Great Migration
Great Migration, Each year around the same time, the circular great wildebeest migration begins in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area of the southern Serengeti in Tanzania and loops clockwise through the Serengeti National Park and north towards the Masai Mara reserve in Kenya. This migration is naturally caused, by the availability of grazing.
The initial phase lasts from about January to March, when the calving season begins – a time when there is plenty of rain-ripened grass available for the 260,000 zebras that precede 1.7 million wildebeest and around 470,000 gazelles and many more.. During February, the wildebeest are on the short grass plains of the southeast part of the ecosystem, grazing and giving birth to approximately 500,000 calves in 2 to 3 weeks. Few calves are born ahead of time and of these, hardly any survive, largely because very young calves are more noticeable to predators when mixed with older calves from the previous year.
As the rains end in May, the animals start moving northwest into the areas around the Grumeti River, where they typically remain until late June.
The crossings of the Grumeti and Mara rivers begin in July are a popular safari attraction time because crocodiles are waiting in the river. The herds arrive in Kenya in late July / August, where they stay for the rest of the dry season, except that the Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles move only east/west.
In early November, with the start of the short rains, the migration starts moving south again, to the short grass plains of the southeast, usually arriving in December in plenty of time for calving in February.
About 250,000 wildebeests die during the journey from Tanzania to the Maasai Mara National Reserve in southwestern Kenya, a total of 800 kilometres (500 mi). Death is usually from thirst, hunger, exhaustion, or predation including by big cats.
Great Migration, One of Greatest Natural Wonders of the World: No Words. What can I say? Animals that doesn’t have sense of direction traveling every year same path (some what) around 1200 miles round the year between Serengati and Masai Mara. Crossing the river is a big deal for them, they stay at the tip of the bank for days without crossing. Between 1 million wildebeest, 200K zebras and migrate every year in search of good grazing.
These animals communicate through sight and smell, but are also very vocal. Blue wildebeest males can bellow loud enough that the sound travels up to 1.24 miles (2 kilometers), according to the ADW. As territorial creatures, gnu herds have a certain area they call their own. The herd of zebra joins the wildebeest migration as they are great in looking at any threat. The wildebeest have a good sense of hearing and smell that helps both to protect from the predator and searching in food. The zebra has a great eye sight to see any threat.
There are rules that tourist vehicles can’t go close to the animals and also they can’t block the path that Wilderbeests are going. Our driver was stuck in the other vehicles and he couldn’t take back up. Unfortunately he got ticket from the ranger. Rangers take the license of the driver and driver has to go in person to the rangers office to get the license back.
Wondering how does Wildebeest look? The wildebeest, also known as gnu is a member of the antelope family. They have a large, box-like head with curving horns. The front end of their body is heavily built, while the hindquarters are slender with spindly legs. They have a gray coat and a black mane as well as a beard that can be black or white.
Out first priority was to watch the great migration. Drivers to communicate with each other on radio. We heard there is one happening and our driver took us to a good spot.
Noise of the Wildebeest and the mad rush near the crossing is a feast to watch. So many Wildebeests keeps running going towards the water and tourist vehicles keep going next to see them cross.
Another attempt to watch the migration from different spot. This time we had to wait long time as they keep going back and fourth and not crossing the river. Finally it happened.
