12 months ago Heinz Thiele came to the Masai Mara with friends, to witness the Great Migration and in particular to see the wildebeest cross the Mara River. Thwarted last year by unfortunate timing, he was back again this year, with Alois and Nacho, to have another look. This year the herds were more impressive, and after many hours of patient sitting in the mid-day sun we did finally see a wildebeest crossing, though sadly not in the numbers we had hoped! Maybe next year...

Hippo "wheeze-honking" and then fighting in the Ol Keja Rongai River, Masai Mara

A male lion cleaning up after breakfast, with vultures and a Maribou stork finishing off the left-overs in the background	Black-backed jackel pups at the enterance of their den

Baby elly on the run in the Mara	A male lion and lioness on "honeymoon" in the Mara

October always seems to be a good month for lion cubs in the Masai Mara

A coalition of male lions finishing breakfast on the Mara plains

Sunset over the Masai Mara	We watched this cheetah stalk a Thompsons gazelle mother and youngster...

After about 20 minutes of patient waiting she took her chance while both gazelles were looking the other way. She chased the young gazelle for around 10 seconds, catching it not far from our vehicles. The strangest thing was how long it took her to kill the gazelle - a full 10 minutes.

When we saw this snake of wildebeest heading for the river we knew we had a chance of seeing a crossing - and we did about 6 hours later!	Male lion and females - Masai Mara

Large Nile crocodile, probably about 50 years old and 15 feet long, resting on the banks of the Mara River

Male lion "testing" the urine of a female to see if she was receptive	Cheetah mother and 3 cubs on Paradise Plain in the Masai Mara

This Martial eagle has caught a baby harthog, and is shielding it from prying eyes with its wings	Yellow billed oxpeckers are a common sight on Cape buffalos, cleaning them of ectoparasites. This is a case of mutualism, where both species benefit.

At the end of the safari we flew to Lake Victoria for the day, relaxing on Rusinga Island and taking a boat along the lake shore.