Wildebeest Migration Through Mara River
Wildebeest Migration Through Mara River
Wildebeest Migration through Mara River/ the great wildebeest migration is one of the most fascinating experiences where the wildebeest can be seen very well crossing the river. It is the most ear-piercing moment of the wildebeests on the other side of the Mara River. Hunger has soared. Wildebeest upon wildebeest declares its great fear of the hungry predators. It feels like someone has rolled the clock back to their long monotonous days of drought. The wildebeests have no option other than facing the emaciated crocodiles and get the green pastures on the other side of the Mara River. The war declared against the hush in conditions that the wildebeests are to fight between life and death just to reach the other side of the Mara river brings about the wildebeest migration through the Mara River. This is a spectacular event of them crossing the passably deep and wide river which is inhabited by the largest population of monumental crocodiles. The scene can only be eyeballed from the Mara River, and usually commences as soon as the herd migrates from the Grumeti side.
Before catching a glimpse of this splendid wildebeest migration through the Mara river, lets first get familiar to this unique species of animal. Wildebeests, whose scientific name is Gnu refers to herbivorous groups of animals with a unique feature on their appearance. Their uniqueness is that they do resemble three different animals in appearance. They do resemble a buffalo but inherited their mane from the horse, meanwhile, its head looks similar to that of an ox. We do have two major classes of wildebeests, black wildebeest, and the blue wildebeest. Wildebeest belongs to a family of Bovidae, consuming mainly grass and the food chain suggests that they are the best lunch for almost all predators including ravenous crocodiles of the Mara River.
Wildebeests are a peculiar group of animals that is always on a constant migration cycle which repeats itself every year for a number of millenniums now. This mass land migration is associated with mating, birthing and eventually some die on this cycle. It is estimated that out the almost two million wildebeests are seen migrating each year, and more than four hundred thousand are born meanwhile two and a half thousand die each year. Most calves are born in the first weeks of March when there is still enough nutritious grass for them to feed until they mature. Most deaths are caused by predation from the hungry carnivorous, whilst others die of hunger when the grasses start to dry out. The most fascinating part of the migration cycle is when the herd turns its migration through the Mara River. This usually happens from July through early September when the entire herd will almost be done with the Mara River, and it usually starts right after they are done with crossing the Grumeti River. As a matter of fact, the herd crossing the Grumeti river takes a shorter time as compared to them crossing the Mara River hence making it more spectacular that you will never regret the tour exploring them.
Mara River which extends for more than four hundred kilometers (400Km) on the beautiful landscape is not just a wide with a fairly large depth, but it is also where the largest species of crocodiles in Africa make themselves a home sweet home. This factor makes the migration much more adventurous, giving more time and experience to the calves born early March with whom once they succeed going through this part, then they will soon celebrate their first birthday in the grazing fields of the Serengeti plains which will be flavored with the short rains of early October. The migration of the herd across this river is majorly influenced by the rainfall distribution in various areas of that very landscape. The fact that different parts of Mara receive their rainfall reward at different times makes the growth of green grass be uneven. This enlivens the desire of the wildebeests to go gulp the newly popping up grass, something which offers them a several kilometers walk to enjoy themselves. It is high time they get relief after a starving season as they migrate from the Grumeti River in search of better grazing fields which are much more safe from predators.
The wildebeest don’t just cross the dangerous Mara River for fun, they are rather pushed to the other side of the river with the fear of the great famine. From far their nostrils are tinkled by the green pastures on the other side, something which gives them a thousand reasons for neglecting the starving crocodiles and go through the river. It takes only a few days for them to go to the other side, usually ten to fifteen days. However, it is not a guarantee of seeing them crossing the river on each single day of the migration through the Mara River period, as it is observed that they have a tendency of spending some moments (which may mean several hours or even days) loitering on the other side, busy spooking at the noises protruding from the nearby bushes. These are the very best moments of observing them pushing each other into the river and, trying to cross the river and suddenly back away as if they have sensed a predator coming. This to and for movement may be interesting until when a herd of about three hundred brave wildebeests confidently crosses the Mara River with no any attack from the gigantic crocodiles, making all the gutless wildebeests who are still on the other side of the river start their way through the deep wide waters of Mara River.
However, Mara River migration is just part of the annual wildebeest migration cycle which has been reprising for thousands of years. Right after they are completely free from the Mara river crocodiles, the huge migrating herd makes their way to the green grasses. However, it is already October and rainfall is about to drop anytime from now. This factor makes them start their way onto the Lobo area of Serengeti national park. As December approaches, the migration turns to the southern part of Serengeti which is the intimation of the beginning of a new annual migration cycle. The cycle starts as early as January when all the wildebeests are enjoying the green nutritious grass of the Serengeti plains. Constant availability of grass and good weather condition from between January and march favors birthing of new ones. In the early weeks of February, about four hundred calves are usually born. The nutritious grass which are still available favors indulges the early maturity of these calves until they become strong and start depending on their own. As soon as they get well adapted to nature, the migration commences again. It is already April when the wildebeests start their journey towards Grumeti in search of better grazing places as Serengeti plains are already desiccating. This time round they will be enjoying a great company from the zebras and gazelles. The association from other animals makes the group too large and hence there is a necessity of splitting into several groups. The herd splits into two notable groups, each taking their won routes to the Grumeti. One group goes towards the western side, meanwhile, the others take their route through the Northern part of Soronera. By August the entire group will be done with crossing Grumeti and heading towards Mara. By September the Mara river migration commences and after it, the cycles repeat again and again.
We do have a very interesting fact to explore these wildebeests which can be observed better through the migration through the Mara River. The whole herd of wildebeests and of associating animals have got a tendency of systematically overcoming most obstacles they encounter such as in the Mara River as well as finding the best and shortest routes of overcoming them despite been on a large number which is scattered enough. They are blessed with an additional intelligence feature that is being adopted over years of migration. This is nothing but the ‘swarm intelligence’ which only common with the migrating species of animals such as the wildebeests. At a time, it may be associated with a group of brave wildebeest making their way after some moments of confusion and them succeeding through or not making it shall determine whether to find an alternative way of overcoming that obstacle or following the lead from the leading group through it.
It is only the Mara River where the largest mass movement of land animals on our beloved earth can be depicted better off the other areas of the great migration cycle. This gives you all the reasons for finding your way into Mara in order to ensure this preposterous experienced won’t end up being narrated to you by the real eyewitnesses of the Mara river wildebeest migration. It is more than overwhelming counting the string ones who cross successfully and taking note of the lousy ones who are caught by the starving crocodiles. All the conditions during the make you feel like it is another fanciful home away from home, and you are always free to witness this huge mass-movement of land animals.
