Namiri Plains, in the remote Eastern corner of the Serengeti, is the realisation of a dream for all of us at Asilia. The area, that was closed for 20 years to create a safe haven for cheetah, opened in July 2014 and Asilia has been appointed as its custodian. This is big cat country and undoubtedly offers East Africa’s best cheetah viewing opportunities.

Namiri Plains camp was created for real safari enthusiasts seeking comfort and exclusivity in secluded surroundings, excellent guiding and a deeper, more intense wildlife experience. To minimise the impact on the environment the camp comprises of only six tents. Pitched in the shade of giant acacias, this small and exclusive tented haven offers 360° views of wildlife crossing the surrounding plains, the river area with its perennial vegetation and dense green reed beds that attract birds and smaller wildlife species. The migration passes through Namiri Plains from October to May and unleashes spectacular predator sightings during December and January as the resident big cats feast on the passing herds of wildebeest and zebra. Explore the Namiri Plains on daily game drives; enjoy sunrise breakfast picnics on top of Soit Le Motonyi rock or sundowners on top of a kopje.

Namiri Plains is located where the southern short grass plains meet the acacia woodland. The Ngare Nanyuki underground river creates pockets of permanent water that support year-round concentrations of wildlife. With easy prey available throughout the year there is more than enough big cat activity here and the dramatic rocky outcrops that dot the plains serve as excellent observation points for cheetah, lion and leopard on the lookout for prey.

When the rains come to the plains, between December and May, then Namiri turns green, and hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle flood the area, and from the elevation of the magnificent granite kopjes, there is no better vantage to look out over what are truly mind-boggling numbers of animals. By the end of March, up to 400,000 calves have been born, more than any concentration of predators can hope to consume, and so the cycle of life, from dry season to wet season and back, continues to play out in an endlessly on the Serengeti Plains. If there's one place still left in Africa to authentically experience this extraordinary cycle and feel like you are the first person in the world to come across it, then go to Namiri.

Hyenas, jackals and bat-eared fox become more active and more evident, but pride of place still goes to the Big Cats. Having somehow survived the long dry season - some of the lions never leaving their granite fortresses - the green season is the time to cash in and forget the hard times. Zebras foal between December and March by the hundreds and thousands, and then the wildebeeste start to calve in late February.