Queens of the Mara

The Queens of the Maasai Mara February 2023 

A Queen refers to a female cat. Although you may believe that the term “queen” comes from the elegance that many cats may give off, that is actually not the case. The name “queen” comes from the term “queening” which is the term used to define the time when a female cat is birthing. But what does it mean to give birth, to be a Queen? To give birth to something such as an idea or another being means to cause it to start to exist. To birth is to give life to something new, a new being, a new attitude or new ideas, constantly evolving. It is to be empowered, strong, confident, relentless, and courageous in your end goal. It is about challenging behaviour, creating can do attitudes or “cat-titudes,” have you ever met a cat that does not own its beliefs, its behaviours, however much it literally pushes its boundaries? A Queen is feminine, gender undefined. It means one with power, but as we know with great power comes great responsibility. A queen is a feline who embraces all that they are and who does not conform, they constantly evolve. It is to lead, always looking out for the greater good of others, to form bonds by empowering others to reach their goals. It is about bringing forward new life, creating dynasties, knowing the right path to follow. It is to be focused, present not always taking the easy path. It is about being a true feline, a Queen of the Maasai Mara.  

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The sun over the beautiful Maasai Mara plains feels hotter and more intense than anywhere else on earth. The Maasai tribe who have long lived here tell of its beginnings through folklore. In the beginning the sun married the moon. They travelled together for a long time, the sun leading and the moon following. As they travelled, the moon would get tired, and the sun would carry her for three days every month. On the fourth day the donkeys are said to be able to see the moon. People can only see the moon on the fifth day. One day the moon made a mistake, and she was beaten by the sun. When she was beaten, she fought back, and wounded the sun’s forehead. The sun also beat the moon and scratched her face and plucked out one of her eyes. When the sun realised that he was wounded, he was very embarrassed and said to himself, “I am going to shine so hard that people will not be able to look at me.” And so, he shone so hard that people could not look at him without squinting. That is why the sun shines so brightly. As for the moon, she did not feel any embarrassment and so she did not have to shine any brighter. And even now, if you look closely at the moon, you will see the wounds that the sun inflicted on her during their fight. 

Whilst not the most beautiful of folklore tales it is appropriate as this very sun and moon guide and light the hunting of the Queens of the Maasai Mara by day and night. They are strong, feisty females like the moon, they own their attitude. They are not dominated by the males; they fight with them over mating and food but work together to ensure the survival of their species. In the heat of the early morning a sub adult Lioness (Panthera Leo) from the Lemek pride languishes under the shade of a gnarly Gardenia Tree. She is around three years old, and her blonde fur is still strewn with beautiful rosettes of youth. The rosettes fade with time as the lions age, but they never fully disappear, their purpose is to camouflage them from predators and scavengers when they are young. She yawns widely safe in the protection of the pride. The pride successfully killed a Wildebeest pre-dawn and the whole pride feasted on the food. The emerald grass still glistening with dew, is strewn with entrails and blood, the bones scattered as the Lions striped the meat. These remains will be picked clean by the Vultures soaring on the vortex in the sky above. The Lioness looks up, her bronze eyes curious but sleepy, her eyelashes blink away the flies attracted to the scent of blood. She closes her eyes and rests her beautiful head on her powerful paws and sleeps. 

The Lemek conservancy is a Billa Shaka, a place of certainty. It is surrounded by an escarpment from which the rain waters flow creating fertile green plains. There are large marshy areas which never dry up, the lakes are abundant with marsh grass, reeds and floating lilies. These attract an abundance of bird life, from the Grey Heron to the colourful African Crown Crane with its halo of golden feathers.  Large mixed herds of Wildebeest, Zebra and Impala are resident here as there is a wealth of food. Biodiversity is the natural world around us, and the variety of all of the different kinds of organisms; the plants, animals, insects and microorganisms that live on our planet. Every one of these live and work together in ecosystems to maintain and support life on earth and exist in delicate balance. Here on the plains of the Maasai Mara it is possible to see this fragile balance. The prey is thriving in this environment, within the herds some of the young have dried umbilical cords, they are newly born and wide eyed taking in their wild world. 

A tower of Giraffe stands still in the middle of the open plains, except for their jaws and mouth slowly ruminating. With four stomach chambers, their complex digestive system helps them break down tough materials like leaves. One step in their digestive process is to regurgitate food from their stomach all the way back up their neck to their mouth to chew a second time. They can stand for hours just chewing their food watching events unfold around them from their lofty heights. They are fascinating animals, so calm and quiet. Like Topi they act as sentries, or in their case, watchtowers. They are particularly good at giving away the position of predators who they seem to watch with avid fascination. Tall like the towering Ballanite trees they browse off of, they can see above the thick croton bushes and over the long dry golden grasses and observe the almost undetectable movements of the big cats. Stealth the cats maybe, but to the quiet observation of the Giraffe they are intriguing, for the cats are unpredictable. The Giraffes eyes are large and round, fringed by impossibly long lashes. Like all prey Giraffes have their eyes located on each side of their head, bulging out slightly. The placement and bulging help give them a panoramic peripheral vision. The more peripheral vision an animal has, the more of their world they can see without having to turn their heads, helping them to look for predators, in this instance the streamlined Mbili Bora.  

The Mbili Miele (two forever) are two Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus) brothers. Their territory at present is the Lemek conservancy, they move territories often in search of prey and mating opportunities. They have chased down and caught an adult Topi, as experienced males, they act as one to bring down larger prey. Male Cheetahs stay together for life, whereas as female Cheetahs tend to be more independent and better hunters and will live alone except when mating or raising young. The males’ faces are slavered in blood, thick dark lumps drip from their bloody fur where they have buried their faces in the moist hot flesh of the kill. They are clean hunters, pulling their prey off guard, tripping it and crushing its windpipe in seconds. They eat shoulder to shoulder, protecting their kill and each other. They are completely bonded; they take it in turns to sit up and look for threats whilst the other eats. Behind them the rest of the herd of Topi snort, they are mourning the loss of one of their herds. It is late afternoon and sun is intense, the Cheetah pant heavily from the heat and exertions. Cheetah loses over half of their kills to larger predators or scavengers, but the males are fortunate today there are no threats. Even so they eat quickly until their stomachs are turgid.  

Vultures have keen 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. In the air Vultures are called a committee, on the ground they are known as a kettle but picking clean a carcass they are a simply a wake, very appropriate. Their macabre bold heads, devoid of feathers has a purpose so they can push them into crevices and no blood or fluids will stick to them. They urinate of their legs to wash themselves clean of bacteria and disease. They are magnificent, evolved birds, there is much to be admired about them. The Mbili Miele however do not believe so, as the Vultures begin to land the Cheetahs start to chase them, they do not want them picking at their food. The Vultures grimly cackle as they leap and bounce away. Others take flight, adjourning to a branch of a tree to wait for the Cheetah to leave. Guinea fowl are comically perched on another nearby tree branches. They too screech at the Cheetah they do not want predators in their marsh lands. The Cheetahs ignore the annoying screeches and roll over to remove dirt and ticks from their fur, then begin the task of thoroughly grooming each other by licking blood from each other’s faces. This mutual grooming strengthens bonds between them. 

The marsh area attracts many species of birds, and the results are not always peaceful. A dogfight erupts between a male Tawny Eagle and a White Back Vulture, the Vulture has tried to land in the tree where the Tawny Eagles mate is nesting. The birds flap their impressive wings, of equal size they are well matched. They fly around, posturing, then suddenly diving at each other. It is not a serious fight, the Tawny Eagle is just defending its mate and warning the Vulture to not to encroach on its territory. Below a more peaceful family graze on the rich moist grasses. A male and female Hartebeest nestle their calf between them, they have seen the Cheetah and they understand the threat to their calf even though the cats have just hunted. All cats are opportunistic hunters and will hunt the calf if they detect it. Fortunately for the Hartebeest the Cheetah have sated their appetite, washed the blood from their faces and head across the plains to drink water after such a salty meal. The Topi herd are still following behind them, they want to ensure the Cheetah are leaving. The brothers stop to drink, their pink barbed tongue lapping up cool water. The late afternoon sun is still hot, so they head to the shade of a tree to sleep. 

Osidai (meaning handsome) one of the Lemek coalition males is sitting with four of the Lionesses of the Lemek pride. They are all sated from a Wildebeest kill but he is being surprisingly very playful. He is a handsome male with a full dark bronze mane tapering down to black around his shoulders. He has several wounds on his side from fighting with his brothers recently over mating rights. The Lionesses are in oestrus and the males are trying to win favour with them so they will choose them for their mate. The males may be known as the protectors of the pride, but it is the Lionesses who are the Queens. They decide with whom they will mate with and when. The males want it to be their genes they pass on so seek favour with the females by being playful and affectionate. The Lionesses will choose the males with elevated levels of testosterone who are strong and will provide them with healthy strong cubs. There are no known hierarchies within a pride of Lionesses, each one protects and cares for each other, they are bonded from birth. They will raise their cubs together hence why Lionesses come into oestrus at the same time so they will give birth around the same time. They suckle each other’s cubs; each Lioness is a mother to them all. For Lionesses this is an unbreakable bond of sisterhood. 

Orongai (meaning slim) another of the Lemek male coalition is sat upright looking at the sunset. The suns fiery rays light his bronze mane, setting it alight with a myriad of colours. He lifts his face feeling the last vestiges of warmth before the cool of the night sets in. Shades of yellow turn orange and red as the sun makes its way behind the silhouettes of acacia trees and wildlife. An African sunset really is a breathtaking sight to behold. The horizons stretch on endlessly and provide an awe-inspiring kaleidoscope of hues. 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. A male Lion sat at sunset is the perfect clique, the circle of life which allows predator and prey to live in harmony, guiding the way. The sun guides his path by day and the moon by night. He yawns and gives a mighty roar which reverberates across the plains, this truly is his kingdom for his roar says, “whose land is this anyway? it is mine! it is mine!” 

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It is always the darkest before the dawn, the sky is inky black and strewn with a million stars. There is a super moon, it appears much larger and closer to the earth. It shines brightly lighting the plains with its cool blue light. The moon’s surface can be seen in immense detail great; the craters look pronounced. The bright light of the moon is good for the prey as it enables them to spot the predators more easily. For the predators it is a distinct disadvantage, they have good night vision and are ambush predators, so the element of surprise is diminished in this cool light. As the sun begins to rise a blue grey mist rolls across the plains, the minuscule droplets of water creating clouds of white vapour. The plains are shrouded in a soft blur as the mist continues to roll. The intense warm golden glow of the sun competes with the cool blue tones of the moon. The Golden hour is upon us, it is the period of daytime shortly after sunrise, during which daylight is redder and softer than when the sun is higher in the sky. The plains are flooded with golden light, the sun’s rays spreads its fingers across the plains lighting up everything it touches with intense warmth. The prey start stretching and running, warming up their cold muscles. The nocturnal animals retreat into bushes and burrows, whilst the birds start up their dawn chorus announcing the arrival of a new day. 

The Mbili Miele are relaxing on the grass on the edge of a Laga, their golden black spotted fur is lit with the golden light. Their amber eyes reflecting the fiery orb of the sun as they intensely stare across the plains at the prey. The name Cheetah comes from the Hindu word Chita meaning spotted and their scientific name is Acinonyx Jubatus. The 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 found on Cheetah cubs. It is one of only two cats that cannot completely retract their claws. Early scientists did not place them under the category of Panthera as they thought them to be closely related to dogs due to their claws. Unthinkable as what dogs purr? Cheetahs have the loudest purr, like all cats especially when they are happy and contented. The brothers are deeply bonded and as they groom each other they purr loudly, showing they are happy and content in their environment and with each other. One hypothesis is that the purr is a powerful healing action. It is thought that the vibrations from the activity are physically rejuvenating, a way for the cat to ‘heal’ itself. This is why cats are seen purring in apparent contentment while dozing. In reality, it is a form of self-repair. Cats may have adapted their normal behaviour which now involves spending a lot of the day resting, as a way of avoiding injury through over-exertion. The purr has developed as a low-energy way to keep bones and tissues in good condition while they rest. As the fastest land mammal, his would seem like a reasonable conclusion.  

The Lemek male Lion coalition are Osidai, Tui, Orongai and Saruni (means rescue in Maa). Orongai is wanting to mate with one of the pride Lionesses, however his stomach is so rotund from eating a kill earlier he cannot connect with her, so she gets aggressive with him. It is one of the reasons that when a Lion and Lioness decide to remove themselves from the pride for their three to five day “honeymoon” period they do not eat as the males tend to overindulge at a kill and their stomachs prevent them from being able to get close enough to the Lioness. She wants to mate and leads him under the shade of a tree and crouches before him, he mounts her, but he cannot connect with her, he tries several times before she swipes at him. Ironically, he does not look abashed, he is a cat and do not have a sense of failure. He lays next to her and rests until his food is digested, and he can try again. She does not look best pleased but lays next to him. Osidai his brother however looks on, waiting for his opportunity to mate with her, Orangai watches his brother he does not let the Lioness out of his sight. Orangai gets up and walks into the croton bushes and rubs his head and body against the croton leaves known for their insect repelling properties, then marks his territory by spraying urine onto the bushes. Osidai sees his chance to mate with the Lioness, but Orangai sees him and quickly returns to the Lionesses side and glares at his brother. 

The rest of the pride are fighting over the remains of the Zebra carcass, a Lioness crawls along the ground and steals a leg from a male. The males are selfish at a kill, they will want the lions share however the Lionesses are clever and as it is likely they made the kill, they will find ways of taking their share. They must be careful though as the males can go into a raging blood lust at a kill and become overly aggressive and unpredictable and can injure Lionesses or even its own cubs if they try and take what it considers to be its food. The Lioness pulls the leg away and quickly takes it to the bushes to eat. She needs to eat as she has young cubs to produce milk for, her survival mode makes her fearless and confident. Lionesses are very resilient and resourceful, they must be, their prey is often larger than them such as Buffalo and armed with deadly horns. Each time they hunt they take calculated risks and are relentless in their fight. Lionesses however have the unity of sisterhood, they hunt as a team, focused on their goal, which is why they are successful. This feline self-belief and positive mental attitude have what has ensured Lions survival over hundreds of thousands of years.  

