Every year around July time over two million Wildebeest and Zebra start their migration from the southern Serengeti in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara in Kenya. It is known as one of the seventh wonders of the world. But why do they make such a dangerous arduous safari? Simply, the rains of April and May in Kenya bring alive the Maasai Mara plains with such rich luscious nutritious grasses which the prey come to feed on. The grass really is “greener on the other side.” The great migration is a sight to behold. The thundering of hooves announce the arrival of the millions of Wildebeest, Zebra, Eland, Grant and Thompson Gazelle. The hooves kick up great dust clouds as the braying of Zebra and honking of the Wildebeest cut through the once silent plains. The banks of the Mara river groan with the weight of the prey wanting to cross the torrential water. It only takes one brave individual to cross the river then the great herds descend the banks tearing up the sides as they launch their tired bodies down the steep incline. The air is thick with tension, sweat and adrenaline. Crocodile sits with their mouths wide open on the river banks whilst others lurk beneath the surface to snatch unsuspecting prey. The Wildebeest leap like horses, strangely elegant but strong from the banks into the water. They hit the water and swim for their lives, their eyes are wide with determination and fear to reach the other side to the fresh long grasses. This is the very definition of chaos theory. These Wildebeest forge ahead even though it is dangerous and tiring, they have evolved to bring balance to this fragile eco system. The tension is palatable, the excitement is intoxicating. Even if they reach the other side predators wait to ambush them, even in plain sight the predators having gone through harsh months of almost starvation to look forward to a time of plenty. The natural balance is restored, the prey eats the plentiful grass and the predators eat the plentiful prey.
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The sound is almost deafening as tired mixed herds of Wildebeest, Zebra, Eland and Gazelle arrive on the Maasai (Maa is the language of the Maasai tribe who live here, and Sai is land) plains to graze on the nutritious grasses. Within the herds are smaller family groups, a dominant male will have a harem of females and offspring. The honking and braying are them communicating with each other. Firstly, to ensure the family group is safe and together and to send a message to other males these are his females and offspring. Secondly to see what family members survived the journey that has taken them several hundred miles. Only the strong survive, if you look at the legs of a Wildebeest you will see they are very thin. The long walk takes its toll and many fall foul of sickness and breaks. When they jump down the banks of the river many legs are broken, if they do survive the jump often their tiredness sees them being swept down the river as they are too weak to swim against the strong current. If that was not enough of a challenge on the banks of the river and beneath the water hungry Crocodile lie in wait to snatch an unsuspecting ungulate. But Wildebeest are stronger than they look, they have evolved to undertake this migration every year, they have a steely determination which is admirable. They may be one of the ugly five but they are certainly strong and resilient. It is easy to just see a herd, fodder for the predators but as individuals they have remarkable personalities. They have been known to fight off predators. Their horns are not just for duelling with other males over mating right but for spearing predators when they are attacked. Wildebeest really are the true icons of the plains.
A large herd of Buffalo are grazing on the plains, they do not migrate but the matriarch does lead them to reliable sources of water and food. They too are enjoying this time of plenty. The Cape Buffalo despite its permanently angry stare is captivating bovine. Their curved horns enhance their already mighty stature, which from tip to tail can reach up to seven feet. The horns can help determine age and sex. The large males horns meet in the middle of their heads and are joined by a hard shield called a “boss”, giving a helmet-esque formation. Buffalo are surprisingly fast, they can run up to thirty five miles an hour and are agile, they can jump high fences. In water, a place they enjoy cooling, they are strong swimmers. However for all their abilities their nemesis is Lions, just one scent of one will send them into a rage, they may have poor eyesight but their sense of smell is exceptional. They will follow their nose and actively seek out the Lions and try and kill then by either stampeding or spearing them. Lions kill so many of their herd so they will not hesitate but to seek retribution at any time. The fights between Buffalo and Lions are legendary, two power houses fighting for dominance, they are equally strong and determined to win. So, allies are very welcome in this fascinating eco system. The Buffalo are surrounded by dozens of White Egret, the black rough skin of the Buffalo in stark contrast to the soft white feathers of the birds feathers. They have a mutualism symbiotic relationship, where they both benefit from their interactions. The Egrets follow the Buffalo herd and eat the insects stirred up by the Buffalo as they move. These insects would have bothered the Buffalo so the relationship is of mutual benefit. Birds are also good early warning systems if they see predators on the move.
Another icon and much-loved animal on the savannah is the Giraffe. The largest land animal, growing up to five and a half metres, they punctuate the plains with their towering presence. They are known for being quiet, passive, but ever watchful. If you see a tower of Giraffes standing staring into bushes or a forest, it is likely they saw predators going in there. Of course, their long necks make them excellent lookouts. But this amazing long neck however does not help when drinking, it cannot reach the ground, they have to splay their legs in order to reach water. Even this is problematic as they have a large heart and will pass out if they bend their head too long. It is no wonder they do not drink much, they can go several days without drinking. Giraffes are technically herbivores browsing on the undersides of Ballanite trees, giving them their distinctive umbrella shape. As mega browsers they eat leaves, buds and occasionally bark from trees and shrubs. Giraffes are ruminants and has a stomach with four compartments that digest the leaves they eat. When Giraffes are not eating, they are chewing the cud. Supplementary to this they also chew or suck on bones for the calcium and phosphorus. Once they have extracted the nutrients they simply drop them back down on the ground. This behaviour is called osteophagia. Giraffes are highly intelligent animals, hence their quiet thoughtfulness. Their sharp eyesight and intelligence mean they adapt quickly behaviourally to their external stimuli. It is one animal always worth following to look through their eyes, they natural curiosity is fascinating. A Giraffe just stands chewing its cud, it’s strong jaw moving round and round as it watches a Zebra dust bathing. It’s large round eyes wide and framed with impossibly long beautiful lashes that protects its eyes from thorns. The Zebra rolls over and over, enjoying ridding it’s skin of irritating insects and ticks, it is in its element.
The great migration brings a time of plenty for predator and prey alike. Plump Pumba graze by kneeling down just on their front legs and shuffling along eating the short grasses. Their rounded rears jutting in the air, a tantalising sight for any predators. Hyaenas whilst known for being scavengers and the clean-up crew of the plains have their work cut out with the explosion of hunting activity of the Lions who lie in wait for the Wildebeest and Zebra to cross. They also hunt for themselves, the clan is very organised and efficient, they are taking advantage of the injured Wildebeest who are slower and easier to catch. A pair of monogamous Jackal are sat by their den, their pups safely ensconced inside. Like the Hyaena they are opportunistic scavengers but they can certainly hunt for the themselves. Mutualism is the most common symbiotic relationship found in nature. This is certainly seen extensively in the Maasai Mara where both species benefit from the relationship. While highly complex it can be mainly be defined as obligate where the species are entirely dependent on each other or facultative where they derive benefit from the relationship but could survive without each other. From Oxpeckers landing on the backs of Buffalos to Baboons whooping early warning calls from their lofty heights. The animals here have evolved to live together in a fragile balance.
The female Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus) Kweli (meaning honest in Maa) is out hunting on the plains with her three sub adult cubs, one females and two males. They are around one year old and still have a small mantle of hair running down their neck. In another year they will leave their mother, the males will most likely stay together whilst the female will go off alone, the females are solitary except when mating or have cubs. The cubs are not yet old enough or strong enough to hunt with her but she needs to hunt regularly to feed three hungry mouths. In fact they can be more than an hindrance than a help as they over exuberance can alert prey to their presence. Like all cubs they are full of energy and enjoy chasing each other, play is part of cubs bonding and also good practice for hunting. As the world’s fastest land mammal the cubs enjoy testing out their speed and agility. Their paws unlike other cats have non-tractable claws to act as spikes and their paw pads are like tyre treads enabling they to run at speed. Their long tail is a rudder helping them to balance as they quickly change direction whilst hunting prey. For now their siblings are their practice prey, they stalk, chase and leap on each other bringing each other down. Kweli settles under a tree ignoring the antics of her mischievous cubs, she needs to focus on hunting before sunset for that is the time Lions awake and start their hunt. Whilst Cheetahs are the most efficient hunters of all of the big cats they lose a significant amount of their kills to scavengers and other predators. Lions are the most ineffective of the cats at hunting, they success rate is as low as twenty percent, hence they are opportunistic and they will certainly steal kills from Cheetahs. Cheetahs unlike Lions who can spend up to twenty hours a day sleeping only cat nap, they are permanently on the lookout for hunting opportunities or threats. As the smallest of the big cats they certainly have to work a lot harder. They hunt mostly during the day which means they are easier to see and as the most efficient hunter most likely to see hunting across the plains.
Faulu (Swahili to be successful) the female Leopard subadult cub (Panthera Pardus) of Fig is now around two and a half years old. She has been independent of her late mother for almost a year now which is fortunate for her as her mother’s premature death due to predation earlier this year was a tragic tale of Lion against Leopard. She is a successful hunter and particularly enjoys the taste of mongoose meat! Small but not so fast, mongoose are very ubiquitous in the Maasai Mara, they occupy old dens and termite mounds. It is easy for a fast small Leopard to ambush a pack of mongoose as they scurry from den to den. Whilst not the largest meal it is fast food and will sustain her until the opportunity of hunting larger prey arises. This is much the same for most predators, hunting and catching large prey will sustain them for many days but has a low success rate. The smaller prey will give them energy for the hunt. Faulu rests on the edge of a branch her deep green eyes surveying the savannah for hunting opportunities. She is a beautiful small Leopard, her face is oval not yet scarred from battle with prey or other predators. She is too young to mate yet so she enjoys a time of solitude learning to fend for herself and become an efficient hunter for when she has to feed cubs of her own. Leopards fur really is beautiful and distinctive. It is soft and thick on the belly where it is white and coarser where is turns to dark golden on the back, head, legs and tail, the black rosettes filled with an even darker shade of gold providing the perfect iconic camouflage.
Two female Ostrich and one male are grazing with Thompson Gazelle and Zebra. The male Ostriches legs are dark pink indicating he is wanting to mate and one of the females is receptive to his advances, she starts displaying to him with her iconic feathers fully spread like a burlesque dancer. Most birds have very complex mating rituals that can last for hours or days. Ostrich courtship is ritualised and synchronised. The female or hen is dull beige in colour whereas the male is strikingly black and white in colour. To attract the females he sinks to the ground, extends his impressive wings and waves and shakes them one wing at a time whilst moving his tail up and down. Ostrich like most prey are hunted by the predators so undergoing a mating ritual which will distract them from looking out for threats makes sense to be undertaken near Zebra who have excellent eyesight and will warn them in advance. The beauty of the Maasai Mara is not just the hundreds of miles of breath-taking green plains, the great Mara river that snakes through the land or the iconic Ballanite, Fig, Olive, Gardenia and Sausage trees that punctuate the land but the relationship of the animals. Every moment in the wild a story is unfolding, nature is surprising, awe inspiring and thought provoking. Every element is connected, each blade of grass to the mighty land giants has an important role to play ensuring the survival of this amazing eco system. A Zebra places her head gently on the back of her foul, a bond of love and protection. She will fight for its survival even if it meant giving up her own life. Observing the natural instincts of animals and how their have evolved in their ever changing environment is fascinating.
Neema’s two male Cheetah cubs of just over two years are trying to hunt Impala, they are still young and novices, they have only just left their mother. Their sister has already separated from them to make her own way. They are sitting under a bush surrounded by dozens of Wildebeest and Topi, when they are older and more experienced this will be perfect prey for them but for now they will need to hunt only the young and slower calves in the herds. One of the cubs starts stalking an Impala but the cub gives chase too soon giving away its cover, even though it is faster than the Impala it had too much ground to cover first. The herds of Topi and Wildebeest snort at them indicating they have now seen them. The Cheetah have lost the opportunity to hunt them, but they do not give up for their mother taught them is where there is large herds there is young cubs secreted in the grass. The Cheetah get up in full view of the herds, they are not perturbed by the snorts or threats of the herd as they stamp their feet trying to encourage them to move off. Their instinct and teaching of their mother encourages them to start slowly walking through the grass using their strong sense of smell to pick up the scent of new born calves. Suddenly a calf leaps from the grass and runs as fast as its spindly legs can carry it. The Cheetah give chase, they do not need to run at full speed as the calf is slow, they reach out with their claws and pull the calf off balance so it falls. It quickly gets up again and runs and the Cheetah pull it down again, it is an age old game of cat and mouse. Eventually the Cheetah stop with their teasing and grab the calf by its neck and start to throttle it by closing its windpipe. The calf’s big brown eyes are wide with pain and fear, it bleats for its mother. A little way off an Impala turns but it knows it cannot rescue its baby. The Cheetah do not manage to kill the calf and start eating it alive, the bleating is horrifying but this is survival. There are less than seven thousand Cheetah left in the wild due to human wildlife conflict, habitat loss and predation. Seeing them thrive in the Maasai Mara is important even when this harsh hunt is witnessed. Not far away in the same territory their sister is also out hunting, she patiently sits under a bush waiting for an Elephant to pass however he is busy
scratching his side on a tree, insects and biting bugs are a bane for all wildlife here so a roll or scratch is very satisfying and cannot be rushed!
Olakira (Maa name for stars) the daughter of Tito is a beautiful large powerful female Leopard. She is undoubtedly breath-taking as she walks through the plains at sunset. She is an ambush hunter and uses the bushes for cover so she can surprise her prey. DikDik, the smallest Antelope on the plains are monogamous and mate for life, they scatter as soon as they see her. Whilst they would be a small meal for her, she has other thoughts on her mind. She chuffs from inside the bushes, she is a solitary cat but tonight she wants company and she knows her call will be heard for miles. The sun sets behind her, a perfect sphere of red blazing fire as she climbs a tree and walks steadily along the branches to the end and chuffs again making her presence known, she is looking for a male. She is agitated, she is in oestrus and must mate. The burning sun lights up her burnished fur creating a bright halo of light around her. As the sun sets she is silhouetted against the dark orange sky, her outline is distinctive as her long tail hangs down from the branch. She gently lifts her foot and starts licking it and runs it over her face to clean away the dust of the day. All cats are fastidious, there is an elegance in all of their movements. As Leopards finally thrive and increase in number on the plains, they are becoming less elusive. She is relaxed, this is her territory in which she will raise her young. She lifts her head and chuffs once more, it resonates, such a beautiful sound. As it carries on the gentle wind the sun disappears below the horizon and moons cool tones replaces its warmth.
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There is nothing more beautiful than an African sunrise, the sky is awash with a vibrant pallet of orange red and yellow. There are no clouds in the sky so the colours merge to create a stunning painting. Across this vast opulent sky, a tower of Giraffe cross, their distinctive shape and statue perfectly silhouetted against the dark fiery hues. As the sun begins to rise, a vast sphere of fire and warmth, the prey lift their heads to enjoy the heat after a cold night. They flex their muscles and start running showing off their strength and skill. Overhead the dawn chorus start up, the shrieking mating calls pierce the cold air, they stretch wide their wings and launch into the skies. A herd of Elephants are trumpeting in the tree line, they are led by a matriarch. The herd have two small calves which they are protecting. The trumpet sound can be a warning to not to get close to them or excitement. The Fig Tree pride, three females and nine cubs are very active still after a night of hunting. The Lionesses (Panthera Leo) made a kill in the night so the cubs are happy and well fed. The cubs run through the oat top long grasses, tipped with morning dew. As the sun rises in the sky it diffuses to golden light. This golden hour is magical when the sun is still close to the horizon, its light appears warmer and softer. The gold light reflects off of the fur of the Lions making it look darker and more bronze. The sun beams refracts in the dew drops making them shimmer with a rainbow of colours. The cubs are joyous, they are sated from their meal and protected by their mothers. They leap on their mothers, wanting to play, the Lionesses indulge them chasing them in a game of predator and prey. Two of the Lionesses are very big and muscular, they are the queens of this pride, protecting them and leading the hunts. One of the Lionesses start to walk down the tracks to avoid the long wet grasses, she wants to take the cubs to the bushes to sleep for the day. Behind her a dozen hot air balloons hover in the sky, the sound of the fires do not distract her. She is a vision of strength, beauty and what it means to be truly wild.
