Ndutu - Day I Part I (the Marsh Pride)

After a quick coffee, we leave the lodge dead on 06:00 this morning, while it is still dark.

We can barely see the surroundings, but just about manage to make out this black backed jackal in the darkness.

Just as the sun is rising, an elephant walks by. As they do.

He gets mighty close to the car.

As soon as we approach, they make a run for it.

Talk about bad hair day!

Malisa wants to go down on the Big Marsh to look for the lion cubs who live around that area.

It doesn't take him long to find them.

There were six of them, to two mothers, but sadly one was eaten by a python.

The mischievous little cubs – they are 2½ months old now – spend their time playing, suckling and having fun.

When they start to make their way across the marsh, mum keeps stopping to make sure they are all keeping up.

Occasionally she stops and looks straight at us, and I wonder what is going through her mind at this time. Irritation? Fear? Curiosity? Breakfast?

The cubs find a small dead bush and investigate.

Before continuing on their way.

The group leave the open marsh and head into the wilderness to explore. We follow. That is the beauty of the Ndutu area, it is one of the few places in the Tanzanian parks where safari vehicles are permitted to drive off the marked tracks.

Like most kids, the cubs are into everything and explore high and low. This tree proves an irresistible challenge.

Soon they're on the move again!

Mum doesn't notice that one of her babies is underneath her as she tries to sit down.

The cub manages to escape just in time to avoid being squashed.

The two females share the parenting of all the cubs, so if one mum is busy or disinterested, the cubs can just go to the other to suckle.

Although mum doesn't always seem to be quite so thrilled by the arrangement.

Mum wants to move on, junior wants to eat!

In fact, mum wants to eat too, but before she goes out hunting, she has to find a safe place to hide her cubs from predators.

Mum heads for a large bush and the babies settle down to feed. Again.

Another car arrives, and drives too close to the den for comfort, revving its engine as it does. Mum is not happy.

When her darlings have had their fill, she leaves the den in her hunt for breakfast.

Her offspring try to follow, but somehow she appears to communicate to them that they should stay put while she goes off hunting.

As the cubs obediently settle down near the den, I get an overwhelming sense of privilege and gratitude, with a perception of being part of a wildlife documentary. I have to pinch myself to make sure this really is me having this incredible experience, not some kind of parallel universe.

Nothing can beat watching wild animals in their natural habitat!

We too leave the cubs behind and follow the females for a while, to see what they get up to.

When it becomes evident that they are in no hurry to go chasing prey; we decide to have a break and open our breakfast box while we wait for any action.

Lots of lovely fruit in today's breakfast box, as well as egg, bacon, sausage and yogurt. Plus a cake. We are certainly not going to starve on this trip!

What an exciting morning, and it is only 09:15! Be sure to read the next instalment to see more of our experiences in Tanzania with Calabash Adventures.