Orangai and his Lioness walks across the plains towards a Gardenia tree where Osidai and two Lionesses are relaxing in the shade. As they approach Orangai shields the Lionesses body with his, he puts himself between himself and Osidai, he rubs his body against hers transferring his scent. She is insistent in joining Osidai and the Lionesses in the cool shade of the tree, but Orangai pushes her away. Osidai gets up and approaches them, Orongai loses his temper, and the males start fighting. The brothers are usually so affectionate with each other but when it comes to mating rights they will fight. They run towards each other, jaws wide, roaring and growling trying to intimidate each other. They do not want to inflict injury as they are a coalition, but they retract their claws and start to swipe at each other. Their large full manes protect their heads against the worst of possible injury but claws gauge at each other’s cheeks and noses. They rear onto their hind legs, bringing themselves to full height for body blows trying to push the other off balance. The Lionesses run off they do not want to be injured in the crossfire. Orangai chases after his Lioness, he is less concerned with his brother now his Lioness has run off. Osidai’s face and legs are covered in bloody bites and scratches from fighting with his brother. He lies down with the two returning Lionesses, rubbing his head on theirs, transferring his scent, claiming ownership. The Lionesses growl they are sated from the Zebra carcass, hot and tired, they do not want to mate yet. Osidai gives a deep sigh and rolls over onto his back, his legs akimbo, one resting on the gnarly bark of the Gardenia trunk. His rubs one paw of his rotund belly and throws his powerful head back. He is contented, he is very satisfied from the kill and is surrounded by two Lionesses with whom he may mate with later. For now, the morning sun is now ridiculously hot and intense. 

Orangai and the Lioness have sought shade under a Ballanite tree, but the iconic umbrella shaped foliage affords them little respite from the intense heat of the late morning sun. A lone Wildebeest stands out on the plains watching them. The Lionesses stretches and yawns, it is time to mate. Orangai growls, he is still overly full, hot and tired, the males can sleep for up to twenty hours a day. There is a reason Lions generally do not eat when they enter their three-to-five-day courtship, their bodies need to preserve their energy for mating not digesting food. He reluctantly gets up he must follow her lead, or she will mate with one of his brothers. He hoists his large belly off of the ground, she walks away from him and crouches on the ground, he ambles over his belly almost touching he ground, he mounts her from behind but once again his stomach is too large to allow him to connect fully with her. After a few seconds of half-hearted thrusting, she growls at him, and he dismounts. He still needs to process his large meal, but he risks her impatience. Felines are known for their patience when hunting but when it comes to getting what they want they are very impatient and can become aggressive. She is not impressed with him but as he is one of the coalitions strongest males she will wait. She lays down to sleep, the sun is intense, they will wait for the cool of the afternoon until they try and mare again. 

Osidai is still laying with the Lionesses, one gets up and rubs her head against his showing deference. She steps over him and lays next to him, head to toe, he draws in the scent from her back end to see if she is in oestrus, but he is too hot, full and tried to pursue any interest. He rolls back onto his back, legs akimbo and rests his mighty paw on his rotund stomach and lets out a sigh of contentment. For now, the pride is stable, but there are always threats to his leadership from nomadic males or other pride leaders. That is why mating is so important, he wants to create a dynasty, a large pride that is more challenging to take over. For the Lionesses will fight with the males if the pride is challenged by other males, not because of any bond between the Lions and Lionesses but because they do not want new males to kill their cubs. For the Lionesses, these Queens, protecting their cubs is their priority. It is about family and forming lifelong bonds. The female cubs will stay with the pride for life if it is stable. The females act as one, they are unified.  

A Hartebeest has just given birth, the afterbirth is still hanging from her rear end and the calf is wet and unstable on its spindly legs. The mother turns round to lick the calf, encouraging it to walk and follow her. It needs to be strong quickly as predators and scavengers will detect the scent of the blood and afterbirth. The calf stumbles and rights itself and instinctively starts suckling from its mother. The milk will make it strong and provide it with essential nutrients and immunity. The Hartebeest looks nervously around her, she is focused and present, she lifts her nose to sniff the air to try and detect the scent of predators. The rest of the herd graze around her, they will help her protect the calf. Nearby a herd of Wildebeest also have a dozen small calves all around the same age, the herd will protect them in the middle of the group. It is breeding season which encourages the predators to be even more active even during the heat of the day as this is when the prey give birth. Cheetah is particularly active in the day when the Lions tend to sleep, the Mbili Miele are still laying on the edge of the Laga near to the herds. It has been a day since they hunted, they have digested the meat from yesterday and now it is time to hunt again. 

It is late afternoon and Orongai and the Lioness are still sleeping under the shade of the tree. He still looks very full of eating in the morning. The Lioness knows her role within the pride is a queen, alpha female, hunter, sister, mother. Producing cubs strengthens the pride, she will give birth to other alpha females, and future coalition leaders. Her hormones are high she is in oestrus and is focused, she needs the male to fulfil his duty to her. She walks over to Orangai and rubs her head against his indicating to him it is time to mate. He yawns widely, he still wants to sleep and digest his food, but his duty is to his queen and where she leads, he must follow. He rises slowly, his stomach still rotund and swollen with food. He ambles over to her, she crouches, and he mounts her slowly. Again, he tries to connect but his stomach is in the way, he cannot reach. He dismounts and tries again but to no avail. He looks sleepy and confused, he tries again and thrusts, but he is not connecting. She looks bored so fake mates with him which is very amusing. She growls as if he has ejaculated and rolls over. He looks more confused but accepts she is possibly satisfied and lays down next to her to sleep. She sighs clearly this is not the first time a male has been too full and sleepy to mate. She will attempt mating again later. 

The three other male Lions of the coalition are sleeping under a Gardenia Tree with four Lionesses. Guinea fowl land next to the sleeping pride, and one comes running close to the Lions to get a closer look, when it does in runs away at haste. Maybe it was playing chicken, African chicken as the Maasai call Guinea fowl! They squawk in fright waking the Lions, they do not like being disturbed by such annoying birds. They roar yawn frightening the birds further and they fly off squawking their alarm call. It is late afternoon almost time for the Lions to start waking. They lay together, legs akimbo, limbs thrown over limbs. They are a heap of bodies, cats do not respect personal space they will climb over each other to reposition, even if it means lying on top of each other so the other must move. Yawning is infectious, in turn they stretch and yawn widely and loudly. They do not want to awake but the sun is beginning to set, the magic hour in upon them where the sun is redder and more intense. The Lionesses get up first it is time to gather the pride. The Lions sensing the Lionesses are about to leave reluctantly cat stretch and get up, they will follow their queens. The Lionesses head across the plains into the sunset, perfect silhouetted against the darkening sky. The Lions follow close behind them, using their Jacobson gland to draw in their scent to see if they are receptive to mating. The distinctive shapes of the Lions grow smaller as they disappear across the horizon, for they are nocturnal, and the night has just begun. 

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The black croton mud is moist and smells natural and pungent after the nights rain. The air is cool, fresh and crisp and blows gently through the leaves. The sky is still cloudy, but the full moons cool blue bright light penetrates the sky. As the gentle wind blows the clouds part, the moon appears, a perfect white textured sphere. The escarpment looks dark and foreboding until the red light of the sunrise flickers at first as a thin line across it. It is that magical part of the earths cycle when night gives way today and both appear at the same time. The sun starts to rise, vibrant orange and red light penetrates the clouds. Fingers of light spread over the hills then across the plains. The magical golden light floods the plains, the oat tipped grasses burn with vibrant colour and sway in the breeze. The dawn is about darkness and light, night giving way to the day, the nocturnal animals making way for the diurnal animals. The sounds of the wild changes, the howls and roars of the night changing to melodic dawn chorus of the birds, the screeches of monkeys and the braying of prey. As the sun rises the red light diffuses to white and ethereal beams across of sun light burst through the clouds, the dew tipped grasses act as prisms reflecting the multi colours of light.  

Onto these floods lit plains a herd of female Elephants led by a matriarch trumpet their presence. Two of the females have calves with them of less than a year old. The mothers are fiercely protective of them as they are still vulnerable especially to predator attacks. The herd of Elephants pass by the Gardenia trees where the Lemek pride were languishing in the previous afternoon. The ground still bears their scent after the males marked their territory. The matriarch nervously scans the plains for the Lions, the conflict between Elephants and Lions is ever present. Fortunately for the Elephants the Lemek pride moved on in the night when the rains came in and sought refuge in the bushes. The young elephants are oblivious to the threat of conflict and easily follow their mothers, joyfully swinging their trunks, still fascinated by the novelty of them and what they can do with them. The Lemek pride are also oblivious to the Elephants, they are secreted in the bushes, tired and still sated from their large meal yesterday. It appears they may sleep the day away. 

This is breeding and birthing season, an immense mixed migrating herd of Zebra and Buffalo are walking in a line across the plains. They seek both water and grass after long months of little rain. A large number of the females have given birth at the same time and the herd protect the calves by ensuring they walk between two adults. The herds are however still vulnerable to predator attack. Within the herds are smaller family groups, a male will take care of his harem of females along with their young. The deafening sounds of honking and braying is the family groups communicating with each other as well as males informing other males, they are not welcome to mate with their females. This is the wild and it is both unpredictable and surprising. A male and female Zebra walks with their young foul of just a few weeks old between them. They seem particularly protective, as the foul turns it is clear why, the skin on its right side is torn and bloody clearly from a failed predator attack, quite possibly the Cheetahs. Zebras like all parents are fiercely protective of their young, when their young are attacked the parents will use their powerful often fatal kick to fend off the predators. The parents will put themselves at risk by putting their body between their young and the predator. It is clear these parents were successful in rescuing their foul. 

The Zebras arrive at the watering hole, it is a popular place to drink as unlike the rivers it does not have crocodiles lurking beneath the waters or Hippos being confrontational. The Zebras however are still naturally cautious as they descend the banks into the refreshing water. A group of adults enter the water first, they line up in the water shoulder to shoulder and bend to drink. They protect each other, their eyes constantly scanning for threats. Their distinctive black and white stripes are reflected in the rippling water. They are right to be cautious, the bushes near the watering hole could quite easily be concealing predators. A Zebra with a lateral break in one of its back legs limps towards the water, it will be an easy target for the predators. The Zebra is skittish and are easily frightened, they hear a noise and bolt from the water, sprays of water catch the light. The herd scan the plains for threats and only head back into the water when they are satisfied there is none. Two young stallions are frisky and temperamental, the younger of the two kicks it is back legs into the face of the other, warning it off. A large herd of Buffalos too are looking to drink, these bad-tempered bovine lumber down the banks, dozens entering the water at once creating waves. The Zebra quickly exits, the Buffalo are unpredictable. Ox peckers sit on the backs and faces of the Buffalo demonstrating symbiotic mutualism. 

Out in the plains a tower of Giraffe is browsing on the tops of bushes. They slowly ruminate as they gaze around them, peacefully taking in the activity of the plains around them, they are known for being quiet but curious. A younger calf is stood away from the herd it has decided a small sapling is more desirable. It splays its legs as its long neck cannot reach the ground and it uses its long prehensile tongue to wrap around the new leaves and pull off small fronds to chew. It carefully lifts its head and look around and ruminates slowly, thoughtfully before repeating the process. Giraffes have large hearts so can pass out when bending over if they bend too long. They mainly bend to drink and prefer to browse on the tops of trees and bushes but clearly the youngster wants to enjoy a fresh sapling. Nearby two of the towers seek refuge from the sun under the shade of a Yellow Back Acacia, the iridescent leaves a stunning back drop to the unique a yellowish/tan to dark brown or almost black pattern of the Giraffes fur. The Maasai Giraffe have a unique pattern that look like oak leaves. Both male and female giraffes have two distinct, hair-covered horns called ossicones. 

The Mbili Miele the two Cheetah brothers are relaxing in the shade of a tree trying to keep cool away from the mid-day sun. The heat is intense and as they had a small kill in the morning, they are not ready to hunt again yet. They are however alert to the prey crossing the plains in front of them. If the opportunity arises, they will hunt, but for now they need to conserve their energy. One of the brothers has an injury in his dew claw which he sustained yesterday when chasing the Topi, as he gets up to mark his territory on the tree by spraying urine he limps. His brother glances behind him watching him, this is their territory so they will want to send a message to other cats they have been here. The limping Cheetah sits back down on a pile of fallen branches which is not comfortable. He rolls over onto another pile and decides it is definitely not comfortable and gets up. He walks to a small termite mound covered in springy grass and lays down on it, he seems contented. It also gives him an unobstructed view of the plains. He yawns widely showing off his sharp incisors and thrusts off his long raspy pink tongue. He feels very relaxed now and starts licking his paw and swipes it over his face to wash off the dust. His brother joins him, lays down, and rolls over to ride his fur of dust and ticks. They start to purr, contented in each other’s company and well fed. 

It is late afternoon, and the rain begins to gently fall, Hyaenas run across the plains hoping the Lions will now wake and go hunting. The wind blows and the air cools and the Lemek pride do indeed stir from their slumber in the bushes. All four of the pride males and four Lionesses stretch and yawn, they have been sleeping for ten hours in the shade of the bushes. The Lionesses rise first, they walk to the edge of the bushes and urinate, the scent rouses the males. The males are still relatively new to the pride and are keen to mate with the females. One by one they get up and use their Jacobson gland to draw in the scent of the female’s urine to see if they are in oestrus. They head out onto the plains; the rain has stopped, and the cool grass is refreshing after the heat of the late afternoon sun. The Lions seem to naturally pair up and lay in the grasses. The males who usually share such a tight bond are fractious with each other, vying for the female’s attention for mating rights. The males are easy to distinguish from each other, the most impressive is Saruni with his full mane, stripped dark bronze and black, his face wide and muscular. All the males face bear scars from hunting and mating, recently also from fighting with each other. They look battle worn, Osidai has a particularly bad wound on his side. As the sun sets, the Lions lay down in the grass enjoying the heat of the sun and building up their energy reserves for a night of hunting. The deep golden red glow of the sun’s rays lights their fur making it look burnished bronze. 

The sun is the wildlife’s light by day but the cool blue tones of the moon lights up the night. The moon is still full flooding the plains with soft light. The nocturnal animals are waking for their nightly activities, the sound of owls hooting can he heard overhead. Like a ghost, a distinctive shadow appears, silent but focused. Nampaso the female Leopard is standing by the edge of the bushes surveying her territory, her eyes round and pupils dilated to let in more light. Cats’ eyes are designed to give them clearer vision at night, shapes are more defined enabling them to hunt in the dark. She walks along the grass towards a bush and rubs her head on the leaves, cats have secretion glands on the side of their mouths so they can leave their scent. She lays down and rolls over ridding her fur of ticks and mitts, she seems happy and contented. The prey’s vision is not adapted to the night giving her a clear advantage. Every step she takes is silent, precise, she is an ambush hunter and relies on the element of surprise. She weaves in and out of the bushes, large prey is her ultimate goal, but the bushes are teaming with scrub hare and DikDik easy prey for her to hunt. The small prey will sustain her until she manages to bring down a substantial meal.  

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The moon is still visible lighting up the plains with blue light, the clouds are wispy creating artistic stripes across the sky. The air is crisp and cool and scented with herbs and moist croton soil. A gentle breeze rustles the short grasses, dew clings to the stubby stems. The pale grey eery mist rolls over the plains, thousands of droplets of water creating a beautiful cloud of steam. Shafts of light start appearing over the escarpment, a thin red warm glow. As the sun rises the warm light filters through the clouds, vibrant strains of yellow, orange and red. It is the most peaceful part of the day as night gives way to dawn, the magical golden hour. The sun soon lights the sky, the inky blue sky transforms to hibiscus with soft white clouds. Under this beautiful African sky, a pair of mating Grey Crown Cranes high step through the grasses looking for insects and seeds to feed on. Their distinctive golden crown bright in the sunlight. The male is very attentive to the female, he walks right next to her preening and trying to attract her attention. She however is focused on feeding, but he is patient and will court her until she is ready to mate.  

