Review by Adam Stephen Kelly
Written by James Byrne & Eleanor Grant
UK Certification E | UK RRP £7.99 | DVD Region 2 | Runtime 47 minutes | Directed by James Byrne
I always feel as though most viewers take wildlife footage for granted. Animals aren't actors and there are no second takes, so when you see them in their natural habitats, you're looking at something very special. But when you watch a documentary that is as beautifully photographed as Africa's Lost Eden, rich with colour and depth that pushes standard definition quality to its limit, you become engaged in an experience that isn't just special, but magical.
Gorongosa is hailed as the Lost Eden of Africa and is known as the place where Noah left his ark, but at present, the vast, stunning landscape seems almost irrelevant to the bible story, as its wildlife population has taken a severe beating at the hands of warring humanity. The ecosystem, which was incredibly diverse because of a mosaic of soil types and seasonal flooding, was destroyed. Now, a restoration project is in full force to bring meaning back to the nickname of Gorongosa, with the intent of healthily increasing the population of animals in the National Park.
The award-winning film from National Geographic is a colourful study of the wide variety of wildlife that live in the gorgeous slice of Africa, but it also documents the efforts of the restoration project as those involved attempt to transport animals from all over the continent to a better life in the National Park. It's a very worthy cause and a delicious, emotive treat for the eyes, so definitely one for the DVD collection of animal lovers everywhere.
EXTRAS None.