BBC Earth

In this episode Chris Packham discovers the clever methods that animals use to travel from A to B and how they find their way. Whether it is a local trip to find food or an epic journey to reach a safe place to have young, every traveller must work out where to go and the most energy-efficient way to get there. Now, the latest scientific research is helping uncover just how they do it, from creating mental maps of their environment to planning their route with precision.

In the high Himalaya, join yak-herder Thokmay Lowa and his small group as he steers his herd through one of the region's extreme mountain passes. In the Canadian Arctic, 63-year-old Minnie Nappaaluk and her granddaughter Eva embark on one of the most hazardous expeditions for food: the mussel harvest. In the blistering Australian outback, the only way to efficiently round up cattle herds on vast farms is through the use of helicopter cowboys like Chris Weyand.

In many of the world's most extraordinary natural wonders there is an abundance of animals. These can be a devastating threat to the people who live there, or they can provide a means of survival, but often at a high price.

In some natural wonders people push themselves to the limit to survive. For the people who call these extraordinary places home, survival requires skill, ingenuity and bravery. These places include Brazil, Ethiopia, Laos and Switzerland.

An inconspicuous hill on the Spanish Island of La Palma bursts open, releasing an avalanche of lava. In its path are the homes of seven thousand residents and the emergency services rush to evacuate.

Mount Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of Congo erupts. It engulfs the nearby city of Goma with lava, taking thirty-three lives and destroying almost four-thousand homes.

Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, is in the experiencing its longest spate of eruptions in recent years. Take a look at the events leading up to this point.

With food in abundance it's a time of plenty in the Serengeti, but a series of unexpected events turns families against each other and stretches relationships to breaking point.

As the Serengeti starts to dry out, competition heats up between the families. The strong females take centre stage, dealing with headstrong males and fighting for the survival of their kin.

With unique access to a pristine, unspoiled corner of the Serengeti, the drama of the daily lives of Savannah animals and the emotional moments they face can be witnessed.

With unique access to a pristine, unspoiled corner of the Serengeti, the drama of the daily lives of Savannah animals and the emotional moments they face can be witnessed.

With unique access to a pristine, unspoiled corner of the Serengeti, the drama of the daily lives of Savannah animals and the emotional moments they face can be witnessed.

With unique access to a pristine, unspoiled corner of the Serengeti, the drama of the daily lives of Savannah animals and the emotional moments they face can be witnessed.

Traversing New Zealand's South Island, and the great Dunedin Railway's trains, the Inlander and the Seasider. The journey begins with a trip down the Taeiri Gorge towards Otago Harbour, and the area's capital, Dunedin.

Joanna's first view of Paris is from a hot air balloon. She visits the damaged Notre-Dame, meets the heiress Daphne Guinness, buys a vintage Chanel suit and meets Ibrahim, a refugee turned inner-city beekeeper.

There are not five separate oceans, but one. Its waters linked by powerful forces that keep them on the move.

Animals must find somewhere to live, a place that provides shelter from the elements and a refuge from enemies. Good homes are rare and competition can be intense, finding a home is one thing, but defending it is quite another.

Between the tropics and the frozen poles lies a region dominated by relentless change in the form of the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Each one presents plants with huge challenges, from ice and snow to raging fires, from intense competition to surprising enemies. This is a world of astonishing variety and vibrant colour. To survive here plants must use strategy, deception and remarkable feats of engineering. Most importantly, they must get their timing right.

After losing a cache of winter meat last season, Kim and Pierre look to the land for a source of emergency food. Bentley and his wife Felica explore Schade Lake, hunting for early season beaver.

Ben journeys to the Scottish Cairngorms and the edge of the mystical Clashindarroch Forest to spend a week with 70-year-old Jake Williams, reputedly one of Britain's only hermits.

There are not five separate oceans, but one. Its waters linked by powerful forces that keep them on the move.

Animals must find somewhere to live, a place that provides shelter from the elements and a refuge from enemies. Good homes are rare and competition can be intense, finding a home is one thing, but defending it is quite another.

Between the tropics and the frozen poles lies a region dominated by relentless change in the form of the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Each one presents plants with huge challenges, from ice and snow to raging fires, from intense competition to surprising enemies. This is a world of astonishing variety and vibrant colour. To survive here plants must use strategy, deception and remarkable feats of engineering. Most importantly, they must get their timing right.

After losing a cache of winter meat last season, Kim and Pierre look to the land for a source of emergency food. Bentley and his wife Felica explore Schade Lake, hunting for early season beaver.

Ben journeys to the Scottish Cairngorms and the edge of the mystical Clashindarroch Forest to spend a week with 70-year-old Jake Williams, reputedly one of Britain's only hermits.

There are not five separate oceans, but one. Its waters linked by powerful forces that keep them on the move.

Animals must find somewhere to live, a place that provides shelter from the elements and a refuge from enemies. Good homes are rare and competition can be intense, finding a home is one thing, but defending it is quite another.