Wildebeest Migration In Serengeti National Park
Wildebeest Migration In Serengeti National Park
One of the best-known wildlife attractions in the world is the Serengeti National Park, located in the north of Tanzania. Although the Serengeti boasts an impressive array of wildlife and scenery, nothing epitomises it like the yearly wildebeest migration. Known as the Greatest Wildlife Show on Earth, the migration is the movement of more than 1.5 million wildebeests, followed by hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, as well as other grazers, making it the largest terrestrial mammal migration on the planet. The migration of wild animals to find new pasture and water has become a representation of African safari adventures and a mysterious reservoir of wonder at the power of nature.
The wildebeest migration is an annual circular trip of animals over the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Maasai Mara in Kenya. Migration is a cyclical process based on the availability of pasture and rain. Combined with zebras and gazelles, wildebeests are found travelling in clockwork around almost 800 kilometres.
The cycle keeps the animals on the move as the seasonal rains replenish the grasslands and regenerate them again. Bringing up the rear are other hunters such as lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and crocodiles, such that the migration is more a display of movement, not to mention survival and drama.
The Cycle of the Migration
Calving Season (December-March)
The migration is initiated in the southern Serengeti and in the Ndutu area. The short-grass plains are rich and green by this period due to November rains; a calving day could not be better.
Between late January and early March, close to half a million calves are born in a few weeks. This burst of new life draws predators by the hundreds. Lions, hyenas, leopards, and cheetahs are all doing well in this season. Visitors will be able to observe dramatic predator-prey interactions and, at least once in their lives, the heart-rending scene of wildebeests being born and making their first steps.
The Trek North Starts (April – June)
The rains stop, the grasses of the south wither, and the herds make their gradual march northwestward toward the central Serengeti (Seronera) and into the Western Corridor. This is the first stage in the long journey.
In May, huge herds of wildebeests several kilometres long may be observed travelling as one. It is an incredible sight of thousands of animals moving, often in single-file lines. It is also a period of mating, and the males fight mercilessly over the females.
The Crossing of the River Grumeti (June – July).
These herds finally arrive at the Grumeti River in the Western Corridor. The Grumeti is not as dramatic as the Mara crossings later in the year; however, its waters are still dangerous with crocodiles. Several beasts are killed here by predators, and others die of drowning, with those that survive driving on to the north.
The Mara River Crossings (July – October)
The most dramatic part of the migration may be when the herds come to the Mara River (in the northern Serengeti) and cross into Kenya and the Maasai Mara. It is a deep and fast-flowing river which is inhabited by some of the largest crocodiles in the Nile River in Africa.
On the banks of the river, tens of thousands of wildebeests are crowding, waiting to take the fatal leap. As soon as the first animal jumps in, there is a wild rush after it, and animals stampede one over the other, and crocodiles grab at them. Scores of them are trampled, and carnivores lurk on the farther banks, making one of the most dramatic scenes on the natural stage.
Wildlife lovers and photographers believe that the most significant aspect of the migration is the Mara River crossings because it is the only opportunity to see the greatness and power of nature.
The Return South (October – November).
Upon the return of the rains to the Serengeti, the herds start moving southward. By November, they will return to the short-grass plains in the Serengeti, and the cycle begins anew.
This constant movement guarantees the survival of the herds, since they are constantly in pursuit of food and water. It also provides a check on the ecology of the Serengeti ecosystem by preventing overgrazing in a specific area.
Wildlife experiences during the Migration.
The wildebeest migration does not involve only the wildebeests. They are usually escorted by zebras and gazelles, and are safe in numbers. The last relationship does exist between the wildebeests and Zebras, with the latter feeding on the taller grasses, leaving the former with access to the shorter ones. Gazelles, for their part, feed upon the remains.
Migration is also very important to the predators. Serengeti Lions synchronise with the migration to breed, whilst the cheetah and leopard feed on the surplus number of animals. The hyenas live by hunting as well as by scavenging, whereas the vultures live by cleaning the carcasses. With this web of relationships, the interrelationship of the ecosystem of the Serengeti is brought to light.
When is the Best Time to See the Migration?
The migration takes place all year round, but the timing of certain events depends on the rainfall. Visitors have the choice of when they want to visit based on the element of the migration they wish to observe:
January – March: Predator activity in the Ndutu region of southern Serengeti (calving).
April – May: Herds go to central Serengeti; magnificent columns of animals on the move.
June – July: Crossing of the Grumeti River in the Western Corridor.
July – October: crossings of the Mara River in the north – most dramatic phase.
November – December: Go back to the Serengeti plains.
The migration provides memorable experiences regardless of the season of the year.
Importance of the Migration
Wildebeest migration is not an activity; it is a process, an ecological process that benefits the Serengeti. Wildebeests’ grazing activities revive the grasslands, fertilise the soils and feed other herbivores. Their movements, as well, determine the populations of predators and their success and survival.
Migration is economically crucial to both Tanzania and Kenya, bringing thousands of tourists each year and earning conservation and local communities a high income.
Experiencing the Migration
Serengeti safaris are created to track the movements of the migration. The herds are mobile camps that roll along and provide visitors with front row seats to the action. Hot air balloon safaris offer spectacular air views over the herds spread throughout the plains.
Conclusion
The wildebeest migration in the Serengeti National Park is an eternal life, death and rebirth cycle. It is a survivor tale that has been evolving over 1000 years and appeals to contemporary travellers. The calves are born in the southern plains; the lengthy river fords in the north are dangerous; each part of the voyage presents a direct and memorable glimpse into nature.