Kisaru’s male and female cubs are now twenty months old, and she has separated from them as she is pregnant with her next litter. The male and female will stay together for a few weeks whilst they learn to hunt without their mother. They are still so inexperienced, so they are focusing on smaller prey such a baby Thompson Gazelle and Impala that are often secreted in the grasses by their mothers. The Cheetahs are still very bonded, they lay close together, they miss the protection of their mother. It is a daunting task for any animal to leave its mother and fend for itself. These two are fortunate they have each other. They have moved from their mother’s territory in the Lemek Conservancy to the Mara North Conservancy. The female seems to be the dominant of the two, she gets up, cats stretches and chirps at her brother to follow her. Their stomachs are concave they clearly need to hunt. The terrain is rocky, and they walk slowly, the Crown Cranes screech a warning sound predator are afoot. A lone Topi starts snorting, letting them know it has seen them. Across the Laga a herd of Thompson Gazelle are grazing, the Cheetah spot them and decide to sit on the warm rocks to gain energy for hunting. The female sits down first and the male sits next to her, their bodies touching, he feels safe with her.  

The morning is growing hot, and the Cheetah are restless, they need to hunt but the main prey around them is Wildebeest and Topi, which would not usually be too much of a challenge for Cheetah but these two have not developed an efficient hunting technique yet to bring down large prey. In the distance a lone Thompson Gazelle stands grazing, the rest of the herd is off in the distance, it has not spotted the Cheetah. Between the Cheetah and Thompson Gazelle is just open plains with short grass, the Cheetah will need to move slowly. The female takes the lead firstly using the camber of the hill to mount an ambush attack. The Cheetahs flatten their bodies and walk slowly hoping the gazelle will not detect their presence. After a few yards they stop behind a termite mound to assess the situation. The Thompson Gazelle is still grazing but on alert, it has eyes in the side of its head giving it excellent peripheral vision. It may also detect the scent of the Cheetah from this distance. The Cheetah slowly raises their heads above the mound to check to see if the gazelle has detected them, satisfied it has not they walk around the mound and slowly walk in the gazelle’s direction, there is no cover. The Thompson Gazelle looks up and sees them, it sounds an alarm call alerting the rest of the herd and runs off. The Cheetah do not give chase as the gazelle has had a good head start. 

The previous afternoons heavy rains have created small natural pools all over the plains which means the prey do not need to congregate at the larger watering holes which is safer for them. The Mara North conservancy is teaming with large herds of Buffalo, Wildebeest, Zebra, Eland, Impala and Thompson Gazelle. As this is breeding and birthing season the herds secrete dozens of young within their ranks. This is also a good time for the predators to give birth and mate as food is plentiful. The grass is short as pupae woken by the heavy rains are crawling all other the grass eating it at an alarming rate which deprives the prey of food. Fortunately, nature naturally keeps balance as this attracts dozens of beautiful black and white Abdim stalks to fly in, circling above the plains and landing on the grass to eat the caterpillars. They are also eaten by troupes of Baboons who sit for hours picking up the meaty morsels. Warthog shuffling down on their knees join the Baboons in the grazing, Baboons are far more alert and have better eyesight than them, so it is safer for them. The prey work together to alert each other to predator attacks. Each animal has its own unique alarm call and strength, whether it is an enhanced sense of smell, sight or hearing.  

Hyaena, one of the ugly five, which are naturally nocturnal also enjoy the watering holes in the late afternoon, they plunge their hot bodies in the cool muddy waters. The prey around them is relaxed as they know when the Hyaenas are relaxing they are relatively safe. Incongruously nearby a Giraffe sits on the plains, its neck covered in eight Oxpeckers cleaning its skin of ticks and mites. The perfect mutually symbiotic relationship as the Oxpeckers will alert the Giraffe to any threats. A herd of Elephants march past, they kick up new shoots as they walk and pull them up with the finger like ends of their trunks. The new shoots are sweet and fresh tasting, Elephants are both browsers and grazers. Also known as the gardeners of the plains, they deposit enormous amounts of dung as they walk which is full of undigested seeds which will self-seed where they fall creating new plants replacing the ones the Elephants tear up to eat. The dung is also food for dung beetles and baboons. The biodiversity of the plains is fascinating, if the earth did not have a wide range of animals, plants and microorganisms, we could not have the thriving ecosystems that we rely on to furnish us with nourishment and air to breathe. 

Marabou Stalks another of the ugly five due to their ghoulish featherless heads, pink necks and cannibal tendencies are sitting on the top branches of a tree overlooking the Laga. This is the territory of the Leopard Nalangu meaning Laga crossing and her sub adult male cub Jasiri meaning brave. The Leopards have a carcass stored up in one of the trees and the scent of blood is attracting the scavengers. Nalangu is relaxing on a wide branch inside the thick canopy of a tree. The late afternoon is hot, and the foliage provides her with shade. Her unique black rosette covered bronze fur is perfectly camouflaged by the dappled light created by the leaves. She is sated by the kill and is sleeping off her heavy meal. Below the tree a herd of Buffalo descend the steep banks of the river oblivious to the Leopard in the tree, they are desiring to drink the cool waters. The bellow to each other, the herd is led by a matriarch. Nalangu goes to a lower branch to view the prey, but she is very satisfied.  

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The river pride has hunted and killed a Buffalo pre-dawn when it was still dark, giving them an advantage. The deep red of the sunrise enhances the dark red of the Buffalos blood and internal organs spilled in the grass. Blood is smeared on the Lions body and faces, it is moist, so it glistens in the red light. The Lions golden bodies are damp from the dew, moisture hangs on every hair, the golden hour highlights the gold of their fur. For a macabre scene the colours are breathtaking in the magic hour, making everything look beautiful. All the Lionesses and sub adult males are enjoying the kill, they are surrounding it in a circle. By forming a ring, they protect their kill from scavengers but also, they can look over the back of the Lion in front of them ensuring they are not attacked from behind. All around them a clan of Hyaenas are whooping and laughing they can smell the blood, but the Lions will not let them eat. Cunning Jackals however bravely dive in and steal morsels. A committee of Vultures circle overhead, they have seen the carcass and will bide their time. The whole scene is shrouded in a grey mist, it lends an eery aura to the events. 

The Lions growl at each other, fighting over the choicest pieces of meat. When feeding, cats do not share, they will defend what is theirs. After an hour, only skin and ribs are left, the Hyaenas grow impatient, trying to distract the Lions. One of the sub adult males pull the ribs over, there is little left, but it stripes every last morsel from them, it will not leave anything for the scavengers. Many of the Lions when sated go off to drink water after such a salty meal. There is just one Lioness left eating so the Hyaenas bravely come into eat, she ignores them, she cannot defend herself against a whole clan. Seeing this, some of the Lions come back to chase the Hyaena. It causes quite a commotion as Hyaenas nervously laugh as the sub adults give chase, they see it as a game, not allowing the Hyaenas to eat. Another clan of Hyena arrive, they are chased off by the other Hyaenas, they do not share. Jackals see the opportunity to steal more meat. The last Lioness eats with the Hyena then gets annoyed at them and runs off with a leg. A sub adult male come back and runs off with another leg, he is chased by another sub adult male, he fights with him over it, but he wins and takes it to the bush. Then some of the pride drink until they are satisfied then go to the bush to sleep for the day. There is little left of the carcass but the Hyaenas with their powerful jaws crunch the bones. 

The Lionesses gather once they finish eating their fill of the Buffalo kill, they hunted pre-dawn. The Lionesses are present, resilient and bonded, that is by they are so successful as a team. They are queens, alpha females, their strength comes not only from the muscular frame but their mental ability to stay focused. Lionesses are stronger runners and better hunters than male lions are. Being smaller and lighter than males, Lionesses are more agile and faster. A Lionesses body has evolved for strength, speed, power, and endurance over short distance, they are tactical players. Lionesses’ strength also comes from their heightened senses. Lionesses always use all their senses when hunting. Like humans Lionesses have eyes located in the front of their skull. Eyes facing front give them the ability to focus on their goal. Along with their heightened sense of smell and hearing, they are attuned to their environment around them, keeping them focused. 

Lionesses’ real strength though comes from their mental strength. Each day is a test of mental endurance for a Lioness. Every day a Lioness has less than twenty percent chance of making a kill as their prey is faster than them, but they do not hunt with a defeatist attitude, they see a challenge which they will succeed in, and if they do not, they will simply go onto the next. Their perseverance knows no limits. That is because they have a pride to feed and defend, and cubs relying on them to raise them to be strong felines like themselves. The Lioness is strong because she has a reason to be. She is the very definition of positive, mental attitude. The Lionesses are dirty from the hunt and laying in the mud when they were eating. They still rub heads and bond, reaffirming alliances and sisterhood. As they breathe their breath turns to misty droplets, the females rub shoulders, they literally put their arms around each other and congratulate each other on another success. They do not become complacent, for they need to stay present and focused, there are always threats. For now, it is time for play and affection.  

Lionesses use tactile, visual and vocal communication to reach their goals. Lionesses are very physical; touch is used to maintain and strengthen social bonds. Reciprocated touch means both Lionesses are comfortable with each other, creating trust and unity. Whether rubbing shoulders or heads to the more confident jumping in the air and hugging, Lionesses are very self-assured in their bonds which will protect them on the grassy plains. When hunting they must be silent not to alert their prey, so they use facial expressions, eyes, ears and body postures to convey mood and behavioural intent. Their hunting formations are choreographed completely nonverbally, this is achieved through their bonds and confidence in their team members. The Lionesses after a brief period of play join the rest of the pride in the bushes to sleep for the day, they have earned it, they worked hard. They will sit and groom each other, licking off the dirt and blood and they lay in a tangled heap, arms and legs thrown over each other in casual confident solidarity.  

The Mbili Bora (fast two) were once the Tano Bora, fast five Cheetah Coalition, these unrelated males are now around ten years old and have lost members of their coalition to predation and the human wildlife conflict. Even though there are now only two of them and they are older, years of hunting as a large coalition had meant they are experienced and confident bringing down large prey. The males have chased down and killed a Topi, as the world’s fastest land mammal the chase is the most exciting part of the hunt, watching their athletic streamlined bodies stretch out, twist, turn like they are flying. Their feet barely look like they are touching the ground, their feet have ridges like tyre treads and their non retractable claws act as running spikes. They fly across the plains in a cloud of dust, the prey may be fast, but they are faster. They are skilled at tripping up their prey, catching it off guard so they stumble and fall. They then use their body weight to bring the prey down. One of the Cheetah will keep the prey down whilst the other clamps it is jaws around like windpipe and suffocates it, clean and efficient. Cheetah is diurnal as they do not have good night vision like Lions, plus it is better for them to hunt in the day whilst the Lions sleep. Lions often steal their skills as they are better hunters then Lions. 

Luluka the beautiful female Leopard is another queen of the Maasai Plains; she is confident and feisty with large golden eyes. She is an exceptional hunter even when she was young, she was able to hunt and kill prey twice her size. Now it is rare to see her hunt any small prey, she saves her energy for a challenging hunt. The day has been extremely hot, so she has decided to cool off in a deep ravine which is sheltered by towering trees overhanging it. The earth is moist and cool, she lays out flat enjoying the gentle breeze flowing through. She rolls over onto her back, she is quite the performer, an audience does not perturb her, in fact she seems to relish in the attention. She is a true queen she has given birth to many cubs and successfully raised them to adulthood. Her daughter Jilime is the perfect success story, she is as confident and as successful a hunter as her mother. Leopards know that the strong bond between mother and cub provides the cubs first model of intimate relationships and foster a sense of security and positive self-esteem. The Leopards responsiveness to the cubs’ signals can affect the cubs social and cognitive development. Luluka has instilled in Jilime her own sense fearlessness and high self-esteem. As the sun sets, the light catches in her eyes. Although nocturnal she has a kill in a tree above her and will probably not hunt unless an opportunity arises that cannot be resisted. She continues to relax, confident in the knowledge this is her territory. 

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After the heavy night rains there are no clouds in the sky, the moon is bright, a perfect orb, its luminous light creates an atmosphere of calm and quietness. Moonlight is the reflection of the sun off of the moon’s surface, the clear sky and the fact it is a full moon provides brilliant moonlight. The moonbeams caress the plains with its bluish silvery light. Often seen as a symbol of mystery, feminine energy, and cyclical change, the moon is mysterious and fascinating. The moon represents time and the passage of months and helps us track the calendar. We associate the moon with the tides, which rise and fall with the moon’s phases. Some interpret this as a symbol of the ebb and flow of life. Under this sense of calm and serenity the nocturnal animals quietly scurry knowing the sun will soon rise. Starting to peak over the horizon, the sunlight travels through more of the atmosphere. Shorter wavelength colours, blues and violets get scattered out, heralding its arrival. The longer wavelength colours such yellow, orange, and red burst through creating the most stunning artistic brushstrokes across the sky, vibrant, dramatic, the giver of life to the plains. 

This bright dramatic light is usually a sign for the nocturnal animals to fly back to their nests or scurry down their burrows and the diurnal animals to bask in the warmth of the golden light of the sunrise. This morning however, there is an exceedingly rare sight, a young Aardvark decides he is not quite finished and scurries around his family’s den. Aardvark, (Orycteropus afer), also called antbear are a stocky African mammal found in many parts of Africa. The name Aardvark comes from the Afrikaans for “earth pig,” which aptly refers to its piglike face and burrowing habits. As burrowing mammals with porcine snouts, aardvarks are true to their name, he peacefully snuffles, pressing his snout into the dry earth. He is inquisitive and confident and seemingly oblivious to the obvious fascination he has created. On closer inspection Aardvarks do really look a bit like pigs but with rabbit-like ears and a kangaroo’s tail, yet they are not related to any of these animals. In fact, one of their closest living relatives is the elephant and elephant shrew. So, both one of the big five and one of the small five, quite an achievement. But what is apparent, he really is beautifully fascinating and quite a character. It is not long before he joins his family down the burrow.  

Olkitok the male with the smaller mane and Olepolos the male with the full mane is part of the Salas male Lion coalition. It is now sunrise, the sun is a fiery globe behind them, the deep vibrant reds and oranges are the perfect backdrop for their golden fur and bronze and black manes. They are patrolling their territory in the golden light; their bodies are flooded with the heat of the sun rays. They relish the warmth after a chilly night of hunting. Hundreds of Zebras and Topi are grazing, they stop and start snorting a warning call to other prey that predators are in the territory. The Lions have white rimmed eyes to reflect more light into their eyes to help them see. Their white underparts are also adapted reflect more light into their eyes. They walk slowly, they are scent marking the bushes and trees by squirting urine on them warning other males that this is their territory. In between marking their territory, the brother’s bond by walking shoulder to shoulder, rubbing heads, transferring their scent onto each other. The reciprocated rub means the bond is returned, they have secretion glands on the sides of their mouths and their scent is shared. Males bond for life, they form coalitions and will fight, feed, mate and protect their pride together. The bond of love between males is a beautiful sight to behold. 

