by Leigh Kemp, 23 April 2008

Many have been disappointed upon arriving at a place and been told that the migratory wildebeest are 'in the north' or 'in the south' and that there is no chance of seeing the herds.

A few answers to some questions may help a little towards explaining the phenomenon better.

So what is the big deal regarding the migration?

The migration is truly one of nature's most spectacular displays. Almost two million animals move across the African savannah in search of grass and water and have been doing so for thousands of years.

Wildebeest form the bulk of the migration but they are accompanied by zebra and gazelles.

The herds move between the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and theMasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

Will I be guaranteed of seeing the migration?

This will depend on where and when you book your safari but even then - as with all wildlife sightings in Africa - nothing can be guaranteed.

Although there are certainties with the migration, the exact time of the animals' movements cannot be foretold. The timing depends on the rains.

It is certain that they will move but predicting their exact location at specific times cannot be done.

There is the opportunity to book on tented safaris that move with the herds but even this safari cannot guarantee a sighting as the companies that provide the service are only allowed to operate in their respective countries and the herds may prolong a stay in an area for a number of reasons.

When is the best time to visit a country in order to see the migration?

Once again an exact time table is impossible to calculate as the movement of the herds is controlled by natural forces but what is certain is that the herds settle for a few months on the nutritious southern plains of the Serengeti to give birth.

This occurs from December through to April/May when they will start moving north again through the Western Corridor.

They generally cross into the Masai Mara in Kenya in August/September before heading south in November/December.

Booking a safari around these dates will not necessarily guarantee a migration experience but it will provide a great chance to view the herds.

Where is the best place to view the migration from?

To view the herds gathered in one area - if it is a vast area - then the southern plains of the Serengeti are the best place to be from January through to April.

This is the time that the females give birth. The Masai Mara in October is also a time when the herds stretch across the open plains in vast numbers.

For sheer drama there is the "adrenaline-surging” sight of the river crossings where the herds have to swim across rivers that host some of Africa's largest crocodiles.

These reptiles generally do not feed much during the year - they gorge themselves at the time the herds cross the rivers.

The Grumeti and Mara rivers are where the most dramatic interactions are viewed. For the Grumeti crossing June is probably the best time to visit, although this changes each year.

Do predators follow the migration?

It was once believed that predators kept up with the migrating herds but in reality this is not so. There are predators all along the migrating route, but they are different individuals.

Predators such as lions, leopards and cheetahs hold territories or home ranges and they do not take kindly to intrusions from other predators.

It would be difficult for a predator following the herds to dodge the home ranges of others. The original idea of predators following the migration came from the fact that there are always predators hunting the herds.

Is it not pointless to visit areas when the migration is not around?

Although the migration is a spectacle to remember it is a passing attraction in the various areas of the Serengeti/Mara ecosystem.

The Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve are renowned as two of Africa's most spectacular wildlife areas, migration excluded.

It is only the wildebeest and some zebra and gazelles that migrate. Other animals move within smaller areas, as in most other wilderness areas in Africa.

Predators abound, as do elephants, buffalos, giraffe and many antelope species. There are visitors who prefer the time that the migration is 'not in town' as they see more species and the being is not taken over by the migration.

If the herds are constantly on the move how do the young survive?

Young wildebeest, as with many antelope species, are able to run and keep up with the adults within half an hour of their birth.

This is an adaptation of migratory animals to be able to move as the seasons predict. Wildebeest give birth within a short space of time of each other to ensure that all young are ready to move at the same time.

Despite these adaptations more than 150 000 animals die during the migration annually, most of these being the young.

Article © Copyright 2008 Go2Africa.

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