Stories of endless plains in the Serengeti, as depicted by David Attenborough, are very much a reality as soon as you enter the National Park.

Many of the animals here are resident and don't move with the migration, which provides for good safari viewing action all year round.

We spent two days in the park being whizzed around in a safari-modified open top Toyota Landcruiser, courtesy of Chris our excellent guide from Tanganyika Safari Company. Our camping on the first night was slap bang in the middle of the park itself at a makeshift campsite with only a young Masai warrior and a spear to guard us.

We rise very early on day two of the Serengeti to go on what is termed a 'game drive'. The idea is to catch the big cats out and about whilst still on their killing spree. You'd also think you'd miss the majority of the tourists, but in reality, everybody has the same idea.

Never did we imagine that we would get so close to the animals in the wild, but it happened and I think the slideshow gets it across quite nicely.