Describing the rise and fall of the various prides of lions, and the strength of the family ties that keep the females together and provide security for their cubs, this is a true story of the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. It also follows the fortunes of the other animals who share this land - the once-elusive leopard, the wild dogs (badly hit by disease and now seriously endangered), and the solitary cheetah, whose life is a constant battle against more powerful predators. But though the Mara is a protected wilderness, it is surrounded by people. The book tells of the Maasai pastoralists, struggling to preserve their culture and the right to their land, the threat of poaching, and the impact that tourism has on this beautiful wildlife sanctuary.