Lions are opportunistic hunters, they have evolved to be strong ambush hunters, their golden fur is the perfect camouflage when they enter the long yellow grasses. A small herd of Wildebeest appears on the horizon. The younger Lioness has decided this is another perfect opportunity to hunt so leads the hunt with the older ones behind her. They show patience and secrete themselves in the grass, they are ambush hunters and need to be within twenty yards to ambush. The younger Lioness suddenly gives chase, the herd scatter to confuse the Lionesses but she runs at speed across the plains after one. She manages to pull one down by the throat, but what she did not expect was for it to fight back, she is not as strong as her sisters or as experienced and she loses grip as it shakes her off. It then does the unexpected and confronts her, it lowers its head and runs at her its horns low to try to spear her. The hunter now becomes the hunted, she is facing the Wildebeest and has to retreat backwards quickly to avoid its sharp horns. She hesitates, does she risk death to try and bring it down again? She decides the Wildebeest is angry and strong and so she backs down. She runs back to the other Lionesses. The Lionesses walk back to the cubs without food, the cubs eagerly greet them, they are simply happy to be reunited with their mothers. The Lioness left to babysit the cubs jumps up to greet her sister, they rub heads. The cubs are keen to see if they have brought food and jump all over the Lionesses.
The Lionesses head into the bushes by the river, the morning is growing hot and they need to drink. The bank of the river is high and they sit on the edge with their paws overhanging the lip of the ridge. The Lionesses are joined by the cubs, they are tired and meow at their mothers. The Lionesses walk along the bank to a less steep part and lead the cubs down, they settle half way down under the shade of a tree, the alpha Lioness lays down to feed her cub, the pride is contented. Suddenly Olarei (Jesse II) the alpha male appears at the top of the ridge, he is a beautiful male with a full golden mane. He sits at the edge of the ridge overlooking the Mara River, the river is exceptionally low, just a slither winds its way through the thick brown mud of the riverbed. The banks are dry and sandy, grey rocks usually covered by the water lay exposed along with drift wood bleached by the scorching sun. His golden eyes surveys his territory, he is constantly looking out for nomadic males who may try to take over his territory. He sighs audibly, a deep rumble in his throat. He is getting hot, the bush next to him affords him no shade. He heads down the bank near to his pride and settles in a bush to sleep. The Lionesses and cubs glance over to him, assured by his presence and protection. The younger cubs have finished suckling and gently plays. A slightly older male cub with a start of a small Mohican mane around his face stays close to his mother, his time with her is precious as in a year or so he will be on his own. A Lioness gets up and goes over to the tree and starts to climb it, she sharpens her claws and stretches, flexing her taut muscles. It is too hot to hunt now but if the opportunity arises she will take it. As the sun grows hotter prey will come down to the river to drink and they are in the perfect position to ambush them.
As the morning grows hot most of the animals seek shade or water. Two Spotted Hyaena (Hyaenidae) have found a small pool of water and are cooling off. They are quite shy animals but with a natural curiosity. They look up, their noses twitching picking up any new scents, they have an incredible sense of smell. The Spotted Hyaena is the most common seen in the Masai Mara, it is the largest and the most powerful. It is an unusual animal, at a glance a cross between a small bear and a dog. They have large powerful jaws for crushing bones and a slopping back, their gait is very ungainly. They have large rounded eyes and ears and are reddish brown in colour with black spots. Their short bushy tail is often erect in aggressive situations. They have blunt, non-retractile claws like Cheetah for long distance chasing. For many years Hyaenas were thought to be hermaphroditic (possessing both male and female organs) due to the fact that the external labia of the female is swollen in the form of a false scrotum, and the clitoris is long and erectile, making it indistinguishable from the male’s penis. Copulation takes place by the male inserting his penis into an enlarged opening in the females clitoris, which connects with the merged urino-genital duct. The cubs are well developed at birth with their eyes open and their canines and incisor teeth already cut. Siblings of the same sex fight for dominance, and the death of one of the cubs is common. Hyaenas are well known for their high pitch maniacal laugh when gathered at a kill. When calling each other it sounds like a whooping wail. They are highly opportunistic and scavenge kills but they are also very effective hunters. Females lead the clan in hunting and are the dominant in the group. They recognise each other by scent, secreting liquid from their anal glands on blades of grass. They are ugly beautiful, highly intelligent and very organised.
A large herd of Eland (Taurotragus oryx) are grazing out on the plains, they are the largest African Bovid, but the slowest Antelope. It is interesting hearing them walk, their joints or tendons in their foreleg produce a sharp clicking sound, the reason still unknown. Dispute this quirk, they can jump over eight feet in the air from standing. It has stunning spiral horns, which is uses for fighting and protection. It has long fascinated man, pre-historic rock paintings in Africa clearly feature Eland. They were a good source of food being a large bovine but also spiritual inspiration. Apparently to heal the sick and bring rain, which made them sacred. They are shy animals and are quick to retreat from disturbance. Nearby a juvenile Hyaena is sitting in the opening to its den, it’s clan must have gone off hunting. Unlike adult Hyaenas which are shy and skittish the pup looks surprisingly relaxed. Although phylogenetically closer to felines, Hyaenas are behaviourally similar to canids. Both Hyaenas and canines are non-arboreal, cursorily hunters that catch prey with their teeth rather than their claws. They have calloused feet with large blunt non-retractable claws that are adapted to running and making sharp turns. However Hyaenas grooming, scent marking, mating and parental behaviour is more like feliforms. Unfortunately for Hyaenas, which films have not helped, they have been heavily featured in folklore as frightening creatures who rob peoples spirits and steal children and livestock. Whereas in fact they are fascinating beautiful complex animals. The cub just looks like a small brown bear, it’s big brown eyes curious as it surveys the plains and the diverse wildlife around it.
The Maasai Mara plains are breathtakingly beautiful with its rich biodiversity. All animals play a vital role in keeping the perfect balance, this includes the “villains”. A stunning Black Mamba Snake slithers through the grasses and disappears under a rock. Black mambas live in the grassy plains and rocky hills of eastern Africa. They are Africa’s longest venomous snake, reaching up to fourteen feet in length. They are also among the fastest snakes in the world, slithering at speeds of up to twelve miles per hour. They are actually brown not black, their name comes from the black colouring inside their mouth. They are diurnal, this behaviour is mostly the result of their cold-blooded nature, as they rely on the warmth and heat of the sun to regulate their bodies. They seek out rocks and other sunny spots to bask and raise their internal temperature; however, if temperatures are too hot, they may seek shade and go inactive. Their bite is known as the “kiss of death”, once bitten, a human could die in as little as twenty minutes. They are carnivores and live in lairs, in Africa, they are both feared and respected, and a legendary lore surrounds the larger-than-life reputation of the snake. Their venom is some of the deadliest, and from day one, baby mambas are born able to attack and spew poisonous venom from their two fangs. Mambas do not have many predators, so they spend most of their waking hours hunting for their own food to eat. Because of their incredible speed, black mambas are quite adept at lying in wait until the right moment and speeding up towards their prey to strike. A typical diet for black mambas consists of birds, rodents, and small mammals. The snake will bite the prey, leaving it paralyzed, and devour it whole once it’s dead. Their mouths are designed to be able to hinge open widely in order to facilitate the swallowing process. On average, an adult snake has to eat only once or twice a week and they can go without water for several months. Seeing them is rare so a privileged experience.
A very ubiquitous recognisable sight in the Mara River is the Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) or river horse as known in the Greek. These are such well loved animals ironically characterised in film as large friendly beasts with a cute appeal. But they are not, they are the deadliest of land mammals, they will attack humans completely unprovoked and are unbelievably bad tempered. You can smell a Hippo pod before you can see it, they defecate where they live and eat using their tail to swish away their faeces. They are constantly fighting for dominance and fights are often fatal, infanticide is also common if a male does not believe a baby is his. Two juveniles are mock fighting, their mouths open trying to bite each other, even at this young age they are preparing for the battles ahead. So why are they such a favourite? Whilst on land they are large and cumbersome but in water because they cannot swim, they run along the bottom as elegant as a horse, hence the Greek name “River horse.” Their honking sounds like laughter which always raises a smile. A group of Hippos is called a bloat, which gives the image of being cuddly and friendly. Watching them blow bubbles in the water as they can only hold their breath for up to five minutes, is quite comical. They are undoubtedly fascinating to watch, even sunbathing out on the sandy banks of the river their pink sensitive bodies (the pink comes from a secretion that acts like a sunblock) look vulnerable. So they are the opposite to Hyaenas and Black mambas, they are not the cute and cuddly animals they are portrayed as.
The great migration is a time for plenty for the predators. A float of Crocodiles are eating a Wildebeest in the river, they are twisting the carcass so they can pull off chunks of flesh as they cannot chew, just swallow. Their white bellies are exposed as the twist and rotate in the water, it is like a beautiful synchronised dance. All crocodilians perform a spinning manoeuvre to subdue and dismember prey. The spinning manoeuvre, which is referred to as the “death roll,” involves rapid rotation about the longitudinal axis of the body. Others bask on the banks of the river, their beautiful deep green eyes looking out for vulnerable prey. Crocodile eyes contain a horizontal streak of tightly packed receptors called fovea, which give an astoundingly extended scope of sight. This quirky and unique quality may make crocodile eyes appear menacing, like a milky marble, but it has a much more practical purpose. They can see closer than humans and further away. Crocodiles have been around for 65 million years longer than dinosaurs and their eyes are the most advanced on the planet.
Another animal with incredible vision are Vultures which are flying overhead waiting to land on a carcass to eat. Vultures have exceptional eyesight, it is believed they are able to spot a three-foot carcass from four miles away on the open plains. In some species, when an individual sees a carcass it begins to circle above it. This draws the attention of other vultures that then join in. During migration the Vultures land in the water on top of bloated carcasses which have been swept away by the current. They devour the rotting remains keeping the river clean of disease , for the water is the lifeblood of the wildlife and people who live on the plains, so the Vultures have an incredibly important role to play. There are three main types of Vultures on the Mara, Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus), White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) and Rüppell’s Vulture (Gyps reuppelli). All of a sudden the Crocodiles and Vultures are alert again, a herd of Zebras decide to cross, one is grabbed by a Crocodile it tears into its side but the Zebra manages to escape and climbs the bank but its stomach is hanging out. It falls to the ground writhing in pain, one of its family group goes to it, wanting it to fight for its life but it is too badly hurt. Vultures start to circle above, they can see blood and impending death from four miles away.
It is late afternoon and the air is growing cooler, the Rekero pride of Lions, three females and young cubs are in the grass by rocks still sleeping as they were hunting all night and they will again tonight. Lion identification is unmistakable. Males have a large mane, the noticeable growth is around 18 months old with the mane thick and full by five to six years old. The females whilst strong and powerful like the males, do not have a mane. Lions have a claw-like horny spine in their tail-tuft. Lions use a variety of sounds in threatening situations from deep rumbling growls to explosive grunts and hisses. Nocturnal and diurnal, Lions hunt mainly at night and sunrise and sunset. Lions are gregarious social cats which is unusual in the cat family. They live together in prides made up of anywhere between two and twelve closely related bonded females and their cubs which they tend to give birth to around the same time so they can breast feed each other’s young whilst others go hunting. These females and cubs live with usually a unrelated coalition of two to six males who are often brothers or cousins. The males are unrelated to the females to stop interbreeding and protects the strength of the genes. Lionesses usually stay in their natal pride for the whole of their lives whereas the young males are ejected from the pride at around two to three years old to prevent interbreeding. These males become nomadic until they are around five to six years old and they can challenge the males of another pride or form their own. If the pride becomes very large sometimes the Lionesses will become nomadic and will join another pride in their natal territory. Pride depends on matriarchal continuity that can last many generations. The Rekero pride used to be a large pride as they had many years of stability with two pride males Blackie and Lipstick but since their demise from old age unusually they have been taken over twice. They finally have stability again so hopefully the pride will thrive once more.
A pride that is thriving is the Topi pride, over twenty strong, the strength of the pride is in their obvious bond. The golden light turns the red oat tipped grasses into fields of spun gold through which the golden lions walk, with the halo of light around the Lions they are almost camouflaged in this sea of swaying golden grass. The sub adult male cubs head butt their mother as they walk reaffirming bonds, she rubs back showing her love. They will only stay in the pride until they are around three years old so this time with their mother is precious. It is nearly sunset and it is time to hunt, the cubs are restless. The sub adult sit on the on the ridge of the river looking down hoping prey have come to drink or cross so they can ambush them. One of the Lioness have decided to sit on termite mound giving her a vantage position in order to view the prey. She is a sight to behold, in profile her deep bronze eyes reflect the red of the sun, her coarse golden fur takes on a red tinge, she is a true queen, majestic and powerful. She is the alpha female in this pride and will lead the hunt when she decides on suitable prey. A lone Buffalo is grazing on the plains and there is Topi ahead, both acceptable challenges. The Buffalo has sharp horns for spearing so the hunt will have to be tactical to bring it down at its rear. The Topi have sharp eyesight so the Lionesses would have to stalk low through the grasses and work as a team to isolate one from the rest of the herd. They will undoubtedly wait until after sunset to hunt when their night vision will give them an advantage over their prey. Ethereal beams of light project through the clouds, it is a breathtakingly scene. The sun begins to make its descent below the horizon as its disappears the light refracts making it look deeper red to the eye. The whole plains are awash with a fiery glow and last vestiges of warmth. In the distance a male Lion roars, it is time to gather his pride to hunt.
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The rising sun casts a dark orange hue across the early morning sky. Golden fingers of sunlight spreads across the plains heating everything it touches. As it rises it brings the excitement of a new dawn, the nocturnal animals blink at the light and scurry back to their dens and burrows, diurnal animals stretch their cold limbs after a long night, they prance and pronk showing their delight at the warmth of the sun. Scrub hares with their long ears, pick up any sound, twitch their pink noses and scurry out of sight. The plains become alive with activity and beautiful melodies. The dawn chorus heralds the rising of the sun, each bird seems to know when it is its time to sing. The melodic sound breathe life into the sky, the collective twittering’s and chirps of the wild songbirds is like the opening soundtrack of a film, it announces the drama and action the day will bring. Birds themselves chirp to announce their territory. The also sing to attract potential mates, their full rich whistles catching the attention of the opposite sex. The energy in the air is electric, there is an excitement as the migrating herds of Wildebeest and Zebra descend onto the plains. Into this glorious morning two of the Salas male Lion coalition, Olepolos and Okitoko make their entrance. Male Lions in the wild must form coalitions with other males to protect territory and mating rights. The Salas males are brothers from the same pride, they have bonded from birth so when it was time to leave their mothers pride around three years old they had formed a strong alliance that would last for life. They have just arrived back from hunting and are contented with full bellies. The heat of the sun is making them frisky, they run down the tracks after each other, rubbing up against each other reaffirming their bond of love and kinship. They rub heads, passing their scent from one to another, showing they are bonded and brothers. Olepolos rolls over on the track and Okitoko reverses back ward on top of him, they are like over grown cubs falling all over each other, playful and spirited. They roll around together on the dirt ridding their coats of ticks and parasites. Jumping to their feet they rub heads again, their love for each other deeply moving. This tactile stimulation also plays a role in sensory communication between the brothers.
Olepolos and Okitoko lift their large muscular faces to feel the heat of the rising sun. The fiery glow of the sun lights their burnished bronze manes like they are on fire. There really is nothing more beautiful than male Lions in golden light. Behind them a dozen hot air balloons fly over but they are not distracted by the sound of the burners, the contrast of the colourful balloons against the golden Lions is stunning. The males once again rub up against each other, Lions communicate in different ways also using sounds like roars, growls, moans, grunts and but touch seems to the be the most expressive. They divert from the track into the long grasses, one of the most important roles a male Lion has is to mark is territory to protect his pride against other males wanting to take over. This is mainly done at sunrise and sunset. They spread their scent by rubbing their muzzle on tufts of grass or shrubs, and they rake the earth with their hind paws, as the paws have scent glands, too. Lions also mark their territories by urine-spraying bushes and trees. They defecate conspicuously and scrape with their feet on the ground where they have urinated transferring the scent to their feet to pass on while they patrol their boundaries. They are also looking for the scent of other males that may have passed through their territory, they bear their teeth and inhale through his mouth to allow the pheromones and other scents in the other lion’s urine to reach his Jacobson’s organ. This organ is at the base of the lion’s nasal cavity and enables him to determine the origin of the scent. If the Lions detect other Lions have entered their territory, they will follow the scent and roar to ward off the intruding males indicating this it their territory. Territorial fights are usually avoided as they are often to the death, a warning roar is often sufficient.
