World beast migration? It is one of the best sceneries to what if you haven’t set your eyes on the wild migration of the world beasts in East Africa. There is more to the information about the event than the migration itself. The tourists get to experience it first-hand. Much information regarding the migration underlay the event rather than what is visible and known to the typical tourist visiting scenery for the first time. A lot of this information is quite interesting, while some are just scientific facts explained in fine detail. Below, we share 11 interesting facts you did not know about the world beast migration in East Africa.
What you do not know about the Wildebeest Migration in East Africa
- It is termed the great migration.
The Great Wildebeest Migration is an endeavor of astonishing dimensions. Anyone fortunate enough to witness it will remember it for a long time. This migration is regarded as one of the world’s seven wonders as it exhibits the most significant land migration of mammals around the globe. Many terrestrial grassland animals are involved in the migration in search of water and greener pastures. Annually, over 1.5 million wildebeest, 300,000 zebra, and thousands of gazelles and impalas migrate in an enormous clockwise loop through the vast grassland in East Africa. This epic phenomenon is an eternal loop witnessed at any time of the year. It occurs all year round, the difference being the location of their movement. The migration is approximately 1000 kilometers, including dangerous rivers such as the Mara River.
- Only two countries in East Africa experience this migration.
With this migration termed the most remarkable mammal migration globally, only two countries experience this beautiful scenery: Kenya and Tanzania. To view this migration, one has to hire a safari holiday tour company in Africa to visit the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. Unfortunately, they border each other, and visiting one park doesn’t necessarily mean you will get direct access to the other.
- The calving season
The calving season is regarded as one of the best sceneries to watch during this migration. It occurs in January and February, and one can witness the creation of life by visiting the plains. Approximately half a million wildebeest calves are born in the calving season, approximately 8,000 every day, which mostly takes place in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. The calves can walk as soon as they are born to keep up with the herds. This circle of life is seen in the mammals in the migration and is often threatened by predators. These young calves are the most vulnerable animals of the migration herds. Only one in three calves will make it back to the Serengeti’s southern plains alive annually.
- It is not just the wild beasts.
While many know of the famous wildebeest being the central migrants in the event, other wild animals such as the Thompson’s gazelles, eland, impalas, and zebras are also part of the phenomenon migration. These herbivores cohabit together as they eat different parts of the same kind of vegetation. For example, one group eats the top of the tallest grass, the next group some medium-height vegetation until finally the vegetation is completely eaten. Also, during the migration, large groups of predators such as lions, cheetahs, crocodiles, wild dogs, crocs, and hyenas follow the herds for food.
- There is more to see to the migration itself.
Besides the beautiful scenery of the wildebeest migration in Serengeti, you can be assured of a breathtaking adventure. Various grassland mammals are present in the migration, such as lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, and gazelles. Also, local communities surround the game reserves and parks, such as the Maasai, where you experience an exciting and different culture. These communities bring excitement as their traditions and history are made part of the adventure, and one gets to experience and understand other cultural practices of other communities. Also, the game parks’ specular accommodation options offer to spice up the adventure and state-of-the-art lodges to authentic camping opportunities.
- A lot of wild animals die during the migration.
The 1000-kilometer migration route is dangerous, with many predators such as hyenas, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and crocodiles preying on the animals. Approximately 250,000 wildebeests and 30,000 zebras annually die during active and unsafe migration. Thousands of wildebeest and zebras also perish during the difficult and dangerous migration from dehydration, starvation, or weakness. The passage of the River Mara in the Serengeti’s east is a key location where the water is vital, and the bank is steep. The giant crocodiles and hippos in the globe are also in the river. As a result, animal anxiety attacks happen frequently.
Moreover, they pose a threat. Poaching is done on one side, while on the other hand, landowners use the ground for farming and artificially irrigate it while cutting down the trees. As a result, less and less water is carried by the rivers. In addition, cattle are eating the wildebeest grazing areas, drying off.
- The Mara River crossing
The Mara River crossing is one of the significant sceneries the wildebeest migration offers. It mainly involves the mammals crossing the treacherous Mara River along the border of Kenya and Tanzania, which presents a dangerous river crossing that challenges the mammals’ chances of survival in the migration. The Mara River is the boundary between the two countries, hence the term “The crossing.” A large part of this river is in Tanzania, but one would not want to miss the remarkable wildebeest crossing in the Mara River infested with hungry crocodile and hippo predators. Most of the mammals lose their lives in this crossing, as the crocodiles mainly devour the calves and the other mammals that are weak and do not have luck reaching the other side of the river due to exhaustion. Also, at the other end of the shore are the pride of lions that await the mammals to cross. The scenery is one of the most anticipated by the tourists as it is a life-and-death spectacle that leaves travelers with unforgettable recollections.
- Serengeti is the world’s oldest ecosystem.
The Serengeti National Park hosts the globe’s oldest ecosystem. The most important scenes of climate, vegetation, and fauna have barely changed in the past million years. It is home to different vegetation types and animals that individuals cannot find anywhere on the earth. As the seasons change, the wildebeest migrate in large numbers in search of new grazing. For millions of years past and most likely for millions more, it has been a never-ending loop for each passing year. Due to this natural occurrence, Serengeti Ecosystem is now among the planet’s oldest ecosystems. There is also the existence of human fossils in Olduvai Gorge about 2 million years ago. Also, some life, death, adaptation, and migration designs are as old as the hills.
Moreover, black rhinos may be seen in Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park. One of the planet’s ancient species of animals is the black rhino, which is at risk of extinction. Therefore, we may infer that these animals have existed in the Serengeti Ecosystem for a very long time since it is one of the only areas where it is inevitable that one would witness these seldom seen species.
- The survival of the wildebeest is dependent on the zebra.
Collectively, the wildebeest, zebras, as well as antelopes move. In terms of food and protection, the herds support one another. Wildebeests and zebras need each other during the migration as the wildebeests are experts in finding water sources and know their migration path. Furthermore, the great migrations’ wildebeests are picky eaters as they only consume grass shoots. On the other hand, zebras have no preference as they eat the fresh, tall grass and mow it down in the process. The wildebeests can then enter and feed on the shorter grass they need to thrive. Therefore, zebras roam freely alongside the wildebeests, which ensures the latter’s existence.
- The 800-kilometer full-cycle
Guided by their migration instinct, each wildebeest will cover over 800 kilometers on its movement along the migration routes. Although the migration occurs in a clockwise direction between Kenya and Tanzania, most of the movements are in Tanzania, specifically the Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Loliondo Game Controlled Area, and Grumeti Reserve. It is assumed that migration begins during the calving season when the calves are sired, hence noted to start at the beginning of the year.
- The wild beasts have no natural leader.
One of the most interesting facts about the wildebeest migration is that there is no natural leader that the herd follows. Despite running in different large groups, they all move in the same direction. It is mainly believed that their migration s dictated by their response to the weather following the rains and new vegetation growth. Most experts believe that the animals react to the lighting and thunderstorms more than 50 kilometers away. Because these migrating herds have no leader, they often divide themselves into small herds but follow the same migration as a giant herd.
In this article, we have identified facts you did not know about the wildebeest migration in East Africa. With these facts, you can decide to travel and see one of the seven wonders of the world and witness them first hand. Make sure to be informed about the great scenery of the wildebeest migration in East Africa.
