The big Cat Diary

The Big Cat Diary and later the Big Cat Week, was conceived in 1996 by the BBC in order to showcase the beauty and diversity of life in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Park. Located in the Paradise Plain region of the Mara, the camera crew and presenters spend approximately 6 months a year camped by the Mara river watching as the yearly display unfolds.

The Presenters

Originally presented by Jonathan Scott and Simon King, the show slowly grew in popularity and expanded from a once a week programme to a day by day account of the life and times of the region. Joined in 2002 by Saba Douglas-Hamilton, each of the presenters has specialised in following a species of cat, being it the exploits of Toto the baby cheetah, the squabbles and play of the Marsh Pride or the tentative adventures of Chui the leopard.

The Future

Now running for over ten years, the series has really done wonders for the popularity of the Masai Mara and the Governors’ Camps, who sponsor the project. Each year thousands of visitors flock to the area to watch the daily life of these mighty beasts unfold and the tribulations that a life on the plains bring. With this increased understanding and insight, the Mara is due to endure as one of Africa's must see locations.