| The amazing east African annual Great Migration | | | | forgotten experience. |
| of wildebeest and other herbivores across the | | | | The calving season falls in late January through |
| Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is one of the | | | | mid March one of the nature wonders as they |
| magnificent spectacles on earth. The wildebeest | | | | mother wildebeest gives birth and in a few hours |
| (plural wildebeest, wildebeests or wildebai), also | | | | mother and baby wildebeest join the convoy of |
| called the gnu is an antelope of the genus | | | | migrating animals and troop on in this African |
| Connochaetes. Wildebeest is an Afrikaans word | | | | wilderness. in a short span of time 4 to 6 weeks |
| meaning "wild beast''. There are two species of | | | | hundred thousands of calves are born and this is |
| Connochaetes, both inhabitants to Africa the Black | | | | where the rules of the jungle rein supreme as |
| Wildebeest, or white-tailed gnu and the Blue | | | | predator swing in action. The wildebesste herds |
| Wildebeest, or brindled gnu. It is a hoofed | | | | concentrate on the Ndutu and Salei plains in |
| (ungulate) mammal. Gnus belong to the family | | | | Southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation |
| Bovidae, which includes antelopes, cattle, goats, | | | | Area (NCA) attracting the predators like lion, |
| and other even-toed horned ungulates. Wildebeest | | | | cheetah and hyena. |
| at a mature age grows to 3 ft 9 in-4 ft 7 in | | | | The Migration does not work like the 24 hrs |
| (1.15-1.4 metres) at the shoulder height and weigh | | | | clocks remember climate changes caused by |
| 330-550 pounds (150-250 kilograms). They live in | | | | human activities leading to erratic rainfall seasons. |
| the plains and open woodlands of Africa, the | | | | The migration cycle is driven entirely by availability |
| Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya and the | | | | or unavailability water and grazing pastures caused |
| neighbouring Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. | | | | local weather patterns |
| The Wildebeest can live more than 20 years. | | | | In southern Serengeti in Ndutu, Gol, and Southern |
| Wildebeest are well known for their annual | | | | Loliondo wildebeest are grazing on the short grass |
| migration in search of new pastures. If there are | | | | plains but due to the depleting resources i.e. Water |
| no new pastures the wildebeest will starve to | | | | and pastures can not support through out the |
| death or worse still die of thirst. Therefore the | | | | year they have to move on. The Migration will |
| sojourner must move or perish. Like any | | | | move off in look for of green grass in response |
| travellers in foreigner land there are challenges. | | | | to changes in weather as dry period sets in they |
| The wildebeest must be in optimum health not | | | | migrate. The east Africa region enjoys two rainy |
| just absence of disease but it must be fit for the | | | | seasons the short rains and the long rains, the |
| trek. This most featured event, which vast | | | | rainy season may come early or be delayed at |
| numbers of wildebeest are seen crossing | | | | the same time the duration of the rainy seasons |
| dangerous rivers infested by predators and dying | | | | will vary year to year. |
| in large numbers as they attempt to get to the | | | | The Migration does not continuously move |
| other side are eaten by crocodiles. Here it is | | | | forward in a straight line like soldiers in a parade |
| survival for the fittest! | | | | following commands. Wildebeeste move in |
| It has been commonly assumed that this is simply | | | | different directions at times back tracking some |
| a wild excitement crazy or an agitation and that | | | | being left behind behaving as if they cannot make |
| the wildebeest cross blindly, recent research has | | | | up their mind to go forward, side ways some |
| shown that the herd to possess what is known | | | | moving in large crowd as if they are competing |
| as a "swarm intelligence", whereby the wildebeest | | | | for space. It is difficulty to say with certainty |
| methodically explore and overcome the obstacle | | | | where they will be the best one can do is to |
| as one. | | | | suggest likely timings, based on past experience - |
| During this time of the year DECEMBER, | | | | but you can never guarantee the location of |
| JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH the Wildebeest | | | | wildebeest Migration with certainty. |
| are to be found in the Serengeti National Park / | | | | On the beginning of the short rains it is expected |
| Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Perhaps this is the | | | | that they will be around Ndutu and its environs |
| most amazing wildlife sanctuary in the world. In | | | | and from December through to April. Depending |
| the months of December through March the | | | | on local rainfall they might be anywhere in |
| renowned vast open savannah grasslands of the | | | | Ngorongoro conservation area.. |
| southern Serengeti and the Conservation Area | | | | The rains stops in May and herds of wildebeest |
| hosts huge herds of wildebeest and zebra. | | | | gradually move from the south and east as the |
| Mother Nature takes care of the timing and the | | | | area dry out moving to the north and west to |
| location of the migration safari. I would if it would | | | | abundant grass and more reliable water sources. |
| appropriate to describe the annual wildebeest | | | | The wildebeest and zebra will follow different |
| migration as the annual wildebeest Safari. This | | | | routes one part of the migration will head to the |
| brings to mind on the former East Africa safari | | | | western corridor and the Grumeti River before |
| Rally and the anxiety the east Africans would look | | | | proceeding north while a significant number go |
| forward for the rains to make the safari more | | | | through Loliondo, or through Seronera and Lobo. |
| exciting. | | | | During a dry year, wildebeest can be near the |
| More than 35 species of plain game, including | | | | Mara River a permanent source of water in the |
| wildebeest and zebra, as well as an extensive | | | | Mara Serengeti ecosystem in early July; in a wet |
| variety of birdlife inhibit this park reaching up to | | | | year - mid August. When there is plenty of rain |
| the sister game reserve the Masai Mara in Kenya. | | | | spread through out the year and there is plenty |
| The thundering hooves of hundreds of thousands | | | | of grass and water; the herds will be spread out |
| of wildebeest and zebra at the height of the | | | | all the way from Seronera to the Mara River. |
| annual great migration create a never to be | | | | |