The Marsh pride of Lions are the most famous pride in the Maasai Mara, they are named after their territorial area, the Marsh lands. Over the last four decades the rise and fall of the pride has been well documented. When they were first filmed, they were a super pride, over thirty strong. They enjoyed a time of peace and security under their pride males and the cubs thrived. Then the pride split in two as it became two large to hunt prey for so many. Following this tragedy happened, human wildlife conflict. The tribe blamed the Lions for killing cattle and poisoned many. Since then the pride has struggled to recover, they have been protected by many pride males but the none of the ruling kings have lasted long and each time there is a takeover cubs get killed and in some extremes Lionesses have left the pride taking their cubs with them to prevent them being killed. For a Lioness life within a pride is very important, she is bonded to her sisters however her cub’s safety is her priority. It really demonstrates the mental and physical strength of these queens when they are willing to risk their lives to leave the protection of a pride and bring up their cubs alone. The famous Lioness Yaya is the perfect example, she left the pride with her adult daughter Pamoja who had two young cubs but sadly Pamoja was killed by the males and now Yaya successfully raises her grand cubs alone. She is a queen of mighty strength and resilience.  

The Marsh pride are now recovering their numbers, Lions are very resilient and unified, they work together as a pride. It is not all work though, like any cat they love to play and have fun. Three sub adults Lions of the pride around two and a half years old have rather artfully stolen the remains of a Topi kill from a clan of Hyaenas. The Hyaenas are going crazy wanting their food back especially as they made the kill as a clan. The noise is deafening, plenty of nervous laughing, whooping, and groaning. The clan outnumber the Lions, but they do not have the cat’s confidence to take back what they want. Also, the queens of the pride, the alpha Lionesses stand a distance off, watching and protecting their pride. The Lionesses are also watching the boisterous sub adults as the younger cubs are currently gnawing at the Topi remains and they do not want the older subs to bully them and play too rough. One of sub adult males tries to take the kill from its much younger sibling but one the Lioness attacks him admonishing him. She is ferocious and chases him, her claws out, roaring, making sure the young male is put in his place. He roars back his submission and cowers low, respecting his mother’s authority. 

He crouches low and runs through the grass to his brother. The sub adults sit together grooming, the brothers comfort each other, a beautiful bromance, licking each other’s faces. The bond between them is very apparent, they will also protect each other. One of the young cubs joins them they groom their younger sibling; they may fight with their siblings, but they are also very affectionate and protective. The young female cub basks in her brothers love and affection. They start to play with each other, the older cubs bat her on the head and as she tries to pull away, they pin her by the tail, so she squirms. It is just siblings being cheeky, they let her go and she pounces on them, chewing their ears and clawing at their faces with small paws. They bat her away and then pull her back and lick her vigorously. They are typical siblings, gently and playful but also boisterous with plenty of rough housing. Play strengthens bonds but also makes them strong. One of the older sub adults goes and fetches the head of the Topi, the other older sub adult joins him, and they squabble over the tiny morsels of meat. 

It is late afternoon, and the Rekero Lionesses are hunting, they did not make a kill in the night, so they are hungry and have a pride to feed. It is hot, the sun beats down relentlessly on their backs, but they are focused and present, the heat does not distract them. They walk in a v-shaped formation led by the alpha lioness. There are no known hierarchies amongst the females, but the young females will learn from the more experienced older females. In a team such as prides, members need to have an understanding of each other’s strengths and weaknesses in order to find a good balance. It is important as each Lioness is unique and is celebrated and valued for that. Lionesses are entirely comfortable with their differences as that adds value to the pride. A Lioness also inherently knows the importance of togetherness, boosting team togetherness is an integral part of developing a cohesive, efficient, and positive team. Lionesses keep themselves fit, muscular and agile not just through hunting. The Lionesses assess the risks of the hunt, there is a small group of male Buffalo who are old and aggressive and a large herd of Zebra who have a mighty kick but the odd of a successful hunt is greater. 

The Lionesses silently enter the long dry golden grasses, the colour perfectly camouflaging them. They form a v-shaped formation, spreading themselves out. Each Lioness has a white dot behind each ear, each Lioness will look for it above the grasses as a single flick of the ear will indicate the position they should be in and when they should move. The Lionesses even though physically apart will be aware of the presence of each other. They are connected and unified in their goal to successfully hunt the Zebra. As ambush hunters evolved for strength not speed they will spend time assessing the form of the prey and whether there are any weaknesses. The older alpha females have the patience to wait but the younger females are restless and hungry and want to hunt. It is incredibly hot; the heat haze is in one way advantageous to the Lionesses as they will be blurred in the vision on the Zebra, but it also blurs theirs. Fortunately, cats rely more on scent and movement. The Lionesses flatten their backs and lower themselves as they start stalking through the grasses. Then suddenly they run, the alpha females run straight, and the younger females should run around the two sides of the herd, but they get confused and stop running. The alpha females keep running but the Zebra herd scatter and the Lionesses do not focus on just one and the herd run off. The Lionesses regroup to assess the aborted hunt, they do not see a failure but a chance to hunt them again later when it is cooler.  

The Fig Tree male Lion is resting at sunset, sometimes the males take themselves away from the pride to sleep and rest, the noise and the rambunctiousness of the cubs can get too much for the sleepy males. The males are often criticised for sleeping as much as twenty hours a day, but his role is a difficult one. He will defend the pride to the death if that is required, he is constantly fighting for mating rights, he faces threats every day to his rule, there is constant weight on his shoulders. His time as ruler is relatively short and without the protection of the pride, he is vulnerable. Many pride males end their days as nomads and may starve or fall prey to the human wildlife conflict. Fortunately, many males now form larger coalitions, and the brothers will protect each other, if one becomes injured, they will defend and feed each other, extending their rule. The male sighs, a deep rumbling roar, it speaks of his power and might. The golden hour, the time after the sunsets is magical, the red light enhances the deep bronze and black of his full mane. His face is scarred it is like a map of his life, each one telling a story of a battle. He closes his eyes feeling the heat of his face, he looks contented. He will join his pride soon for the nightly hunt but for now he enjoys the peace and tranquillity the sunset brings. 

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In the still dark pre-dawn, the Rekero pride took advantage of their enhanced night vision to hunt a Buffalo. The three Salas male Lions and eight Lionesses subdued the Buffalo and used their powerful jaws to suffocate it by covering its mouth and nose with their mouth. Lions very much hunt as a pride with the Lionesses usually taking the lead. The hide of a Buffalo is very tough, so the Lions roll the Buffalo on its side to expose its softer underparts. The Lions start eating its genitals and inside of the leg, they want to expose its flank which is the choicest cut of meat. Even though there is enough meat to feed the whole pride the Lions are very competitive, they do not share, each wants the largest portion. The Lions growl and snarl at each other in warning, if another gets too close, they bite, eating is life in the wild. The Lions have bloodlust when they eat, the usual bonds do not apply when there is such competition for food. The males eat shoulder to shoulder, the Lionesses try and stay away from the Lions, Lionesses can be killed by a Lion if she gets too close to him feeding. One of the Lions sustained an injury to his front left leg during the hunt, he is limping badly, but it does not stop him eating. These are older experienced males, their dark full manes a testament to their high levels of testosterone. 

Even a substantial buffalo does not last long when it is feeding a large pride including three hungry males. As the pride reach the ribs and bones, tempers flare even more, the males want the last of the meat to themselves. The Lionesses see the signs and sensibly snatch away legs and bones to eat away from the males. The cubs join the mothers, leaving the males to fight amongst themselves. The Lions faces and bodies are covered in blood and bodily fluids, mixed with moist earth the pride look wild and dangerous. The males are still growling at each other and literally covering parts of the carcass with their bodies so their brothers cannot eat it. Their eyes are wide and wild with blood lust, even though their stomachs are turgid, fit to bursting, in the wild they do not know when they will eat again so they selfishly guard their food. The injured male has had his fill and limps away. One of the Lionesses walks up to him and nuzzles him, a sign of deference and affection. He returns her affection; it is a beautiful, rare moment. He settles down and licks his wound. Fortunately, cats have high pain thresholds and are fast healers. This is the wild he cannot afford to be incapacitated for long.  

The Topi pride did not succeed in hunting in the night, Lions have less than a twenty percent hunt rate. This is a super pride with nearly thirty pride members including several eighteen-month sub adult males who will stay with the pride until they are at least three to four years old. They need to hunt every day to feed the pride, the Lionesses will often head out into the plains in smaller hunting groups to maximise success. They would have been out hunting most of the night and are now tired and head to the bushes to sleep. Even though Lions can sleep all day it is likely they will not today as they are hunger and need to take any opportunity to hunt. Built for strength not speed, they are ambush opportunist hunters and rely on the element of surprise. There are Zebra grazing out on the plains, they are aware of the Lions presence and are on alert. The Lions know however that if they disappear into the bushes the Zebra will forget about them, and they will have a chance hunting them later. The Lions need to conserve their energy, the hunt is tiring especially if they undertake it in the heat of the day. 

Luluka the beautifully confident female Leopard is out stalking in the late morning knowing the Lions have retreated to the bushes to sleep. She did not manage to kill any prey yesterday, so she is hungry and needs to eat. To sustain her on her hunt she first walks through the long grasses of the plains and searches in each bush to find scrub hare to ambush as this is easy prey. Her golden eyes are focused and sharp. Her body is compact and muscular, she flattens her back and is stealth as she walks through the grasses, silently. The sun beats down relentlessly, she does not seem to notice, she needs to feed. An adult Impala suddenly jumps up from the long grasses, it was hidden but unfortunately for Luluka it spots her before she spotted it. On the horizon there is a herd of Topi, they have very keen eyesight, but they are the only prey available to hunt. She is fortunate in the fact the grasses are long and cover her, she knows she needs to move slowly not to alert them. Luluka is pregnant and in less than three months will give birth, she needs to eat well and keep herself strong. When she gives birth, she will not eat for a couple of weeks when she is sucking her cubs so she will have to have fat reserves to sustain her. 

Three male Lions around eight years old from the Serengeti are seeking shade under the umbrella shape of a Ballanite Tree. The pride Lionesses are sitting further across the plains in the long grasses. They are known as the Border or Serengeti pride. The three brothers have high levels of testosterone, their manes are thick full and dark bronze. All the males are large and muscular and in their prime. Their noses are still part pink showing their maturing years with black spots as the nose grows darker with age. They names are Bron, Rami and Omokale. They are out on the open plains not far from a herd of hundreds of Wildebeest which they will probably hunt with the Lionesses after sun set. Right now, it is the hottest part of the day and they are panting heavily trying to regulate their temperature. One of the Lions rolls onto his back and rests one leg on the tree, legs akimbo exposing his white belly which deflects heat. Male Lions bond from birth and this bond remains strong throughout their lives. Like all males they prefer to sleep together, one gets up and walks around the tree to his brother and lays down next to him and puts his legs on his back, he opens his mouth and sticks out his tongue between his teeth and falls back to sleep.  

Jilime the daughter of Luluka is now over three years old. She is thriving by herself, hunting larger prey. She is still small but very strong. She is still too young to mate; she needs to be a more experienced hunter before she can hunt and feed herself and cubs. She has many challenges facing her, she has to find her own territory, at the moment hers still overlaps other females who have tolerated her when she was young and only hunting small prey such as scrub hare and mongoose but now, she is an adult she is competition for food. Fights between females are vicious but not known to be to the death but they still avoid confrontation. She will also have the large territorial males starting to take interest in her, for now she will have to fight them off. There is strength in her solitude, she is very confident and sure of herself. Cats seem to know no fear, if they do, they certainly do not let it show or hold them back. She is a future Queen, she is already showing the positive attributes of her mother, gregarious, spirited and determined. Her beautiful green eyes, the colour of nature, are sharp and focused, the light is fading giving her a distinct advantage over her prey. As the sun sets low, she feels the heat on her back, her stunning bronze fur covered in black rosettes gleam in the golden light. From birth to one day death, her star very much rises and falls on these plains, wild and very much free. 

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The night gave way to heavy rains, the black croton mud is sticky and beautifully pungent. The scented croton bush leaves grown under the weight of rainwater, its insect repelling properties loved by the animals. Wild mint grows like wildfire, a ubiquitous herb but deeply intoxicating. The natural scents of the wild especially after the rains are uplifting like the sunrise. The clouds are heavy and grey but all the more perfect for the sunrise. Clouds that are high in the sky will produce a better, more vibrant sunrise since they intercept more vivid colours. The puffy clouds allow the deep oranges and reds to pass through creating intense colour. The clouds reflect this colour onto the plains flooding it with golden light. Into the magic hour Yaya and her two grand cubs, one male, one female, the offspring of her fated daughter Pamoja walk, looking to hunt. Yaya, now separated from the Marsh pride is a true queen. She made the difficult choice to bring up the cubs alone after her daughter’s untimely death and for a year they have thrived under her care. Never was there a feline stronger, determined, resilient and present. She knew she had a difficult task ahead and she faced it straight on and succeeded. The cubs are learning from her all the important life skills they will need to survive in the wild. They are certainly learning from the best; she is giving them the greatest start.  

The Paradise pride of Lions have seen many changes in pride males, they are fortunate at the moment as they are protected by Doa and Chongo who used to be the Marsh pride alpha males. They are older, stronger, and experienced and also surprisingly good fathers. Doa is out on the plains with three of the pride Lionesses, they have hunted and killed a Zebra pre-dawn. Doa peacefully eats with the Lionesses, unlike most males, maybe because of his age he is not aggressive with the females but lets them eat their share. The Lionesses however are aggressive, one Lioness runs off with a leg and is followed by another Lioness. They start to fight, claws out, teeth bared, growling at each other, they go to lunge at each other, but Doa runs in and roars at them. They stop in their tracks, he is the pride leader and physically stronger than them, they cannot afford to be attacked by him. They stop fighting and show reverence to him by crouching low, duly admonished. Doa does not want either of his Lionesses injured, after all he needs them to hunt and mate with him. The future of the pride depends on the bond of the Lionesses and his strength in protecting them. The Lionesses walk back to the kill and eat peacefully together. Doa walks off to sit under the shade of a tree and lick the Zebras blood from his face and paws before flies attracted to the blood start annoying him. 

