the words spoken are stirring--"Death is everywhere in Africa, but it is never in vain"--the pictures are sensational. Often many seconds elapse as the filmmakers allow their work to speak for itself. Elephants knock their young away from the precious water to ensure that the adults will survive, a herd of hippos desperate for moisture stand like statues in mud, and eerie night shots show unrelenting hyenas wait to attack (and it's discomforting to watch when they do). The studied portrait highlights the wisdom of animals and the unpredictable rhythms of African life. --Valerie J. Nelson

Product Description

Journey to Botswana, Africa, where the Savuti Channel slowly disappears. Reputed to have been a vast lake, the channel appeared in 1957, and then mysteriously began to vanish again in 1982. Seven years in the making, AFRICA'S STOLEN RIVER follows the gradual but unrelenting transformation of a one-time paradise into a land of struggle and competition for hippopotamuses, elephants, lions, hyenas, and countless other creatures whose very lives depend upon the plenty of the channel itself.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story!, December 19, 2000

By 

Yan Gluzberg (East Brunswick, New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: National Geographic Video: Africa's Stolen River [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This nature documentary is set in Northern Botswana, a place famous for it's unspoiled wildness. The drama is set in Savuti region. This place was a water paradise for it's wildlife inhabitants until in 1982 it began to dry up, which caught the eye of husband and wife wildlife photographers Derek and Beverly Joubert. The filmmakers began to document the dramas that evolved in a place of plenty going sour. We see many animals struggle once the water begins to mysteriously evaporate from the channel. Some begin the migration to Lynianti river area, others continue to stay hoping for the best. Nature, however, has its own mind on the matter. What develops is the story of survival, a struggle for life in the place of death. We follow the elephants, hippos, crocodiles and other denizens of this place in their struggle and fight for survival. It is an amazing footage of a great drama set in the wild and unforgiving place.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Something special about this one, August 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: National Geographic Video: Africa's Stolen River [VHS] (VHS Tape)

One of the most beautiful/incredible things I've ever seen or heard. Seven years of filming distilled into one hour. One scene completely amazes me - I had no idea elephants could do that! The narration and music are closely connected to the spirit of what's going on(very rare). Some very sad things happen in this. Parents might want to watch this before letting children see it. Get it before it goes out of print.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece, June 27, 2011

By 

BPG "Big Picture Guy" (Texas) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: National Geographic Video: Africa's Stolen River [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This a very interesting documentary of the drying Savuti Channel. It is not just a documentary but a work of art, slowly paced even though it surveys eight years of drought. The music is eery and the narration by Richard Kiley is a perfect compliment to the film. If you like this film you may also want to watch "Last Feast of the Crocodiles."