The predators are strong it is feast time, the migration has brought an abundance of food for the hungry cats. Most of the cats have left their usual territories to descend on the Mara river where the Wildebeest and Zebras want to cross, this is the perfect place to ambush them when they are tired after the treacherous crossing. The immigration is at its height, hundreds of thousands of Wildebeest congregate on the banks of the Mara river. Intermingled with them are Zebra and Thompson Gazelle, they are looking to cross the crocodile infected waters. A small herd of Zebra come down to the river to drink, they are ever watchful of crocodiles lurking under the water looking for an opportunity to snap at them and pull them under. After quickly drinking they retreat up the banks. The Wildebeest assess the waters are safe and start to descend, once a few become brave the whole herd follows. The scene is frantic, hooves kick up dust as they thunder down the banks of the river. The air is choked with dust and sweat and the smell of fear and panic. The Wildebeest launch themselves down the banks and into the river and swim for their lives. There is panic and confusion, some are drowned in the fight to cross safely, some break their legs as they scramble to find footings on the slippery rocks and a few unfortunate Wildebeest misjudge their leap off of the banks and crash rolling down into the river to be swept away. It is an exhilarating but a somewhat tragic sight. In the carnage, Hippo languishing in their pod are not happy with the disturbance they push carcasses of Wildebeest out of their way. A Crocodile is greedily carrying in its mouth the mangled remains of a Wildebeest, having been twisted and torn apart, the carcass is only recognisable by its horns.
Behind the crossing herds on the other side of the banks of the river, part of the Mogoro pride, one dominant male lion and six Lionesses are looking to hunt the crossing Wildebeest. They are unusually walking in plain sight, this maybe because they are full from an earlier kill as the hunt is relatively easy right now as the Wildebeest are trapped between the Crocodile infested waters and them. But as Lions are opportunistic hunters they are assessing whether a Wildebeest stumbles into their path or if they there is a lame one they can easily catch. Often the predators do not even have to exert themselves at all during this season, many Wildebeest break their necks and legs leaping down the sides of the river so the predators can retrieve bodies from the riverbank. Nothing is wasted here, each animal relies on each other for its survival. On the opposite side of the river a lone Lioness is sat on the hill with Marabou stalks and Vultures waiting for the Wildebeest and Zebra to cross. It is another example of this incredible eco system where the wildlife benefit each other. If the Lioness catches the Wildebeest it will sustain her and her cubs for a couple of days. The Marabou stalks and Vultures will wait patiently for the pride to finish their meal before completely stripping the carcass down to the bone. Even then the bones will be picked clean by flies and insects before drying out in the sun. Finally Giraffe will come along and pick up the cleaned bones and suck the protein from them and Hyaena with their strong jaws will crunch them. Nothing will be left except maybe a skull, an iconic symbol.
Sila (which means a young person in Maa) the beautiful female Cheetah and her two cubs of two months old are relaxing in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy under the shade of a croton bush. The Conservancy is very dry, the rains have failed and all that is left is scrub bushes. Sila’s cubs are too young to eat meat yet but she needs to hunt to sustain herself to produce milk for her cubs. The conditions are challenging as there is no cover for her to stalk her prey. A herd of Thompson Gazelle come into sight, her dark amber eyes immediately assesses her hunting chances, she licks her cubs, silently indicating to them to stay where they are and stay out of sight. She crouches low and starts to walk nearer the Thompson Gazelle, unfortunately they pick up her scent and start to snort a warning call to the rest of the herd and to any other prey. They turn and face her, they do not run, they show her they have strength in numbers and they will outrun her as they are sufficiently far enough away to have a head start on the world’s fastest land mammal. She sits up knowing she is not close enough to catch them, she looks around to see if there is any other prey to hunt then heads back to her cubs. Even though they have only been apart from their mother for minutes they are so pleased to see her. As she approaches them she chirps to them telling them it is safe to come to her, they eagerly run to her rubbing their faces on her, sharing scent and strengthening bonds. The cubs start to purr loudly with happiness, the most beautiful sound in the world. She would do anything to protect them, she lays next to them so they can feed. The cubs lay side by side suckling contentedly from her, whilst Sila keeps a watchful eye. When they have finished she grooms them, their small faces lifted to hers in love and contentment, knowing they are loved and safe. When she has groomed them one of the cubs sits up and starts grooming the top of her head. They both purr, the bond of love is so apparent. Raising cubs for lone Cheetah mothers is so challenging, she faces so many threats due to predation. Every time she leaves them to hunt she does not know if they will survive without her. However she is a good mother and will do whatever it takes to ensure they have the best chance of life.
The plains are alive with large mixed herds of Wildebeest, Zebra, Eland and Impala. The varying timbre’s of sounds is beautiful, as within each immense herd smaller family groups communicate to each other. The herds have evolved to graze out in the intense heat, the Zebras black and white stripes both attract and reflect light regulating their temperature. Their eyes are sharp even in the dazzling heat haze, they are constantly on the lookout for predators. Topi stand as sentries on high termite mounds on the edge of the herds, the early warning callers. There is a feeling of peace and harmony as these different species graze together. Banded Mongoose scurry past looking to reach their den before being spotted by Eagles from the air or Cats from the ground. They are quite nomadic little creatures, which means they like to move around from place to place. They never spend more than three or four days in any one place. If they cannot find shelter they form into a tight group with all their heads facing outwards. Banded mongoose can often be seen eating ticks off warthogs. Close by, sated and not interested in moving yet the Moniko pride, three sub adult females and a sub adult male lay on the cool mud surrounding an algae covered watering hole. The young male already has the start of an impressive mane, he has a very pink nose of youth, no scars and is laying very cutely upside down. Even though they have not yet left their pride the sub adults spend more and more time away from the pride, hunting small prey for themselves and learning to be independent. The males that have recently left the pride are the four Moniko sub male Lions around three years old. Each is uniquely different, two are quite blonde whereas two are darker gold. They all have the start of impressive manes but the size is governed by the level of testosterone they have. They are nomads now, bonding as brothers, hunting together and protecting one another. As nomads they will fight with other male Lions whose territories they enter and eventually they will need to compete with other males to take over and have a pride of their own. But for the next couple of years these males will learn to work together and know what it means to draw strength from each other.
It is a popular misconception that Hyaenas are just scavengers they are excellent hunters in their own rights. Hyenas have a more powerful bite and senses that match or slightly surpass Lions. Hyenas will often have their kills stolen by lions that use their size and pride numbers to scare them off . Lions are opportunistic hunters and are well known from stealing kills from Leopards, Cheetahs and Hyaenas who are more efficient and successful hunters than them. Lions dominant the plains so taking what they want also keeps the balance of power. A lone male Lion can easily use his sheer size and strength to intimidate a whole clan of Hyaenas. If new dominant males enter a territory they will often seek out Hyaena clans and kill one to send a message they rule the territory. Fortunately for this clan of Hyaenas as the sun begins to set the Lions are out hunting for themselves. Like African Wild dogs, Hyaenas do not kill their prey directly, having chased their prey to exhaustion it is captured and dragged down then eaten while still alive. The whole clan is giggling manically whilst tearing apart a young Zebra. The sun sets behind this macabre scene, the deep reds of the sun rays exaggerating the dark red of the Zebras blood smeared on the faces of the Hyaenas and spilt onto the ground. Trails of blood lead from the body to where it’s internal organs have been dragged across the grass. The deep black of bronze of the Spotted Hyaenas fur is beautiful in the golden light. Hyaenas have so many sounds but it is famous for its laugh. As the wind stills the air is punctuated with this iconic mesmerising sound.
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Two of the majestic male Lions from Mogora pride are walking through the oat tipped grasses at sunrise. The red light of the low sun as it rises from below the horizon sets on fire their golden fur. Dew hangs from each grass tip, the golden light refracts through the water giving off prisms of light. The golden grasses bows and sways in the gentle breeze , their muscular bodies brushes against the stems. They are trying to pick up the scent of Lionesses in oestrus as they are close to the Rokero pride Lionesses. However the Rekero females cubs were sired by the Salas male Lions so if the Mogora males find them they will kill their cubs to bring the Lionesses back into oestrus. Infanticide is common in cats, they only want their genes to survive. The females have already picked up the scent of the males and have headed off with the cubs across the plains to a safer area leaving one female to “fake mate” with the males if necessary to distract them from the rest of the females. The real strength of a pride is really in the bond of the females. Dominant males will come and go from the pride but the heart of the pride is with the females who are born into the pride and will most likely stay in it for life. It is one of the reasons Lionesses in a pride give birth at the same time, it is to protect each other and nurture each other’s cubs. Lionesses have been known to fight off nomadic males when their dominant males are not around to do so. A lioness protecting her cubs is not a force to be reckoned with. The Rekero Lionesses head for a hill, the three young cubs are only two to three months old and run to keep up with the Lionesses. Two of the Lionesses take the cubs up the hill into the bushes whilst three scout the area looking for threats. Fortunately Okitogo one of the males from the Salas coalition is out marking his territory, the Mogora males will pick up the scent this is his pride.
What you can always expect from wild is the unexpected. You can spend years observing, documenting and trying to understand wildlife but there is still much to learn. A female Hyaena is carrying a newly born baby in its mouth across the plains, it is a rare sighting as Hyaenas tend to be nocturnal. However what makes it hard to fathom is it is running fast through the long grasses, the babies body swings wildly from its mouth. The baby is alive as it’s legs are raised even though it’s eyes are shut but the alarming swinging of its body from its neck where the mother carries it is distressing and concerning. It is not clear what the Hyaena is running from or running to. What makes it even more surprisingly is that Hyaenas are considered to be one of the best mothers in the animal kingdom, investing more energy per cub than any other terrestrial carnivore. Hyaenas give birth to one to three small jet black cubs (some call them pups, but early naturalists thought they resembled bear cubs). Hyaenas are very protective of their pups especially when they are female as their first born will take over from them as queen of the clan. So it is a mystery why his mother is causing her pup clearly deep discomfort. Even when she occasionally drops it down on the grass to take a quick break she does not seem to check on its welfare. After more than thirty minutes of her running, the cub no longer looks alive, nature can be cruel, the cause of the mothers fleeing, unknown.
Kweli the female Cheetah seeks shade under a small acacia tree with her three sub adult cubs. The cubs are frisky in the morning heat and try and climb the tree, they fall down constantly as they have non retractable claws which are not helpful when climbing. They enjoy chasing each other around, play is about bonding and learning hunting skills. They are lithe, athlete and fast, they run towards each other leaping in the air bringing each other down to the ground tumbling through the grass. When you have three playing, one always gets stuck in the middle, teased by the other two, one picks up the end of the tail of another to annoy it. The cubs still have a small mantle of hair running down their head and back. They still look like ferocious honey badgers and they certainly play like them. They leap on each other backs pretending the other is prey, gently biting the throat to subdue the other into submission. Even at such a young age they are already fast, they are honing their running skills. They use their long tails as rudders to balance their bodies as they weave through the grasses at speed. Their claws are like trainer spikes and their feet pads like tyre treads. Their mother Kweli ignores their crazy antics, she encourages their growing independence and confidence. She however needs to hunt, she has four mouths to feed daily, she is constantly sitting up and then standing looking for prey to hunt. She spots a mixed herd of Thompson Gazelle and Grant Gazelle and heads out across plains but there is no cover. The Gazelle see her and start to run. The cubs are unperturbed and carry on with their game of chase. Kweli chirps at them indicating it is time to move on, she needs to find them food, they stop running and immediately obey her. Kweli and her cubs walk past a tower of Giraffe, the Giraffe are naturally curious animals and stop to watch them pass, they bend their long necks to get a better look.
Jilime (Swahili for a small thing) is the daughter of the beautiful famous female Leopard Luluka. She is well known in her own right now as she is a little too overly habituated, friendly and naturally curious like most cats. However she is a wild Leopard and a little too over confident, fortunately she is learning to be a little less over exuberant. She is only around three years old and has been independent of her mother for a year. She is still small and unscarred from fighting and mating and an absolutely beautiful Leopard. Jilime has learnt from her mother how to hunt and survive on her own. Her stunning green eyes are focused on every bush and clump of grass, Scrub Hare are a relatively easy meal for a cat, they tend to hide making it fun for a cat to ambush. Jilime has also developed the taste for banded Mongoose, it is a game of numbers with them as they scurry across the plains with a small Leopard in hot pursuit. She is unperturbed about any noise around her, she is very focused on the hunt. She may get lucky and find a baby Gazelle secreted in the grass. As she grows in size, skill and confidence she will start hunting larger prey. A fully grown Leopard can hunt and drag up a tree a prey almost twice its weight and size. Baboons, hares, rodents, birds, lizards, porcupines, warthogs, fish, and dung beetles are all part of the leopard’s extensive menu. This eclectic diet has helped leopards survive in areas where other large cat populations have diminished. When food is scarce, leopards will hunt less desirable, but more abundant prey. Leopards are no longer elusive, they are thriving in the Maasai Mara.
There is nowhere in the world where the sunset is more stunning than the wild African plains. The cloudless sky is the perfect setting for the deep red fiery sphere of the sun setting behind an iconic Ballanite tree. The whole sky is a blaze of vibrant orange light. As the sun lowers it is shot through with bands of wispy clouds. The Ballanite tree is silhouetted, its distinctive shape the perfect frame for the sun as it seems to nestle within its branches on its descent into the horizon. As it disappears below the plains the light becomes more intense. At sunset light has to travel through a greater distance of atmosphere to reach the eyes, so even more blue light, and even some green and yellow light, gets filtered out. That leaves the warmer hues of the visible light, the reds and oranges, and it is why many sunsets look like fire. Birds flying across the sky to nest in the tops of trees are silhouetted against the intense colour. Sunset is a undoubtedly a magical time of day. Then suddenly a female Serval cat alights from the long oat tipped grasses that are bright red and gold reflecting the colour of the sun. She is unusually confident and relaxed, she is a nocturnal hunter. She high steps through the grasses using her bat like ears to detect any movement in the grass, her deep amber eyes are sharp and focused on prey. Every few minutes she pounces on small prey, mice, rodents and small reptiles. Her golden black spotted fur gleams in the fierce light of the red sun, she is breathtakingly beautiful. Long limbed she is poised and elegant, she exudes calmness. She silently leaps down into a dry watering hole, searching the reeds for rodents. Suddenly a head appears, a Hyaena has secreted itself in the long cool marshy grasses surrounding the dry watering, it curiously looks up and spots the Serval before she spots it. The Hyaena sees an opportunity to hunt until the Serval looks up and fixes the Hyaena with a stare that clearly says I am fast, please do not waste your effort. The Hyaena relents and walks away from the Serval allowing her to hunt in peace. It is a rare sighting to see such an interaction between two predators. The Serval is the most efficient hunter of all of the cats here with the highest success rate. The beautiful small cat walks off into the sunset, her tall graceful silhouette, breath-taking.
