Mbile Climbs a Tall Tree Little Big Cat

Hello! Or "jambo", as we say here.

Welcome to the wide, grassy plains of Africa,

and a very special place called the Masai Mara.

This is home to all of our little big cats,

and it's a land full of stories.

Many different animals have to find their way around the Masai Mara.

Huge herds of wildebeest travel together across the grasslands.

The hawk soars above the plains, and sees everything from high above.

Baboons climb right up into the treetops to find food,

and keep a look-out.

And all our little big cats

have to find their way around the Masai Mara,

but which one will be exploring today?

Will it be the lazy lions?

The speedy cheetahs?

Or the lonesome leopards?

It's MY story!

Aha! This is Mbile, the cheetah cub!

-Jambo, Mbile!

-Jambo!

These are my brothers, Tatu and Moja.

And this is my mother, Mama Muta.

Mama spends a lot of time standing on termite mounds.

She can see everything from up there.

I like squeezing up next to her so I can see all of the animals.

Just look at all those wildebeest!

Every day, we walk through the long grass, but I can't see a thing.

I wish I was tall, like Mama. At least she can see above the grass.

Hey! Look what we've found!

If I can just climb up there, I'll get a much better view.

Wow! I can see a long way from up here!

Hey, Tatu, Moja! Look!

A whole family of elephants!

I am the king of the castle!

I love being up high.

Aw, Mama! Do we have to go already?

Come on, brothers! Mama's leaving. We'd better catch up.

Don't get left behind.

I love climbing. I was the only one to climb right to the top.

Tatu was a big scaredy cat.

But he's really good at wrestling.

MBILE GIGGLES

Uh-oh. Mama's calling. Come on, brothers.

Where is she going now?

She's climbed that tree!

That must be an amazing view.

I wish I could climb that high.

That is so cool!

I could do that. I'll show them who the best climber is.

Look at me, Mama!

I'm climbing the tree, just like you!

Hee hee! It's me, Mbile! I'm up here, right at the top!

I can see everything from up here.

Look at that!

I'm as high as the birds!

Whee!

I wish I had big, strong wings like that.

And look at those baboons over there in the treetops!

They're eating all the fruit.

And there are all the wildebeest. They eat grass. Ugh!

Mama! I can see so much from up here!

Mama? ..Mama Muta?

Where is she?

Ah! There she is, over there!

Mama Mutu, Tatu and Moja didn't see Mbile climbing up the tree.

They've gone off to look for him in the long grass.

They really are a long way away.

I'd better get down and catch up with them.

Oh... Oh...

Oh, this is quite high.

I don't like it.

I'm scared.

I'm stuck. I can't get down.

Mama! Come back!

Mama!

Mama Muta, please come back! Help!

Mama, please don't leave me behind!

They can't hear me. They're too far away.

Come back!

Please!

It's no use.

Right, what did Mama teach us about climbing down trees?

Um...

Stay calm, claws out, backwards.

Mama, up here!

I'm coming!

OK, try again.

Claws out wide. Use all four paws.

I wish I'd never come up here on my own.

Come on, Mbile, you can do it! Nearly there.

Ready...jump!

Yay!

Now I'd better find Mama and my brothers.

They must be here somewhere.

Mama!

Mama!

There they are!

They've come back for me.

Hi, Tatu. Hi, Moja.

I knew you wouldn't leave me.

Boo!

Did you see me up in the tree?

I went right up to the very top, and I wasn't scared, or anything.

Well, I wasn't THAT scared, anyway.

Mbile will think twice before climbing trees on his own again!

Little Mbile has had one big adventure.

But now he's safe with Mama Muta and his brothers Moja and Tatu,

back on top of the termite mound.

Now it's time to say goodbye, kwaheri,

from the wide, grassy plains of Africa.

Goodbye, wildebeest!

Kwaheri, wildebeest!

Goodbye, hawk.

Kwaheri, hawk!

Goodbye, baboon.

Kwaheri, baboon!

Goodbye, Mbile.

Kwaheri!

Africa is a land full of stories.

Whose story will we hear next time?

Subtitles by Kate Connolly Red Bee Media Ltd

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