The great migration in Kenya is one of the true wonders of the natural world. Over a million wildebeest, five hundred thousand zebras, and many more antelope follow the rains across the Serengeti and Masai Mara plains. They are constantly on the search for green grass, always on the brink of starvation. They are driven by instinct and fear, and it pushes them to take grave risks along the way.
Even though the migration is a year round circle of movement, it is often captured at its apex when thousands of wildebeest thunder down steep river banks and surge through the waters of the Mara river on their way to find green grass in Kenya's famous Masai Mara. It is here along the banks of the Mara river than we spent a good amount of time these past few days. Sometimes the herds build up and wait for hours to cross. Other times they race down the hill and continue all the way across without seeming to slow down at all.
It is a bucket list item, and a wonder to experience. We witnessed several crossing over the past four days. There were a few near misses from crocodiles, and a few bad choices from wildebeest, but the majority made it across to the fertile plains of the Mara.
Here are a few photos from the wild and wonderful crossings of the Great Migration.
Charging down the banks of the Mara river, these wildebeest kick up a cloud of dust, giving an ethereal feel to the chaotic scene.
This was a rather tame crossing at a shallow spot in the river. Hippos looked on from nearby in the river and no crocodiles were seen nearby. A good choice by the lead wildebeest.
Just up from the river the plains are thick with tens of thousands of wildebeest. The noise of the wildebeest all around you in all-encompassing.
This was one of the craziest crossings I've seen. These wildebeest pick an impossibly steep far bank of the river to ascend. They successfully made it across but then eventually fell over each other trying to make it up. They eventually had to cross back over, then try again farther down where they did finally make it!
The iconic wildebeest crossing the river image.
These images will forever be engrained in my memory. You can watch documentaries and see this on the big screen, but it is still nothing like being there in person. If you catch this event at the right time and wind up
in the middle of the migration, then you will finally understand what I have just experienced.
The Safari Continues..
-Dai Mar