The pride males are never far apart, as a coalition of just two they need to stay relatively close to defend each other against attacks, even from clans of Hyaenas who would see a lone Lion as fair game. Most Lion coalitions are larger now, often four to six brothers and even fathers. Doa and Chongo struggle against these larger coalitions hence why they have lost control of such prides such as the Marsh. Doa is a strikingly rugged handsome male with a dark mane and a broad face littered with battle scars. Chongo is a classically beautiful male, with a lighter mane, however what distinguishes him is he only has one eye, the other was damaged many years ago in a fight. Even though he is a strong dominant alpha male, his eye gives him a look of vulnerability. He is also known for being a surprisingly good father and having patience with the cubs. Most males are only interested in siring cubs, but he is a good protector. He is sat under a small bush with little shade, he has eaten his fill of the kill and is now licking the blood from his paws and face. Unfortunately, the morning is growing hot, and the smell of the blood is attracting flies. Chongo becomes very cub like and playful and starts ineffectively snapping at the flies, trying to catch them with his teeth. Cats never grow out of their playful nature; it is what makes them so appealing. 

Romi the female Leopard is the queen of the Marsh lands. She is small but very powerful with large green hypnotic eyes. She has a challenging territory as it is also the territory of the Marsh pride of Lions. This area is a Billa Shaka a place of certainty as there is always plenty of prey attracted to the marsh grasses and water. The forests surrounding the marsh are very dense and green and attract large herds of Elephants and Buffalo who wage war on the Lions in an eternal battle of vengeance for hunting their young. In this forest Roma is calling her cub as Hyaenas have discovered a dead Hippo near the water and are feasting on it. If the Hyaena find the cub, they will kill it as all predators however small are the enemy. Romi is looking fretful, she has been out hunting and left her cub in a den which is close to the Hyaenas, she chuffs a call to her cub. She weaves in and out of the bushes, the ghost of the riverine forests, perfectly camouflaged. She needs the cub to hear her, but she does not want to alert the Hyaenas, she has a dilemma. Her call is low and urgent, she is indicating to the cub to be careful. There is a quiet almost inaudible meow that comes from the bushes, Romi runs quickly in its direction. 

The Rekero Lionesses are asleep in the bushes, the leaves afford very little protection against the heat of the afternoon, they are hungry and restless and plagued by flies. Lions are nocturnal hunters but if an opportunity arises during the day they will hunt. Two old bull male Buffalo or generals as they fondly known lumber across the plains, they are old and tired, and the heat is getting to them. The walk directly past where the Lionesses are sleeping as they are very short sighted. They decide it is now too hot to walk in the mid-afternoon heat so sit down on three plains. The Lionesses sit up and cannot believe this gift in front of them, there golden eyes are alert and very much awake. They watch the Buffalo sitting, observing wherever they will stay. After half an hour the Lionesses decide even though it is still hot in the late afternoon, they will hunt the Buffalo. They use nonverbal communication to silently indicate it is time to hunt. They are alert, present, unified, and focused on their goal. 

The Lionesses stealthily weave their way through the bushes, they do not want to alert the Buffalo. The older Lionesses lead the younger Lionesses over the plain towards the Buffalo. The Buffalo is sitting with their backs to them, completely oblivious to the Lionesses stalking them. The Lionesses flatten their backs and slowly and softly walk across the grass. The Lionesses know the Buffalo are bad tempered and deadly, if they turn on them, they could easily be speared by their horns or tossed in the air. The Lionesses reach them, but the Buffalo are still oblivious. The Lionesses look perplexed at the Buffalos lack of action and so just sniffs the Buffalos rump. Finally, the Buffalo feels the Lionesses presence and picks up her scent and it jumps up startled. It swiftly turns and bears down on the Lionesses; they still have the advantage of surprise, but they seem put off by the lack of the challenge. The Lionesses want the thrill of the chase, they stare at the Buffalo, and it starts to charge them. The Lionesses look more invigorated and run from the Buffalo, they then turn to chase them, staring them down. Unfortunately, now the Buffalo is angry and dangerous, and the Lionesses decide to retreat back to the bushes to wait for the day to cool so they can hunt again.  

The sun begins to set, the deep vibrant rays spread across the plains, the magic light makes everything look golden and ethereal. The Rekero Lionesses wake from their afternoon sleep, energised and now ready to seriously hunt. Their half-hearted attempt earlier was amusing and fortunate for the Buffalo. But they do have a pride to feed so they must gather the Lionesses for their nocturnal hunt. They stretch and yawn widely, activating their powerful muscles. They groom each other, strengthening their bonds as they hunt in unity, they are a team. The cub’s meow to get their mothers attention as they know that they will be left when their mothers hunt. The cubs will stay together, protecting each other, they are strong and brave. The moon appears, reflecting the suns light, the moon represents the feminine, strength and beauty. It will light the plains for the Lionesses to hunt together. The Lionesses start to roar, it is time, it is getting dark, and they are hungry. They bend to groom their cub’s providing reassurance and love before heading across the plains, their silhouettes disappear into the night. 

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Dawn, the air is cool and heavily scented with thick black croton soil, wild mint and sage. The moon still shines bright over the quiet plains. A soft grey wispy mist rolls over the plains, minute droplets of water gently disperse into the air. The mist provides a soft focus to the landscape, the wide-open plains are surrounded by the escarpments looming like green sleeping giants of folklore. Ballanite trees with their ubiquitous umbrella shape punctuate the skyline whilst grasses billow all around like waves. The sun begins its ascent, the soft glow of light penetrates the horizon, vibrant reds and yellows sweeping like a Monet impressionism. Light and shadows sweep the plains, the textures and details of the land brought to life with the light. As the sun ascends the visible range of reflected light becomes more vivid and intense. Into these vibrant brushstrokes the Salas males stroll, their thick coarse haired golden manes shining like the suns sphere around their strong muscular faces. 

The Salas males are on their morning patrol, they have a pride to protect and a territory to defend. Bonded from birth the brothers are constantly rubbing heads together sharing their scent as they walk. Cats have secretion glands on the side of their mouths so when they rub them on another, they leave a trail of saliva. Mutual rubbing means their affection is reciprocated and their bond tight. The males spray urine onto trees and bushes ensuring they mark their territory so other males know it is already taken. Nomadic males or dominant males from other prides are constantly a threat to their reign. The males do not want to fight they would sooner leave these warning signals to other males. Their impressive manes are not there to just attract females but to protect their faces if they do have to fight. Their golden bronze eyes are alert for threats, but they seem to be more interested in bonding this morning. Brotherly love or bromance as it is coined is a beautiful sight to behold between males. Even these large dominant males act like cubs when they are together. They are constantly chasing each other and pulling each other down then rolling on top of each other. The sun light bathes them in warmth which makes them frisky. It is no different to watching their cubs play.  

The Rekero pride Lionesses are sat on grassy termite mound also bathing in the golden light. After hunting in the cold of the night the warmth of the sun dries their golden fur. The Lionesses sit licking the dew from each other’s bodies. As they walk through the long grasses, water droplets, grass seeds and ticks gather on their fur so the long-barbed tongue of a sister to help rid them of these provides important sisterhood time. They lick slowly, long dragging strokes, there is no hurry and cats are meticulous and thorough. Known for their cleanliness, cats will spend hours grooming. They successfully made a kill pre-dawn, and their muzzles are covered in blood, they lick their paws and swipe them across their faces cleaning off congealed blood and bodily fluids. Their bellies are rotund from gorging on the carcass, they will sleep in the bushes all day to process the heavy meal. Firstly, they need to find water as the meat is salty and they need to hydrate. The plains are very dry from the lack of rain and many of the natural watering holes have dried out. They head down to the Laga to drink in the shade of the trees. 

Lorkogol meaning dewlap due to his baggy neck skin which sways as he walks is the unusually gregarious male Leopard of this territory. He is now around thirteen years old so an old warrior. His face is littered with scars from fighting and mating, he is the father of many of the Leopards in the Mara, he has created quite a dynasty. Male Leopards are known for being very elusive unlike the females, they usually hunt at night and can only be seen when looking to mate. Lorkogol is unique he seems to relish in the attention, he does not shy away. As an old Leopard he is slower now, hunting is tiring so he relies very heavily on ambush. He is walking through the long grasses looking for an easy food such as an unsuspecting scrub hare or secreted baby gazelle. Unlike Lions he has no females to rely on to hunt for him. When he thinks he may have seen a target he becomes animated and glimpses of his youth show. The morning is growing hot, and he becomes tired, he needs shade and water. He too knows the Laga with its overhanging trees will provide him with both shade water. 

Nagol (which means strong in Maa) one of Neema daughters is out hunting Impala. She is a beautiful young Cheetah; she has learnt well from her mother good hunting instincts. Her lithe athlete body is streamlined, evolved for speed and endurance, her curves sleek like a greyhound. Her amber eyes ringed with black running down into tear marks to her nose are focused, alert for any movement in the grass. It is midday and the sun is at its hottest, she knows it is birthing season and the herd of Impala may have secreted their very young fouls in the grass. She flattens her back streamlining her body further so she can walk undetected through the grasses, she wants the element of surprise. The herd of Impala look alert, they cannot see Nagol, but her scent is carrying on the air. They have young within the herd and keep them protected by sheltering them with their bodies. Nagol quickens her pace she wants to get within striking distance before being detected. Suddenly the herd get a glimpse of her, and they start their alarm call. The herd of Impala turn and face her showing they have seen her then sprint away. She is fast but they have a head start so she stops and looks around her for better hunting opportunities.  

It is late afternoon, and the Rekero Lionesses are out hunting two Buffalo. They maybe too hot and tired as they have no formation, they seem disorganised and unfocused. There is plenty of prey around so it is possible they cannot decide whether the Buffalo are worth the effort or the risk as Buffalo can easily gore or stampede them. The two Buffalo are old, short sighted and bad tempered, they hate Lionesses so turn to chase them. The Lioness run, the Buffalo charge at speed, they are hot and bothered and will not tolerate the Lionesses threat. The Lionesses could bring down one of the Buffalo, but they have clearly decided there is better prey to hunt. The Lionesses gather to groom each other, they are unperturbed by the chase, this happens often. A little way off one of the pride males Jesse sits in the long grasses, the wind gently ruffles his mane, it is golden like the stems of the grass that billow around him. He has been observing the Lionesses but was too lazy to help them. The Lionesses climb a termite mound and survey the plains around them, they stretch for miles in front of them, rich long grasses punctuated with Olive, Fig and Ballanite trees. Croton bushes and stretches of wild sage and mint provide food and shelter for prey and the narrow Lagas, water. it will be sunset soon and there will be plenty of opportunities to hunt.  

The deep vibrant glow of sunset accentuates the smear of blood on the short grasses where a pack of Jackals chased down and killed a baby Impala. Jackals are as beautiful and cunning as foxes; small and nimble they are good hunters in their own right. They do scavenge at big cats kills as the pickings are easy without any effort, but the reality is big cats scavenge too as it is easier to steal from another animal than hunt their own. The Jackals are organised when hunting as a pack, they are led by an alpha female. Like all dogs though they do not clean kill like the cats, they disembowel and tear apart their prey. They will even eat the prey alive until it dies of shock. Nature can be very cruel and harsh even under this mesmerising, iconically beautiful African sunset. Tonight, the pack were fortunate enough to catch their own prey, but the scent of blood attracted a nearby clan of Hyaena who easily stole the kill away from the Jackals. The Jackals bark and yelp, they try to distract the Hyaenas so they can try and steal their kill back but to no avail. The Hyaenas laugh manically as they enjoy their spoils. The sun sets on the fighting scavengers, it is fiery globe disappearing below the horizon, it is symbolic of endings and death. In folklore the sunset marks the end of life but hope of the afterlife through the bright evening star.  

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Dawn is the time of day when light first appears in the sky before the sun rises. The atmosphere is partially illuminated by the sun, being neither totally dark nor completely lit. It is a symbol of awakening and birth which is appropriate as it is birthing season in the Mara. The nocturnal animals glance up at the slither of light, the sun will soon emerge from behind the hills. They hurry and scurry back to their burrows, mounds, trees and bushes to sleep the day after a night of foraging and hunting. The herds with their newborn fouls stretch cold muscles and encourage their young to run with them to warm up their bodies. The birds start their dawn chorus, melodic tunes fill the air. Monkeys yawn wide displaying their yellow sharp canines high up in their nests. They bask in the heat of the sunrise and howl and bark to their troupe, filling the air with their morning chatter. The crepuscular animals which are only active at sunrise and sunset but sleep during the day and night are active, Serval use their bat like ears to hear the scurrying of rodents in the grasses before pouncing on them. The plains are alive with wild activity as night gives way today, diurnal takes over from nocturnal.  

Three of the Salas male Lions are too enjoying the warmth the golden hour brings. Lions are known as being nocturnal, but they are also diurnal especially when mating or when they have failed to hunt in the night. The golden light floods the plains, the beautiful red and golden hue makes everything look burnished especially the full manes of the Lions. The brothers are on their morning patrol scent marking their territory by squirting urine on trees and bushes. They are mature males, experienced in guarding their prides and territory. As with all males there is always time for bromance, as they walk, they constantly rub heads transferring their scent. They have enjoyed a night of hunting with their pride, the Lionesses and cubs are now asleep in the bushes. The males tend to separate themselves from the pride during the day, they find the cubs too rambunctious. Instead, they prefer to bond together. The males are thirsty after their salty meal and cross the Laga jumping over the grey rocks, the river is low which is perfect for them as they do not like getting wet. They bend low lapping up great quantities of water; droplets scatter in the air. They drink shoulder to shoulder, their powerful muscular frames reflected in the still water. Once their thirst is sated, they walk on to find bushes to sleep in for the day. On route they find a small croton bush and all three comically try to roll together on top of it. They act like big cubs each trying to roll on top of each other. They are so happy and contented in each other’s company, cats never really grow up.  

The morning is growing hot, there has been no rain for a few weeks and the plains are starting to look dry. The soil is cracked and parched, and the small watering holes are just mud pools. The grasses have turned golden like hay, making them the perfect camouflage for the Lions. The Rekero Lionesses have still not hunted, they are lethargic in the intense heat and sleep under the shade of the croton bushes. Large herds of Buffalo, Zebra, Impala graze around them but the Lionesses do not stir. As a rule, Lions are nocturnal hunters but if they have not successfully hunted for a few days they will often do so during the day. One of the Lionesses looks up, her golden eyes reflecting the intensity of the sun. She sighs, she is hungry, but she is too hot to hunt. She rolls over into her back, legs akimbo exposing her white belly with faint rosettes. The white reflects the heat and fur acts as a thermal regulator to slow down the process of heat absorption. She pants heavily to help cool herself down. Another Lioness gets up and joins her, they lay together limbs tangled. It will be a few hours before they rouse themselves, they need to rest and regain their energy before they hunt.  

