0:00:28 > 0:00:35Last week, Kidogo the cheetah had her sights fixed on some fast food.
0:00:35 > 0:00:40Luckily for us, she preferred to hunt in open country.
0:00:42 > 0:00:49The same cannot be said of Fundi and her cubs, our other cheetah family.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53They remained in extremely thick cover.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57Half Tail the leopard had a brush with hyenas.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00Her climbing ability left them standing.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05Later, she went on the offensive,
0:01:05 > 0:01:08but her targets remained elusive,
0:01:08 > 0:01:10leaving her cub hungry.
0:01:20 > 0:01:25We've managed to keep up with Kidogo and her cubs this week,
0:01:25 > 0:01:30which is more than can be said for our other cheetah family.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34Fundi and her two adolescent cubs went missing,
0:01:34 > 0:01:37which is a shame in the last week we're here.
0:01:37 > 0:01:42Meanwhile, Kidogo and her cubs have been doing well.
0:01:42 > 0:01:49Kidogo seems to have changed almost as much as her cubs over the past six weeks.
0:01:49 > 0:01:55She still has a playful streak, but her attitude to hunting has sharpened.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59Perhaps it's the influence of two ever more hungry mouths to feed.
0:01:59 > 0:02:04But now, once her attention is fixed on a potential meal,
0:02:04 > 0:02:07she is concentration personified.
0:02:14 > 0:02:19Rarely have we seen her phenomenal turn of speed better illustrated.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29In the end, she never even touched the gazelle,
0:02:29 > 0:02:33which tripped and damaged a leg.
0:02:33 > 0:02:38The lack of a killing bite was not brutality on Kidogo's part,
0:02:38 > 0:02:42but rather an essential life lesson for her cubs.
0:02:42 > 0:02:47This was the first time they'd been left to kill their own prey,
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Far from being inept,
0:02:49 > 0:02:54the little male's instinct and ability were remarkably efficient.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59But they were not alone.
0:03:00 > 0:03:05Many of the cats we've followed share their space with the Masai,
0:03:05 > 0:03:09who take such scenes very much in their stride.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20The afternoons have been especially hot this week,
0:03:20 > 0:03:24with all creatures seeking relief from the sun.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30But the mongooses hadn't banked on sharing their shade.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38The cubs showed no interest in them,
0:03:38 > 0:03:45and were more intrigued by the rest of the troop waiting a little way off.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Such is the solidarity of banded mongooses
0:03:49 > 0:03:56that despite the searing heat the troop kept watch for their imprisoned members.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59Now that Kidogo and the cubs are leaving,
0:03:59 > 0:04:06I imagine that these banded mongooses will go back to their family.
0:04:10 > 0:04:15Once reunited, the mongooses went back to business as usual.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30This is the Big Pride,
0:04:30 > 0:04:34the most successful group of lions that I've ever seen.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37They seem to have everything right.
0:04:37 > 0:04:42There's seven lionesses, four male lions to help protect their territory
0:04:42 > 0:04:45and the result of that is 16 cubs.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47And, by the look of it,
0:04:47 > 0:04:52I would think that most of them are going to survive.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57The secret to this pride's success can be put down to where they live
0:04:57 > 0:04:59and how they operate.
0:04:59 > 0:05:04Although the lionesses prefer to hunt at night,
0:05:04 > 0:05:08they never pass up the chance of a meal at any time of day.
0:05:08 > 0:05:13In their territory, there's always plenty of game, if they can catch it.
0:05:26 > 0:05:32The long grass and acacia bush provide perfect cover for the hunters.
0:06:16 > 0:06:22But not every chase ends successfully - even for the Big Pride.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25The cubs must wait.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35As soon as it was dark, we switched on our infrared cameras.
0:06:35 > 0:06:42By using infrared light, we could watch the Big Pride without disturbing them.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45In reality, it was pitch black,
0:06:45 > 0:06:49but lions have extraordinary night vision - unlike the wildebeest.
0:06:49 > 0:06:55This lioness is quite capable of pulling down a wildebeest on her own.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03But a combination of speed and a well-timed kick
0:07:03 > 0:07:07 is just enough to shake off the attacker.
