Over six new episodes, an elite team of wildlife filmmakers returns to Botswana’s breathtaking Okavango Delta to follow the dramatic lives of its lions, leopards, and cheetahs, day and night, in one of Africa’s last wildernesses.
Following the success of Season 1, PBS’s BIG CATS 24/7 will return for a second season on Wednesdays, September 10 – October 8, 2025 @ 8:00PM ET (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org, and the PBS app. Over six new episodes, an elite team of wildlife filmmakers returns to Botswana’s breathtaking Okavango Delta to follow the dramatic lives of its lions, leopards, and cheetahs, day and night, in one of Africa’s last wildernesses.
Season 2 sees the return of a familiar cast of human and big cat characters. The expert team of cinematographers – Gordon Buchanan, Anna Dimitriadis, Brad Bestelink, Sets Nthomiwa, Rea Schulte to Brinke, Greg Hartman, and Tristen Woodward – live and work together from the Natural History Film Unit, Botswana’s remote film camp in the heart of big cat territory.
Together, they follow the twists and turns in the lives of the key big cats introduced in the first season. Across five vital months cats – and humans – battle punishing seasonal change, from flood to extreme drought. Over brutal terrain in searing temperatures, the team keeps its cameras rolling 24/7 to capture unparalleled, unseen animal behavior.
State-of-the-art thermal cameras, and the latest in drone technology, mean the team can film the cats from the ground, the air and through the night, transporting audiences into the heart of an area almost entirely free from human influence. Alongside some of the continent’s most trusted experts and accomplished cinematographers, BIG CATS 24/7 immerses viewers into the endeavor of the filming process, and most importantly, into the extraordinary lives of the Okavango Delta’s big cats.
“I’m thrilled for audiences to be transported back to the Okavango Delta for Season 2 of Big Cats 24/7. This new season is full of change and unexpected trials for our cat characters,” said Diana El-Osta, Senior Director, Multiplatform Programming and Development at PBS. “Through the lenses of our charismatic cinematographers, we have a front-row seat to witness the nonstop drama of their suspenseful, heart-wrenching, and inspiring journeys on this unforgiving landscape.”
Descriptions and broadcast dates for each of the six episodes are provided below:
“The Rogue Boys” Premieres September 10, 2025 @ 8:00PM ET
The team returns to Okavango Delta to catch up with old friends. Lionesses hunt nonstop to feed growing cubs. Leopardess Xudum moves on, and the new mom, Lediba, steps into the spotlight. Pobe, the cheetah, returns with two cubs of her own.
“Under Siege” Premieres September 10, 2025 @ 9:00PM ET
With the dominant males gone, trouble looms as intruder lions close in on the Xudum pride’s young cubs. Leopard Lediba searches for her missing cub after a tense encounter, while Pobe the cheetah must defend her family’s food from bigger cats.
“A Pride Divided” Premieres Wednesday, September 17, 2025 @ 8:00PM ET
Under attack from a growing number of intruding male lions, the mums with young cubs must find the rest of the pride. Leopard mum Lediba risks it all for a meal, and the cheetah cubs face danger during a vital lesson in survival.
“Reunion” Premieres Wednesday, September 24, 2025 @ 8:00PM ET
Reunited, the Xudum Pride lionesses struggle to feed their young – one cub is starving. As male leopards are pushed closer together by rising floodwaters, leopard mum Lediba and cheetah mum Pobe each fight to keep their cubs alive.
“New Beginnings” Premieres Wednesday, October 1, 2025 @ 8:00PM ET
The core of the Xudum Pride has fled south, but a group of its young females surprises the team in the north. Meanwhile, tragedy strikes the cheetah mother, Pobe, and Lediba, the leopard, struggles to provide for her ever-growing cub.
“Succession” Premieres Wednesday, October 8, 2025 @ 8:00PM ET
A new generation of big cats rises in the Okavango Delta. First-time lion mum Serami protects her cubs while Mathata steps up to feed the pride. Pobe and Bo return, and as Lediba’s cub grows in confidence, she vanishes.
BIG CATS 24/7 is a BBC Studios Natural History Unit production for PBS and BBC, with BBC Studios handling global sales. The Executive Producer is Tom Jarvis, the Series Producer is Rowan Crawford and the Production Manager is Gillian Goodlet. Narrated by Adetomiwa Edun. Diana El-Osta is the Executive in Charge for PBS. It was commissioned for the BBC by Jack Bootle, BBC Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Sreya Biswas, Head of Commissioning, Natural History.
BIG CATS 24/7 will be available to stream on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS app, available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast, and VIZIO.
