From breaching great whites to underwater investigations and conservation in action, Shark Week returns to Discovery Channel Africa on Monday, 28 July, bringing a jaw-dropping week of nightly programming and a standout line-up of local and African talent who are making waves on the global stage.
Discovery’s Shark Week, television’s longest-running and most anticipated annual event, celebrates the ocean’s most misunderstood predator through action-packed storytelling, heart-racing science, and fascinating new research. With over 25 million viewers tuning in globally last year, this year’s event continues the tradition of pushing boundaries and exploring uncharted waters, while placing South African experts and stories firmly in the spotlight.
“Shark Week continues to evolve as a global cultural phenomenon, blending adrenaline-fueled storytelling with cutting-edge science,” said Kerrie McEvoy Head of Factual Channels DNets EMEA & Scripted Acquisition CEE. “What makes this year especially exciting is the incredible talent and stories coming out of Africa, from the breathtaking coastlines of Mozambique to the powerful voices of local scientists and conservationists. Every year, we dive into uncharted waters, but this year, we’re proud to showcase the remarkable contributions Africa is making to global shark science and storytelling.”
South African and African Talent Feature Prominently in 2025 Line-up
Shark Week 2025 proudly includes several gripping documentaries filmed in Southern Africa and featuring homegrown experts, filmmakers, divers, and scientists whose work continues to inform and inspire:
(From left to right) Matt Dicken, Zandile Ndhlovu, and Gibbs Kuguru in Great White Reign of Terror
Monday, 28 July at 18:20 CAT – Battle for Shark Mountain
Off Mozambique’s coast, sharks and Giant Trevally clash in a once-a-year feeding frenzy at a hidden peak known as Shark Mountain. The episode features marine conservationist and underwater filmmaker Pamela Le Noury, marine ecologist and senior scientist at the Oceanographic Research Institute, Ryan Daly, and acclaimed wildlife cinematographer Grant Brokensha, who captures the raw, chaotic beauty of this extraordinary ocean spectacle.
Tuesday, 29 July at 18:20 CAT – Great White Reign of Terror
Two fatal shark encounters in South Africa’s Eastern Cape spark fears of a resurgence in deadly great white attacks not seen since Black December in 1957. Investigating the alarming pattern are marine biologist and shark researcher Ryan Johnson, shark geneticist and climate adaptation specialist from Kenya, Gibbs Kuguru, and Zandile Ndhlovu, South Africa’s first Black female freediving instructor and founder of The Black Mermaid Foundation, who advocates for inclusive ocean access and marine education.
Friday, 1 August at 18:20 CAT – Air Jaws: The Hunt for Colossus
A 20-foot great white breaching in New Zealand triggers a global hunt for “Colossus,” a legendary shark that vanished a decade ago from South African waters. Leading the search is renowned shark scientist Dr. Alison Towner, joined by Emmy Award-winning cinematographer Andy Casagrande (from the USA) and former Navy diver turned shark conservationist Paul de Gelder (from Australia), who survived a shark attack and now advocates for shark protection.
WATCH: How Discovery Changed Dr. Alison Towner’s Life
As part of Discovery Channel’s 40th Anniversary, Discovery Changed My Life is a multi-part international series sharing powerful personal stories from individuals whose lives have been shaped by Discovery’s content.
In this episode, shark scientist Dr. Alison Towner reflects on how Shark Week inspired her journey from passionate student to one of Africa’s leading great white shark researchers.
Saturday, 2 August at 18:20 CAT – Great White Assassins
Killer whales are outsmarting and taking down great whites, and scientists want to know how. This high-stakes special follows Dr. Alison Towner and Shark Week regular Dickie Chivell, an intrepid diver and ocean explorer known for his fearless in-water investigations. In one of their boldest experiments yet, Chivell poses as an orca to test shark behaviour firsthand in New Zealand’s open waters.
Saturday, 2 August at 19:10 CAT – Raiders of the Lost Shark
The mystery of Dutchess—a massive great white that vanished from Gansbaai years ago—drives this investigative episode. Marine biologist Matt Dicken, a shark behaviour expert with deep roots in local conservation, teams up with Dickie Chivell to follow the clues, search the coastline, and uncover the truth behind one of the region’s most elusive ocean predators.
Throughout the week, viewers can expect 18 hours of all-new specials that blend thrilling shark encounters, immersive science, and jaw-dropping visuals. Highlights include Caught! Sharks Strike Back, featuring AEW’s Darby Allin; a gripping episode of In the Eye of the Storm, following victims and first responders during a shark attack cluster off Florida’s coast; and a risky experiment where Forrest Galante injects himself with alien shark venoms to test their potency in Alien Sharks: Death Down Under.
Through this unique mix of international production and local expertise, Shark Week 2025 not only entertains but inspires a new generation of ocean defenders, scientists, and storytellers from right here in Africa.
Tune in to Discovery Channel (DStv 121) from Monday, 28 July to Sunday, 3 August for an unforgettable week of science, suspense, and shark action featuring Africa’s finest in marine exploration.
Follow the conversation on social using #SharkWeek and tag @DiscoveryChannelAfrica