One of the Enkoyanai pride Lionesses has two cubs but for reasons unknown she has separated from the pride and taken them with her. She has hidden them in a den and is out hunting food for them. Being a solo huntress, she is very determined even though it is midday and very hot. She tries to hunt Zebra, but they are too far off, she needs to stalk them within twenty feet and ambush them as Zebra are fast runners. The male and female Zebra have two young fouls and they keep them between them. The are walking quite fast as if sensing her presence, they know their babies are vulnerable. The Zebra passes a male Waterbuck who is sat down in the grass, this is possible prey for the Lioness, unfortunately there are Topi stood on mounds nearby who will spot her if she hunts them. As less than twenty percent of hunts end in a successful kill, she must conserve her energy for the most potentially successful outcome. After all she has cubs to feed, they rely on her to keep them safe.  

The Fig Tree pride have dark red fur like their father Jesse. They are a stunning pride of Lions and easy to distinguish from other prides due to their colouring. It is early afternoon, and they are hot and asleep in the bushes. The Lionesses and young cubs sleep in a tangled heap, limbs thrown over limbs, heads rested on backs and bottoms. Some of the sub adult cubs show their independence by sleeping apart from the pride under the croton bushes, their white bellies exposed, legs akimbo. A herd of Zebra pass very close to the bushes, they stop to graze oblivious to the pride. They have fouls with them and would be sheltering them within the herd if they were aware of the threat. The fouls are vulnerable to attack but apart from the cubs becoming alert and watching them the Lionesses sleep on. The Zebra walks on, completely unaware of how close they were. Then two large male Buffalo pass, they scratch their horns on low bushes, blissfully unaware of the pride. All of a sudden, they see them and chase the Lions. The Lions run through the bushes to another set of bushes, the Zebra and Impala have seen them so the Lions sleep knowing the herds will forget they saw them, and they can hunt them later.  

Leopards are undeniably stunningly big cats, with their bronze fur spotted with black rosettes. The queen of these beautiful cats is Bahati meaning lucky in Swahili. She is an older female Leopard now of around twelve years old with the most mesmerising emerald, green eyes. Her territory is a forest right next to a babbling Laga. The leaves of trees provide perfect camouflage for her fur and the density of the forest ideal ambush opportunities. The Laga is her source of water and also attracts prey down to drink upon which she can pounce on unseen. She is a ferocious successful hunter, many of the trees have dried out skins of prey hanging over their branch, testament to her skill of climbing the trees with her kill in her mouth. She has successfully raised many cubs to adulthood and even in her advance years she has borne a cub who is around three months old so very vulnerable. Late in the afternoon Hyaenas and the Salas male Lion coalition have invaded her territory whilst she was out hunting leaving her cub unprotected. She watches from the bushes, the Hyaenas and Lions are within fifty feet of her cub, she needs to get it to safety. She chuffs a low noise to indicate to the cub she is coming, and she silently negotiates her way through the bushes to the cub, upon reaching it they rub heads together in greeting and she leads it away to safety up a tree. 

The Fig Tree pride with their burnished dark red fur is relaxing at sunset. The fiery glow of the low sun lights up their fur with its golden glow. This is the magic hour everything the light touches looks golden, from the tall swaying dried grasses to the orange leaves of the croton bushes. The pride has enjoyed a well-deserved rest in the heat of the day, the wild is challenging, every day is a fight for survival. The sub adult male Lions have the start of blonde manes, their small mohicans stand stiffly on their heads, the coarse hair will protect them when they are adults. With unscarred faces they look so handsome in the sunset, their bronze eyes wide and curious. They are keen to hunt, they have watched the herds all day and want to join their mothers on their nocturnal activities. The Lionesses take their time to wake up, they know it will be a long night. They cat stretch, yawn and awaken tired muscles. The sisters start grooming each other removing dirt and ticks from each other’s faces, it is important to groom and bond before they set off. Hunting is dangerous for the cats, their prey such as Buffalo, Wildebeest and Warthog have deadly horns which could spear and fatefully wound them. They need to be present, focused and bonded in order to win. These are queens, winners, warriors and true alpha females. As they sun sets these fearless felines head out onto the open plains, the sun reflecting off of the feminine moon which will guide their path.  

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The Black Rock pride are relaxing in the cool dew-soaked long grass at sunrise, the red sunlight illuminates their fur to a burnished bronze. As the sun rises the white light dapples through the feathery topped grasses, creating an ethereal glow. The air is heavily scented with African mint. The twelve Lions including two Lionesses and sub adult males with small, beautiful manes are resting in the grass. Several get up to drink from a small pool, they sit shoulder to shoulder lapping up the refreshing water. Several of the sub adult cubs are beautifully sat on termite mound, they fur is pale blonde and shines spun gold. Then suddenly there is a mighty roar, not a call, a threat. The whole pride gets up, this is not the sound of their pride males. The Lionesses are on high alert, do they flight or fight. It the Supa pride males, large powerful and strong, they need to take flight, they have young cubs they could get killed. The whole pride stands and looks to where the sound is resonating, the sun light creates a white light halo around their fur, they start walking in a line, bonded, protecting each other, they periodically stop to check to see where the males are, are they following them? They walk down a track, shoulder to shoulder, heads rubbing providing reassurance and reaffirming bonds. The Lionesses walk at the back protecting their cubs. They stop on the tracks the whole pride turns to look to the left, the light catching on every strand of fur. It is a stunning scene of pride protection and solidarity. The roars become more distant; they are safe.  

The Black rock area is incredibly beautiful with its sleeping giant grey rocks. Honed from thousands of years of wind and rain the surfaces are smooth and encrusted with minerals which shine in the sunrise. Trees grow between the rocks, their trunks twisted over the rocks fighting for light and life. The rocks are the perfect jungle playground for Lion cubs, they can clamber up the smooth surface and slide down the other side. The thin branches of the trees growing between can be easily snapped off and chewed and kicked about. The Black Rock Lionesses often leave their cubs here to play when they are off hunting, the elevated position enables the cubs to look out for threats and climb the trees if they feel in danger. Close by Malywele (meaning hairy) and Olibor (meaning white) the male Lions of the Sand River pride are chasing a sub adult male possibly from the Black Rock pride. Even though the male is young one day he will be a threat to them so if they catch him, they will kill him. Fortunately, he is young and quick and manages to outrun the older males. The males stop running, they have scared him off, so they start scent marking their territory sending a clear they rule here. Malywele has a thick full mane indicating high testosterone levels, he is the dominant male out of the two brothers. They find a bush lay under and start grooming one another, they bond is tight, they would fight to protect each other. Their faces have a look of sheer pleasure and contentment.  

The Sand River pride Lionesses and sub adult cubs are sleeping under croton bushes in the heat of the morning. The bushes have insect repellent properties so are favoured by the big cats. Their fur is a beautiful sand colour to match the sands by the river. One small cub gets up and wants to sleep in the middle of the bush so walks over his siblings to get there, no one stirs, this is typical cat behaviour. A Lioness has her head rested on the branches of the bush, the position does not look comfortable, but she sighs in contentment. It is extremely hot in the mid-morning, insects buzz around the pride attracted to the scent of minuscule droplets of blood attached to the Lions fur from eating. The Sand River area is breathtaking, the fast-flowing Mara River has high sandy banks dotted with trees bending over the waters. On the banks Palm trees with their rough trunks and spiky leaves grow alongside vast Sausage trees known for their thick branches and low hanging fruit the size of marrows but pale in colour. Beyond, the vast rolling plains stretch out, dry from the lack of rain, they are an immense expanse of golden grass undulating and mesmerising as they billow. A vast herd of hundreds of migrating Buffalo walk across the plains led by a matriarch, their cumbersome black muddy bodies in contrast to the golden stems of grass.  

The Mbili Bora, the “fast two” Cheetah’s brothers chase a herd of Impala in the intense heat of midday. The chase is fast, intense and efficient, the adrenaline pumps through their veins. The Cheetahs are driven, with an unbreakable focus, they are united in the hunt. Their bodies are stretched out, their feet barely touching the ground as they run, their tail used as a rudder to help them balance as they twist and turn as they run, their tyre track paw pads and non-retractable claws spikes give them the distinct advantage. Maybe because of the heat instead of chasing down one of the adults they bring down a baby. This is an easy kill but a small meal between the two of them. They kill it swiftly and quickly and eat opposite ends to each other, the flesh and bones are soft, so they meet in the middle to the softest flesh very quickly. One has hold of the head the other the rump and they stand up in a tug of war. They are not aggressive with each other but like all cats they want the largest share. They sit down again their jaws firmly clamped on their own share, panting heavily, not willing to let go. They finally relax again and start to eat until their mouths meet in an almost bloody kiss, their faces are covered in blood. Whilst eating the Cheetah constantly glance over the head of the other looking for threats. The sound of the chase, the bleating of the baby and the smell of blood will attract predators and scavengers.  

They stand again and both tug at the carcass, it easily pulls apart and they sit together with their own share. Body parts are scattered on the ground, and they get up and eat the remnants. From hunting the Impala to finishing the meal is just twenty minutes. The meal will just serve to give them energy until they can hunt larger prey later in the day. They get up, stretch and yawn, the heat is so intense they need to rest in the shade. Incongruously one of the males sniffs the rear end of the other, possibly an act of bonding. They head to the shade of a small Gardenia tree with its gnarly twisted trunk. The Cheetah takes turns to “read” the messages on the tree left by other males. They then in turn mark the tree with their urine indicating to other males this is their territory. They then sit in the shade of the thick foliage to wash themselves. They lick their paws and swipe them other their faces to clean the blood off. A small bird lands the other side of the bush which piques the interest of the Cheetah, after all they are cats. If they had not just eaten, they may have playfully chased it, instead they roll on the grass riding their fur of ticks and dirt. They roll into each other and start licking each other’s faces, purring in contentment.  

Just across the plains a lone female Cheetah is looking to hunt, she is sat on the plains her amber eyes fixed and focus, she is very much present. It is of course the indomitable Nora, the oldest Cheetah in the Maasai Mara, she is around fifteen to sixteen years old, Cheetah can live up to nineteen in the wild. She has in the last few weeks given birth to cubs, she is looking quite gaunt, and her eyes are set back. As an older cat the strain on her body of multiple births over the years has taken its toll. She is a successful mother though and there is no doubt even in her advanced years she will protect these cubs with her life. She is looking to hunt; she must keep herself strong to produce milk for her cubs. To preserve her energy a baby Gazelle secreted in the grasses would be ideal, so she high steps through the swaying plains. She is focused and silent, her eyes scan for any signs of movement and nose twitches trying to catch the scent of a newborn. Her body is very lithe, she is streamlined for speed, the perfect athlete. The sun shines on her golden fur generously covered in her own unique black spot pattern, she looks so beautiful. She will walk for miles until she finds prey to hunt. 

The Serval is an incredibly 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. It is mainly nocturnal, but it is often seen in the early mornings high stepping through the long grasses looking for scrub hares and mice. Long grass areas are their preferred habitat. 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. Their large ears serve to detect movement in the long grasses, when detected they leap into the air and pounce on the unsuspecting rodent or bird. They will also leap into the air and stretch their long forearm to grab a bird by its wing. When sitting in the long grasses they are almost undetectable as they curl their long limbs under them, and their coat is camouflaged against the grasses. Servals are crepuscular so seeing a beautiful queen midafternoon curled up behind a clump of grass is beautiful. 

Late afternoon the rains finally come, the sky turns a thunderous grey, lightening rips through the sky and the atmosphere is electric. The air is still warm, but the breeze becomes stronger, and you can smell the rain. At first there are large droplets of water splashing on the ground bouncing off of the dry earth then a deluge of warm rain. The plains are so dry they absorb the much-needed life giving water, soon the patched earth turns into thick black soil. The prey lifts their heads to the sky relishing in the cool wetness splashing off of their faces. They know the rains will give life to the plains and within days new grass shoots will grow full of nutrients. The rain is so heavy and intense the plains cannot absorb it fast enough, so rivers appear snaking their way through the tracks. The Fig pride of Lions are soaked through, they look thoroughly miserable, cats do not like getting wet. They hunker down, pressing their bodies together for warmth and shelter. They close their eyes to keep out the rain, they are used to these heavy deluges and will ride out the storm. It is only the cubs that seem unperturbed. The young cubs become animated, maybe it is the electrical energy, but they start chasing each other around playing tag. They leap on clumps of grass and small bushes; every stick and discarded bone becomes a toy. Their coats are wiry and thick so repel they water, their undercoat stops any moisture to their skin. They splash in the new pools created by the rain, their tails flicking up arcs of water. The sunset cannot be seen tonight the clouds are too grey and heavy, but the plains have been given new life.  

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The morning is dark and grey after the night rains, a heavy mist rolls across the plains and the air heavy with the scent of rain, fresh soil and moist herds, it is beautifully intoxicating. The Rongai pride, nine young cubs, one male sub adult cub, five Lionesses and one of the pride male Olomina (meaning lost one) are feasting on two Zebra kills caught pre-dawn. The pride is split between the two carcasses, tearing into the flesh. The pride male is being very patient eating with the sub adult male, the one survivor from the first litter he sired with this pride and also several young two-month-old cubs from the recent litter. The ribs and head are the only part of the Zebra left, the rib cage is dark red with blood and the Lions gnaw on the flesh between the rids. The cubs have only recently started eating meat and tear off small morsels of food with their sharp small teeth. They meow contentedly safe in the presence of the male. The males have very little to do with the rearing of the cubs, so the Lionesses periodically come over to check the male is not being too aggressive with them. Young cubs are vulnerable but also boisterous and brave. They walk over the males’ legs to clamber to other parts of the carcass to eat. He sniffs them using his Jacobson gland to reassure himself they are his and gently licks them. He is being surprisingly gentle and kind. One cub rubs up against him and the male returns the gesture, a sign of acceptance and bonding. 

The Lionesses eat the other Zebra away from the males as the males do not share and can be dangerous when eating. The Lionesses growl at each other if they encroach on their share but otherwise, they are quite respectful. The other cubs are eating with them, when a Lioness tears off a chunk of flesh and chews it a cub will take it directly from her mouth after she regurgitates it. Their teeth and jaws are not strong enough yet to tear the tough flesh. The cubs are not fully weaned but they are now eating meat which means they will grow stronger quicker which is good for their development but also be less vulnerable to attacks from other predators and scavengers. The cubs are still small, blonde and covered in rosettes for camouflage. One cub has a cut awfully close to his eye, no doubt from being within the thick of the action when the hungry Lions started feasting on the kills after the hunt. It is common for pride members to be injured in the frenzy. It seems to be unperturbed by the injury, it will heal quick and has a high pain threshold. It rubs up against its mother, she is its protection, she will guard it with her life. 

