The River Crossing
Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson joins the annual migration of millions of wildebeest across the plains of Africa.
The annual migration of millions of wildebeest across the plains of Africa is one of Nature's most spectacular events. What drives this migration is rain and the search for food. Every year, wildebeest, zebra and antelope migrate clockwise around the Serengeti / Masai Mara ecosystem. In January the herds can be found in Tanzania's Serengeti heading south into southern Serengeti where they calve. By July the herds have reached western Serengeti and the Grumeti and Mara rivers. The river crossings are their biggest challenge. Nile crocodiles which can be as much as 5 metres in length long crocodiles lie in wait. On the river banks, the wildebeest jostle against one another. Animals at the front slither about on the mud before plunging into the river and a stampede follows. The crocodiles seize their chance, lunging out of the water at the terrified baying herd. Hours become days and the river becomes a blood bath. Eventually the crocodiles are satiated. Vultures arrive to pick over the dead and dying. It's a scene of carnage. The sounds are chilling. In time the crocodiles drift away, the waters become restful, and tranquillity is restored. Hippos bathe and the wildebeest continue their long migration into the Masai Mara reserve. Producer Sarah Blunt.
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Chris Watson
Born in 1953 in Sheffield where he attended Rowlinson School and Stannington College, Watson was a founding member of the influential Sheffield based experimental music group Cabaret Voltaire during the 1970’s and early 1980’s. His sound recording career began in 1981 when he joined Tyne Tees Television. Since then he has developed a particular and passionate interest in recording the wildlife sounds of animals, habitats and atmospheres from around the world. As a freelance composer and recordist for Film, TV & Radio, Watson specialises in natural history and documentary location sound together with sound design in post-production.
His television work includes many programmes in the David Attenborough ‘Life’ series including ‘The Life of Birds’ which won a BAFTA Award for ‘Best Factual Sound’ in 1996. More recently Watson was the location sound recordist with David Attenborough on the 91Èȱ¬â€™s series ‘Frozen Planet’ which also won a BAFTA Award for ‘Best Factual Sound’ (2012).
Watson has recorded and featured in many 91Èȱ¬ Radio productions including; ‘’ and ‘The Wire’ which won him the Broadcasting Press Guild’s Broadcaster of The Year Award (2012), NATURE, , and ''.
Broadcasts
- Mon 30 May 2016 13:4591Èȱ¬ Radio 4 FM
- Thu 23 Mar 2017 10:4591Èȱ¬ Radio 4
- Sat 9 Jan 2021 05:4591Èȱ¬ Radio 4