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Olomena (Maa for something lost) one of the male Lions from the Black Rock pride and a Lioness has killed a Wildebeest in the predawn hours when the Lions night vision gives them the advantage over their prey. They are eating it peacefully shoulder to shoulder together, the only sound is the satisfied noise of Lion eating. The internal organs of the Wildebeest have been spilled to the ground around it, the grass is stained with the rich red of blood. The herd of Wildebeest is close by mourning the loss of a family member. The sun rises behind the Lions, the intense red light the perfect backdrop to the extraordinary scene. The Lions blonde fur is bathed in golden light as the sun rises in the sky, the heat of the sun warms all its touches. Sun rise is a time of stillness and reflection, it is a new day, new beginnings, who knows what nature will bring. All around the plains come alive with activity, the nocturnal animals scurry back to their dens and burrows after a cool night of foraging, hunting and mating. The diurnal animals stretch their cold muscles in the warming sun looking forward to a day of grazing, mating and fighting for survival. The wild is a force of nature, captivating, challenging and always unexpected. Close by Okulopu (meaning to breathe) another male from the pride, a Lioness and a year old cub are laying by a ravine. On the other side a herd of Zebra are starting to graze. The Lioness wants to hunt and the male Lion dutifully follows her, they jump the ravine, the water is fortunately shallow, Lions prefer not to get wet. On the other side she decides there is not enough cover to ambush the Zebra so all three head into the bushes to sleep.
Splitnose the male Leopard is laying across the branches of a Sausage tree with the most clear deep blue sky behind him, the perfect foil to his bronze fur littered with black rosettes. The branches of the tree are thick and gnarly, they are strong enough to hold his weight. It is easy to identify he is a male, his face is cross-crossed with scars, his nose split from fighting for mating rights and territory and his neck is thick and muscular like a boxer. He sits up gently licks his paws and starts grooming, such a simple cat action. Unlike Lions, Leopards are solitary creatures, males are almost entirely solitary and females only break their solitude when they are raising cubs. But, like lions, leopards roar. Male leopards defend their territory by roaring and scent marking, while females use their roar to attract mates and call their cubs. The male Leopard has a baritone pitch. Their roars are hoarse and are repeated for up to a minute. It can sound a little like a saw working its way through a tough tree trunk. It can even sound like a loud rasping cough, notably the clear definition to each inhale and exhale. Most male Leopards are shy unlike the females and rarely seen except when hunting or looking for a mate. But the older males such as Splitnose has learned to become more confident and less weary of being seen. The big cats in the Maasai Mara are thriving and living to a much older age even to that of those in captivity. Whilst not beautiful like the female Leopards his face is a map of scars telling of a long life of battles, mating and hunting. He looks contented laying across the branch, this is territory and he knows as a large powerful male he can and will defend it.
A small herd of Elephants are in the river in the heat of midday trying to cool off. One of the young babies of around a year old is copying its mothers actions. As her mother uses her trunk to throw water over her it tries to do the same but its trunk is still too small so it instead splashes around enthusiastically. It is extremely playful and dives head first into the water, splashing around and rolling over. The water is shallow so it is perfectly safe but it’s mother keeps a watchful eye on it. The gestation period of Elephants is two years so the mother is very protective of her calf. This interesting fact of biology allows the unborn calf to develop in the womb, giving it the brain power it needs to survive from birth. The calf is therefore fully developed and able to follow the herd straight from being born. The calf follows her mother up the muddy bank where she dust bathes, the baby rolls around in the muddiest part getting completely covered, it is very joyful and in its element. Further up the bank another mother has a young, it too is caked in mud and enjoying rolling around on the grass being playful. A sub adult bull alights from the other side of the river, it is so caked in mud it can barely see, it’s long eyelashes are its only eye protection as mud hangs off of its face! The African elephant is not just the largest living land animal but it has an enormous brain size to match. Their brains can weigh up to a staggering 5.4kg and are, without doubt, the largest brain of all animals living on land. So it is no wonderful they are known for never forgetting and are highly intelligent.
A Bateleur Eagle is hunting in the dry river bank. Bateleur eagles pair for life and stay in the same nest for several years. The Bateleur eagle is the most famous of the snake eagles. Bateleur is French for ‘tightrope-walker’. This name was probably chosen because of its distinctive aerial acrobatics. It really is a stunning bird, it has pitch black feathers with white under the wings, bright red face and legs and black beak are characteristic markings. Unlike most creatures, female Bateleur eagles are larger than males. The plumage of a one-year-old bateleur is a uniform dark brown. Around the third year, this plumage starts to turn into adult colours of black, white and grey. It can take an immature Bateleur up to eight years to shed all their brown plumage and turn in to full adults. The bateleur has exceptionally long wings and a short tail, so that its feet extend beyond the tail in flight. The bateleur’s brown eyes are surrounded by facial skin that is a strikingly bright red, and devoid of feathers. As if to give a sense of artistic balance, the legs are the same brilliant red as the face. So it is hard to believe such a stunning bird typically scavenges dead animals, including road-killed animals like birds, lizards, and small mammals. It also hunts small vertebrates, especially snakes, as well as mammals and birds, including doves, hornbills, and kingfishers. As it sits on the banks you can see this intelligent striking bird assessing its next move, its deep brown eyes focused and determined.
The plains are very dry as the rain has not fallen for two months , the grasses are long and golden, bleached from the sun. The perfect camouflage for Lions to ambush hunt. A herd of around a thousand Wildebeest have formed a circle in the middle of the plains, the honking and braying is deafening as families communicate to each other. Within a herd there are many family groups, a male with his harem and young. They keep the young in the centre of the herd to protect them and the older adults protect the perimeter from predator attack. For secreted in the grasses a lone Lioness is looking to hunt, her golden fur blending with the golden grasses as the wind gently blows them around her, she is at one with her environment. Herd life is fascinating, in the tightly packed herd Wildebeest mate, dual and some even try to sleep. The Lioness spends over an hour slowly stalking the herd through the long grasses, suddenly the herd is on the move, she is within ambush range but she just sits up and watches them pass. Of course this is feast season for the predators and she may not be hungry enough to expend the energy to hunt. The sun sets behind the peaceful scene, the pre sunset golden red light enhances the golds of the dry grasses as they sway in the gentle breeze. The sun sets below the horizon the sky becomes awash with the most beautiful colours, vibrant reds oranges and yellows.
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Pre-dawn and two of the Moniko Lionesses are out hunting, they are fairly young around three years old so still frisky and playful. The air is cool and there is a gentle breeze, they are looking to hunt but until they see prey they are content jumping on each other, trying to pull each other down. They reach the banks of a ravine and leap down onto grey rocks shiny from the low river waters, it’s embedded minerals glisten in the low morning light. They walk down and drink from the refreshing waters, quenching their thirst, their pink barbed tongue lap up large quantities dispersing droplets into the air. Sated they walk across the rocks, one of the Lionesses jumps onto the bridge to cross the river, the other who is clearly a little cheeky decides to cross under the narrow bridge just for fun and then jump back up the other side. They walk shoulder to shoulder, they are sisters and hunt together. They spot prey in the distance and set off but are distracted by a Hippo returning to the water, the Hippo sees them and runs towards them knowing they cannot pull it down just the two of them but it does not stop this cheeky duo chasing the Hippo and pouncing on its rear end. They know they have no chance of eating it but they seem to enjoy teasing it. The Hippo shakes them off and runs for the water. Ahead a small herd of Zebra, Wildebeest and Topi are grazing. This should be easy prey for the Lionesses, they have good camouflage in the golden grasses but the Topi have keen eyesight and spot the Lionesses. The sun is rising and the plains are ablaze with red light, this is the golden hour, the red light turns everything gold. The Lionesses look stunning against the red oat tipped grass and the Topi’s burnished red fur burns bright. The drama then unfolds, the Lionesses give chase, the Zebra are the faster and run off first with the Wildebeest behind them braying wildly. The Topi although fast seem to provide a diversion tactic for the other prey, they weave through the grasses confusing the Lionesses. The Lionesses get within a hairs breath but miss. They stop, tired, frustrated but resigned to trying again. The herd moves off with the relentless Lionesses stalking close behind.
Further across the plains the rest of the Moniko pride are also out hunting including one of the pride males. They see a herd of Zebra in the distance and try and hunt in formation but each ends up chasing and so none of the Lions succeed on their own. That is why the strength of Lions lie in the pride, when they work together they successfully bring down larger prey. The Zebra are however very fast and can change direction quickly whereas the Lions cannot, they are built for power not speed or flexibility. The Lions re-group, it is early morning and the sun is growing hot, they will look for shade to sleep for the day. Whilst cats are known as nocturnal hunters they are also opportunistic and if the opportunity arises they will hunt during the day. In this time of plenty it may well be prey will graze near where they decide to feed and they hunt. The Lions are tired and walk shoulder to shoulder across the plains, their rich golden fur absorbing the heat of the sun, reflecting back its rich tones. They really are the royalty of the plains. Vultures circle above them looking for carcasses to clean, they know where there are Lions there is the possibility of kills. The breeze is heavy with the scent of croton, a ubiquitous bush here which is natures insect repellent so a natural choice for Lions to sleep under. The male gives a low moan, he is tired, he leads the pride into the bushes to sleep. Above them a Secretary bird peers down from the top of one of the trees, its beady eyes assessing the predators. It ruffles its long plumes and settles down on the branch.
Osidi (Maa for beautiful) the stunning young male Leopard has hunted and killed a Topi and pulled it up the banks of the river and secreted it in a hollow away from scavengers. He pants heavily as the morning sun is very intense. He finds the shade of a croton bush to relax under after his exertion. He licks his large paws and swipes them over his face, all cats are very fastidious. After cleaning the blood off of his face and paws he walks down the banks of the river to quench his thirst. He leans forward, shoulders hunched and uses his long pink barbed tongue to lap up large quantities of water, droplets escape and as they fly into the air the light catches them creating prisms of colour. His eyes are blue, his face unscarred from mating and battle. He really is very handsome. He knows this is a good time to be active whilst the Lions sleep, all cats are competition for food and he is no match for them. He flicks his tail, the flies are attracted to the scent of blood on him, he ineffectively snaps at them, they are annoying. Insects are a problem for predators and prey alike, his neck has several large ticks attached, they feed off of his blood, he rolls over on the dusty earth trying to rid himself of these irritating parasites. He is still as small as a female but has a restlessness due to his youth. He gets up again and walks to the edge of the river to assess his territory, he must always be on guard for threats. Seeing he is safe he walks down to his food and starts tearing at the flesh, you can hear the chewing and crunching of sinew and bone. He frequently looks up to see he is not attracting the attention of scavengers before carrying on feeding. It is a testament to the Maasai Mara that the big cats are thriving here.
It is early afternoon and still hot but some of the Fig Tree Lionesses are out hunting Impala and Zebra in the bushes. As opportunistic hunters seeing prey go into the bushes is an opportunity not to be missed. The Lionesses seem quite lethargic, it is really too hot for them still and they are still sated from their kill in the night but like all cats they are ruled by their instinct and want to hunt. The Lionesses crouch low in the grasses watching the prey, deciding on the best way to hunt in formation. The alpha Lioness flicks her ear, the white mark on the back of it indicates to the other females how they should move. Each individual female has her role to play and soundlessly moves in position creating a v formation. The alpha females’ bronze eyes are focused she needs to decide which of the prey she will focus on. The Lionesses take their time, they do not want to expend energy and fail, especially in this heat. The Lionesses move in, closing the gap between predator and prey. The Lionesses run, the Impala and Zebra panic, they had not detected the Lionesses. The Impala are fast, they leap through the bushes often clearing them, they are very fast and agile. They quickly outrun the Lionesses, they are masters in the art of changing direction to avoid being caught. The Zebra although larger and not so agile are fast like horses with just as powerful a kick, they kick out at the Lionesses, one only narrowly missing a deadly impact. They bolt through the bushes, leaves flying as they cut a path through. The Lionesses follow them but they are not so adept at running through the undergrowth. Even though they had the element of surprise, the prey know this game and have speed and endurance on their side. The Lionesses give up, they pant heavily in the heat. They head into the bushes once more to sleep.
Neema the successful female Cheetahs two male sub adults are out hunting Impala. They have only recently left their mother to survive on their own. Their sister has gone her separate way but the brothers will stay together as a coalition which will enable them to hunt larger prey. However even though their mother has taught them hunting skills they are still young and inexperienced. They sit together in the shade of a bush, they have no camouflage and the herd of Impala can see them. The Impala snort and stand to face the predators, indicating they are strong and fast. Of course Cheetah are the fastest land animal at top speed, but prey are intelligent and quick and will have head start. Of course the herd are also protecting young which do not have their speed or endurance yet. The Impala do their best to intimidate the Cheetah but they are not, they are hungry and want to hunt. They rise to their feet, stretch their long, lithe athlete bodies and stare at the Impala. The afternoon sun is low in the sky and shines in their amber eyes but evolution has given them an advantage, the black tear mark that runs from their eye due to nose deflects the sun rays enabling them to see well in bright light. The Cheetah brothers start to run, they initially chase the adults but just to separate them from their young, for they are easier. They use their rudder like tails and tyre like grips on their pads of their feet to change direction and easily pull down a young Impala. It screams in pain and fear. One of the Cheetahs keeps a firm grip on its back end whilst the other manoeuvres around to the front and clamps its jaws on the Impalas neck to suffocate it. The Impalas eyes are wide with alarm, its parents hear its cry but they cannot save it. It’s large round brown doe eyes are fearful, it screams again as the Cheetah are two inexperienced to suffocate it quickly and grow impatient so start to eat it alive as it struggles to get away. Mercifully it’s head finally slumps to the ground in death. Cheetah numbers are alarmingly low in the wild so their survival critical. Whilst the scene is hard to understand all life here relies on each other. As gentle rain begins to fall, trees, plants and flowers that germinate beneath the earth to feed the prey who feed the predators, are all reminders that from death and decay springs life, abundance and growth.
As the sun sets the prides alight from the bushes after a day of much needed sleep and rest. It is time to hunt, the dark is perfect for these nocturnal predators. One of the Moniko pride male Lions and Lionesses stretch and yawn out on the open plains. As the male stretches wide his mouth to yawn he roars at the same time, he is exercising his authority. It is a myth the males rely on the females to hunt, he will join them in hunting. The females start to groom each other, washing off dust and parasites and strengthening bonds of love and family. The male for them is protection from nomadic males who may try and take over their pride and kill their cubs. He is also useful in a hunt as is presence deters clans of Hyaenas who may challenge the Lionesses if they make a kill. Even though he will be the first to eat what they hunt he is useful to them. Lions are the only cat in the world to live together, they are unique. All cats though are nocturnal hunters. Lions see mainly in blue and greens, with highly developed night vision. This does not mean they can see in the dark, if it were pitch black a lion would be blind as well. The way a lions eye is designed helps them pick up and amplify very faint light such as the that emitted from stars and the moon. When like tonight the moon is almost full and very bright they have a greater chance of making a successful kill. The male roars indicating to the pride they must come together to hunt. It is also a warning to the prey to be on their guard. The pains never sleep, as the diurnal prepare for night the nocturnal animals wake and start their nightly activities. The moon is full and bright, it provides a cool blue light to plains, replacing the warm white bright light of the sun. The plains are lit, the sounds of the night are all around from the hooting of the Owls to the manic laugh of the Hyaena, but the night really belongs to the King, the Lions roar cuts through the cool air, deep low and beautiful.
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A Hyaena clan has made their own Wildebeest kill in the pre-dawn, as the sun rises its casts a fiery glow, the red of the sun picks up the red blood stain trail where the Hyaenas disembowelled the Wildebeest. The Spotted Hyaena giggle over the kill, tearing off chunks of flesh with their powerful jaws. The clan eat fast, crunching on bones, pulling sinew like chewing gum, the alpha female taking the choice bites. Jackal runs around the clan, nipping in quickly to take small morsels. The Hyaena snap at them and chase them off. A lone Hyaena from a rival clan smell the blood and runs in and quickly take a leg before it is chased off. The Hyaena fight between themselves, jaws gnashing, they are quite vicious with each other when they are in blood lust. Hyaenas are not the scavengers we are led to believe, they are efficient hunters. When it comes to the actual hunt they are extremely versatile and successful hunters. As cursorial hunters, Hyaenas run down their prey to exhaustion, cruising at speeds of 37 mph for several miles. Spotted hyenas can bring down prey many times their size, for an animal the size of a large dog, they have been recorded to kill cape buffalo and giraffes. It has been shown the Lions are more likely to scavenge from hyena kills, owing to the hyena’s higher success rate. A bite that can kill and also crush bones. Spotted hyena jaws have evolved colossal masseter (jaw) muscles to be able to produce massive amounts of force in a specific section of their dentition; the molars and premolars. With the ability to exert over 1,100 psi or around 9,000 newton, spotted hyenas can crack open bones nearly 2 ½ inches in diameter. This allows hyenas to access the nutrient-rich marrow inside that is inaccessible to most other animals. Most of the Wildebeest will be devoured by the clan, just leaving a blood trail of their successful hunt.
