Tinga Tinga Tales Seasons 1 & 2 Boxset

You see there was a time when Elephant had no nose. He couldn’t swat away the flies, or scrub his belly… he couldn’t even blow his nose. Then one day snappy Crocodile snapped! Crocodile pulled and he pulled and he pulled… until Ker-doing!!! Crocodile let go and Elephant’s nose was all long and wiggly! And that’s why Elephant has a trunk. Tales from Africa.

You see there was a time when Snake did have legs… hundreds and hundreds of them. But poor old Snake had no eyes, not a single eye on his head. Then on the day of the great Tinga Tinga Festival of Colours Snake quite literally bumped into Millipede who was stuck in a hole. They decided to swap eyes and legs just for one day. So that Snake could see all the wonderful colours and Millipede could run all over Tinga Tinga. But when Snake came back to return Millipede’s eyes, Millepede couldn’t be found anywhere! So to this day, Snake has no legs. Tales from Africa.

You see there was a time when Hippo did have hair… lots of hair! She was always harumphingly hot. Then one hot night while Hippo was sleeping a spark from the fire caught the end of her hairy tail! Hippo was on fire! She ran through the bush until SPLOSH! Hippo jumped in the waterhole. And from that day on Hippo stayed in the cool waters without a single hair on her hide. Tales from Africa.

You see there was a time when Tortoise’s shell was all shiny and smooth. One day Tortoise discovered the birds were having a Feast in the Heavens and he tricked the Birds into making him a pair of wings. Greedy Tortoise raced the birds beyond the clouds and scoffed the whole feast! When the Birds found out Tortoise had to jump off a cloud until BOOF!!! He landed on his shiny shell. All the animals pieced Tortoise’s shell back together but from that day on Tortoise’s shell was all bumpy and broken and he never moved speedily again. Tales from Africa.

You see there was a time when Hen didn’t peck the ground. She was a proud mother who spent all her time looking after and cleaning her chicks. Fancy pancy Peacock upsets Mama Hen and makes her feel plain. All the animals are furious with Snooty Peacock… but the damage has been done. Eagle – Mama Hen’s best friend – decides to lend Hen her most prized possession – A needle! And Mama Hen sews herself the most beautiful coat of new feathers. Everyone is delighted and they dance and dance and dance. But Mama Hen forgets all about the needle and it gets lost in all the dust. Eagle’s precious needle! From that day on Hen always pecks the ground looking for the needle to return to her friend. Tales from Africa.

You see there was a time when Bat didn’t hang upside down. He used to fly all over Tinga Tinga, saying ‘Boo!’ to all the animals and giving them a fright. Nothing could be more fun for Bat. But one day Bat went too far… and the animals decided to give Bat a dose of his own medicine. Tales from Africa.

You see there was a time when Warthog was really rather handsome. And did he know it! He strutted around Tinga Tinga as if he owned the place. All the animals were fed up with Warthog’s boasting, and then one day Lion decided to give chase. Yikes! Warthog ran headfirst into Porcupines burrow! After that, he was no longer the prettiest beast in Tinga Tinga. Tales from Africa.

You see there was a time when Owl’s head didn’t turn all the way round. She had tiny little eyes and tiny little ears, and she found it very hard to stay awake. Then one day all the Mangoes started disappearing in Tinga Tinga. Against all the animals better judgement, Owl was ordered to watch over the Mango tree … but the mangoes kept disappearing. Desperate to catch the thief, Owl stretched and strained to see who was stealing the precious mangoes, until Ker-Swhing! Her head turned all the way round and she saw who it was… It was the ants! From that day on Owl was made the official night guard of Tinga Tinga. Tales from Africa.

You see there was a time when Monkey used to play on the ground and he loved to wind up Crocodile. One day the Big Rains came and Monkey got stranded up the Mango Tree. Nasty Crocodile promised to take him to dry land…. But only in exchange for one thing…. His HEART! Monkey tricked Crocodile and when Crocodile found out that Monkey swapped his heart for a measley mango, he chased Monkey up a tree. From that day on Monkey swings in the trees keeping well clear of Crocodile's angry snaps! Tales from Africa.

You see there was a time when Tickbird didn’t sit on Hippo’s back, in fact they weren’t friends at all! Tickbird was sick of Hippo splashing all the time. One day tiny Tickbird challenges big Hippo to a contest… who can drink the most water in a single gulp! Tickbird outwits Hippo by using the tides and from that day she is allowed to sit on Hippo’s back and pick off all the yummy ticks she can eat! Tales from Africa.

