Big Cat Diary - Episode Guide

Simon King and Jonathan Scott follow a cheetah and her cubs, a pride of lions and the elusive leopard.

The Big Cat Diary team watch the animals' night-time routine.

Fundi the cheetah and her two cubs go missing and the search is on to find them and two impressive new male lions have moved in on the territory of one of the prides.

After four weeks of filming, the cats are becoming more familiar and the team captures some footage of Half-Tail the leopard and her cub.

Jonathan Scott gets his first view of Half-Tail's new leopard cubs, and watches some lions stalk a zebra. Meanwhile, Simon King watches Amber the cheetah and her brood trying to overpower a wildebeest calf.

The Mara's wildebeest migration is the largest for over 20 years.

A team from the Natural History Unit is living cheek by jowl with Africa's big cats. For ten weeks one film-maker will follow a pride of lions - the Marsh pride - another will trail Amber the cheetah and her cubs, and a third will seek out the elusive leopard, Shadow.This is a season of intense activity in the Masai Mara - the great migration is under way. Constantly on the move seeking out fresh pasture, a million or more wildebeest and zebra must run the gauntlet past hungry predators.

Simon King watches Amber the cheetah and her family make excellent progress in their hunting skills, then suffer setbacks, failing to catch a warthog and being chased off by baboons. He also enjoys the antics of a family of jackals at their den.Jonathan Scott witnesses a dramatic pursuit, as the Marsh lionesses stalk and kill a wildebeest. And he sets off before dawn to find Half-Tail the leopard, one of the stars of the last series of Big Cat Diary. Later. He watches in horror as Half-Tail almost gets killed by two passing lionesses, but manages to escape in the nick of time.

Simon King discovers the role of the two male lions in the Marsh pride, and finds one showing surprisingly tender behaviour towards his young cubs. He also watches vast numbers of wildebeest and zebras run the gauntlet of gargantuan crocodiles as they cross the Mara River on migration. Finally, he has the frustrating experience of losing contact with Amber the cheetah and her family as they disappear into wild country.Jonathan Scott has good news about Half-Tail the leopard: she looks as if she may be a mother once again. He also sees a lioness drag a 150 kilo wildebeest into cover using her teeth - a feat of incredible strength.

Simon King watches a male lion as he attempts to guard two wildebeest kills against a flock of marauding vultures, and enjoys the antics of the Marsh pride's lion cubs, who use a meal as an excuse to play with their food and their mother's tail. He discovers a family of small cats - servals - whose enormous ears enable them to hear the rustles of their rodent prey. Finally, after a frustrating few days searching for Amber the cheetah and her three cubs, he finally catches up with the family, who immediately climb over the bonnet of his car!Jonathan Scott gets his first ever view of Half-Tail the leopard's two young cubs, but they are a long way away from where he expected to find them. Half-Tail has never managed to raise a litter of two cubs - perhaps this will be the first time. Jonathan also discovers a new pride of lions who seem to be encroaching on the Marsh pride's territory, and witnesses a stand-off between the lions and a herd of buffalo - considered by many to be Africa's most dangerous animal. Finally, he watches Half-Tail's daughter, Shadow, stalking an impala, without success.

Simon King finds the cheetah cubs still biting off more than they can chew, chasing after two huge adult warthogs before turning their attention to a smaller pig, which they successfully kill and eat. Later, he watches as a hyena pushes the cheetah family off a gazelle kill, before suffering problems of its own with jackals and vultures. Finally, Simon discovers Amber's three cubs - but without their mother for the first time.Jonathan Scott watches a lion and lioness from the new pride as they mate, then sees the four lionesses stalk and kill a zebra. Shadow the leopard suffers the unwelcome attentions of almost every animal she passes, large and small, resulting in a frustrating day for her.

Simon King finds our three cheetah cubs, still without their mother, Amber. They are nervous but do manage to catch a young Thompson's gazelle - their first solo kill. Later, they see an intruding cheetah, who turns out to be their mother.Jonathan Scott watches Shadow the leopard as she walks around her huge territory, scent-marking as she goes to let other leopards know she's there. He also witnesses the Marsh lions confront a herd of buffalo who threaten to trample the youngest cubs to death. Fortunately, after a long stand-off, the buffalo retreat and the cubs are safe.