The cubs will not eat much of the meat, just the softer parts provided by the Lionesses. The kills are a jungle gym, they clamber all of the body and slide down its sides. The hairy end of the Zebras tail becomes a toy to chew and wrestle with. The ears are chewed and attacked. But the most favoured game is pretending the Zebra is still alive and attacking it as they saw the Lionesses do. They gnaw on the snout pretending they are suffocating it and subduing it. The Lioness turns the carcass over, the distinctive black and white stripes of the flesh are about the only part left of the Zebra, apart from the head with empty sockets, unseeing and macabre. The cubs get excited and chase the flesh as it falls back to the ground, to them it is alive and full of possibilities. The carcass it out on the open plains and the Lioness tries to drag it to the delight of the cubs, but it is too heavy. The cubs grab the tail and get pulled along with it. The Lioness stops, the morning is growing warm, and she is too hot and tired to move it. Instead, the Lionesses scrap at the ground trying to cover the blood with grass and dirt so it is not spotted by vultures and scavengers. Even though they have eaten their full they do not want the scavengers to enjoy the kill. 

The pride is sated and relax in the sun, incongruously a flock of Guinea fowl run towards the pride squawking. The cubs find them most amusing and see another opportunity to play. They chase the birds who shriek in alarm and fly off. Jackals are running around looking to nip in and steal tasty morsels, but they know too the cubs will chase them. After a satisfying meal the cubs are frisky and playful in the early morning sun. The Lionesses too want to work off such a heavy meal before sleeping and join in with the cubs’ chasing birds and Jackal for fun. After all they are the top predator, and they enjoy the benefit of being the queens of these plains. The cubs relish in the attention of the Lionesses, they chase their mothers, they play hunting and try and bring them down by their rump. The Lionesses turn and give them chase, batting them gentle and tripping them over. The plains are very wet, the Lions get soaked and covered in thick black mud, but they are happy and do not mind. Through playing with the Lionesses the cubs learn to be strong and fearless. They are taught hunting skills such an ambush and tripping. The Lionesses are incredible mothers, they are exceptionally loving and affectionate with their cubs, but they discipline and teach them survival skills. 

Cheetah is known to be the most successful hunters of the big cats, their athletic streamlined bodies, non-retractable claws, tyre tread paws and rudder tails have evolved to make them fast. Even the black tear line running down from their eyes to nose stops the sun glare reflecting back. Unlike the other big cats, they do not have to rely on the element of surprise or ambush they can stalk and outrun their prey. As their main prey are ungulates and gazelle who are fast themselves it is no wonder the other big cats try and steal their kills. However, the Mbili Bora seem to be having an off day. They are relaxing under the shade of a Ballanite tree its large umbrella shape providing them with ample shade. It is early afternoon, and the sun is hot and intense, the plains stretch before them, the long grasses billowing gently in the breeze. It is the perfect time for them to hunt whilst the Lions sleep heavily in the bushes and Hyaena lazily in shallow mud pools, the two main perpetrators of the thefts. Great herds of Impala and Topi graze before them, the Cheetah watch them hungrily, the want to hunt. They rise and enter the long grasses, silent, unseen. They skirt around the edge of the herds assessing which prey to hunt. Then suddenly they give chase, the herd scatter in all directions confusing the Cheetah, they become unorganised and unfocused. For three hours they follow the herds but fail at every attempt of a hunt, maybe they are too hot, they do not seem to stay focused or unified. Finally, they become too tired and hot and pick off a small baby Impala. It is just a small snack for the Cheetah, but it will keep them energised until they hunt again.  

What does a Lioness do when the pride she has been a part of since birth is taken over by other males and will look to kill her cub? She can accept infanticide is a tragic but necessary part of pride life and mate with the new males and stay with the pride or she can make the difficult decision to leave the pride and escape and save her cub. Life for a Lioness by herself is difficult, she has to hunt alone and protect herself and her cub from other prides and nomadic males. She also will not have the protection of the pride and other Lionesses to take care of her cub when she is out hunting. This brave warrior, Queen of the plains has done just that. This Lioness has successfully raised her cub and he is now a healthy sub adult male of around two and half years old with the start of what will be an impressive mane. Mother and son are completely bonded, as they walk across the plains, he constantly rubs his head to hers, transferring his scent to her and she returns his affection, re-affirming their bond.  

The Lioness and sub adult are looking for find food in the heat of the early afternoon, he is old enough now to join her in the hunt. The grasses are high which helps them in their ambush but is challenging to see the prey. The main prey seems to be Pumba, there are a sounder running through the grasses, tails high indicating to their piglets to follow. It is hot and the Lions need to conserve their energy for the hunt, they are built for power not speed or endurance. The sub adult constantly rubs against his mother, he is hungry, and he wants her to hunt. Whilst she would protect him with her life, he is becoming quite needy, and she growls at him to stop pestering her. They stop and sit in the grasses; the soil is moist and cooler for them. The sub adult sits up looking around for hunting opportunities whilst she rolls over and playfully puts her head on his paws and looks up at him. Her love for him is very apparent as she gazes up at him. He looks down at her and starts licking her face, another form of bonding. She sits up and starts licking him too, they are content to just be together. They rub heads, it is time to hunt. 

The Lions get up shoulder to shoulder, the sub adult is very hungry now and constantly rubs against his mother as they walk, she is getting irritated at his constant demands and snarls at him telling him to be patient. They spot a sounder of Pumba, and she hunches her shoulders and flattens her back ready to stalk. She walks through the long grasses, stealth and silent. The Pumba cannot see her, but they have detected their scent and presence and start to run. The Lioness runs, her shoulders taut, her muscular body stretched to the limit. Her eyes are sharp and focused as the Pumba weave through the grasses trying to confuse her. She focuses her attention on just one and chases it, her claws reach forward and pulls it off balance and it stumbles. The Lioness leaps on it suffocating it by clamping her mouth around its throat, it is only a small Pumba. The sub adult male did not join her in the hunt but as soon as he sees her catching the Pumba he runs to her to steal the spoils. 

The Lioness tries to run off with the Pumba, but the sub adult chases her, he wants the kill. In Lion prides the male eats first, but even though he is not the alpha male, he demands the food. He catches up with his mother and a tug of war over the Pumba ensues. He bites into the soft flesh and the intestines spill out; this makes him even more blood thirsty. The Lions tumble to the ground fighting over the small kill. They both have their mouths clamped on the Pumba, the sub adult starts dragging it away with the Lioness holding on, she is dragged along the ground until she lets go and the Lion runs off with it. The sub adult gleefully runs with the small Pumba clenched between his teeth, the body ridiculously swaying, intestines exploding out of its side. At a safe distance the Lion hunkers down in the grass to rip open the Pumba and feast on the soft moist flesh, it is only a small meal for this large male, but satisfying and tasty until the Lioness hunts again. The maligned Lioness too lays down in the grass licking her paws, she will not have any of her hard-earned kill, the sub adult will even crunch the soft bones leaving nothing but a blood stain on the grass. 

Lorkogol the large male Leopard is resting under the shade of a tree by the Laga. He is panting heavily to regulate his temperature in the late afternoon heat. He is an old Leopard now, his dewlap wobbles as he pants, a sign of his advancing years. Yet despite his age he is still a strong dominant Leopard, a force to be reckoned with, especially over mating rights. He has sired many cubs and has recently mated with Luluka. His golden eyes are sharp and focused, he is an experienced hunter. He bends his head to lick the dust off of his paws, yawns widely baring his worn teeth and stretches and rises. It is time to hunt before the Lions wake. He grasses are high which he uses this to his advantage, he will ambush his prey. He hides in the long grass and assesses the position of the prey; he struggles to see so must rise up on his hind legs like a meerkat to see. A sounder of Warthog is grazing in the distance, his would be good prey for him. He sits patiently watching but the heat drives him back to his cool position by the Laga, he will hunt later. The big cats are patient when it comes to hunting, they need to conserve energy for it and be as sure as they can there will be a chance of success. 

The Leopards are thriving in the Maasai Mara where prey is plentiful and hunting conditions are optimal. Luluka the female Leopards territory is not far away from Lorkogol, but they only come together to mate. She is a resilient, fearless female, she lost her cubs just three months ago but is now pregnant again. She has taken advantage of the afternoon heat haze which confuses the eyesight of the prey to ambush a large adult Impala which came to drink. Leopards can hunt prey more than twice their body weight. Despite her heavily pregnant state she has pulled the prey up a tree and artfully placed its body over a thick branch, its back legs dangle one side and its head and front legs the other. She sits on a branch close to it panting heavily, even though it is late afternoon the heat still rises from the ground. The kill has been hanging a few hours as raptures has taken advantage of the hanging kill and pecked out its eyes. It is a ghoulish sight; the neck has a clear bloody puncture wound where she subdued the Impala by biting its neck. Riga-mortis has set it, the carcass is stiff. Luluka has eaten a small amount of its rump, the blood has congealed in the heat. She does not appear to be hungry now but instead wants to sleep, she tries to get comfy on a branch, but it is too thin. The sun is setting behind her, the bright red rays of the sun highlighting the rich blood of the Impala and the telltale signs of blood on Lulukas face. A small powerhouse, Luluka flexes her muscles and navigates the trunk of the tree and lands on her feet on the grass, silently. Like a ghost she disappears into the undergrowth to sleep. 

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Luluka was highly active in the night she has eaten most of the Impala kill, the skin lays empty devoid of meat, the dried congealed blood looks vibrant in the sunrise. She is preparing her body; she is a Queen and her time for queening or giving birth is nearly upon her. When she gives birth, she will hide her cubs in a favoured den where she knows they will be safe from other predators and scavengers. She will stay with them for three weeks not eating but protecting them and sucking them so she must fuel her body in preparation. A new leopard mother vigilantly protects her young against predators that lurk just beyond the den. Alert and ready, she makes guttural noises as a warning to ward off nearby threats. Big cats like lions and other carnivores and scavengers will make an easy meal of tiny leopard cubs if she does not keep a watchful eye on them. Her last litter were two cubs, and they were killed by another male Leopard, infanticide is common amongst big cats. It is believed the same Leopard, Lorkogol then waited for her to come back into oestrus and mated with her. If he is the father and his territory is near hers maybe these cubs will have a better chance of survival. She had already brought her female cub Jilime to adulthood, so we know she has the skill and strength. She will give birth to one to three cubs, the smaller the number the better the survival rate. What is known she will protect them with her life. 

Talking of the roguish father, Lorkogol is panting heavily in a bush, the morning is growing extremely hot. His ears are very diseased, possibly tumours, at thirteen years old he is starting to suffer from health concerns. He looks very hungry; he has not hunted for several days and needs to fuel. There is a huge migrating herd of Buffalo coming down to drink water in the Laga. They walk in a steady line keeping their calves protected between two adults. They are led by a matriarch who knows where to go for the most reliable sources of water. The long dry grasses brush against their mud encrusted black bodies. They have plenty of calves, but Lorkogol cannot hunt them as he would get trampled by the herd. His best course would be to patient and pick off a calf when they go down to drink and are trapped in the water. However, this is still risky as Buffalo are extremely dangerous and bad tempered so if he tries to pick off a calf the herd would try and gore him. He watches their slow march, salivating. He sits back and decides the risk is too high, he is an old, experienced hunter he has calculated the risk and it is against him. He sneezes and drool hangs down. He will wait for Pumba to enter his territory and ambush them. In the meant8me he rests his head on his mighty paws, sighs then sleep to conserve energy. 

Two Lionesses are out hunting in the intense early afternoon heat, they must be very hungry to bear such hot conditions. There seems to be a large quantity of Pumba in this territory, so their chances of a successful hunt are good. What increases their chance of a successful hunt is a Pumbas poor memory. The Lionesses spot a sounder of Warthog in the long grasses, the Lionesses pale blonde fur is camouflaged by the long pale gold grasses and their scent by the wild sage that brushes up against them. They hunch their shoulders, flatten their backs and ears and walk silently, stalking slowly. The Warthog are oblivious to their presence. Within twenty-foot striking distance the Lionesses sprint after the Warthog who squeal in alarm and run with their tails in the air, the Safari express! The Warthog are not the fastest runners, but they do know how to weave in and out of the grasses, scattering to confuse and distract the Lionesses. The Lionesses are built for strength not speed or endurance, the heat haze makes them unfocused so lose sight of the Warthog. But like all cats they do not feel defeated they see it as a practice run, if they now sit in the shade for a while and rest, they know the Warthog will forget they are there and they can hunt them again. This pattern repeats all afternoon.  

One lone Lioness, very white (Naibor)from the Border/Serengeti pride is out hunting. She is a stunning female, unusually pale almost albino. Sometimes even Lionesses like to have time alone and will often leave the herd to hunt solo. She tries to hunt a Topi, but it is fast and easily outruns her, then she tries to hunt a Pumba sounder but as with the other Lionesses the glare of the heat haze makes her lose sight of them. Hot and tired but defeated she continues to stalk through the dry pale grasses, her colouring making her a ghost on these plains. Then it happens she catches sight of a very large male Pumba, a challenge but not impossible. She uses her strong shoulder muscles to power through the grasses, chasing him down, tripping him and pulling him down with her sharp claws. The male Pumba fights hard for his life, he is strong with long tusks. She is nursing cubs so has to eat to produce milk so her will is stronger. They battle for twenty minutes; she bites as hard as she can into his thick neck but fails to strangle him. He squeals in terror and pain, the sound is heartbreaking, but this is the wild. She uses her weight and broad muscular shoulders to hold him down. She starts to eat his leg to subdue him, so he squeals louder in pain. She again clamps her mouth over his windpipe.  

Whether he dies from shock or suffocation we will not know. She drags him down into a ditch to eat as the smell of blood could easily attract other predators or scavengers. As a lone female she would struggle to defend her kill. She eats the penis first, soft tissue is always the easiest as the Warthog has thick skin, hard for even a Lioness to penetrate. She instead uses her canines to tear into softer underside of the Pumba, eating its intestines which is a good source of fibre for the Lioness. Bodily fluids ooze onto the grass, it becomes soaked with dark red blood. The Lioness is contented, this will be a satisfying meal for her. Even when she is sated, she may be able to store the rest of the carcass in the bushes for later to eat. She muzzles is coated in blood, her eyes are bright with triumph and satisfaction. She is fortunate even though the other two Lionesses who were hunting Pumba too are not far away they did not hear the hunt for there is no doubt they would fight her for it. This is no movie, Nala does eat Pumba, this is the true wild, raw and unforgiving. The circle of life, the Pumba eat the grass and earth, the Lion eats the Pumba and when Lions die their bodies return to the earth which the Pumba eat. 

The Rongai demonstrate what it really means to be a pride at sunset. Olomina and Olobor and the four Lionesses, male sub adult cub and nine cubs are all sat together after a day of resting in the bushes. They have just emerged, refreshed for their nocturnal activities. They are bonded, unified in one common goal to build a strong pride and create an everlasting dynasty. The cubs are very playful, they are enjoying the novelty of their fathers sitting with them. Even though they are a fraction of the size of their fathers they run around them, leaping on them and catching and biting their fathers’ tails. They are not in the least bit intimated when their fathers roar at them, they are being raised to be strong and fearless. Olomina traps the tail of a cub underneath his mighty paw and the cub wriggles and meows, he finds the struggle of the cub amusing. It is clear the males are unusually enjoying playing with the cubs as Lions are big cubs too. The small cubs jump all over the males, they love to chew their big ears and they marvel at their fathers’ large manes, they are perfect to climb. The males bat them away, but it just makes the cubs more eager to play.  