0:07:07 > 0:07:12A couple of nights later, we chanced upon a lone bull buffalo.
0:07:12 > 0:07:17Separated from the rest of the herd, the bull was an obvious target.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21A single lion is no match for an animal this size.
0:07:21 > 0:07:26Anchoring a ton of buffalo is a job for the whole pride.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36But once again, the cubs go hungry.
0:07:37 > 0:07:42The lions seemed totally oblivious to these gazelles -
0:07:42 > 0:07:44with 16 cubs to feed,
0:07:44 > 0:07:48they were searching for something bigger.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57We realised they were after zebra again.
0:07:59 > 0:08:04The pride split up, with lionesses closing in from all directions.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14The herd panicked.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21In the confusion, somewhere in the darkness,
0:08:21 > 0:08:26one of the zebra ran straight into a waiting lioness.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31One of the pride males immediately moved in.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34He'd played no part in the hunt,
0:08:34 > 0:08:37but was quick to assert his right to a share,
0:08:37 > 0:08:41Wisely, the lionesses gave him plenty of room.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45GRUNTING
0:08:47 > 0:08:52A kill this size provides ample food for all the lions - except one.
0:08:52 > 0:08:58The youngest adult female - the one we call the Outcast - had to wait.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01The lionesses with cubs had priority.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06BARKING
0:09:06 > 0:09:11But the Big Pride had been spotted. A Masai dog had raised the alarm.
0:09:14 > 0:09:19The lions had killed barely 200 metres from a Masai homestead.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23As the herdsmen moved in to investigate,
0:09:23 > 0:09:26the pride were already in retreat.
0:09:36 > 0:09:43The lionesses escorted their cubs to safety, away from the kill and the Masai.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Satisfied that their cattle were in no danger,
0:09:48 > 0:09:55the Masai backed off, giving the hyenas the opportunity they'd been waiting for.
0:10:00 > 0:10:05But the big male was reluctant to abandon the kill.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08HYENAS CALL
0:10:15 > 0:10:20Despite the hyenas, the male carried the remains to a safer place.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28HYENAS LAUGH
0:10:30 > 0:10:35The scavengers would soon clean up. Nothing would go to waste.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43A leg bone might not provide food for a lion,
0:10:43 > 0:10:47but to a hyena, it's a prize worth fighting for.
0:10:50 > 0:10:55Their jaws are so powerful, they can crunch up the heaviest bones
0:10:55 > 0:10:57to feed on the marrow.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07For the Big Pride, the lean days were over.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16When it got light
0:11:16 > 0:11:19we saw how close the lions had come to the village.
0:11:19 > 0:11:24But the big cats are all part of life for the herdsmen and their livestock.
0:11:28 > 0:11:33The lionesses and their cubs are obviously now heading for cover.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35I imagine they've heard the Masai
0:11:35 > 0:11:38beginning to move around.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42They were looking very alert - the lionesses stopping and listening.
0:11:42 > 0:11:49The two groups have worked out a way of operating, using the same area but avoiding conflict.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53As soon as the lions hear any sound
0:11:53 > 0:11:58or see the Masai moving around in the area, they simply take cover.
0:11:58 > 0:12:04Throughout the last weeks, we've done much of our filming outside the wildlife reserve.
0:12:04 > 0:12:09Here, the big cats and the Masai have found a way to co-exist.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12The Big Pride are certainly thriving here.
0:12:17 > 0:12:23In the past six weeks, we've spent over 11,000 man-hours in the field.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25We have shot over 80km of videotape,
0:12:25 > 0:12:28utilised three tons of equipment...
0:12:29 > 0:12:32..and driven over 45,000km.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34We've had 360 punctures,
0:12:34 > 0:12:37and got stuck 420 times!
0:12:37 > 0:12:41We've worked our way through 8,000 litres of water,
0:12:41 > 0:12:461,000 loaves of bread, and finished in time - just!
0:12:47 > 0:12:51Food for the Marsh Lions has been scarce.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54The territory remains virtually empty,
0:12:54 > 0:12:57but even with prey in short supply,
0:12:57 > 0:13:00the females have kept their cubs healthy.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03This is the first litter we found,
0:13:03 > 0:13:05now six weeks old and very robust.
