What Is The Wildebeest Migration?
What Is The Wildebeest Migration? The Wildebeest Migration is a yearly migration of wildebeest from the Ndutu region of the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara in southern Kenya.
The wildebeest calving season begins at this time of year, and the recent rains have left the breathtaking caldera reserve with an abundance of grass for zebra and wildebeest to feast upon. Additionally, it is a prime time for lions, cheetahs, leopards, and even hyenas to prey on helpless and disoriented calves.
The zebras start their northward migration towards the Maasai Mara in April and May, when the rains stop. Where the zebra go, the wildebeest follow.
Some of the most amazing pictures and videos can be taken during the huge herd’s crossings of the Grumeti River in June/July and the Mara River between August and November. The swollen rivers sweep away members of the herd, predators harry the stragglers, and the opportunistic Nile crocodiles have a feast as animals venture into the water seeking to cross. It’s a brilliant, violent demonstration of the food chain in action.
The herd moves into the Maasai Mara in southern Kenya once the crossings are finished. The migration moves south once more in anticipation of the calving season in the New Year, having spent the dry season in the more fertile Maasai Mara.
About the Mara River Crossing (July to October).
The herd keeps moving northward during this time, heading for Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve. Since these animals don’t adhere to a set routine, following their movements becomes a daily task as they wander slowly but unavoidably towards the Mara River, the next major impediment in their route.
For the herd to locate somewhat safer ground on the other side, they will once more have to endure swelling waters and sly predators along the Mara River, which presents another lethal obstacle. The surrounding vistas are just as memorable as the life-and-death fight occurring at the Kogatende crossing, which attracts photographers and documentarians from all over the world.
About Calving Season (December to March).
In the Ndutu region, which spans the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the southern Serengeti, life begins for a vast array of species. During the calving season, half a million baby wildebeest are born, with an average of 8,000 each day, over the course of a few short weeks.
Here is where the enormous herd starts to take shape and where the predators start their annual assault on the herd. The abundance of frail and immature calves makes it simple for lions, leopards, and cheetahs to savour a bite.
