Moja and the Wheelyphant 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.

The sun is shining brightly,

and it's going to be a hot, hot day.

A herd of zebra is enjoying a refreshing drink,

and cooling down in the river.

Hippos in the cool mud

are wearing cuts of green wheat to keep the sun off.

And the tall giraffes stand in the shade of the tallest tree.

All the animals are trying to avoid the hot sun.

But which of our little big cats

is finding a shady place to rest?

Will it be...the lazy lions?

The speedy cheetahs?

Or the lonesome leopards?

It's my story!

Ah! It's Moja, the cheetah cub!

Jambo, Moja!

Jambo!

These are my brothers, Mbile and Tatu.

We like to chase each other and play tig.

And this is our mother, Mama Muta.

She's always looking out for us,

making sure we are safe.

The sun's scorching today,

so Mama's made us lie down to stay cool.

It must be hard for Mama, looking after three spotty cubs.

I wonder how she knows who's who?

With all of our spots, we all look the same!

Is that Mbile, or is it Tatu?

I can't even tell which is which!

But what's that?!

That's definitely not a cheetah!

That looks like a Wheelyphant!

With a man inside!

Jambo, Wheelyphant!

Jambo, man!

Mmm.

It's dark and shady under the Wheelyphant.

Maybe it'll be cool in there.

Tatu, Mbile - look!

Under there, it's really cool and shady.

Mmm, this is great.

Aaah. I was right!

It's lovely and cool here.

The man in the Wheelyphant,

which is what the cheetahs call a car, wonders what is going on.

Mama will be so pleased that we're staying cool!

But Mama Muta is starting to worry.

Where have her three cubs got to?!

She looks around, but there's no sign of them.

All she can see is the long yellow grass,

and a Wheelyphant in the distance.

Where are her cubs?

"Moja!"

"Mbile!"

"Tatu!"

-SHE CALLS

-But the cubs don't hear her.

They are too busy snoozing under the shady Wheelyphant.

I like it under here.

It's so quiet.

And calm...

and lazy...

and I think I'm falling asleep.

ENGINE STARTS

Aaah! What's that big noise?

Oh, no! The Wheelyphant's woken up!

Quick! Run!

Where's Mama?

We'll never find her in this long, tall grass!

The Wheelyphant has gone,

and we're all alone in the wide open plain.

It's a bit scary.

I want Mama.

Wait! What's that over there? Under that tree?

It's got spots.

Yes! It's a cheetah!

But is it Mama Muta?

Stay back, Tatu.

If it's not Mama, we could be in danger.

Careful. It might be a stranger.

If she doesn't call us, maybe it isn't Mama!

CHEETAH CALLS

Mama? Is that you?

She's not answering.

How do we know if it's her?

Mbile, Tatu - stay close, brothers.

Mama!

Mama! Mama Muta, is that you?

Mama Muta is unsure too.

"Moja," she wonders, "is that you and your brothers?"

Then...as they creep closer and closer...

she is certain it is them!

"Come to Mama Muta! Come, you silly cubs!" she calls. "Come!"

Mama! Mama, it is you!

Oh, it's so good to see you.

We thought you were lost, Mama.

We were dozing under the Wheelyphant,

but it ran away and left us all alone.

Then we couldn't find you!

I'm so sorry we worried you.

I love you, Mama.

Moja has had a very adventurous day.

Now, he and his brothers are back with Mama Muta, safe and sound.

AFRICAN MUSIC

The sun's lower in the African sky.

The air's cooler now, and the cubs can play.

This time, closer to Mama Muta.

Now they are safe, it is time for us to say goodbye.

Kwaheri, from the wide, grassy plains of Africa.

Goodbye, zebra!

Kwaheri, zebra!

Goodbye, hippos!

Kwaheri, hippos!

Goodbye, giraffes!

Kwaheri, giraffes!

Goodbye, Moja.

Kwaheri!

Africa is a land full of stories.

Whose story will we hear next time?

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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