Hamza: African Birds of Prey is a brand-new natural history film for BBC One and iPlayer, from Silverback Films. It follows wildlife cameraman and presenter Hamza Yassin embarks on an unforgettable journey across Kenya in search of some of Africa’s most spectacular – and most threatened – birds of prey.
Watch Hamza: African Birds of Prey on Sunday 30 August at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Travelling more than 6,000 kilometres across Kenya, from the vast plains of the Maasai Mara and the shores of Lake Naivasha to the ancient forests of the Kenyan coast and dramatic escarpments of the Rift Valley, Hamza encounters an extraordinary cast of raptors.
Among them are African fish eagles, secretary birds, martial eagles, scops owls, lappet-faced and Rüppell’s vultures, and the elusive African crowned eagle.
Along the way, Hamza joins the dedicated scientists, conservationists, rangers and local communities working to protect these remarkable birds – from caring for injured vultures and satellite-tagging young eagles to monitoring remote cliff-top nesting colonies and searching for one of Africa’s smallest and most elusive owls.
He witnesses both the incredible resilience of Kenya’s birds of prey and the growing threats they face, including habitat loss, poisoning and the dangers posed by expanding infrastructure.
The journey becomes deeply personal as Hamza forms powerful connections with both the people and wildlife he encounters. A moving meeting with a rescued crowned eagle inspires one final mission: a challenging expedition into the remote Nguruman Hills, where he hopes to film a wild breeding pair raising their young high in the forest canopy.
Filled with breathtaking wildlife encounters, spectacular landscapes and intimate conservation stories, Hamza: African Birds of Prey is a celebration of Kenya’s extraordinary raptors and the people determined to protect them.
Through Hamza’s infectious curiosity and lifelong passion for birds, the film reveals why these remarkable predators are so important to the ecosystems around them – and why protecting them has never been more vital.
Hamza said: “This African Birds of Prey film was an absolute dream for me. I’ve always been passionate about birds of prey and to be able to capture these incredible animals in Kenya was a privilege and an honour. The team at Silverback were incredible and I hope everyone enjoys watching the film as much as I enjoyed making it.”
Jeff Wilson, Executive Producer, Silverback Films said: The success of Hamza’s Hidden Wild Isles gave us the confidence to take Hamza’s passion for birds of prey and go international, and there is no better place than Kenya to fall in love with raptors. Hamza’s unique ability to be both a fantastic wildlife cinematographer and a superb communicator with both scientists and local communities brings so much magic to this special documentary, and there is no doubt by the end of the film he’ll have convinced our audience to love them as much as he does.”
Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual, said: “Hamza has a gift for getting people excited about the natural world. His film Strictly Birds of Prey, in which he introduced us to his favourite British raptors, was a huge hit in 2023 – enthralling over seven million viewers to date. In this follow-up programme, his mission to make us fall in love with birds of prey continues – this time in Kenya.”
Hamza: African Birds of Prey, a 1×60’ for BBC One and iPlayer, is made by Silverback Films, part of media and entertainment group Banijay Entertainment. It was commissioned by Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual and is Executive Produced by Alastair Fothergill and Jeff Wilson. The Director is Laura Howard and the Commissioning Editor is Tom Watt-Smith, Head of Commissioning, Natural History.