The Fig Tree pride lay on the banks of the river, in the early morning golden light their tawny fur looks like spun gold. One of the young cubs wants to descend the very high bank down to the water but it is too nervous as the mud is loose and it could fall down. It looks imploringly at the Lionesses but they are resting, their muscular faces turned to the sun, enjoying the heat after a long cold night of hunting. The Lionesses sit together, licking blood from each other’s faces. It is important to keep clean as the blood attracts flies and parasites which cause them irritation. The licking is also an act of affection and bonding. The cub walks back over to them and lays at a Lionesses feet so she can groom it too. This may not be its mother as the Lionesses raise each other’s cubs. Suddenly the bushes rustle and one of the pride males slowly walks out in the sun, he is a vision of strength and majesty, his full dark bronze mane a burning halo around his strong face. In return for the Lionesses leading the hunt he protects them and the cubs. He sits apart from them, he is tired and wants to warm in the sun. The cub looks over at him but does not bother him, the males can be quite aggressive when they are tired. A Lioness gets up and cat stretches, she needs to quench her thirst. She navigates the steep bank, traversing the loose mud until she reaches the bottom, swiftly followed by the cub. She walks to the water’s edge and checks for Crocodiles as they could attack her. Satisfied it is safe she crouches down and leans over the water to lap up large quantities of water, droplets flying everywhere capturing the light of the sun. The cub sits next to her, secure in her presence and copies her.
The Moniko pride four sub adult males have now left the pride and are hunting for themselves. They are walking across the plains at sunrise their bellies turgid and full from a successful nights hunting. They are already large powerful males with small manes, at three years old they are still too young to have a pride of their own but in another year or two they will be a powerful coalition. They head to the bushes to sleep, one is very blonde and another dark, showing the difference in testosterone levels. They yawn widely and roll over to sleep, limbs tangled together as the bond. Life for male Lions is very tough, right from birth they have to compete with each other, firstly for their share of food. Then as they grow older, they fight for dominance, even within a coalition there is inevitably a dominant male. When they become nomads they have to fight for territory from other males then mating rights as they look to take over a pride. Even then after winning a pride, the ultimate goal for Lions so they can create new dynasties they have to fight with other males who will look to take over the pride. So when Lions are called lazy because they can sleep up to twenty hours a day, it is important to remember they are conserving their energy to fight, protect and ensure the survival of Lions in the wild.
Kweli and her three sub adult cubs are hunting on the open plains in the cool of the morning. Kweli is focused on locating suitable prey to hunt but her cubs are restless and full of energy. The cubs are very playful, they start chasing each other, they pounce on each other’s backs to bring each other down. They then decide on a game of hide and seek, they hide behind termite mounds and small bushes and ambush each other, jumping high in the air then pull each other down. The cubs see a group of Banded Mongoose scuttling across the plains, they give chase but the mongoose manage to outmanoeuvre them. The cubs enjoy practicing their hunting skills on smell prey, they observe their mothers hunting style and try to mimic it, they have much to learn still. Kweli sees Topi and Thompson Gazelle in the distance but they have seen her as there is no cover. The cubs try and distract her but she needs to feed them all and bats them playfully away. The cubs however do not give up and chase their mum, they pounce on her as if she is prey. The plains are open which is perfect for a game of chase, for the world’s fastest cat chasing and running hones their fast-hunting skills. It is impressive to see the four Cheetahs running together, their spots a blur as they run past.
Across the plain a lone male Cheetah, Kirapocho who is still quite young is also out hunting but instead of picking up the scent of prey he picks up the scent of a female Cheetah, Kweli. Kweli appears in the bushes a hundred yards away, she has seen him and is very protective of her cubs. She ducks her head to assess how dangerous the situation is. The cubs stay hidden in the bushes, they have been taught since birth when to stay hidden and out of danger. Kweli runs towards him and leaps in the air and claws him, he immediately crouches to the ground chirping showing his subservience. She encircles him she is angry, she does not want him near her cubs. He seems to be quite inexperienced, he is threatened by her reaction and wants to show her he is not a threat. The cubs come running seeing that he is not a threat to them. He clearly wants to mate with Kweli and if the cubs had been much younger he would have tried to kill them to get her back into oestrus but at around a year old the cubs are nearly fully grown and confident. The cubs chirp at the intruder they are protective of their mother. Kweli walks away from him but for some reason the cubs stay, observing him. Kweli calls for them to follow but they do not want to. Kirapocho walks over to where Kweli was sitting to use his Jacobson gland to draw in her scent to see if she is in oestrus. This angers her and once again she runs at him, jumping in the air and biting him on his hind leg. He yelps and starts making scared noises, she is older and larger than him and he is afraid of her. He walks away and tries to ascend a mound but again she chases after him and runs up the mound to stop him sitting there, this is her territory and she has to sit on the highest point. He lays on the grass near her, watching her, observing her. The cubs sit a distance away observing the fight between their mother and this male, they do not seem scared just curious.
Kweli descends the mound and walks across the plains away from Kirapocho, immediately he ascends the mound to draw in the scent of her from where she was sitting. He is relentless and follows her. The sun is now hot, and he stops under a bush not far from her. Kweli’s cubs follow him, there are two males lighter in colour and a darker female slightly larger. She is braver than her brothers and starts to walk around the bush where Kirapocho sits to assess him. Kweli is not sat far away and observes her cubs behaviour, she is not happy they are putting themselves in danger, even to protect her. Kirapocho starts hissing at the cubs he wants them away from Kweli so he can mate with her. Kweli comes running and uses her paw to slap down her female cub, she put herself in danger and she must be punished. The female cub meows loudly at being punished by her mother. Kweli then walks over to one of her male cubs who kept his distance and licks him showing she is pleased with him staying safe and obeying her. Kweli once again walks away and the male cub gingerly follows her keeping his body low as he passes Kirapocho. After a few moments the other cubs follow and join their mother. Kweli then leads them across the plains to a larger tree to shade from the intense midday heat. Kirapocho has now been following them for over three hours and shows no signs of giving up. He gets up and follows them again to Kweli’s annoyance. He stops within five metres of her and lays down showing his subservience to her.
For a few minutes peace descends as Kweli and her cubs relax under the tree with Kirapocho relaxing nearby but not threatening them. But it is not long before he tries his luck again. Quite comically he starts to crawl on his belly along the grass to get closer to her. She growls her warning but he gets closer and closer, she does not want him close to her cubs. Suddenly she leaps high in the air and smacks him down, he is alarmed and jumps away. He backtracks but does not go far. She re-joins her cubs and starts to lick them to assure the, they are safe. The cubs are still too young for her to want to mate yet, but Kirapocho is very persistent. Cats are excellent mothers and Kweli constantly puts herself in the path of danger to protect her cubs. Kirapocho is not a large male but still he could inflict harm on her which would prevent her from hunting for herself and the cubs. Her bravery and adrenaline rush to fight for her cubs keeps her strong. The male knows this hence his caution around her, he too cannot afford to get injured as he needs to survive and hunt. But he is driven by his desire to mate, to create a dynasty, cubs that will carry his genes one. Cats are driven by the need to hunt and mate, that is the way of the wild, the basic instincts.
Cheetahs are thriving in the Maasai Mara, the wide-open plains are the perfect hunting ground for the world’s fastest mammal. Nora the female Cheetah is sitting on top of a mound, heavily pregnant. She is a very old cat now, around ten to twelve years old, this could be her last pregnancy. Her face is gaunt, it is the face of an old lady, tired from years of a hard life. Each day is a fight for survival, hunting, fighting and protecting herself. Cheetah cubs have a high mortality rate, which may be related to genetic diversity issues. Also predation is an issue, Cheetahs lose their cubs to other predators and of course scavengers. It is estimated only five percent of Cheetah cubs survive to adulthood. The gestation (pregnancy) period for Cheetahs is ninety three days, and litters range in size from one or two cubs up to six cubs (the occasional litter of eight cubs has been recorded, but it is rare). In the Maasai Mara the Cheetahs tend to give birth to large litters, there has been two females in the last two years that have given birth to seven. Both managed to bring most of them to adulthood. This has been down to the vast quantity of prey living on the reserve so good hunting opportunities. Nora has been a successful mother, many of her offspring have survived to adulthood and live in the own territories in the Maasai Mara.
Two Little Bee-eaters are sat on a branch overhanging the river, on the bank on the other side is the Fig Tree pride. One of the Little Bee Eaters flies off and catches a bee and brings it back to the branch and slaps it on the branch to kill it before it eats it. It is a small bird, mostly grass-green with a canary-yellow throat separated from buff underparts by a black line across the throat. Singles and pairs occupy grassy plains and wetland edges hence they can be frequently seen on the edge of the Mara river. They often perch lower than 1.5 m above the ground, and dart around hunting flying insects, then returning to the same small twig. Their calls include a sibilant “s-lip” and other high-pitched notes. They seem to take turns darting off to catch insects, they are fascinating to watch. Across the bank the Lions are also well fed, their bellies are turgid from eating a recent kill. One young cub is in a bush on the edge of the ledge of the bank, his face hanging over a branch. Another cutely rests his head on his paws, his face serene in quiet contemplation. It is still very hot in the afternoon heat but one of the dominant males alights from the bushes, he is hot and tired but maybe he just wants to check on his cubs.
Neema’s two male independent cubs are out hunting, they are surrounded by a mixed herd of Wildebeest, Topi and Thompson Gazelle, a real Billashaka. Unfortunately for them there is no cover and so the prey can see them. The Cheetah chase a Thompson Gazelle but the gazelle has a head start and the Cheetah misses catching it by a whisker. One of the brothers then wants to hunt Wildebeest but cannot find its brother and starts chirping for him, it is quite plaintive. The boys find each other and rubs heads. A male and female Thompson Gazelle watch the brothers, they have secreted their baby in the grasses and try and distract them. Unfortunately, not enough though, the two Cheetahs pick up its scent and the baby leaps from the grass and they chase it. It is a game of cat and mouse, they do not need to run fast the baby is slow, they pull it down and let it go and chase it again, the teasing is relentless. They finally trap it between them and bite into its soft flesh immediately without suffocating it first, its plaintive screams is heart-breaking. One of the Cheetahs has its neck trapped under its paw, the head is flat on the grass, the eyes tell of its pain. Mercifully it dies quickly from shock and the Cheetah lay opposite each other and eat head to head. Nothing of the prey is wasted, even the soft bones are crunched.
The Moniko pride are resting at sunset, they lay blissfully in the late afternoon heat. Many of them are laying on their backs, legs akimbo feeling the last of the days heat warming their bellies. They sigh, satisfied and sated, they made a kill today. One of the sub adult males belly is unbelievably full, he groans, he looks fit to burst he has eaten so much. The pride will not actively look to hunt tonight but if prey stumble into their path they will of course ambush and kill it. Hunting is part of the fabric of who they are, they are predators and opportunistic hunters. Whether small and domestic or large and wild, cats get a great deal of pleasure and stimulation from the adrenaline rush of a hunt. It is a primal instinct. They also like to sleep a lot; a male Lion can sleep up to twenty hours a day. The expend so much energy, hunting, fighting and mating they need plenty of sleep to keep up their strength. The strength of Lions is in pride life, they protect each other. As the sun sets on this family, the fingers of red light spread across the plains giving away to the golden hour, when the sun is close to the horizon, its light appears warmer and softer. The warm golden light suggests something sacred and eternal.
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Pre-dawn the Rekero pride, Lionesses and three very young cubs are playing out on the plains. The mothers are very attentive and join in with the cubs leaping and playing. The mothers play quite roughly with the cubs, they want to teach them to be tough and resilient. Play is an important part of pride life, not just between the lions and cubs but between the lions too. It is bonding time and a time to establish hierarchies. The Lionesses use play to teach the cubs how to ambush hunt, they teach them the art of concealment, patience and pouncing. The play fighting teaches them how to use their strength and tactical advantage. Even at a young age it is easy to see which cubs will be future pride alphas. When they finish playing they go down to the watering hole to drink, one cub leaps on its mothers back as she bends to drink, biting her rump and back in a game of hunting, she is very patient. It then copies her actions and crouches next to her and drinks. The other cubs run to a Lioness laying down and start to suckle. You can hear their contented meows and slurps. This is not their mother but the Lionesses will allow any cubs in their pride to suckle from them as they are still genetically linked. The Lionesses and cubs head to the bushes to sleep, the sun is rising and the heat is warming their bodies.
Twenty of the Topi pride are out on the plains, chasing, playing with sticks, pouncing, hunting and smacking each other down. The golden light of sunrise perfectly enhances the deep reds and golds of the Lions fur. The long red oat tip grasses are burnished in the sun, the perfect back drop to the pride. They are very full from a kill in the night but they have an untouched Wildebeest secreted in the grass. No doubt the unsuspecting gnu stumbled across he pride and fell foul to the cats inability to not hunt when the opportunity presents itself. The young cubs pretend the untouched Wildebeest is still alive and pounce on it, biting its neck and covering its mouth with theirs to suffocate it. They wrestle with it making its legs flay in the air, they wrestle the legs down and use their back legs to kick it, pretending to subdue it. They gnaw it’s horns and chew on its nose. They are not hungry but they have so much fun using the Wildebeest as practice for when they are older and hunt for themselves. The Lionesses join them and start to rip open the carcass, as they tear into the stomach the gases escape making a noise which makes the cubs jump. The Lioness pulls out the small intestine, the internal organs can be clearly seen. The Lionesses start to eat the soft flesh inside whilst the cubs are still content to play with it. Most of the rest of the pride are lounging in the long grasses which billow softly around them, showing how from a distance the pride are perfectly camouflaged, golden fur against golden strands of grass.
The Salas boys are the pride males, Oktogo (means the big one) walks across the plains to where the pride are sitting. He surveys the scene, the males are not keen to interact with the cubs, they find them too rambunctious, their contribution towards the cubs is the initial mating then protection from nomadic males who would try to kill them if they took over the pride. Otherwise, they do not have any parental involvement. Oktogo stops shy of the pride and lays in the grass, one of the brave male cubs runs over to him and starts rubbing against him and leaping on him. Oktogo snarls at him, he does not want to play, he is tired and full and just wants to sleep. The cub is chastised and sits next to his father and lets him rest. The rest of the pride are starting to grow tired too after a night of very successful hunting, the morning sun is growing hot and they need to lay in the grasses where the ground is still moist with dew and cool. The younger cubs are still playing with the Wildebeest they will soon tire and lay with their mothers. Oktogo decides it is too hot to lay in the open and gets up and heads down the plains to a watering hole, he jumps down the bank and surprisingly gets into the shallow water to drink and cool off, after drinking he closes his eyes and looks like he is going to fall asleep standing up! He rouses himself and jumps up the bank and walks through the grasses, the gentle breeze ruffling his impressive mane so it blows back from his muscular head. He scans his territory and walks towards a patch of short grass and rather comically falls down to sleep rather than sitting down! For a large muscular male it is quite a flump!
Olepolo (means one in the middle) one of the other Salas boys and pride male is not far away, he too is looking for water after such a heavy salty meal in the pre-dawn hours. He leaps down the banks of a water hole and crouches down at the edge, he leans his muscular shoulder forward and lowers his head and take large gulps, water droplets spray as his long barbed tongue laps. He drinks for a long time quenching his thirst. Once finished he leaps up the bank again and finds shade not from far from his brother under a small gardenia tree to sleep. He will now sleep all day until after sunset, even then he will quite possibly just get up to drink again and then sleep until the next day as he is well fed. Lions can go up to four days without drinking water, but if available, they will drink water every day. They do however need to eat every day. Adult female lions need to eat about eleven pounds of meat each day, while adult males eat 16 pounds or more every day. The males eat until they literally cannot eat anymore, he bellies turgid and almost touching the ground. It is another reason they sleep so much to allow their bodies to process so much food and fuel.
