Product Details

• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Nat'l Geographic Vid
• VHS Release Date: June 27, 1997
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304475233
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #189,539 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Filmed during a brutal drought in central Africa, this brilliantly photographed video from National Geographic follows the punishing predicament of animals living along the dwindling Luvuvhu River. As the water level sinks during the dry season, animals, including baboons and impalas, are forced to seek water in pools filled with hippos and deadly crocodiles. At one point the crocodiles, who are the focus of the filming, are described as "artists of violence," and the term seems entirely apt when they are seen striking out with lightning speed from places of total concealment in the water and mud. As the camera lingers on the watering hole, the behavior of increasingly desperate and thirsty animals is shown in all its brutal detail, and portions of this video will have the squeamish averting their eyes. Even though the violent outbursts are handled as tastefully as possible (it is, after all, a National Geographic production), some scenes, such as a violent confrontation between crocodiles and baboons, are heartrending. And while some of the video is inevitably difficult to watch, the photography is always spectacular; some of the shots, such as scenes of a baby hippo blithely wallowing among the crocodiles under the mother hippo's watchful eye, are astounding. This video is both brutal and beautiful, and puts the viewer as close as possible (and desirable) to some of Africa's most amazing wildlife. --Robert J. McNamara

Product Description

In the daily struggle for survival, terrible thirst drives wildlife to water...even when the water is just inches away from the jaws of a crocodile. During one harsh season, a punishing drought draws some of Africa's most magnificent creatures to the shrinking pools of the Luvuvhu River. Its dwindling waters provide relief for baboons, impala, elephants, lions, water birds and bee-eaters - but also a refuge for scores of hungry crocodiles. Amidst the stunning scenes of nature at its harshest, strange things happen. A baby crocodile basks on top of a hippopotamus. Baboons attack a crocodile that has taken a youngster from the troop. Crocodiles harass a heron and steal its hard-won catch. And hippos calmly wade into the middle of a crocodile feeding frenzy. But the power of nature and her relentless drought may prove greater than even that of the most fearsome beasts. This cruel season may turn out to be the LAST FEAST OF THE CROCODILES.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent work, April 16, 2001

By 

Les (APO, AE USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: National Geographic's Last Feast of the Crocodiles [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I don't think this film is as violent as some suggest. Although there are several shots of crocodiles lunging onto land an striking out at prey, most of the killing is implied. The interaction between animals in this documentary is fascinating, particularly the hippo-croc relationship. At one point in the film, a mother hippo nudges her baby into a feeding frenzy of writhing crocs. Of course the crocodiles wouldn't dare harm the offspring of a two ton parent. And although we see some violence in the animals, we also see a lighter side with a croc and her babies, and two determined birds doing their best to protect their young. The confrontation between baboon and crocodile mentioned above is not so heart-wrenching when you consider that the baboons are also predators. One scene with a fawn comes to mind. Overall, Last Feast of the Crocodiles is an intriguing look at wildlife during harsh times, and the strength of survivors.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, August 28, 2002

By 

Kate Verrall (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: National Geographic's Last Feast of the Crocodiles [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This was a brilliantly made documentary about the relationships between different animals on the brink of survival. Definitely one of the best documentaries I have ever seen.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crocodile's survival in a harsh & unforgiving climate, March 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: National Geographic's Last Feast of the Crocodiles [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A remarkable video which looks at how crocodiles, since their evolution, have adapted so well in harsh and drought stricken climates where survival is the name of the game. As the river dries up because of the scorching sun, the wildlife (lions, wilderbeast, monkeys etc.) meet their fate from the jaws of the crocodiles. Some are a little smart and sense the crocodiles lurking in the muddy waters waiting to catch their prey, so they dig watering holes by the river banks. But still, even out of desperation, they are willing to take the chance of drinking water at the rivers edge and sometimes they are unluckly. Water, for all wildlife, is the only means of survival in this harsh and barren environment.

What is so fascinating is that the crocodiles fear the hippos. The hippos seem to dominate their territory and they bathe in the same waters of the river as the crocs. We see hippos in the middle of a crocodile feeding freenzy, a baby hippo surrounded by crocs, and a troop of hysterical monkeys going biserk trying to fight with a croc to release a baby monkey that is caught between its huge jaws.

This is a well narrated video with excellent photography.