You see there was a time when Frog didn’t croak. Frog sang like a bird… and the birds didn’t like it. Birds were the masters of song and that’s the way it should be! So the birds trick poor old Frog into a singing duel and sing and sing and sing… until poor old Frog’s voice is reduced to a rebbit. Tales from Africa.

You see there was a time when Spider didn’t have a tiny waist. She was all big and round… and did she like her food! One day greedy Spider hears of Four Feasts in Tinga Tinga and she wanted to go to them all! So she spun four threads and attached them to various animals going to the feasts. But the Monkeys, Frog, Hippo and the Bees all set off in different directions – North, South, East and West – and Spider’s thread soon runs out. EEeeek! The threads get tighter and tighter and tighter, making Spider’s smaller and smaller and smaller! Luckily the threads break, but from that day on Spider has always had a tiny waist. Tales from Africa.

You see there was time when Vulture was not bald. Oh no, Vulture’s head was covered in a beautiful crown of golden plumage! Vain Vulture never shut up about her golden feathers and was obsessed about making them ‘as golden as the sun!’. One day Vulture decides to fly up to the sun, but her precious feathers get burnt! Vulture decides to sooth her smoking feathers with golden honey which she steals from the bees. The bees are not pleased and Vulture sticks her head down Aardvark’s burrow. However, Aardvark loves feathers all covered in honey and when Vulture surfaces she is as bald as… well, as a Vulture! Tales from Africa.

You see there was a time when Giraffe didn’t have a long neck. Her neck was all short and stumpy and she was a very delicate eater. All the food in Tinga Tinga seemed to make her tummy go funny. Then one day Lion suggests she try some honey. With the Bees permission, Giraffe tries to lick the honey… but it is deep, deep inside the tree. Giraffe squeezes her head into the honey tree and then EEEeeek! Her head gets stuck! Summer, Autumn, Winter pass by with Giraffe’s head stuck inside the tree, but she is quite happy because the honey is so delicious. The tree grows and Giraffe’s neck gets longer and longer! After a whole year ‘POP!’ she manages to pull herself free and from that day on Giraffe has a very long neck and can eat the freshest leaves on the very tops of the trees! Tales from Africa.

You see there was a time when Porcupine didn’t have quills, she had the softest coat in all of Tinga Tinga… and Jackal wanted it. Despite warnings from all the animals Porcupine allows Jackal to invite her to his cave to keep out of the rain. Porcupine takes off her coat to allow it to dry, but while she sleeps naughty Jackal runs off with it. When she awakes Porcupine is covered in lots of tiny ant bites and they itch and they itch and they itch. Tortoise suggests Elephant squeeze some milk from the Milky Quill bush… but Porcupine can’t wait anymore and runs into the Quill bushes to relieve her itching. Crash! Crash! Crash! Porcupine crashes through the Quill bushes and emerges covered in spikey quills! The animals can’t believe their eyes! But Porcupine is delighted as no beast will ever come near her sensitive skin ever again! Tales from Africa.

You see there was a time when Lizard didn’t hide under rocks. He would scamper around Tinga Tinga pinching other animals' food and keeping it all for himself. Then one day the animals decide to give greedy Lizard a dose of his own medicine. When Lizard realizes the error of his ways he runs and hides under a rock too ashamed to show his face in Tinga Tinga. Tales from Africa.

You see there was a time when Crocodile didn’t have a bumpy back. His skin was all smooth and he had to be very careful of the hot Tinga Tinga sun. One day whilst napping Crocodile gets very sunburnt and falls into a deep sleep. Lion warns all the animals to be on their guard as the Wildebeest have returned to Tinga Tinga and they could stampede at any moment. Crocodile misses the meeting, snoring under the hot sun. The animals try to warn snappy Crocodile… but it’s too late and the Wildebeest stampede! OOOoof! …. All over Crocodile. From that day on Crocodile has a bumpy back and is grumpier and snappier than ever! Tales from Africa.

You see there was a time when Jackal didn’t howl at the moon. He was a trickster and he always wanted what was not rightfully his. Jackal took over Hen’s nest and Aardvark’s burrow. He even took the cub’s supper from Mama Cheetah! Enough was enough! All the animals decide to teach Jackal a lesson and make him believe that the Moon is made of the sweetest, most delicious honey in Tinga Tinga. Of course, Jackal instantly wants some… but it never comes. From that day on Jackal howls up at the moon, waiting for another drop of delicious MOOoooon honey! Tales from Africa.

