BBC ANNOUNCES HAMZA YASSIN'S AFRICAN BIRDS OF PREY SPECIAL

BBC Specialist Factual has announced Hamza’s African Birds of Prey, a brand-new natural history film for BBC One and iPlayer, from Silverback Films. 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.

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.”

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.”

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.”

Travelling from the vast plains of the Maasai Mara to the shores of Lake Naivasha , to the ancient forests of the Kenyan coast and the dramatic escarpments of the Rift Valley, Hamza encounters an extraordinary cast of raptors, including African fish eagles, secretary birds, martial eagles, scops owls, lappet-faced and Rüppell's vultures, and the elusive African crowned eagle.

Hamza joins the dedicated scientists, conservationists, rangers and local communities working tirelessly 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 rarest owls.

He witnesses both the incredible resilience of Kenya's birds of prey and the growing threats they face from habitat loss, poisoning, the illegal wildlife trade and expanding infrastructure.

The journey becomes deeply personal as Hamza forms powerful connections with both the people and the 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, this is a celebration of Kenya's extraordinary raptors and the people determined to ensure their future. Through Hamza's infectious curiosity and passion for birds, the film reveals why these magnificent hunters are vital to Africa's ecosystems—and why protecting them has never been more important.

Hamza’s African Birds of Prey, a 1x60’ for BBC One and iPlayer.