Under another small Gardenia tree we find Ologologol (meaning dewlap in MAA) the large male Leopard of this territory. He is being annoyed by flies, and ineffectively snaps at them. It is comical watching such a large cat who hunts prey twice his size trying to catch with his teeth small flies. He flicks his tail and uses his large paw to swipe at them, but it is no use the flies are far too quick. Restless and irritated he gets up and goes down to the water to drink, as he takes large gulps water droplets drip from his chin. The water is still and he is perfectly reflected in the water. Ologologol snaps at the flies again and shakes his head, the dewlap under his neck wobbling. He turns away from the water and shakes his back leg it has water on it and few cats like to get wet. He returns to the Gardenia tree planting heavily, the afternoon sun is hot and he is tired. His stomach is very full he has a young Wildebeest kill up a tree nearby. He will stay in this territory for several days with his kill, he will not need to hunt until the carcass is just skin and bones.
The Tano Bora (fast five) coalition of Cheetahs are now just two so they are now called the Mbili Bora, they are out hunting at sunset. For seven years this coalition of brothers and unusually unrelated males successfully hunted on the plains. Unfortunately human wildlife conflict, predation and in fighting has reduced the number to just two unrelated males. The coalition it was believed to have come about by Cheetahs need to hunt like Lions in larger number so they could hunt larger prey and fend off other predators and scavengers as pairs or lone Cheetahs often have their kills taken. This coalition achieved this, making daily hunting of large prey a certainty for them. They did not just survive but they thrived, showing how cats in the wild are adapting to environmental conditions. The Tano Bora mated with all of the female Cheetahs in the Maasai Mara, creating a lasting dynasty, their genes will live on in their cubs. It is a possibility due to their behavioural markers their descendants will also follow suit and also form coalitions with unrelated males, although as the Tano Bora were prolific in their mating many of the line males will actually be related and as cats can detect through scent if another is related this may easily happen. Time will tell if Cheetahs in future will form coalitions rather than just staying alone or with a brother. For now the Mbili Bora lay by a termite mound the sun set reflected in their amber eyes that shine like the fossilized tree resin that has been appreciated for its colour and natural beauty since Neolithic times.
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Moniko pride has successfully hunted a Wildebeest at dawn, the whole pride is enjoying the meal together. The four sub adult males of around three years old look to find shade in the bushes, they are bonded and will soon look to leave the pride and become nomads until they have a pride of their own. Two of the males are very light blonde and absolutely beautiful, another is golden and the fourth quite dark high showing high levels of testosterone, when they form a coalition and look to have their own pride it is likely he will be the dominant male. One of the pride sub adult lionesses and another younger sub adult male are still eating the kill, they are surrounded by Hyaena and Jackal who want to finish the carcass. The male and female eat head-to-head quite peacefully. Finally sated the male gets up, his belly very rotund and teases the Hyaena by chasing them. The Lionesses however refuses to allow the Hyaena and Jackal to eat, she does not share. She picks meat off of the rib cage and bones, stripping it of any tiny morsels. She even starts chewing the legs and head which the Lions would usually leave. The Jackals bark and the Hyaenas laugh, they want to distract her so they can run in and steal parts of the carcass. But she will not be distracted and they are too frightened of her to confront her. Even though there are eight Hyaena to the two remaining Lions, they do not have the confidence to steal the kill.
The male Lion lays in the grass waiting for the Lioness to finish. The Hyaena run around him wanting to encourage him to leave, some even get close enough to sniff him but he just snaps at them sending them scurrying off manically laughing in fright. If it was just the Lioness left the Hyaena would confront her but with the male protecting her they are resigned to waiting. Ironically it is the Jackal who are the most brave, they are quick and cunning and nip in to pick up small morsels from the grass. There is a large trail of blood on the grass where the carcass had been dragged. The Hyaena start to fight amongst themselves as they are hungry and want the Lioness to finish, she is completely unperturbed by them. Finally she finishes and Hyaena and Jackal quickly dive in to crunch marrow rich bones. The male Lion waits for the Lioness and they bond by rubbing heads. She then walks in front of him and curls her tail, he puts his head through her curled tail to use his Jacobson gland to draw in her scent, his nose touches her bottom and he flehmen.
The Mbili Bora are sitting under a croton bush, the heat of the morning is intense and they want to conserve their energy for hunting when the opportunity arises. Their amber eyes are sharp and alert. Cheetahs sleep mainly at night when Lions hunt and hunt instead during the day when the Lions sleep. In the intense heat of the sun they cat nap under the shade of trees and bushes. The name cheetah comes from a Hindi word, chita, meaning “spotted one”. Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus) genus name, Acinonyx, means “no-move-claw” in Greek, while the species name, jubatus, means “maned” in Latin, a reference to the mantle of hair running down the head of cheetah cubs. It is one of only two cats that cannot completely retract their claws. The Mbili Bora may be quite and relaxed now but if prey approaches cheetahs can accelerate faster than most sports cars. Their streamlined athletic bodies are built for speed not stamina so they need their prey to be in striking range before they can give chase. As their main prey are Gazelle who themselves are fast the Cheetah need a good start to the chase. The Cheetah are hungry and will hunt soon. Interestingly not far away a Leopard just a few days earlier dragged a baby Giraffe carcass up a tree, the sun has turned the skin to leather as the consumed carcass lays over a branch. Mongoose scurry in front of the sleeping Cheetah, concerned they may be a small snack whilst they wait to hunt.
A Monitor Lizard is thermoregulating in the late afternoon intense sun. Thermoregulation is the process cold-blooded lizards use to maintain their body temperature. Lizards warm themselves using insolation and conduction. Insolation is the absorption of the sun’s rays and conduction is absorbing heat from the ground. They are beautiful invertebrates, covered in scales that can range from green to tan, grey, or brown in colour. They have large bodies, with long necks and powerful tails. Their limbs are well-developed, and they have strong claws. Monitor lizards have long tongues that are forked, like that of snakes. They also have unblinking eyes and superb vision. They can determine if an object in the sky at a great distance is threatening or nonthreatening. Above a Malachite Kingfisher sits on a dead tree branch over the river looking for fish to swoop down and catch. Malachite is actually the name of a beautiful green mineral stone, but these Kingfisher are actually predominantly blue. However even though Malachite’s might not look green, on top of their head they have the most beautiful blend of blue, green, and black feathers which glisten in the sun quite like the precious mineral. Malachite kingfishers have great eyesight enabling them to spot tiny fish, frogs, and even water insects. There is also a special kingfisher adaptation that these birds use to catch their prey, they can adjust for light refraction allowing them to tell exactly how deep a fish is before even starting to fly. It is fascinating watching a malachite kingfisher hunt. This tiny bird sits low over the water, waiting for prey to catch their eye and in an instant, they dart off their perch and dive into the water. In a flash the kingfisher returns to its spot on the branch with prey in its mouth.
The beautiful female Leopard Bahati (meaning lucky) is walking across the plains, her green eyes are sharp and alert looking for hunting opportunities. She is an older Leopard of around twelve to thirteen, although small she is immensely powerful. Over her life she has had many battles with big cats over territory, males whilst mating and prey she has tried to hunt. Her face and body is littered with scars which is like a map of her journey through life. She is a successful hunter and mother and has brought many cubs to adulthood, the Maasai Mara is alive with her offspring. Leopards are secretive and like solitude, except when mating or rearing young. The female Leopard when she is in oestrus will use a chuffing sound to call for a mate, she will also leave scent on trees and bushes. When males come into her territory they will have to fight for the right to mate with her. The females do tease the males, they will make sure they are worthy of mating with her and have strong genes which will be passed on to her cubs. Bahati, the ghost of the Mara, slips soundlessly into the bushes, her rosettes enables her to camouflage herself in the foliage.
The Fig tree pride are laying on the sand banks next to the almost dry river, the whole pride look well fed. Birds fly overhead squawking, the cubs look up curiously at them but they are sleepy. Two large crocodiles are in the river, splashing creating waves, not doubt fighting over food. Some of the pride look up but they are used to such antics. The sun is setting low in the sky, the golden light spreading across the plains creating beautiful red hues over everything it touches. The Lions stretch out, languishing in the heat of the sun’s rays. They have been sleeping all day and it is now time to wake up for their nightly hunt, some yawn widely baring their yellow canines. Others roll over exposing bellies covered in flies. Limbs are thrown over torsos, they are a tangle of bodies. Lion prides are so well bonded they do not have any boundaries, they climb over each other and lay on top of each other. The whole pride basks in the warmth of the dying embers of the sun, soon the suns light will give way to the moons beams which will be their light for their hunt. The dominant male reluctantly gets up, stretches and yawns letting out a half yawn half roar. He shakes his mighty mane free of dust and roars. It is time to gather the pride. His call can be heard up to five kilometres away which will alert members of the pride who have already crossed the plains but it also serves as a warning to other prides that this is their territory.
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Lorkulup and Oloisiado two of the dominant male Lions of the Black Rock Pride are out patrolling at sunrise. They are walking side by side, they constantly bond by rubbing their heads together sharing their scent and reaffirming their bonds. Male Lions share such a heartfelt bromance. The sun is rising and the golden light sets fire to their bronze and black manes. The males although in their prime act like cubs, they are very playful with each other. They chase each other trying to trip the other up and playfully gnaw on each other’s ears and tails. One runs ahead and stops the other runs after it bypassing it and then reverses and sits on its head! They roll over on the ground, using their large paws to bat at each other, bopping each other on the noses. They share such a strong bond. They get up again and start chasing, enjoying the heat of the rising sun on their bodies. They are frisky and excited; they are such a strong coalition and life is stable in the pride right now. Maybe that is why their patrolling is so relaxed, they know their reign right now is strong. Behind them a hot air balloon rises in front of the sunrise, it’s bright colours complimenting the vibrant red, oranges and yellows. The Lions walk in front of the balloon not the least perturbed by its hovering in the sky behind them. It is a beautiful capture of how the wild has adapted to human presence. They walk shoulder to shoulder through the long grasses, still nuzzling each other and rubbing heads. Suddenly they stop and draw in the scent of the grass, they use their Jacobson gland to “taste” the new odour. Is it the scent of a Lioness in oestrus or the has a nomadic male sprayed urine to mark his territory? The males move on they need to patrol the whole territory and spray their scent to mark their territory.
Musiara the female Cheetah is out hunting, a lone Thompson Gazelle is standing in the middle of the plains, the grasses are long which helps her to stalk it. Musiara stalks soundlessly until she is within striking range and then runs, the chase is fast through the long grasses but unfortunately she fails to capture it. She stops and pants heavily, the chase expends so much energy, that is why she has to be sure that there is a reasonable chance the hunt will be successful. She sits upright and looks around for a place to rest in the shade, she must restore her energy before she hunts again. She stands and stretches her tired limbs and slinks through the long grasses, the blades brushing against her fur. The gold of her fur is camouflaged against the dry golden grasses. The herd of Thompson Gazelle start to snort a warning call to other prey that a predator is on the hunt. Musiara walks past them she knows she cannot hunt them now but after she has rested she knows they would have forgotten about her and she may try again. The plains are teaming with prey so she may move on and try elsewhere. She finds shade under a small croton bush, as she manoeuvres her body underneath it the heady scent of the leaves fills the air, it is intoxicating. She closes her eyes only to catnap; her beautiful amber eyes flick open frequently to see if there is prey close to hunt.
A Serval cat is hunting in the long golden oat tipped grasses, perfectly camouflaged. It rained in the night so although nocturnal, it is hunting in the early morning. It’s bronze eyes are alert, it’s bat like ears attuned to any sounds in the grass. It soundlessly high steps through the long grasses. It stops, listens, crouches then leap high in the air landing perfectly on a mouse. It plays with it first before taking it in its mouth and almost swallowing it whole. The Serval looks around before quickly finishing its small meal. It is a highly successful hunter twenty percent of its hunts result in success. The Serval is a very unique cat, it is sleek, long and elegant like the ancient Egyptian Goddess Bastet. It has a long, lean, lithe body golden in colour with black spots across the body and black spots and streaks across its shoulders and neck. What makes it also beautifully unique is its long legs and huge bat like ears. Servals are solitary cats and mark their territory by secreting urine onto bushes. Also like all cats they rub secretions from the corners of their mouths onto grass stems. The Servals ears swivel again, it has detected sound and leaps on another unsuspecting mouse.
Olakira (meaning star) the beautiful female Leopard is sleeping peacefully up a tree, her limbs hanging casually either side of the branches. Her head is rested on her paws, she is the picture of serenity and peace. There is something very relaxing about watching a cat sleep. The smallest of the big cats, the Leopard is arguably the most beautiful. Her body is muscular and compact, built for strength not speed, she is an ambush hunter. She is only cat napping, her ears twitch and eyes open, something has piqued her interest. She gets down from the trunk of the tree awkwardly, she is a little stiff from sleeping and lands on the grass and stalks through the grass. Two male Impala and Topi are grazing but they see her and run off. She stops in her tracks, she will not waste energy trying to chase them as she is an ambush predator. The morning is growing hot so she finds shade once again up the tree. The fig tree has thick branches perfect for stretching out on and dense foliage to keep her cool. She effortlessly ascends the thick trunk her claws digging not the bark. Her thick long tail is used for balance as she navigates along the branches to the thickest where she can sleep comfortably. She stretches out and yawns, she must conserve her energy for hunting.
Faulu (Swahili to be successful) the female cub of Fig is around two and a half years old. She appears just across the Laga from Olakira, she is also out hunting, she is a beautiful female, small with round green eyes. She has encroached on Olakiras territory as she is young and inexperienced. Olakira has not spotted her but if she does she will chase the intruder away. Faulu is looking to hunt, this is a Billashaka, there is plenty of prey. Faulu stalks through the long grasses, her bronze rosette covered fur blending with the long vertical stems of the dry golden grasses. Her green eyes are alert, they are trained to detect the smallest movement. She heads down into a dry riverbed, the ground is dark brown, cracked and parched from the lack of rain. She walks slowly she does not want to make a sound. She is still hunting small prey as she is new to hunting alone, the quick small prey will give her the confidence and experience to hunt larger prey. She comes up the over side of the riverbank back into the grasses, her small form almost disappears as the tall grasses swallow her form. She spots a scrub hare and gives chase and easily catches it, it is a small kill but will sustain her until she can hunt again.
Two Jackal and a wake of Vultures are eating the remains of a Wildebeest carcass that died naturally. The great migration is a long arduous safari , many Wildebeest do not survive the journey making this feast time for the scavengers. The Jackals even though smaller than the Vultures chase them off of the carcass so they can have the meatiest morsels. The Vultures cackle as they leap up into the air to avoid the snapping Jackals. Vultures are interesting birds as they have no song, they just shriek and cackle, giving them a macabre image. The Jackals are quick and cunning as foxes, they do not seem to have any fear. Nearby the old male Lion Olbarikoi is sat in the long grasses. He is one of the dominant males of the Fig Tree pride. It is initially difficult to spot him, when Lions sit in the long grasses they can completely disappear. Especially now as the sun is setting, the golden lights reflects off of the billowing grasses turning them to gold matching the golden bronze of his mane. The males tend to separate themselves from the pride, they stay close enough to protect them but they like the peace of being alone away from the rambunctious cubs. Male Lions love their sleep, he sighs heavily and views the plains around him, night will fall soon and he will need to get up from his comfortable spot and join the pride for the nightly hunt. He is undoubtedly a handsome Lion, the sun set is reflected in his golden eyes, these are eyes that has seen many a battle and enjoyed the peace that comes from pride life.
