The migration, the crossing, and the carnage...

The most spectacular part of visiting the Mara this time of year is that the wildebeest are migrating.  They make the journey from Tanzania to Kenya (anywhere from July to November) and then return to Tanzania (to the Serengeti) around February or March.

The endless plains of east Africa are the setting for one of the world’s greatest wildlife spectacle - the 1.5 million animal ungulate (wildebeest) migration. From the vast Serengeti plains of Tanzania to Kenya’s Masai Mara over 1.4 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra and gazelle, relentlessly tracked by Africa’s great predators, migrate in a clockwise fashion over 1,800 miles each year in search of rain ripened grass.


Part of the migration entails crossing the Mara River - which can be quite a treturous part of the journey for a number of reasons; the steep banks, the crocodiles, and the trampling that occurs because of the magnitude of animals.

We staked out for 8 hours on Saturday trying to see the wildebeest cross the river - but ended up disappointed by these silly unintelligent beings.

We got lucky on Sunday though and saw the much awaited crossing!!!

The waiting:

 

 

The Wildebeest are SO skiddish and the slightest movement from any other animal sent them running in the other direction and delayed the crossing.  This baboon sitting on the other side of the river was enough to scare them all away:

One of MANY fake outs - where they moved right to the water's edge and we were SURE they would cross, but then a maribu stork or car or tiny bird would scare them all away from the water

The hourds of hopeful onlookers at one point:

Albert got board of waiting for the dumb wildebeest to cross so he took a nap:

FINALLY!!! They crossed!

After they cross they run across the plains and find fresh grass to nourish themselves after the LONG journey:

Midway through the crossing some vultures flew down, which then spooked those waiting to cross and thus another group of park visitors will get to see a crossing because it was enough to send the thousands of wildebeest on the other side of the river into a flurry of panic which ended the crossing we saw.

The carnage of the crossing (TONS of floating dead wildebeest):