Predators in the Masai Mara, Kenya

Being on safari is one of the most exciting things you can experience. The biodiversity of wildlife here in Africa is just staggering. It harkens back to a time long passed, when wild spaces were still wild, and animals roamed in a perfect balance of predators and prey. There is nothing else quite like an African safari.

The crown jewel of Kenya's park system is the Masai Mara. Here you will not only see many different animals, but you will most likely see many different behaviors and interactions as well. It is like a constant nature documentary playing out in front of you and all around.

I am here in the Masai Mara at the height of the Great Migration. There are an astounding number of wildebeest, zebra, and antelope that have crossed the Mara river in search of greener pastures. And with all of that prey, there are plenty of predators around to take advantage of the migrating herds.

Here are a few of my favorite images of the big predators that we have come across here in the Mara over the last four days. Lions, cheetah, and plenty of hyenas looked like they were all having the feast of a lifetime.

Enjoy the view of the top of the food chain in action.

This cheetah mom has a very tough task ahead. She has to find enough food for the family, while teaching her cubs how to hunt, all while avoiding predation to lions, leopards, or hyenas.

I just can't get enough of these cute cubs. I am going to have to frame some of these cheetah pictures when I get home.

More cheetah magic.

The cubs could just walk right under mom. Our guide told us that these cubs were hidden until four days earlier, when the mom first revealed them. That means these cubs were just a little over a month old.

This lion was very hidden in the tall grass. We finally got a closer look and saw it gnawing on a giant rib cage. I thought it might have been a waterbuck that had turned into a multi-day meal.

A young lion cub giving me a curious look.

There is so many similarities between lions and house cats when you watch them move, especially with the cubs like this one.

The grasses of the Mara make finding the cats difficult, but they provide a wonderful mosaic background for photos.

Mama lion taking a break from feasting to snag a quiet drink from this little pond.

Now her cubs are joining in for a drink. They got very pouncey and playful after this.

Playful lion cub messing with mom, right before getting slapped down.

A quick slap from mom sent this playful cub to the ground. All important lessons for a young lion.

A young lion walking through the golden grass at sunrise in the Masai Mara.

This was something I'de never seen before, a hyena eating a lion. This lion was killed the day before by a nomadic group of lions moving in on his territory. The hyena was just picking up what was left. The circle of life holds true even for the top of the food chain.

The ultimate prize on this safari, a momma cheetah with four very young cubs.

I've been traveling to Africa for almost two decades and I've never seen cheetah cubs this young before.

A young male lion, still growing out his mane and living with his family.

A lioness watches over her territory from a perch on a dirt mound.

A little extra height really aides in the vantage over the long grass of the savanna.

But resting is key as well. You have to use your energy wisely out here.

We came across this lion early in the morning. It had just killed a zebra, although the jackals were already close by. We watched this lion until a pack of hyena moved in and chased her off of her kill.

A spotted hyena can take down a wildebeest by itself, but it is most dangerous in packs.

This big maned male lion put on a show with some growls and yawns.

Spotted hyena.

This hyena was on a very fresh wildebeest kill. They tend to get very bloody when they make kills because they will start eating their prey while its still alive... and still pumping blood.

These two male lions were surrounded by yummy looking wildebeest, however they were not interested at all. They had just invaded this territory and were actively chasing off the resident big male at this moment.

It is hard to see the resident male, past the far vehicle, keeping distance from these two nomadic males. We did witness a scuffle though as one of these males was slapped down. We had to take a break from watching the chase though as I spotted some incredibly rare black rhinos heading in the other direction. Sometimes you just can't decide which direction to look.

Still lots more to come from life on safari.
-Dai Mar