From Saudi Arabia’s wildlife to the journey of a baby pangolin, discover the best nature documentaries to watch this festive season
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At Christmas, what better way to relax and unwind than to watch a nature documentary? There are hundreds to pick from on Netflix – but instead of scrolling, here we’ve compiled a top selection of nature documentaries to peruse through across the festive period.
Read on to find out our selection, and click on the titles to watch directly on Netflix…
Life On Our Planet (2023)
Narrated by Morgan Freeman, this eight-part series uncovers life’s ability to adapt and survive on Earth across billions of years. The documentary is organised around the five mass extinction events that have characterised our planet – and the sixth that we are currently facing today – and uses a mixture of natural history sequences and cutting-edge technology to showcase how modern species have developed throughout time.
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Wild Babies (2022)
Every living creature starts life as a baby. For some, babyhood is carefree and full of opportunities to learn new and vital skills for adulthood. Others are quickly plunged into the fast-moving world of survival, where they must learn to fend for themselves quickly. In Wild Babies, we see both of these extremes – and everything in between – as the documentary scopes out what life is really like for the smallest creatures on the planet.
My Octopus Teacher (2020)
With the support of filmmakers, cinematographers and scientists comes My Octopus Teacher, a documentary showcasing how a filmmaker begins an unusual relationship with an octopus living in a South African kelp forest. My Octopus Teacher was filmed along the shores of False Bay in the Great African Seaforest, a huge underwater forest stretching across the shores of Cape Town and into Namibia.
Kelp forests like the Great African Seaforest are found along 25 per cent of the world’s coastlines, and are the second most vulnerable marine ecosystem to climate change.
Penguin Town (2021)
This penguin-themed documentary is sure to tick the festive box this Christmas. Narrated by Patton Oswalt, Penguin Town follows a group of endangered penguins in South Africa as they find mates, mix with the locals and raise families. It’s a feel-good watch that’ll be sure to put a smile on your face, as penguins waddle to the sea or feast on sardines in frigid waters.
Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey (2025)
In South Africa’s bushveld, a baby pangolin – once a victim of the illegal wildlife trade – embarks on a journey of survival and redemption in this nature documentary. For fans of My Octopus Teacher, Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey is sure to be a firm favourite as it comes from the same director, Pippa Ehrlich.
The documentary follows wildlife photographer Gareth Thomas as he sets himself the challenge of rehabilitating Kulu, who was rescued during a sting operation against traffickers.
Our Great National Parks (2022)
Narrated by former US president Barack Obama, this five-part series invites viewers to experience nature in the world’s most iconic national parks. Across five continents, each episode tells the story of a national park through its wildlife. From the waters of Monterey Bay in California to Kenya’s Tsavo National Park, Our Great National Parks will be a Christmas favourite for those who love all things outdoors.
Night on Earth (2020)
What happens after nightfall? In Night on Earth, new technology reveals wonders of the planet in a completely new light. Around the globe, discover the hidden side to some of the world’s most formidable landscapes and animals.
For fans of cinematography, why not indulge in Night on Earth: Shot in the Dark, a documentary following the behind-the-scenes activities of filmmakers capturing animal behaviour in the dark?
Horizon (2024)
Horizon is certainly a must-watch for fans of natural wonders. Set in Saudi Arabia, the documentary shows efforts by Saudi environmental agencies to safeguard the Kingdom’s natural heritage. Almost nine times as big as the UK, Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East and the fifth-largest in Asia, with a rich plethora of wildlife.