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Nashipae (Maa for happy one) the female Cheetah is looking to hunt at sunrise, she basks in the golden light, her bronze fur burnished. Cheetahs have the most beautiful amber eyes, they literally shine when the sun is reflected in them. The black tear lines running from eyes to nose stops the sun light blinding them when they run. Her cubs have now grown to independence and are hunting for themselves. No doubt she will look to mate soon as her role is to be a mother and protect her cubs. She is still a young female but has proven to be a successful hunter and mother. The sun rises above the horizon flooding the plains with golden light. The prey stretch their cold muscles on the open plains, enjoying the heat of the sun after a cold night. They start to frolic and prance showing the predators that they are fit, strong and fast. Nashipae surveys the plains for suitable prey to hunt, she is built for speed not stamina so she must be within suitable striking distance before she starts to chase. Gazelles are very fast, obviously not as fast as Cheetahs but their advantage is in the fact they can leap high and weave as they run so tactically outrunning the Cheetah. Nashipae is in no hurry, she will often take many hours to decide which prey she will hunt as running takes much energy.
The Rongai Lioness is taking two young cubs of around two months old across the plains, the grass is long and the journey arduous for them. They are still covered in rosettes to camouflage them from predators and scavengers. Young cubs are rotund from feeding just off of their mothers rich milk. Even at this age they are surprisingly tough and resilient. Every few days a Lioness will move dens to stop other predators and scavengers finding her location. One of the cubs meow it is tired so she picks it up in her mouth, the cub instinctively knows to relax its body as she gently holds the cub by the scruff of its neck. The other cub eagerly runs alongside her. Lionesses prefer to den in thick bushes, she is an experienced mother and has several preferred locations to den where she knows in the past her cubs have been safe. She stops every few hundred yards to check around her to make sure she is not being followed. She is conscious scavengers may follow her but also nomadic males who would look to kill her cubs to mate with her. She is strong, powerful mother and will protect them with her life. She sets down the cub and rests for a few moments before she picks up the other cub and heads up a hill to a familiar den. She checks the bushes to ensure there are no other animals occupying the area before leading the cubs to safety.
Olomena the male Lion of the Black Rock pride wants to mate with one the Lionesses from the Rongai pride, he is attentive and stays by her side. He keeps sniffing her but she gets angry at him she is not interested. Ahead is a herd of Wildebeest, the Lioness stops in her tracks and assesses them, she decides to hunt them much to the males frustration as he just wants to mate. He refuses to leave her so goes hunting with her. She stalks low through the long grasses until they almost reach the herd but the males mane is obvious and the herd see them. The Lioness gives chase and the herd scatter, she manages to isolate a Wildebeest and carries on chasing it but it is fast and she is built for strength not stamina. Eventually she slows and the Wildebeest runs back to the herd. She looks frustrated especially as the male is lagging behind her panting, not at all useful in the hunt. She follows the herd for a while with the male following her but the herd keep running off. She gives up and heads to the bushes to find shade in the hot morning. The male follows her, still hoping she will mate after she has rested.
Imani (meaning peace) the beautiful female Cheetah is sheltering under the shade of a croton bush in the middle of the plains. She is an old Cheetah now around ten years old. She does not have any cubs but will no doubt look to mate. With the reduction of the Tano Bora Cheetah coalition down from five males to two there are fewer males to mate with but as always happens in nature, other males will start entering the territory as there is less competition to mate with the females. The Tano Bora were quite aggressive in their approach to mating, when they came across a female in oestrus they would compete to mate. The females seem more relaxed now and highly active. Cheetahs are beautiful cats with approximately 2000 spots, and it is possible to identify cheetahs by their unique spots and patterns. Cheetahs’ spots cover nearly all of their bodies and are thought to reinforce camouflage by providing contrast to grey-hued grasses. Cheetah cubs need camouflage not only to stalk prey, but also to protect themselves from predators. Each cheetah actually has their own unique spots and ring pattern around its tails, much like a human fingerprint. Whilst the male Cheetahs are sociable, female Cheetahs are solitary animals except when raising a litter, and only come in contact with others to mate. Mothers with cubs tend to stay within a short distance of one another. Imani is enjoying a time of peace as she surveys the plains in the warmth of the afternoon.
A young male Cheetah Wanga is just across the plains from Imani, he is around three years old. With less male Cheetahs around he is looking for a mate. He walks across the plains and stops on a termite mound which gives him a good vantage point to view the plains. He sits down on top then rolls over to remove ticks and completely rolls off! Like all cats he makes it look like he meant to roll off. He gets up and shakes the dust from his fur, he looks ruffled. His rich amber eyes scan the plains, he is hungry, he needs to hunt. Unlike most other big cats such as Lions, Cheetahs do not have the ability to roar. The bones of the cheetah’s voice box are structured the same as that of “small” cats, which means they actually meow! Although this design allows the cats to purr continuously, it limits the range of other sounds they can make, and also prevents them from roaring. Despite not being able to roar, cheetahs can make a variety of different sounds. Researchers have found that male cheetahs have been known to make a “stuttering sound” when trying to impress a female. They will also growl and hiss when feeling threatened, and will let out a loud yelp when wanting to signal a warning. Wanga heads out across the plains, if he is fortunate he will encounter Imani and may get to impress her with his vocal range.
Luluka the rather gregarious female Leopard has a Reedbuck kill in the Laga, the edge of the bank is the perfect place to hide her meal. She is an older larger female so the large Reedbuck would not have been too difficult a challenge for her. The late afternoon is hot and she pants heavily to regulate her temperature. She has blood smeared on her face which are attracting flies, she uses her large paws to bat them away and then licks them to wash the blood from her mouth. Her deep emerald eyes scan the plains for scavengers and predators may smell the blood and try and come to steal her kill. She gets up and leaps down the crevice where she has stowed her kill and starts to tear at the flesh. She is pregnant and needs to eat to make her cubs strong. You can hear the ripping of skin, he tearing of sinew and crunching of bones. She has hidden her kill so well she does not hurry her meal, she may well eat it over several days. The sun starts to set behind her, the deep reds and oranges of the sunset bathes her in glorious golden light. Her fur is back light showing the beautiful contrast of the black rosettes against her bronze fur. She finishes eating and uses her tongue to clean around her mouth. She is thirsty after such a salty meal and heads down to the river to drink. Her iconic shape perfectly silhouetted against the expanse of orange sky.
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The sun rises over the beautiful Black Rock area, the golden red light reflects off of the large rocks honed by thousands of wind, rain and sun, the minerals shine in the sunlight. The long grasses billow, the oat tips hanging with dew drops which refract the light in rainbow colours. Tall Ballanite trees rise out of the sea of grass, perfectly silhouetted against the round fiery orb of the sun. The scene is peaceful and serene, the only sound that can be heard is birds flying overhead. The Black Rock pride has temporarily moved territory down to the main river crossing where the Wildebeest are crossing the river on their great migration, it is best place for them to hunt. The resident herds here has a respite from being hunted. The Migrating Wildebeest herd has not reached this area yet, the grasses are still long, the herds are needed to eat the grass and fertilise the area. The herds have started crossing down by the river not far away. The golden sands of Sand River is a beautiful area, the river here is surprisingly full, trees bow over the water. The river is lined with architectural Fig and Sausage trees. In one of these trees a Tree Hyrax is curled in the bough of a tree. Above it three Bateleur Eagles are resting. The Bateleur eagle is the most famous of the snake eagles. Bateleur is French for ‘tightrope-walker’. This name was probably chosen because of its distinctive aerial acrobatics. It has pitch black feathers with white under the wings, bright red face and legs and black beak.
This is home to the Sand River pride, one of the Lioness and three sub adult cubs around eight months old, two male one female are out hunting. The Lionesses is very playful with the cubs chasing them. The cubs are also very playful, hunting and chasing each other. The male cubs are very curious, they keep chasing after the vehicle. They play with their mother booping her on her nose. They leap high into the air trying to pull each other down. The grasses are long so they leap and pounce. They climb termite mounds and survey the plains. Ahead Zebra is grazing on the open plains. They have young which copy their mothers scratching their noses on small gardenia bushes. Three Zebra stand shoulder to shoulder, looking for threats. There is an Intoxicating scent of croton and wild sage. The Lioness leaves the cubs and stalks the Zebra, crouching in the long grasses, a bird flies over her screeching giving away her position.
The dominant Zebra at the front of the herd is alert and can smell the Lioness but cannot see her as she is crouched in the grass. The back of the herd has seen the young cubs secreted in the grass and alert the rest of the herd who turn to look. This gives the Lioness the opportunity to get closer to the herd. The Zebra establishing the cubs are too young to hunt them carry on grazing but stay alert. The Zebra start to walk in the direction of the Lioness, away from the cubs. They suddenly catch her scent again and start to run, the Lioness, an experienced muscular female starts to chase them. The herd scatter running over the ridge but the Lioness is fast and focused as she has three mouths to feed. She uses her powerful shoulder muscles to launch herself onto the rump of a Zebra digging her claws into its tough flesh pulling it off balance. She quickly runs around the Zebra and clamps her powerful jaws around its throat to suffocate and subdue it. She uses her weight to pull the Zebra down, she changes position and covers the Zebras mouth with hers suffocating it. The Zebra legs flail as it fights for its life, the Lioness is strong and uses her front legs to pin it down. The Zebra eyes are wild with fright but eventually it’s legs stop kicking and it’s head rolls backward. The Lionesses lets go of her strangle hold and sits up panting heavily, she is exhausted. She grunts and calls the cubs.
The cubs seeing their mothers successful kill and hear her call it is safe to join her, they come running. The two males run to her and rub their head on hers thanking her whereas the female runs straight to the kill and starts breaking into it. The male cubs play with the kill pretending they are bringing it down and strangling it as they saw their mother do. There is so much joy on the cubs faces. The Lioness. interacts with her cubs, encouraging them to play kill the Zebra, they need to learn how to hunt. She is a patient mother, she protects, plays and feeds them. The Lioness does not eat, the kill is for them she is still full from their last kill. This meal should last them, two days. The Lioness keeps watch for other predators and prey, whilst her cubs eat. The cubs after play killing the Zebra start to eat the soft tissue, the anus and cheek. The Lioness joins them but just licks the blood, after all she is a carnivore. The mother bonds with her cubs over the food, she ensures they are well fed. It is a happy scene of pride life, the family group are bonded and content. Unfortunately the Zebra herd in the background are braying and calling for their lost family member. That is the wild, sacrifices have to be made to ensure all animals survive.
Jilime the beautiful young small female Leopard is walking through the Laga. She is looking to hunt but first she must quench her thirst. She crouches low, her shoulders hunched foreword as she laps up the water. She is known for hunting mongoose, her mother died when she was young so she has had to hunt from a young age and is still progressing onto larger kills. She stalks through the reeds by the river her green eyes sharp and alert. The leopard’s hunting technique is to either ambush its prey or to stalk it. In either instance, it tries to get as close as possible to its target. It then makes a brief and explosive charge (up to 60km/h), pouncing on its prey and dispatching it with a bite to the neck. Jilime sees a scrub hare, quite an easy target and chases it down, the bite to its neck is swift, the hares head lolls backward as the body dangles lifelessly from her mouth. She sets it down between her paws and starts to tear off the fur, tufts of fluff fly in the air. She does not like the fur it sticks to her tongue and she tries to spit it out. She bites into the flesh and blood spills to the ground, she chews the soft flesh and licks at the blood. The hare is quickly dispatched, it is only a small meal. Jilime scraps at the ground to hide the blood soaked grass from vultures.
Luluka the stunning female Leopard is sat on a large mound under the shade of a croton bush. She is sprawled vertically up the mound, very contented, her head rested on paws. The Reedbuck kill is up the tree, she is guarding her meal. The early afternoon sun is very hot and she is sated from feeding earlier. With such a good kill in an open location, Luluka only cat naps she knows the smell especially in the heat will attract predators and scavengers. She flicks her ears as flies are buzzing around attracted to the sticky blood. Her ears are small and rounded and at the back of their ears, they have black markings which act as a kind of ‘follow me’ sign. This makes it easier for cubs to follow behind a female in the tall grass. Like all Leopards Luluka spends most of her life in her own territory. And to warn other leopards to stay away, she leaves scratches on trees, and urine scent marks around her territory. She also rubs her face against vegetation along other pathways and territory boundaries. In doing so, she transfer secretions from the cheek glands, which can also carry olfactory messages. The female Leopard is secretive and territorial like the male, but they tend to not be so elusive.
The Fig tree pride have a Buffalo kill at sunset, one of the Lionesses is pulling off the skin to allow the cubs to eat the softer flesh underneath. The cubs are very playful, they are more interested in playing with the tail, biting the horns and practicing their hunting skills on it. A young cub jumps on top of it biting on the ear, it pretends it is subduing it. The cubs play fight each other over the carcass whilst the Lionesses eat. The Buffalo is a fun climbing frame for them as they jump on it and slide down the other side. When they get bored of the Buffalo they start running through the bushes chasing and climbing branches and chewing sticks. Rain starts to fall lightly but it does not distract the gregarious cubs, they are safe playing whilst their mothers eat. The Lionesses however are not so delighted it is raining, even though they have coarse wiry fur to keep themselves dry they constantly shake the water off creating arcs of water which is beautiful as the light from the setting sun catches in each drop. As the sun sets behind pride life, the embers of the sun warm their fur, the sun rays highlights the beautiful golds in their coat. The cubs eagerly run to their mothers, they want them to play with them. The Lionesses bat them away, they are full from their meal and want to head to the bushes to sleep. The cubs dutifully follow them, it is time for them to be bathed by their mothers. The sky is awash with vibrant orange light, there is nothing more beautiful than an African sunset.
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The sunrise is stunning, there are wisps of clouds and the suns beams break through the dark water vapours creating vibrant splashes of colour. You can imagine an artist taking a pallet knife and covering it in blood red, deep orange and vibrant yellow paint and passionately swiping it across a canvas. Sunrise is a time of hope, optimism and beauty. There is a calm serenity in the cool soft breeze as the sun stretches its fingers across the plains warming and bringing to life everything it touches. The sun rises a fiery orb throwing golden light over the Lion pride in the early hours. Two Lionesses of the Fig tree pride and cubs are eating the remnants of the Buffalo, the cub are sated and just want to play, they cheekily go inside the rib cage. Inside there is little meat left but they chew on the ribs and marrow of the bones. They have small teeth but gnawing will sharpen them. The cubs are mainly playing with the carcass now, jumping on top of it, chewing the tail and gnawing on the horns. The carcass is the perfect play ground as they chase each other around it, over it, inside and out it. They will exhaust themselves before following their mothers inside the bushes to sleep in the heat of the morning.
The most successful pride in the Maasai Mara is the Topi pride they are nearly thirty members strong. Four of the cubs around five months old are secreted in the long grasses looking angelic. They peer over the tops of the oat tipped grasses, the golden dry stems are the perfect camouflage billowing gently in the morning breeze against their golden fur still covered in rosettes. They are keeping out of sight as their mothers are busy with pride life. The Topi Lionesses not far away, they have taken three of the young cubs of around two months old to a new den in the bushes. It is in itself risky to move them but when they feel scavengers or other predators have picked up the scent of their old den they must move them to a safer one. Walking along the tracks the three tiny males are already very confident, they run around pouncing on each other pulling each other down. Their faces are a picture of joy as they enjoy testing their skills, establishing bonds and finding out who is the strongest. They are very healthy and strong, their mother’s milk has made the plump and energised. They leap high into the air landing on top of each other, wresting each other to the ground. They trip each other up as the ambush each other from their hiding places in the tall grasses. They run after their mother, through her legs as she tried to walk, biting her shins and tail, they are too small to leap very high but they try and ambush her. She is loving and patient and plays with them, batting them with her paws. She is however still focused on getting them to safety as she leads them to a den up a hill and into dense bushes.
One of the Salas dominant male Lions is stood regally on top of a termite mound surveying the plains. His mane is thick, dark brown and golden. A gentle breeze artfully blows his mane back away from his strong face, it is a breath-taking moment capturing such might. He is demonstrating he is strong and powerful, a true king. He is looking for the pride to join them to sleep for the day. It is his role to protect them. He patrols, marks and guards the territory letting other males know this is his domain and the pride is his. He will also take care of the cubs whilst the Lionesses are out hunting, protecting them. Whilst the male only does less than ten percent of the hunting he ensures the pride stays together. His sheer presence deters nomadic males and other males from rivalry prides from taking over the pride. Whilst the bonds between males are strong and between females is strong, they mutually benefit to take care of each other in the pride, they coexist to ensure the pride stays together and their cubs have the best chance of survival.
