Big Cat Diary (1996– ) User Reviews

A spectacular triumph.

[toxina90 · 10/10 · 13 August 2006]

Big Cat Week/Diary like Big Bear Week is an excellent documentary drama focusing on big cats in Africa. The presenters Simon King, Jonathan Scott and Saba Douglas Hamilton all bring expertise and wit and the ability to interest the viewer effortlessly yet still implying the seriousness of the situations involving the various groups of cats every day survival including lions, cheetahs and leopards. I watched the first season and the second and eagerly await the next edition, although we have to wait almost a year for the next series to begin. So far I have watched the first 3 series and the 4th I expect will begin in mid 2007. As soon as you begin watching it it's as if a spell has been cast which hooks you on and never lets go until the end of the series. No matter how many tragedies or shocks occur in the Big Cat Diary World I never get bored as all the dialogue and action is executed in perfect and addictive flair. If you love animal programmes you will love this show, but even if you're not interested (I wasn't interested in bears but watched Big Bear Week [2006] and was fascinated) partly because Saba Douglas Hamilton was involved. As I was saying even if you're not interested give it a chance and see how you like this show with it's mix of interesting facts, action and drama, which in my opinion is the perfect cocktail for this unique documentary. I love this show not normally being interested in television documentaries, if you liked Big Cat Diary you should also check out Big Bear Week which you will probably enjoy as much or even more. Well done to whoever organised this fascinating series. 10/10 entertainment.

Best show ever!

[MissLeopard83 · 10/10 · 11 November 2010]

This show is absolutely brilliant. I love everything about it. I started watching it back in 2008 when we had the Animal Planet for a short period and instantly fell in love. I have had a natural love for animals since I was a year old and this program and its animals captured my heart. The set up of the show is different from other animal documentaries in that it is more up close and personal with the animal stars. It follows their habitat, habits, family, and more. The animals are also given names so the viewer can grow even closer to them. My favorite character was the leopard named "Shadow" ("Zawadi" in Swahili). Seeing the animals...following them, was a really great experience. I now want to go on my own African safari!

Big Cat Week 2007 Was AMAZING!!

[JosephLong210 · 10/10 · 6 January 2008]

Big Cat Week is an excellent documentary drama focusing on big cats in Africa. The presenters Simon King, Jonathan Scott and Saba Douglas Hamilton all bring expertise, wit, and the ability to interest the viewer effortlessly yet still implying the seriousness of the situations involving the various lives of the groups of cats every day survival including lions, cheetahs and leopards. I have watched all of the big cat diaries/weeks, since the first one was on TV. I eagerly await the next edition, although we have to wait almost a year for the next series to begin. So far, I have watched the first three series and the fifth I expect will begin in mid 2008 because the fourth was in mid 2007. As soon as you begin watching it, it has as if a spell has been cast which hooks you on and never let go until the end of the series. No matter how many tragedies or shocks occur in the Big Cat Diary/ Big Cat Week I never get bored as all the dialogue and action is executed in perfect and addictive flair. If you love Big Cat Programmes you will love this show, but even if you are not interested. As I was saying even if you are not interested, give it a chance and see how you like this show with its mix of interesting facts, action and drama, which in my opinion is the perfect cocktail for this unique documentary. Well done to Simon King, Jonathan Scott and Saba Douglas Hamilton who organised this fascinating series. 10/10 entertainment.

BBC needs to release this magnificent full DVDs!!!!!

[SvaTz · 10/10 · 13 June 2014]

Correct me if I'm wrong, BBC's Big Cat series contain:

BBC Big Cat Dairy:(1996-2002 total 4 series);

BBC Big Cat Week: (2003-2006 total 4 series) and

BBC Big Cat Live: (2008 1 series so far)

BBC needs to re-release ALL OF THEM!!!! I can't even buy them because some of them aren't even released in DVD or Blu-ray!!!

I'm so in love with this TV shows and more people should know about this amazing documentaries that absolutely melt hearts, the quality of it is top notch! And the fun fact is, I actually leaned a lot more from these wildlife animals, I can't appreciate it enough.

Great show

[knkimes · 10/10 · 30 April 2013]

Best reality show ever. I watch this show e very morning and have become very teaches to what happens to the cats and there cubs. I like the staff Jonathan and Simon from the beginning now they add Saba its even better The show is well film and it teaches about the migration patterns of other answers. I didn't know that cheetahs didn't climb tress and there biggest enemies were hyenas I wish they were still making this series it is a lot better than most of the channels other programming. I would like for the show to come back on primetime. I would like to know more about the staff and where the camp where they live. Thank you for such an enjoyable show!

