The great wildebeest migration is the most charming natural beauty on planet earth. It takes place from Serengeti National Park to Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. These two borders Tanzania and Kenya share the same parks thus allowing the wildebeest to move from one park to another. Throughout the year, the wildebeest drift in a clock wise manner for about 1800 miles looking for water and pasture. It’s at this point that Mother Nature is actually appreciated because the journey has no beginning or end. The move is witnessed with over 1,5m wildebeest with close to 200,000 gazelles, antelopes, zebras along with the big five animals which include buffalo, rhino, leopard, lion and elephant.
The best time for reproduction is during the months of December to March. This is the best time to visit the Southern Serengeti as well as Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The full-grown grass in the undulating plains is the best dwelling for the wildebeest. During this time, over 90% of the wildebeest produce and it’s quite a challenging period of time. The predators such as hyena, cheetah, leopard and lion enjoy this season as they feast on the young ones. Majority of calves are hunted whereas the rest die along the jounery.At this spot, you will get the best picture of the predators feasting on their prey.
Towards the end of March, the grass dies as the remaining can’t maintain the big herd of wildebeest. During this time, the wildebeest tend to move to the Serengeti western corridor. From April to May, the wildebeest feast on the woodlands and mature grass in the area. During this season, the rain is too heavy in East Africa thus making it hard for the tourists travel because of the poorly maintained roads.
The wildebeest mating period is between May to Jun.At the end of June, the animals have no pasture to feed on therefore they are strained to relocate to the northern Serengeti. As they trek, manjority are killed by predators and others are eaten up by the big crocodiles as they transverse river Grumeti.
The wildebeest cover a wide distance as they pass through Kenya-Tanzania border. The main difficult that is faced by the great wildebeest is crossing the Mara River. It’s quite dangerous and yet it’s the only alternative to save them from hunger. The best moment to all tourists is the crossing of Mara River; you actually get a chance to take the best photos that will give memories. With a few tricks used by the wildebeest, some may cross the river using the shallow edge and many make it to the Mara Plains. Some that may not think of this idea may cross the river using the deep end; many are seen drowning in the river. But the kinds that drown are in most cases weak, young calves and at times old to make it to the plains. Crocodiles feed on them as they cross the river.
Once they get to the Mara plains, they get scattered all over the place as they feed on the green pasture.Unfortunately, by November the wildebeest, antelope, gazelle, and zebras have nothing to feed on. During this time, Serengeti receives short rain that makes the grass grow. The Serengeti Conservation area is acknowledged for that fact that the migration as well as giving birth to calves begins right in this place. The great wildebeest is an annual event that must not be missed for anything. Discover true wilderness of Africa.