The Marsh Lions tells the story of a pride of lions in Kenya’s world-famous Masai Mara game reserve. For five years, Brian Jackman and Jonathan Scott followed the Marsh pride and their progeny, recording the daily drama of life and death on the African plains. In time they came to regard them as old and familiar friends and real individuals. The Marsh Lions were the most successful group to be filmed for Big Cat Diary, the BBC’s hugely successful TV series presented by Jonathan Scott.
A gorgeous account of the trials and tribulations over the course of two years of wildlife in the Masai Mara, with particular focus on the region's big cats. As a fan of Big Cat Diary, how could I pass this up? The storytelling is wonderful, keeping all the focus on the animals - there is no 'we saw them doing this' or 'we tried to find that group' - Humans appear rarely if at all, letting the animals tell their own story. And the descriptions are simply stunning; vivid and transporting.
A wonderful book which will stay with me for a long time and one that I will revist often. A beautiful story of a rapidly disappearing world, a world at odds with the rapacious actions of the human race. Sadly I fear, the outcome is a foregone conclusion.