One of the best Animal Planet shows

[AGfox16 · 10/10 · 27 February 2014]

This show is one of if not the best show on Animal Planet. It's realistic without being too gruesome; some animals are lost, etc. It shows the lions capturing and eating their prey but it really doesn't show that much detail. Anyway, the show is filmed in the Masai Mara in Kenya, near Nairobi; it follows lions, cheetahs, and leopards. Amber, Kike, Honey (cheetahs), the Marsh and Ridge pride and Tamu (lions), and Half-tail, Shadow, and Bella (leopards) to name a few. It didn't make any sense that they canceled it, or put it on hiatus. Hopefully they will resume and this great show will have new episodes. Well at least they still play reruns on Animal Planet. 10/10.

An African wildlife soap opera.

[13Funbags · 9/10 · 12 May 2017]

It's amazing that all they had to do was take some cameras to Africa and they managed to make one of the best television shows ever.No actors, no script, no nothing.Considering all the fully scripted, fake reality shows that Animal Planet has gotten into(not to mention the intelligence insulting, short attention span shows like Bad Dog), it's really surprising that they didn't try to make another show like this.Maybe Steve Irwin getting pwned had something to do with that.Who knows?I really wish I had seen these when they were new, not that you can even tell that they are old.It would have been nice to see them in order(AP refuses to show them in order for some reason) because it's basically a soap opera starring big cats.Before I watched this, I knew nothing about big cats and now I'm almost an expert.I can tell the difference between cheetahs and leopards, I bet you can't.The one thing I don't understand is why the lion is called the king of the jungle.They aren't even the kings of their own prides.They are completely dependent on the females to survive.AND they don't even live in the jungle.Kind of like Tarzan being white I guess.I also find it amazing that these big cats are exactly like house cats, just bigger.They do the same exact things.A few years ago I read a story about how scientists spent years and millions of dollars studying cats and they determined that house cats act just like the big cats.All I had to do was watch this show.Yay science!America F*ck Yeah!Anyway, this show is great.Go watch it.

Film about the guides, not the big cats.

[cgtam · 2/10 · 1 January 2021]

This film is in "safari format" except the viewer only sees glimpses of the cats, mostly lions. Instead of seeing wildlife, the camera focuses mostly on the long noisy rides & guides trying to find the big cats. When one is finally found, the camera again films the talking guide who DESCRIBES the scene for the blind Instead of showing the iconic predator. Few glimpses of leopards, a non running cheetah, & lions waiting for night. Skip this, unless one likes seeing talking heads, & bumpy back seat views of old dirty Jeep's dashboards.

Big Cat Diary

[scottgw-37279 · 15 June 2017]

This is the best big cat narrative program I have ever watched! I love it and have seen each episode repeatedly. The footage is amazing, the hosts are down to earth and speak with a comfort and ease that bonds with the audience, and the wildlife, is, well, breath-taking. This program is the number one reason I have planned a trip to Kenya for safari.

Great show.... Saba is so boring...

[chrome1007 · 5/10 · 9 May 2012]

I watched the first season and the second and eagerly await the next edition, although we have to wait almost a year for the next series to begin. So far I have watched the first 3 series and the 4th I expect will begin in mid 2007. As soon as you begin watching it it's as if a spell has been cast which hooks you on and never lets go until the end of the series. The animals are also given names so the viewer can grow even closer to them. My favorite character was the leopard named "Shadow" ("Zawadi" in Swahili). Seeing the animals...following them, was a really great experience. I now want to go on my own African safari!

It's really hard to watch such a great show, then out comes Saba Hamilton..so boring, whispering...sounds like she's reading a monitor... ***

But Jonathan and Simon are great.... Love the documentary.

Thanks.

Somewhat taken aback

[alexbear-04503 · 1/10 · 18 May 2017]

It almost seems that when Big Cat Diary began that I loved watching the stories and loved the animals. I don't remember all the heart wrenching scenes of deer and other animals being torn to bits whilst screaming... Today I can hardly even repeat, so heartbreaking, an antelope in mid- birth? surprised by a cheetah and chased with her unborn baby hanging from her. You know I can't even express how that got my day started. I love the stories of the lions and other big cats about their lives and the struggles that they incur but I am not interested in watching any more of the hunting scenes. Yes, I know that is part of their lives and of nature but I think there is a gentle way to tell the story of the lions without the emphasis on that part. In short, I love the lions but I love the other creatures, too. The way you are filming the shows is breaking my heart. For what it's worth...