You see there was a time when Hare didn’t hop. He was one of the speediest animals in Tinga Tinga but none of the other animals wanted to race with him because Hare always won and it was becoming boring. Then one day, slow but clever Tortoise decides to challenge Hare. Hare can’t believe his luck, but Tortoise wins and he wins and he wins! When Hare realizes that it’s not such fun being on the losing end, Tortoise finally lets Hare hop past the finishing line in first place! Well it’s not good to win all the time. Tales from Africa.

You see there was time when Mosquito didn’t buzz. Mosquito was as quiet as quiet can be… and did she like to tell tales. One day Mosquito tells the Monkeys that the sun looks very low in the sky. ‘Maybe it’s sad and doesn’t want to rise!’ worry the Monkeys. Mosquito flits off to spread the news -  ‘The sun is never going to rise again!’ – soon the whole of Tinga Tinga is in complete panic – ‘The Sun is never going to rise again!’ Of course, the sun does rise again and all is right again in Tinga Tinga. But the animals decide to tie a grass around Mosquito’s tail. From that day on Mosquito buzzes and everyone can swot her away rather than listen to her gossipy tales. Tales from Africa.

You see there was a time when Rhino didn’t charge and he couldn’t see very well at all. Poor old Rhino really wanted to be invited to the Dance of the Horns up on the plains with Buffalo and all the other horned animals. But Rhino didn’t have a horn, so he wasn’t allowed. The Monkeys decide to help Rhino and make him a horn from a piece of old wood. But when Rhino wakes up he doesn’t know what it is. ‘Aargh! Thing on the end of my nose! CHAAaarge!’ And that’s Why Rhino Charges. Tales from Africa.

You see Caterpillar was never in a hurry. When all the animals were racing around Tinga Tinga getting ready for the Best-dressed parade, Caterpillar was happy to sit in a tree and munch on leaves saying ‘Po-le, po-le, slowly, slowly, good things come to those who wait’. Then one day the rains come and Caterpillar disappears into a cocoon. ‘What’s happening?’ questions Elephant. ‘Wait and see’ says Tortoise wisely ‘Wait and see’. Then Caterpillar transforms into the most beautiful butterfly ever!... But who wins the Best-dressed parade? Tales from Africa

You see there was a time when Lion had lost his roar. Crocodile was snapping at all the animals in the Waterhole and Lion opened his big mouth but nothing came out! Tiny Flea tells Lion that if he dares to enter the Great Cave of Tinga Tinga then maybe he will find his roar. Lion plucks up courage and goes into the Great Cave. He roars with all his might, but a bigger roar comes back! Lion stands strong. He roars again and an even bigger roar comes back. Lion’s very own Echo! He has found his roar! From that day on Lion always roars with pride, showing any beast who’s the real King of Tinga Tinga. Tales from Africa.

Zebra was once very easy to spot in Tinga Tinga as he was bright white all over. This was very annoying as all he wanted was to be left alone to munch on yummy grass and get fat. One day, Eagle arrives at the Watering Hole with a new pair of sharp talons saying that she found them in the Great Cave. The animals excitedly rush to find something for themselves. Zebra accompanies Tortoise and the Monkeys into the Cave where they discover the last remaining item; a plain black coat. The Monkeys persuade Zebra to try it on. By holding in his stomach, Zebra manages to get the coat on but it is extremely tight and the black coat starts to rip. In fact, the more Zebra eats the more the coat rips until Zebra has a stripy black and white coat which he is extremely proud of. Not only that, his new stripes make him very difficult to spot amongst the tall grasses of the plains. Finally, Zebra can eat as much grass as he likes and not be spotted by the other animals!

You see there was a time when Flamingo stood on both legs.  One morning, Flamingo and her flock landed at the Water Hole when all the crabs were busy performing their underwater dance.  Needless to say, all these legs where in their way!  Tortoise came up with the plan that if all Crabs each nipped a flamingo leg, there will be room to share the waterhole.  So from then on, Flamingo stood on one legs and Crabs were able to perform their dance in the watering hole

You see there was a time when Woodpecker didn’t peck. All the birds had their very own sound, but Woodpecker didn’t make a sound at all. Then one very dark night in Tinga Tinga, the Moon and the Stars disappear! The animals summon the birds to tell Lion… but Woodpecker can’t pass the message on! Distraught, Woodpecker flies up to the skies… but where are the stars?! And where is the Moon?! In desperation Woodpecker pecks at the dark sky… and a star comes back, then another, then another! Everyone is delighted, no beast more than Woodpecker who now has her very own special sound… pecking.