0:13:05 > 0:13:10It's come as a surprise that they've done as well as they have.
0:13:18 > 0:13:23Despite all the odds, the Marsh Pride cubs have survived.
0:13:23 > 0:13:28But if things weren't already hugely demanding, they will be now.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32To the right of me is a brand new family.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36It's quite common for lions to synchronise some of their litters.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39We now know of three families
0:13:39 > 0:13:43aged within four weeks of each other in this pride.
0:13:45 > 0:13:50It's with mixed feelings that we now have to leave these cats.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53I hope the tenacity of the females
0:13:53 > 0:13:58will provide the cubs with enough food through these lean times
0:13:58 > 0:14:02so that they'll flourish when life gets a little easier.
0:14:02 > 0:14:07And it is that tenacity which has kept the females busy
0:14:07 > 0:14:12with every opportunity that's presented itself.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26Sharing a small meal like a warthog raises tempers,
0:14:26 > 0:14:30but each mother is getting enough to support the young.
0:14:32 > 0:14:37Later in the week, a glimmer of hope strode into the marsh.
0:14:41 > 0:14:46The zebra passed through within a couple of days,
0:14:46 > 0:14:49but provided an opportunity for a square meal.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58Having killed in the early hours,
0:14:58 > 0:15:03the marsh female was on the open plain in the heat of the day.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13She faced a monumental hike to the nearest shade,
0:15:13 > 0:15:17displaying in a subtle but graphic style
0:15:17 > 0:15:20her enormous strength and stamina.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51Meagre shelter, perhaps, but it had to do.
0:16:05 > 0:16:10The cub has grown so much over the time we've been watching her.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13She looks like a real leopard now.
0:16:13 > 0:16:18She's getting pretty independent. She doesn't always need a mum with her.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22At times she's just happy to wander off.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25I think she feels pretty secure now.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29She can climb trees well, she knows what the dangers are.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33She knows to be wary of hyenas and lions,
0:16:33 > 0:16:36but she's always got Mum as a back-up.
0:16:39 > 0:16:44Even for Half Tail, there are times when it's prudent to be cautious.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50Elephants aren't noted for their eyesight,
0:16:50 > 0:16:54but their sense of smell is second to none.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05Half Tail decided that now was the time to move on,
0:17:05 > 0:17:09at which point the elephants lost interest.
0:17:17 > 0:17:22Recently, Half Tail has been spending more and more time
0:17:22 > 0:17:26away from her cub, and food is never far from her thoughts.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43Despite Half Tail's impressive turn of speed,
0:17:43 > 0:17:46the hare simply outran her.
0:17:52 > 0:17:57Week by week, the cub has been getting quicker and more agile.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59She's ready to hunt small prey
0:17:59 > 0:18:01for herself,
0:18:01 > 0:18:06but these agama lizards are more than a match for her.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19Late the next afternoon,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22Half Tail killed a warthog piglet
0:18:22 > 0:18:25and was carrying it back to her cub.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29For once, the impalas weren't the targets.
0:18:31 > 0:18:37But they alerted the hyenas, forcing Half Tail to interrupt her journey.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43The cub would have to wait a while longer.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05For six weeks, we've focused our attention on Half Tail and her cub.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09One reason is that most other leopards are very shy.
0:19:09 > 0:19:15This is Beauty, Half Tail's daughter, and she's with a very big adult male.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19She's never had cubs. From the sounds over there, it seems they're mating.
0:19:19 > 0:19:24I'd imagine this could carry on for at least one or two more days.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29It's rare to see leopards mating.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33It's something I've only glimpsed twice before.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37Frustratingly, it usually occurs in thick cover.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42I could hardly believe our luck when, two days later,
0:19:42 > 0:19:44we found Beauty yet again.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54And, better still, she revealed the male's hiding place.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07Adult males are not only very shy, they're huge.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11This one is almost twice the size of Beauty.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14HE GROWLS SOFTLY
0:20:16 > 0:20:19He's the father of Half Tail's cub
0:20:19 > 0:20:23and guardian of both females' territories, which partially overlap.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32His imposing presence helps protect the cubs that he sires.