Rain makes life difficult for the film crew, but brings welcome opportunities for the big cats. Simon King watches Amber the cheetah make the most of the weather by hunting a Thompson's gazelle. Later on, the cubs take shelter under Simon's car before playing in the rain. He also watches two lion sisters, one of whom is unable to run, stalk and ambush a waterbuck, and has a very close encounter with one of the cheetah cubs.Jonathan Scott explains the importance of scent in the lives of the Marsh lions and witnesses a rare event, as Shadow the leopard kills an impala fawn right in front of the cameras. After taking her kill up a tree, she loses her original prey, the mother impala, to hyenas.

The latest update from Kenya's Masai Mara follows Amber the cheetah and her family hunting an impala, while Jonathan Scott sees Shadow the leopard having problems with a noisy jackal which spoils her hunt. The lions of the Marsh pride encounter a buffalo herd and are forced to flee. The buffalo attack the cubs.

Jonathan Scott returns to the scene of the previous episode's carnage, while Simon King follows the saga of Amber the cheetah and her three full grown cubs and also enjoys a close encounter with baboons.

Simon King sees two sides of the cheetah family: Amber's frustration at her cubs' reckless hunting behaviour, and their life as a happy and contented family unit. He also witnesses one of the most extraordinary yet harrowing of all natural events: a major wildebeest crossing of the Mara river, with huge crocodiles lying in ambush.Jonathan Scott finds Shadow the leopard in good shape, having taken over her mother Half-Tail's territory. Later on, he has an emotional encounter with Half-Tail herself, and her little cubs. After their close encounter with buffaloes, the Marsh pride of lions appear to be on the road to continued success and go hunting a warthog.

Kenya is in the middle of its worst drought ever, but for the lions of the Marsh pride it means lots of action as the wildebeest are on the move in their thousands. There's an amazing encounter with a crocodile, and a tiny six-week-old cub is the latest addition to the Ridge pride.Simon King tracks down Amber the cheetah, and uncovers a python swallowing a gazelle - in one gulp. Half-tail the leopard is dead, but after a long search, Jonathan is reunited with her cub, Shadow - and Shadow's own cub.

Safi's left alone with a white-tailed mongoose as Shadow goes off to hunt. The team also manage to film remarkable footage of a male leopard hunting during the day, which is very rare. Amber the cheetah is back in action in a spectacular chase with a Thompson's gazelle.There's lots of fun as the lion cub Solo plays with her Mum away from the Ridge pride. Simon King witnesses a scary encounter between a herd of elephants and the young lions of the Marsh pride, with their father Scar making his presence felt.

The is an amazing encounter - never filmed before - as the big cats take on another giant of the Maasai Mara. The lions of the Marsh pride attack a hippo in broad daylight, after losing out to a buffalo. Will they succeed this time? Simon King also films them squaring up to a hyena or two.Jonathan Scott sees his leopard Shadow having to fend off jackals, and later discovers the jackals den - complete with pups. In the Ridge pride, the lion cub Solo and her Mum are still going it alone - and are about to pay the price.

The rainy season has arrived, so heavy rain and storms are lashing Kenya's Maasai Mara. Jonathan Scott searches for Solo the lion cub, the latest addition to the Ridge pride, who could be alone and in danger. At least Shadow the leopard and her cub are safe for now - Jonathan spots them at play, but also sees a male leopard close by which could spell trouble later.For the big cats the rain is a mixed blessing. There's plenty of food about, but Amber the cheetah gets stuck in the mud, and struggles to make a kill. Simon King tracks her as she tries to adjust to the green - but slippery - landscape.

More than half a million wildebeest are back in the Maasai Mara after some torrential rain. This is good news for the Marsh lions including Scar, the lion who likes to take things easy. Solo the lion cub is growing up fast.

Solo the lion cub is still doing well - it's time to take on some jackals. Jonathan Scott goes in search of Shadow and her leopard cub Safi who have gone into hiding, but finds some really young hyena pups. Simon King keeps watch on the Marsh pride where the males are in a spot of trouble.

Jonathan catches up with Safi, the young leopard, now keen to hunt, but still young and inexperienced. Will Safi find her mother after last week's fight? Solo, the lion cub, is starting to team up with the big males in the pride - is one of them Solo's father? Kimbia, the male cheetah, meets up with Amber's daughter - could there be romance?

In the last of the series, the female Marsh lions reign supreme. Shadow is getting her leopard cub Safi ready to face the world alone. Amber the cheetah's daughter is back in fine form, but less inclined towards romance. In a tense 11 hours, Solo the lion cub goes missing - Jonathan Scott finally tracks Solo down - but will Solo's mum manage to do the same?

