I first met Brenda and Jerry 5 years ago. They had recently decided to give up the rat-race and start having some fun - travelling! The Kenya portion of their several month odyssey through Africa was the start of their travels, and I was fortunate to be their guide. Now, five years later and Russia, eastern Europe, the middle east and a few other places behind them, they decided to return to Kenya, this time with friends Vehe and Adele, for another close-encounter with African wildlife.

This safari combined fixed luxury tented camps with luxury mobile tented camps, and visited 4 destinations in 14 days. We flew between the more distant places, and drove the shorter legs - truly an all-encompasing safari.

Our arrival in the Masai Mara was christened with the most fabulous viewing of month-old lion cubs.

The king of the beasts feasting on what remained of a wildebeest.	Cheetah brothers checking the scent markings on an old fallen tree - a typical cheetah "sign post". They were following the pheromone trail of a female cheetah in oestrus.

The two male cheetahs finally caught up with the female cheetah in oestrus. Thus ensued a stand-off, as neither party plucked up the courage to cross the ground between them. After a couple of hours it was our patience that cracked first.

Masai giraffe with oxpeckers hitching a ride on her mane, and cape buffalo behind.	Male impala keeping an eye on us.

Two unusual sightings in the Masai Mara - A Nikon camera working, and Jerry adopting the submissive posture.

A hippo resting the day up in the Olare Orok river, with Brenda and Vahe photographing.

An enormous "pod" of hippo in the Mara River - we counted over 100 hippos in this group.	Male lion looking down on us from the top of the Talek river nank, as we crossed "death" crossing.

Vahe and Adele watching the wildlife.	Dead tree at sunset in the Masai Mara.

Sopia Saruni, our Masai spotter in the Masai Mara	Walking in the Mara with Patrick Reynolds. Shortly after seeing these giraffe we came across a pride of lion, and finally had a close encounter with a rather large bull elephant with a bad temper!

New Year's Eve dinner in the tented camp - bow ties and ball gowns!	Adele chats with "Baba" - an old Masai friend Brenda and Jerry made last time they were here

From the Mara we moved to Lake Nakuru National Park, where the Luxury Mobile Camp had been set up. The park was very dry, but from a game viewing perspective this just concentrated the animals, as they headed for the waterholes.

Having searched in vain for leopard for two days, this was one of three leopards we found in the space of 15 minutes, just before dusk, not far from our campsite.	The flamingos were in good numbers on the lake. Flamingos must drink and bathe in fresh water every day, and so flock around the dwindling fresh water sources as they flow into the alkaline lake.

Jerry, Brenda and Vahe enjoying a leisurely breakfast in the mobile camp.	Common waterbuck and baby in Samburu.

This large pride of lions had killed a Grevy's zebra in Samburu, our final destination on this safari. The Grevy's zebra is considerably bigger than a common zebra, and makes a big meal for even the hungriest of lion prides.

Adele, Brenda, Vehe & Jerry photographing a big, beaten up male lion in Samburu

The Ewaso Nyiru River, which flows through Samburu had dried up completely. However, elephants in particular specialise in digging down into the sand to find water flowing below the surface. Here the mother elephant was spraying cool water on her baby and herself, while reticulated giraffes waited to take their turn.

During this time of drought crocodiles have to leave the dried up river and move into the tributeries that still hold some water. This large crocodile was sunning himself on the banks of a very small stream.	White-throated bee-eater in Samburu

While in Samburu we visited the village of Gabriel, a Samburu who has worked for us from time to time. This village is far from the tourist trail, and has remained unchanged by the march of western civilisation..

Adele with a Samburu woman	Gabriel beside his house in Samburu.

A Samburu woman in her every day jewelry, and a Samburu boy with a cow hide.