It’s the natural world’s last massive movement of animals and one of the most amazing spectacles to see in person. Two to 3 million Wildebeest, Zebras, Thompson Gazelles, and Elands have been migrating from the Southern Serengeti grasslands of Tanzania, to the Northern Masai Mara of Kenya for eons. They move as the rains come and go and provided the backdrop for another awe inspiring adventure for us.
Many visitors only want to see the river crossings (and the crocs eating the wildebeest and zebra) but the true sight is when all the animals fill the entire stretch of landscape. We had been reading and hearing about this phenomenon our whole lives, and suddenly we were where we wanted to be - in the middle of it. 360 degrees around our vehicle, as far as we could see in all directions there were literally 10s of thousands of animals in our view. And no people. Looks like the zebras and wildebeest are extremely comfortable with each other’s company……what do you think?
The timing and location of this never ending journey can’t be determined exactly and it changes depending on the rains and grass growth. Year after year the animals let mother nature tell them when and where to go. They follow their most basic instincts. We were very fortunate to have picked a fantastic base to witness this natural calling. Will this annual trek continue for time eternal? No one knows for sure, and the struggle between the humans and animals continues, but the animals seemed very healthy to us and we even saw some brand new babies being born.
Of course, the predators take advantage of the influx and abundance of animals. It’s harsh, but it’s part of this natural cycle.
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