A herd of Elephants come down to the watering hole where the Lion pride is to drink, they are not perturbed by the Lions. The Lions stop playing and sit together watching the Elephants, they are literally fifty feet away from each other. The Elephants drink and bathe enjoying the cool waters. Olomina gets up followed by two cubs, he uses his Jacobson gland to flehmen the ground where a Lioness sat. The cubs intently watch him, learning from him. He stands, watching the Elephants bathe and frolic as a herd with his cubs next to him. The sun starts to set on this unusually tranquil scene, two of the big five living peacefully together, both protecting their families. The deep reds and oranges of the sunset are a beautiful contrast to the dark grey of the Elephants. Soon they are silhouetted against the intense sky. The Lions curiosity sated they round their cubs up to take them back to the bushes, they need to stay protected whilst the adult’s hunt. The cubs meow their discontentment they want to stay playing with their fathers but they complaints are ignored. It is time to gather the pride to hunt, the males roar, the sound deep strong and intense, it carries on the air, this is the sound of the wild. The last vestiges of the sun’s rays light the manes of the Lions, they look like they are on fire, the stunning golden light floods the plains as the pride goes off to hunt. 

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The Rongai pride hunted all night but failed to make a successful kill. This is not unusual as the herds are organised, fast and well versed in Lions hunting tactics. It is now sunrise, and the pride is now tired and hungry and reunited with their cubs, a large herd of Buffalo are within fifty feet of them. The sub adult male is the keenest to hunt them, but it is a large aggressive herd and could stampede the cubs who are too small to get out of their way. The Lionesses have their bodies between the cubs and hot-headed Buffalo. The two males are sitting in the grass in front of the pride protecting it. A Lioness joins the sub adult and tries to chase the Buffalo away, but the Buffalo chase the Lions into the dry river. For two hours a grudge match as old as time ensues, they are mortal enemies, both fearless and confrontational. The Lions would attack the Buffalo if they were not protecting the cubs. The Buffalo too has young and fear turning their backs on the Lions in case they stage a counterattack. The larger bulls within the herd stay at the back protecting from the rear. Fearing the Lions, the bulls turn back and go to chase the Lions, the Lions retreat then turn and chase the Buffalo. Neither wants to show weakness in backing down. Eventually the Buffalos satisfied the Lions are too busy defending their cubs walk off. Both live to fight another battle between them. 

A young female Serval cat (Leptailurus serval) with a short tail is stalking through the grasses at sunrise remarkably close to the Lion pride. It is likely it lost its tail running away from a larger predator when it was young. Cats compete over territory and food, so it is common for them to mortally wound each other. Servals are fortunate as they are small and can easily hide unseen in the grasses. The Serval is a beautiful sleek long-legged cat with large bat like ears with a tawny coat with both black lines and spots, while their belly is a soft white. Their extra-long neck and legs give them the nickname “giraffe cat”. Their eyes vary from blue to green, yellow, orange and dark copper and can appear almost black. Their eyes also change colour with age. This beautiful female has stunning large round green eyes which are completely focused on seeing any movement in the grasses. The low sun catches in her green eyes making them as intense in colour as the new shoots of grass that has grown since the rains. Suddenly she leaps high into the air and catches a mouse in their jaws, she bites down and chews it quickly and swallows, then high steps again to find more, for where there is one there will no doubt be a nest. Servals need to consume two to four pounds of food a day, they have a high metabolic rate. Whilst pouncing is their most common way of hunting a Serval will also use their long forelimbs to reach into burrows to extract rodents.  

The undeniably gregarious confident Luluka is lounging up the tree where she stored her carcass. She has finished the kill and its skin will now dry out in the sun, harden and eventually fall to the ground. She is sated and content after two days of gorging on the tender meat. She is healthy and strong and is fully prepared for the queening ahead. She has very distinctive golden eyes, she scans the plains, as an ambush hunter she is always looking for opportunities to hunt again. She sprawls across the length of the branch, her abdomen distended from her pregnancy and food. Lifting a paw, she licks it slowly and swipes it across her face, washing it of any dirt. Cats are very meticulous when it comes to grooming, she repeats the process many times, wiping behind her ears, across her nose and over her face. She then uses her barbed tongue to wash the length of her legs and slightly awkwardly down the front of her chest. She really is an elegant feline; her body is muscular and compact, but her shape elongated and lithe. She hangs her long tail down, it’s distinctive white tip swishing with almost a mind of its own. She is restless, she is not one for resting, her mind is sharp and alert. These plains are her territory, and it is time to once again explore. 

Jilime (meaning clever) is the daughter of Luluka and Lorkogol and is now around three and a half years old. She has been independent of her mother around eighteen months now and is becoming an excellent hunter in her own right. For the first year of her independence, she hunted small prey such as scrub hare and mongoose but as her confidence and skills increased as did the size of her prey. She has recently moved territory away from her mother as in the next couple of years she will be ready to mate and have cubs of her own. In the Kissinger area there is a commotion, an unknown male Leopard suddenly leaps out of the marsh grasses and fleas across the plains. What has spooked him? Males are notoriously shy, but he is unusually skittish. The Kissinger area is breathtakingly beautiful, it is marshy with interconnecting small lakes of water flanked by tall reeds and palm trees. Lily pads float on the cool water, Egyptian Geese weave between them pecking at their moist stalks. Papyrus grasses rise tall in the centre of the lakes, their feathery tops billowing in the warm afternoon breeze. So why leave such a tranquil spot? 

Golden eyed like her mother, the streamline feline emerges like an Egyptian queen through the rushes, their green stems parting, brushing against her bronze fur generously covered in black rosettes. She looks triumphant, did she see off a suitor, she is of an age now when males will start to call? She is still too young to mate, but it will not stop males constantly checking to see if she is receptive yet. She looks around, the male is long gone. She is restless, she is looking for something. She weaves her way along the banks of the lake, pushing her body between the long thick reeds and tall feathery marshy grasses. Her eyes are sharp and focused, her curiosity peeked, she is relentless in her search. She goes to the edge of the lake and searches around alarming the Egyptian Geese who have chicks. She is not interested in them; she seems to be searching still. She circumnavigates the lake, covered in ticks, grass seed and detritus she remains focused. Then suddenly she leaps and pulls out of the grass a hard eaten Reed buck. So, did she kill the Reed buck and male smelling the blood try and take it from her or did she see off the male with the intention of claiming his kill? 

Jilime is not known for being strong, bold and confident for no reason. It is not beyond the realms of possibility she used her feline skills to see off the male. After all this gregarious female knows the male is shy. She certainly took her time to find the kill indicating she did not hide it, but the male did. Triumphant she grabs the Reedbuck by the neck and drags it into the long grasses and starts eating it. It is a fresh kill, and the bodily juices and blood runs down her chin as she chews into the tough flesh. As she looks up to see if the male has returned her golden eyes gleam in the sunlight. She looks satisfied, she has proven why she is a queen. She is present, focused, committed to her task and truly majestic. Is there really a cat more beautiful than a Leopard? She is iconic, throughout the ages for women she has stood for the idea; beauty, elegance, poise and grace. Well, that is the ideal, but Jilime proves like all females and feline she is also not perfect. As eats in the long grasses, long blades get stuck in her teeth, and she sits up to try and dislodge them. As she does, she pulls the most unflattering facial expressions, gurning as long strands of spittle hang down from her mouth. She shakes her head, the spittle flies around her landing on the leaves around her, not exactly ladylike.  

The Enkoyanai pride Lionesses are hunting Topi in a Billashaka area. This afternoon they seem more focused and organised, they are unified in their ambition to make a successful hunt. There is plenty of prey grazing on these plains, but they are alert and fast, they know predators are ever present. The grasses are long giving the Lionesses the advantage. The Lionesses sit in the grass, their best chance of making a successful skill is having a tactical advantage. Like all team’s success comes from teamwork, being united in a single goal and understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your opponent. There is plenty of easy targets in the herds, it is birthing season so there are weak young, but these calves will not feed a hungry pride. The Lionesses need to isolate a large adult Topi, Wildebeest or Buffalo. For a pride of Lionesses bringing down an adult should not be difficult but herd instinct with be to protect each family member, so the Lionesses need to take on the herd. The Lionesses most reliable tactic is to divide the herd in order to take down an individual. Each Lioness scans the herds, assessing the risks of success and failure, deciding on what formation to hunt in. They use nonverbal communication to indicate to each Lioness their role in the hunt, where they will be in the formation when it is time to hunt. First, they will wait several hours for the right time to make their move, they do not want to expend energy until they know the odds are for them and that most likely will be after sunset.  

The Rongai pride including the males are relaxing at sunset with the cubs. After a morning of drama followed by a day of sleeping in the bushes they are now well rested for their nightly hunt. It is time for the pride to bond before they start their nocturnal hunt. The cubs are playful, the plains are their jungle gym, each tree trunk, branch and root are ripe for leaping on. Below the pride is a Laga almost dry due to the lack of rain. The cubs under the watchful eye of the Lionesses race down the steep sides of the Laga, showing no fear. They chase each other around like racing cars on a track. They are full of energy and mischief; they launch themselves at siblings pulling them down as they have seen the Lionesses pull down Wildebeest. The chew on ears and tails with their small sharp teeth, much meowing ensues. Counter attacks are launched as predator becomes the prey to a sibling. This is how the cubs learn to hunt and built muscle and stamina. Some of the Lionesses join in with the games. They are rough with the cubs because they want them to be alphas and future leaders. The cubs moan in delight at their mother’s attention, they leap on their backs and tails trying to pull them down. The deep red of the golden hour bathes the playful pride in warm light. It is the perfect scene of pride life as the males stand and roar, the Lionesses and cubs stop, look at them and know it is time to hunt. 

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The dawn heralds a new day, the Lions roar can be heard throughout the plans, it is still cold so as he exhales condensation hangs in the air, tiny droplets form in a cloud. The Rongai pride has had a successful night of hunting, tiny droplets of blood cling to their fur, like blood red rubies they shine as the sun rises above the horizon, the vibrant red light enhancing the colour. The cubs look plump as they run along behind the Lionesses, their bellies taut with meat. They are invigorated after a hearty meal and start chasing each other, the golden light of sunrise bathing them in a warm ethereal glow. The Lionesses look proudly on, at a kill the cubs must hold their own, they, like the rest have to fight for their share. Injuries occur, tempers flare so it tests the strongest and that is exactly what the Lionesses want the cubs to be. As the cubs run past, the Lionesses trip them up and pull them off balance. The cubs meow and attack the Lionesses legs trying to do the same to them. The Lionesses bat them away, it is good to show the cubs who is in charge. The pride males lumber behind the pride, protecting it from the rear. They are too tired to walk, having eaten the Lion’s share of the kill their bellies hang low to the ground, obscenely bloated from overindulging. They head to the bushes to sleep for the day it is unlikely they will surface until sunset tonight when they look for water. The fortunes of the Lions very much rests in the strength and bond of the pride.  

Passion, duty and pain sum up the mating ritual of Lions. The copulation is ferocious, loud, full of roaring, biting and scratching. It seems such a passionate act, but there is no love, just duty. The strength of the pride is in the size. The Lions know they must create a lasting dynasty for future generations, it is their duty. When a Lioness is in oestrus one of the pride males will leave the pride with her to mate. They will not eat or drink the whole time when mating, they will remain focused on their duty. It is not just about siring cubs for the males, they know they will gain the loyalty of the Lionesses if they bear their cubs. So, when their rule is challenged the Lionesses will fight with them to protect their cubs against infanticide. The male will try and bond with the female during this time to gain her trust and loyalty. Often rubbing his head against hers or grooming her. If she reciprocates, he knows she has accepted him. The mating pair sit out on the open plains, it is late morning and extremely hot. It is the first day of mating and copulation takes place every fifteen minutes. His penis is barbed to stimulate her ovulation making the act uncomfortable and painful for both of them. She decides when and where they mate, she sits up and walks away from him indicating for him to follow. She then crouches down in front of him so he can mount her. He bites her head and her neck, growling, his face contorted in pain. She grimaces waiting for the few thrusts and roar of triumphant ejaculation from him. He leaps back as she snarls and scratches at him. He must know her pain too. Duty completed she rolls over onto her back to add the flow of sperm and rest before starting the passion, pain and duty again.  

Faulu the last daughter of the unforgettable Fig is walking through the long grasses in the late morning harsh light. The bright white light bleaches out the colour of the grasses making them look like hay. Her bronze fur is in beautiful contrast to the starkness of the environment. She is a stunning young Leopard, her bronze eyes round and alert as she looks to hunt. She has only been independent of her mother for a year, so she is still hunting smaller prey. During the day Mongoose, Scrub Hare and DikDik are easy pickings. The heat haze blurs the vision of the prey making it difficult for them to pick out her perfectly camouflaged fur. She is a skilled ambush hunter, she silently navigates the tall grasses, careful not to even snap a twig underfoot. She searches in and under the bushes for a hiding hare, stares down burrows for mongoose and silently weaves through the riverine forests for DikDik. As her skill and confidence grows, she will hunt larger prey. Leopards thrive in the Maasai Mara it is one of the few true wild plains where they can be free. They no longer hide in the shadows, they are hunters, bold and brave. Faulu shows nothing but confidence in her skills and ability to hunt for herself and in a couple of years she will be ready to mate and rouse her own cubs. Like the unforgettable Fig before her, Faulu will bring forward the next reign of queens in the wild.  

The Queens rule the plains of the Maasai Mara, their leadership skills, strength, mindfulness and ability to be present in the moment is the reason the cats do not just survive they thrive. The queens are bonded and united in one goal to protect their family and bring forth new generations. Bonded from birth the queens will protect and fight for each other. They will raise their young together, nurture and establish a strong sense of duty. In their formative years cubs will learn to be confident and strong from their mothers, these early bonds will ensure they become positive leaders themselves. The queens teach their cubs how to fight and hunt and be an individual. Whether alpha Lionesses within a pride or a solitary Cheetah, Servile or Leopard, Queens are born to rule, take charge and have a strong sense of duty. Each day is a test of courage, endurance and mental strength. A cat does not doubt itself; it sees challenges it will overcome. Each day a queen must hunt for itself but also for its family. It will be focused with a can-do attitude and be relentless in its goal. She is a goddess she symbolises wisdom, beauty and power. A big cat is the quintessential symbol of female power. What is more, the lionesses support each other on the hunt, which enables them to take down prey that is faster or stronger than they are. So, they are also symbols of the divine sisterhood; women supporting women. Queens also represent maternal instincts, they symbolise strength, hope, victory, courage, and protection. She is also a symbol of fertility. So, it the Queens that are revered for their ability to lead, take charge and bring forward the new generation of big cats in the wild.  

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