Very many Prides are situated within the Masai Mara including the Ridge Pride and the Marsh Pride made famous by the BBC1 series Big Cat Diaries.
The Marsh pride, or Bila Shaka as it is known (made up of around 15 lions) is situated in the Musiara area around Governors Camp. They have often been seen in camp at night. The dominant male 'Notch', has fathered 4 cubs by a lone female (named 'Tuma' by the Big Cat team). She has not been allowed into the pride by the other females and is currently hiding her cubs in the reed bed at the back of Governors to protect them. Only 2 cubs now remain, as two cubs were seperated from the mother during an attack from another male Lion (not Notch). It is believed one may have drowned in the mud, and the other was taken by Hyena. 'Tuma' is struggling to keep the remaining cubs safe as there are many Hyena in the area.
We came upon the cubs late on the Monday afternoon game drive. We arrived late as the sun was fading and were the only vehicle there, Hyena were gathering at the edge of the reeds waiting for 'Tuma' to leave the cubs unguarded. The mother and cubs have been filmed extensively for the 2007 Big Cat Diary Series.