The Great Migration

The onset of migration is in October, which is the start of the journey &, in turn, life. This is the time of the mass birth of mammals that marks the first lap of the wildebeest movement. The newborns are ready on their feet within the first 15-20 mins of their life. The first thing they do is imprint their mothers by scent & calls. It is important to do as this mega herd could be a chaotic place for the newborn to get lost. At this time of the year, nearly 200,000 calves are born, which is a part of a smart adaptive strategy. As there will be too many predators prying for the weaklings, the wildebeest outnumber themselves with so many new calves that tilts the odds in wildebeest favor.

With July setting in and the rain gods reaching the north part of the land, the wildebeest start crossing the border into Kenya, moving the party to Masai Mara national park. There could be some detours depending upon the direction given by the rain god. Still, in the end, all fall back into place just in time to cross the Mara River before it gets too flooded by the rains, making it difficult to cross the waters without any swimming skills.

Though it may sound like just another travel across the border with so many preys coming in the huge bunch, the predators are looking out for food, too, just like the wildebeest. This time of the year is a feast in the plains of the savannah, where all big cats come out to grab a piece for themselves. It also plays a vital role in the territory shift for the jungle as lion prides cross each other’s territories in search of food.

Mara River- Lifeblood Of Savannah

The Mara River is the lifeblood of the savannah ecosystem. It runs from the highlands of southern Kenya, snaking through the Tanzania border and finally emptying out in Lake Victoria. The wildebeest have to navigate through the Mara River strategically by finding a better crossing point to make the crossing. By August, the movement starts happening to cross the Mara River.  The herd comprises the elders with experience in crossing the crocodile-infested Mara and thousands of young ones who are doing for the first time. The most interesting point comes when the large herds come and settle around the Mara & no one dares to jump in to cross the river. It could be a matter of a second, or the process of admiring the Mara River from the shore can sometimes go on for days or weeks. And then comes the Wildebeest warrior who takes a leap, and as goes the ancient instincts, the rest of the herd follows through, making it look like a waterfall of wildebeest in the Mara River.