The pride is not far away, the Topi pride Lionesses are eating one half of a Zebra kill, the carcass has been torn in half, no doubt the pride pulled it apart whilst fighting over their share. Cats do not share food, it is very much survival of the fittest, they compete to eat the most. One of the Lioness has just one eye, she could have lost it when she was young fighting with siblings or older fighting other predators or being speared by a horn when hunting. All big cats have battle scars. She is a successful hunter and has adapted to living with limited sight. The other half of the Zebra kill with the head is being dragged into the bushes by the other Salas male, he wants it to himself to eat later, he will not leave it to scavengers. The males eat first in the pride and very much eats the Lions share to the point of even denying their own cubs food, so his selfish act of dragging off half of the carcass to ear later is not surprising. He has eaten to the point he can barely walk his stomach is so turgid, but he drags the kill between his legs into the bushes. He is however clearly feeling sleepy as one of the young cubs approaches him respectfully and starts to eat the carcass right in front of him. He sniffs the cub to make sure it is his and allows the cub to eat.
A sub adult Hyaena in standing in the opening to its den, it is surprisingly confident but as always curious. It scans the plains to see where it’s mother is, she is the alpha female in the clan and has gone off hunting. Hyaenas are very beautiful when they are young, they have plain brown fur and are very fluffy with large brown eyes. They look like small bears. There is something very endearing about the pup, its siblings are hiding in the den but this one is confident. It is not surprisingly female, possibly the future queen in waiting. She will learn from her mother, how to hunt, fight and survive. She will learn how to unite and protect her clan. As the alpha female she will have all of the responsibility for ensuring the clan has enough to eat and stay safe. Her mother when she has successfully hunted will come back and regurgitate meat for her pups. They are still completely reliant on her for their survival. The males role in the clan is to support the alpha female and mate with her. Unlike the cats Hyaenas do eat fairly peacefully together, they do squabble and manically laugh and try steal meat from each other but it is not as aggressive.
The Topi Lioness has brought her three cubs down to the Zebra kill, there is little left but the tiny cubs enthusiastically find small morsels of meat and offal and chew on them contentedly. The Lionesses watches on so protective of her cubs. Their older sister comes to join them and starts playing with them, she is a little rough pulling them up by their tails as they meow but their mother looks on in amusement, she knows a little rough play is good for them. The Lioness stretches and stands and starts sniffing the ground, scratching at the blood and picks up a small piece of offal, her young cub comes bounding up and pulls it from her mouth and they share it between them. Once they have eaten all that is left she leads them down to the bushes where the male is with the rest of the kill. As they pass their older sister she puts a paw down on one of them so it wiggles underneath, it meows plaintively until she lets it go and it runs after it’s mother. The Lioness leads them into the bush putting herself between the male and the cubs, he looks up but as he sired the, he is unperturbed. The cubs ravenously jumps on the Zebra carcass and start chewing on the bloody ribs. Surprisingly the male just glances over he seems contented they are here eating, most males barely tolerate intrusion from cubs as he sleeps, much less eating his food. Marabou Stalk, Lapped faced Vulture and African White back Vulture are all sitting on a termite mound by the scattered carcass of the kill whilst the other Vultures scour the grass for discarded remnants.
Kisaru the female Cheetah of the Lemek Conservancy and her two cubs of around eight months old are resting under the shade of a Ballanite tree in the scorching afternoon sun. Jackals are running around disturbing them as they want them to hunt. The Jackal are cunning and quick but they get too close, all three Cheetahs leap up and chase one of the Jackals across the plains to teach it a lesson of not to disturb sleeping cats. Jackals are not their prey so the Cheetah do not chase at full speed but the Jackal do have to and they are surprisingly quick. Fortunately for the Jackal it is able to dart down a Warthog burrow. The young Cheetah try to follow it down but they are too big. The Jackal screams from inside the den, it is terrified and calls it mate who is still the other side of the plains. Jackals mate for life so the partner barks anxiously back but it cannot go to its mate as it cannot fight three Cheetah. The Cheetah cubs scratch frantically at the mud at the opening of the den they want the Jackal, this is fun game for them. The Jackal inside yips at high pitch it does not know what to do. Kisaru stands back watching her cubs, she lets them enjoy the chase and hunt. After a while the cubs grow bored and return to their mother. She leads them across the plains to hunt, there is Topi in the distance but as the Cheetah have no cover the Topi see them and start snorting their warning call a predator has been seen. Kisaru and cubs walk to the top of a termite mound to survey the plains for hunting opportunities but there is none, it is fortunate as two Hyaena appear who would steal their kill if she was successful. She leads her cubs away from the fierce scavengers.
In the Lemek Conservancy there is a beautiful Marsh area which attracts Crown Cranes, Egyptian Geese, Sacred Ibis, Black headed Herons and Sparwing Goose. It is surrounded by trees which the birds fly onto to view the waters below. The cacophony of sound is incredible as each bird calls to each other. In one tree there are a dozen Crown Crane which is a stunning sight, their golden crowns illuminated in the late afternoon sun. The birds swoop down to catch fish from the water and drink, their reflections caught in the mill pond surface. Each species of birds displays a stunning range of colours. The perfect azure blue African sky is the perfect backdrop to natures display. The marsh area also attracts other animals to feed on the grasses and drink the cool waters. A sounder of warthogs meander across the plains to drink and feed, they bend their front legs and crouch, shuffling along as they consume the moist grasses. Topi and Impala often graze together to keep a look out for predators as they are more vulnerable when the drink and feed. Prey have eyes in the side of their heads to give them excellent peripheral vision so they can scan the area around them. The scene is serene, mixed herds coming together at the watering hole to enjoy the cornucopia.
The Lemek Conservancy male Lions are a coalition of five, Lemurt (big neck) who is the dominant male, Seenka (hairy) the most beautiful of the males, Merinyo (brave), Kini (small) and Lerai (light brown). What is really interesting about them is not only are they a successful coalition of five but they are very easy to tell apart. Undoubtedly Seenka is the most handsome, when you think of a male Lion, he is the quintessential archetype. His mane is exceptionally large and full, it’s colour is burnished bronze around his muscular face turning to black over his shoulders and back. Behind his knees are large tufts of black hair and his body is full and muscular. Four of the males, Lemurt, Seenka, Kini and Lerai are laying ironically by the airstrip enjoying the sunset, their faces turned to the sun, the golden light reflected off of their strong faces. They are relaxed after a day of sleeping in the bushes, they now warm their bodies in preparation of their nocturnal activity, hunting. But the wild is unpredictable, a lone Lioness from the pride with a limp alights from the bushes, she sees the males and starts walking towards them. She is pregnant having already mated with them. The males pick up her scent and turn to see her. One by one the males get up and walk towards her, she changes direction and leads them across the plains to hunt. As they alight from the bushes the Lioness and Seenka see Pumba, they give chase even though she has a bad limp, unfortunately they run into each other as they do so and fall to the ground. Confusion and annoyance ensue as they miss the kill. The Lions head out into the plains, it is time to hunt.
A herd of Zebra Stallions are frisky and looking to mate. Zebras are notoriously competitive especially in a bachelor herd when they alight on females ready to mate. The males will viciously fight with each other, they bite each other’s necks, kick their hind legs into the rump of another and rear up to bring the other off balance which in this case sees them both fall to the ground. They scrabble around in the dirt, dust clouds flying, they still tussle on the ground. Their dramatic black and white stripes in contrast to the stunning deep oranges and reds of the sun setting behind them. There is also a calm serenity at sunset, the wind slows, the air feels warmer as the red light floods the plains and everywhere the light touches it flooded with golden light. The Zebras are now silhouetted, they are calmer as they head to the hills to find relative refuge from the predators nocturnal hunt. The birds fly overheads screeching, looking to roost, silhouetted against the burning embers of the sun.
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Pre-dawn the air is cool, the breeze rustles the long golden oat top grasses and the moon is shining full in the dark blue sky lighting up the plains with white light. Venus is still visible a bright star against the inky darkness. The sunrise over the Lemek conservancy is breath-taking, the brilliant vibrant red light emerges over the plains spreading fingers of light. As the sun rises the light diffuses through the clouds into the most stunning pastel shades of orange, yellows and pinks, the wispy clouds soften the light creating the most beautiful pallet. Black headed Herons and Sparwing Goose fly overhead their honking calls piercing the air, they are perfectly silhouetted against the bright sky. Into the scene walks Lemurt, the alpha Lioness of the pride and the limping Lioness. They sit on the plains their beautiful faces facing the sun, the vibrant orange and red light reflecting off of their bronzed fur. Their golden eyes survey the plains for hunting opportunities whilst above them a pair of Crown Crane shriek their warning call, there are predators, beware. The Lioness yawns widely, her yellow canines sharp like knives glint in the golden light. The golden light of post sunrise is perfect to capture Lions in their full glory. The alpha Lioness cat stretches and gets up and walks across the plains, Lemurt the dominant male Lion of the pride quickly follows followed unusually by the limping Lioness.
The alpha Lioness is in oestrus and wants to mate and Lemurt is keen to ensure his bloodline continues, with her he can create a lasting dynasty. She walks a short distance assured he will follow her as the female dictates where and when they will mate, then crouches down. Lemurt dutifully mounts her and starts thrusting for mere seconds, he bites her head and snarls and she snarls back, this is duty not passion. He ejaculates and quickly jumps back as she turns and roars at him whilst swiping him with her sharp talons. He narrowly misses her sinking her canines in his face. It is a painful experience for both of them, they both snarl at each other, duty done. They have only just starting mating and will do so every fifteen minutes for the first day and the time between copulation will grow longer as they mate over three to five days until she is satisfied she is pregnant. Just across the plains Seenka and another Lioness head to the bushes, they are tired after their nocturnal activities and the morning is growing warm. The coalition of males is still new to the Lemek pride so they need to mate with all of the Lionesses in oestrus. The reign of dominant males can be relatively short depending on their age and size of the coalition, these males are not old and as five stand a greater chance of fighting off other males would look to take over the pride.
Kisaru and her cubs are sitting in the shade of a Ballanite Tree, the cubs purring as their mother grooms them. Cheetahs produce a variety of sounds including growls, purrs that generally denote contentment, chirps (between a mother and her cubs), and an “explosive yelp” heard by humans from 2 km. They walk across the plains looking to hunt but the prey has seen them as the grass is very short. They stop at another Ballanite tree with a bend in its trunk and one of the cubs leaps onto the bough. This elevation gives it a better view of the plains and potential hunting opportunities. Behind her is the most mesmerising backdrop, at the top a strip of pure blue cloudless sky, underneath a blur of green and orange croton bushes and below the golden hues of the dry grasses. She scans the plains, her amber eyes and golden body littered with black spots perfectly camouflaged against the background. Of course Cheetahs have non retractable claws (hence the genus name Acinonyx which means no move claw in Greek, while the species name, jubatus means maned in Latin, a reference to the mantle of hair the cubs have when they are young) so whilst getting up is not on much of a problem getting down requires a large jump as they do not have sharp claws to grip the trunk. It lands quite well but it is leapt on by its sibling who wants to play. The cubs are full of energy and start running at full speed across the wide open plains.
Whilst Lions sleep, Cheetahs hunt, it is safer for them as Lions are notorious for stealing Cheetahs kills as they are much more successful hunters. Cheetahs are quite different to the powerhouse physique of Leopards and Lions. They are lithe and athletic with blunt claws that do not retract which aids them when running at speed. They have distinct black “tear marks” running from the inner corners of their black rimmed amber eyes down to the edges of their mouth. They have a beautiful golden coat littered with black spots. Cheetahs coats vary is hue, some can be quite blonde. If you sit and study Cheetah you will hear their beautiful high pitch chirrup voice, when happy they purr very loudly like a domestic cat. Interestingly Cheetahs cannot roar but will growl and hiss when threatened. Females are solitary except when mating or when rearing cubs. Cheetahs have a very different hunting style to the other big cats, they generally favour small gazelle and will pick out an individual, stalk it within 45-55 metres before chasing it down. Watching them run is breath-taking and exhilarating. They cannot maintain that speed however for more than few hundred yards as they will overheat. The catch their prey by tripping it with its dew claw, when the animal falls the Cheetah will clasp its impressive jaws around its neck and strangle it. They will drag the kill to cover to avoid detection and eat fast as scavengers will smell blood as soon as it is ripped open and will try and steal it. Kisaru leads her cubs across the plains, they are very obedient they know their mother is in hunting mode.
The midday African sun is very intense but Kisaru has not been able to successfully hunt yet, the grasses are too short and the prey see her. All around her and her cubs you can hear snorts of a warning calls, the Topi as always are on sentry duty, standing on termite mounds looking for predators. They have keen eyesight and are usually the first to alert the other prey to predator sightings. Kisaru however is a successful hunter and will use trees and bushes to hide herself as she stalks her prey. She knows the prey have short memories so even if they see her they will forget she is their when she camouflaged herself. Kisaru leaves her cubs once more in the shade of a Ballanite tree. The cubs looked restless as they watch their mother hunch her shoulders, flatten her back and stealthily walk across the plains. The trunk of the tree is knotty and gnarly, the colour of the bark almost the same shade as the cubs fur. The cubs are older but still vulnerable to scavenger and predator attacks. But like all cubs they are very confident and use this time to attack the tree, their long lithe bodies stretching up and clawing at the rough bark. They chase each other around the tree and try unsuccessfully to climb is vertical trunk. Tired, they sit shoulder to shoulder, one has an itch and shakes it’s head, dust particles flying in the wind. The itching is contagious so it’s sibling lifts it’s leg to scratch its ear. The third yawns widely baring its sharp teeth, it stretches forward in a long cat stretch. They are impatient to see if their mother will make a successful kill.
Lemurt and his Lioness are still out on the open plains even though the sun is high in the sky and very intense. Duty comes before their comfort, they are panting heavily to regulate their temperature. The Lioness groans it is time, she yawns widely and cat stretches and gets up. She looks around the plains, thinking of food but knowing the mating must come first. Lemurt opens his eyes, he is tired but he is led by his Lioness. She walks away from him and he lumbers up, hot and tired. He follows her sniffing her back end checking to see if she is in oestrus. He uses his Jacobson gland to process her scent in the roof of his mouth, he gurns at the scent. Satisfied she is indeed ready for him he follows her. Just a short distance away she crouches down inviting him to mount her. He is hot and tired and mounts her slowly, he thrusts just for a few seconds before roaring as he ejaculates. He bites the top of her head and she roars back at him. He quickly jumps back but not quick enough to escape her claws as she swipes at his face. They both look angry but there is no love between the males and females, this is duty to the pride. Lion mating is ferocious, adrenaline fuelled and dramatically violent. Hence the whole time a tower of Giraffes stood a short distance away and watched, slowly ruminating as they quietly took in the action.
There is no sunset on earth more beautiful than in Africa, the large amount of dust in the atmosphere helps to refract light from the sun and paint the sky in brilliant shades orange, reds and yellows. In some traditions on the continent and in the African diaspora, the rising and setting of the sun and its path across the sky each day suggest the cycle of life, from birth to adulthood to death and rebirth. While sunsets are a literal end to a day, they have also become symbols of peace, harmony, and the promise of renewal. Sunsets are a great reminder to rest and reset our hearts and minds at the end of each and every day. If the sunset was not perfect enough, Seenka the hairy male Lion silently walks through the long grasses, the sun has lit the oat tipped grasses red, they perfectly complement the tawny golden red of his fur as they brush against his powerful body. He has soulful eyes, he seems to be in deep thought, for a powerful male he exudes a gentle vibe. He is possibly searching for a mate, the males main purpose is to ensure the survival of the pride. His mane is thick and full, burnished bronze across his powerful head tapering down to deep brown then black across his shoulders and back. Lions strength lies in the power of the pride, their tight knit family bond. Lions are the very image of majesty and the beating heart of Africa itself.
