•CHRIS EHRMANNWITH incredible footage and an interesting animal to follow, the documentary ‘Vanishing Kings – Lions of the Namib’ explores the nature of these incredible wild cats that live and hunt in some of the harshest conditions in the Namib Desert.
In the documentary, filmmakers Will and Lianne Steenkamp and their crew followed a group of five desert lion brothers and their survival in the desolate desert. The day-to-day life of the lions with them hunting animals like giraffes is also filmed.
One issue the film touched on was the interaction between the lions, humans and livestock. Sometimes the lions get too close to livestock if they cannot find anything to hunt, and the owners of the livestock protect their property sometimes at the cost of a lion’s life.
“The desert lions form a small population in Namibia’s Kunene region. Human-lion conflict often makes the news headlines, whilst the government, the local communities and the conservation bodies work tirelessly to find a way for coexistence. In this documentary, the film-makers acknowledge these inevitable struggles, but they bring a unique and intimate story about what it takes to survive as a true desert-adapted lion,” reads a release by Into Nature Productions.
The documentary is visually stunning and is beautifully shot with many scenes filmed in slow-motion for viewers to appreciate what these animals are like – both intelligent and precise. Some of the scenes showcasing the desert also are incredible, for example during the rainy season, some of the slow-motion scenes of the water breaking apart mud and sand are truly beautiful.
Also, the film has been translated into three languages, including English, German and Khoekhoegowab. According to the filmmakers, the main aim of their films is to raise awareness, but more so to instil an appreciation for our natural world. “Namibians are so fortunate to have such a unique and special kind of lion right on their doorstep but many children never get to see these remarkable animals.”
The film also aims to raise awareness for the dessert lion, which is somewhat in danger because of the harsh conditions of the desert.
