Jean Barraud

Every year in Tanzania, the dry season hits the Ruaha reserve hard. To survive, animal populations come down from the high plateaus to reach the Ruaha river, where a troupe of lionesses waits patiently, poised for combat

The Ruaha National Park in the south of Tanzania used to be a true paradise for wildlife gathered around the rich Ruaha river. A life-or-death quest for water has begun and the bewildered animals have no choice but to follow the dry riverbed upstream hoping to find water. Witness to this tragedy, a pride of hungry and thirsty lionesses and their cubs overlook the last pockets of water. Although it is dangerous for the young cubs to travel, the females have no choice but to follow the herds of herbivores in their migration.

A pride of lionesses reigns supreme on the banks of a river in Tanzania. They are merciless hunters, unrivalled in their fearlessness and strength. These killers are feared by all the local wildlife. But for the past few years, this region has been hit by drought, and a dam being constructed upstream has dried up the river’s flow. Whereas prey was once abundant, it has now fled the area, and the lionesses are struggling for survival. They resort to attacking the giraffes for food

Filmed over 10 years, this is the saga of a brave lioness as she leads her pride through extreme challenges and mortal danger in the merciless landscape of Tanzania, ultimately ensuring their survival.