A new presenter - Saba Douglas-Hamilton - joins the Big Cat team and goes tracking lions. Simon King finds a new cheetah that he's never seen before, and she has three cubs with her. Jonathan Scott searches for the most elusive of the big cats - Shadow the leopard - who has featured in every Big Cat Diary. He finds that she has new cubs, although he doesn't get a glimpse of them.

Jonathan Scott trails Shadow the Leopard, Saba Douglas-Hamilton follows the Marsh pride, whilst Simon King hunts for the cheetah cubs. The cheetah mother brings back a live gazelle fawn for her cubs. Shadow moves her cubs to a new den. There is an aggressive encounter between lions and a lioness.

Honey the cheetah brings breakfast to her cubs. Solo the lion and his ally are exiles, living outside a pride. They have to fend off a gang of hyenas from their kill. The Marsh Pride rule the Musiara Marsh, which is hot property if you're a predator. It's fantastic for hunting. Shadow the leopard is frustrated in her attempts to hunt.

Two of the Marsh pride lionesses have walked right into camp - a potentially dangerous situation. Shadow the leopard has moved her cubs, to keep them safe from hyenas. After a close encounter with a lion, Honey the cheetah and her family are a bit rattled. Males from the Marsh pride go into the Ridge pride's territory and things get tense. Crocodiles attack gazelles as they try to cross the river.

Before dawn sound carries well, so a roaring lion can be heard five kilometres away - making it the best time for Saba to find them. The wildebeest want to cross the river to get to the better grass. Thousands pile into the water. Downstream there are hundreds of wildebeest that have drowned.Honey the cheetah gives her cubs a hunting lesson. The Marsh pride lionesses keep the males away from their young cubs. Shadow the leopard has only one surviving cub. The Ridge pride lions attack a black rhinoceros but it charges and drives them off.

Honey's cubs decide to stalk a bull elephant, which gets irritated and drives them away. While looking for Shadow the leopard, Jonathan Scott encounters a serval. The heart of Shadow's territory has just gone up in flames as a bushfire rages. The Marsh pride are rarely all together in one place, so Saba teaches us how to identify which individual is which. A lion stalks Honey and her cubs.

A wildebeest calf has a lucky escape from the lions. Honey the cheetah plays with her cubs. A baboon chases off Shadow the leopard. There is no sign of her cub any more. Buffalo know that lions are dangerous, so the herd chase them away from a waterhole. But the lion cubs get left behind and the buffalo try to kill them.

Last in the series about the daily lives of big cats in the Masai Mara. Simon King watches cheetahs, Jonathan Scott sees an elusive male leopard and Saba Douglas-Hamilton watches a contented lion pride. The series is rounded off with a recap of the adventures of Honey the cheetah, Solo the lion, and Shadow and Safi the leopards.

Saba is on the trail of Bella the leopard, who has got rid of her overgrown son Chui and is being courted by all the male leopards in the area. Life's a battle for single mums Tamu the lion and Honey the cheetah. Keeping her four cubs fed means Honey must make some life-threatening decisions, while Tamu has to protect her family from a buffalo herd.

Jonathan finds Honey the cheetah mum with only three of her four cubs. Bella the leopard is attracting all the male leopards in the area. Simon continues to follow Tamu the lone lioness who is struggling against incredible odds to keep her family alive as they face an attack by a rogue male lion who wants Tamu's cubs dead.

Tamu searches for her four cubs. For an inexperienced mum, living on her own and trying to raise a young family, this is the toughest test she's faced. Bella is hungry and keen to hunt, but there are other cats in the area who want a slice of the action. As the Wildebeest migration arrives in Honey's home range, it should be a time of plenty for her and her cubs. But the arrival of so much prey brings in other predators that Honey and her cubs could do without.

Simon King follows the continuing drama of Tamu, the single lioness mum who is still searching for her missing cubs. Bella the leopard is back to her elusive ways and keeping Saba and the leopard team guessing as to where she'll pop up. Honey, the cheetah mum, gives her three male cubs some lessons in how to be a successful cheetah.

Tamu the lioness has once again lost one of her cubs. Bella the leopard is still trying to hunt, but must beware of other predators around her. Honey the cheetah mum and her cubs are confronted by lions.