0:20:32 > 0:20:37This is his domain and he'll do anything to protect it.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46It was Beauty who initiated each mating.
0:20:46 > 0:20:52Every hour or so, the pair coupled several times in quick succession.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06SHE GRUNTS
0:21:17 > 0:21:19Hopefully, in about 12 weeks,
0:21:19 > 0:21:23two or three cubs will be born somewhere near here.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33Hyenas are a constant menace to Half Tail.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36Once again, they were on the scene
0:21:36 > 0:21:41within seconds of her catching an impala fawn.
0:21:41 > 0:21:47It's hardly surprising she does her best hunting in places like this -
0:21:47 > 0:21:49with plenty of trees.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56When the hyenas moved off,
0:21:56 > 0:22:00the impala mother returned to where her fawn had hidden.
0:22:00 > 0:22:05She seemed totally unaware that her baby was dead.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10Now all she could do was call.
0:22:10 > 0:22:15Ever the opportunist, Half Tail saw the chance of another meal.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34The impala could sense danger in the air.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01She'd come close, but not close enough.
0:23:10 > 0:23:16Towards the end of our stay, Half Tail's cub had a surprise for us.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18SQUEALING
0:23:21 > 0:23:24She'd killed a hyrax in Leopard Gorge.
0:23:24 > 0:23:29I'm pretty certain this is the first time she's killed for herself -
0:23:29 > 0:23:32a real milestone for a young leopard.
0:23:39 > 0:23:44Half Tail's cub is well on the road to independence.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48And, despite the dangers, I think she'll make it.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51During the last six weeks,
0:23:51 > 0:23:56 we've managed to find Half Tail, the leopard, and her cub every day.
0:23:56 > 0:24:01I've not had better leopard-watching all the time I've been here.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03I've known Half Tail for six years.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07If I had to pick a favourite from the African animals,
0:24:07 > 0:24:09she would undoubtedly be it.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19Almost two months of cat-watching has provided us with
0:24:19 > 0:24:24moments of drama, humour and a great deal of natural beauty.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07THEY GROWL
0:25:33 > 0:25:39In our final week here, Kidogo performed in the inimitable style
0:25:39 > 0:25:41we've become used to.
0:25:42 > 0:25:47Her cubs seemed to have inherited her speed, power and grace.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50They now begin to follow in the stalk.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10With the kill on such open ground,
0:26:10 > 0:26:14it wasn't long before the vultures homed in.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18They can see the scene from several kilometres away.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30And with the cubs beginning to argue over their meals,
0:26:30 > 0:26:32and so much meat to consume,
0:26:32 > 0:26:36there's plenty of time for the birds to fly in.
0:26:36 > 0:26:41An hour later, our cheetahs had attracted a considerable crowd.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50Despite the fact there's very little meat left on the kill,
0:26:50 > 0:26:54Kidogo and her cubs are still guarding it jealously.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56But more vultures are arriving.
0:26:56 > 0:27:02If enough come, they may intimidate the cheetahs and force them away.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06But if there was intimidation to be done,
0:27:06 > 0:27:08it was by the cheetahs...
0:27:11 > 0:27:13..both big
0:27:13 > 0:27:16and small.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23Indeed, the blossoming of these cubs
0:27:23 > 0:27:26has given me the greatest pleasure over our weeks here.
0:27:26 > 0:27:31Their tireless spirit and sense of fun in this harsh environment,
0:27:31 > 0:27:33has been inspirational.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37Six weeks ago, Kidogo's cubs seemed the most vulnerable
0:27:37 > 0:27:40of all the cats we were following.
0:27:40 > 0:27:45They were tiny. They could have been eaten by a lion, tiger or anything.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48Now look at them - they're long in the leg and fast.
0:27:48 > 0:27:54They're already learning the lessons that prepare them for independence.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58After all the difficulties we've shared with these cats,
0:27:58 > 0:28:02one of the hardest things will be leaving them behind.
0:28:02 > 0:28:07I doubt they'll notice our going, but I'll be thinking of them.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09OK, let's go.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28Subtitles by BBC Subtitling BBC - 1996