Well, we all know that the Maasai Mara in Kenya is something special during the wildebeest migration each year during August - October, but we recently ran a great Big Cats safari in early March, and the place was really alive with these usually elusive animals.

How about 8 different leopards in a week? What about a great cheetah chase and kill? How about 27 lions before breakfast?

Yep, we had them all. The safari was organised with well-known UK wildlife artist Pip McGarry and his wife, along with 10 of their friends and guests. They were in Africa to photograph scenes to paint once back home and everyone must have got a year's worth of work at least. Look out for Pip's soon-to-be-painted hyaena and vultures canvas!

In fact so successful was this trip - and in fact game viewing was perhaps better than during the migration because we were not under pressure to find the river crossings each day - that Pip has already planned another for next year March, and Wildphotos Safaris will also offer a special Big Cats departure. It is bound to be a huge success, so make your enquiry soon.

I will post an album in the Photos pages once I'm through editing!

Lions roaring at sunrise, mist on their breath.