See the cub peeking out? It was such a relief – I was worried there might not be any animals left. Not only are there a lot of animals, they put zoo animals to shame.

Do you remember that spectacular “Circle of Life” opening scene in “Lion King” – the huge range of animals thronging on the savanna? There are places in Africa that still look like that, especially the Masai Mara (Kenya) and the Serengeti (Tanzania).

Looking out from the safari van, in one glance I could see a huge variety – elephants, zebra, giraffe, antelope, gazelles, lions, warthogs, baboons, ostriches, cape buffalo, wildebeest, and a range of bizarre birds. Teeming.

I love zoos, but the animals there sometimes look a little dusty and shabby. The animals in Africa look like Muhammad Ali in 1966 – sleek, healthy, fast and powerful. No sick or slow ones, obviously.

My six-day safari in Kenya cost me $280 in 1991. Of course, that was a no-frills safari, sleeping in a tent-circle, a Masai standing guard all night. A bonfire and ten-foot spear to keep the lions away.  I slept fine.

After a few days in the Masai Mara, we also visited Lake Nakuru for the clouds of flamingos.

You can arrange all this from home, but it will be expensive paying all those middle men. Unless you’re wealthy, it’s better to fly to Nairobi or Dar es Salaam and arrange it there for a fraction of the cost.