The Luangwa River winds through the savannahs of Zambia. It's one of the greatest wildernesses in the world - a Valley bursting with life. But in the dry season temperatures soar and drought grips the land. Animals spend their days seeking shade and water, and trying to beat the heat. This film follows life here over one day - from sunrise to sunset. A family of elephants journeys through the bush, a young calf struggling to master the art of using his unwieldy trunk. They are joined by a colourful cast of other characters each with their own challenges. As the sun rises the valley starts to wake up. Squirrels emerge from their sleeping holes to feast on the nectar of flowers that have blossomed overnight. Puku shake off the terrors of the night and bounce playfully through the grass. By mid morning it's already getting hot and animals everywhere try to keep cool; the elephants head to the river to drink. Fishing parties of birds gather to feed in the shallows while crocodiles bask on the banks waiting for unsuspecting animals to venture too close. At mid-day the temperature is over 100°F. Giraffe browse under the trees and playful wild dogs gambol in the shade. The elephants wander through the woodland, feeding and sleeping, while at their feet tiny birds hunker in the scrub, desperately trying to avoid the sharp eyes of a pack of predatory mongooses. Mid-afternoon brings the elephant family to a lagoon, an oasis of green in the dry landscape. It's bath time, perhaps an elephant's favourite time of day. They're not alone at the spa: a hippo wallows in the mud; a herd of buffalo arrive to drink; a gaggle of geese squabble and squawk, disturbing the peace. By four o'clock the sun is getting low and the heat has gone out of the day. Skimmers catch their last fish and flocks of quelea birds head to the trees to roost. As the sun sets a new cast of characters emerges. Lions and hyenas awake; the night belongs to the hunters.