The Bucket List

ne of the most sought-after experiences for safari enthusiasts, the Great Migration is the ever-moving circular migration of over three million animals across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem that straddles the border between Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa. The constant movement of columns of wildebeest, joined by a host of companions like zebra along with topi, eland and other gazelle, follow an age-old route in search of grazing and water. This munching multitude share a common appetite for the wide-open grasses of the savannah but curiously Zebra tend to eat the long grass whilst Wildebeest feast on the then exposed young shoots. It’s all about teamwork - 1.5 million wildebeest and 400,000 zebra in peaceful coexistence. Due to the sheer size of the herd, the animals have to move to be able to survive. The herds generally follow the rain, as where there is rain, there is fresh grass. Once grass is depleted in one area, they will move on to the next grassy area. After springtime calving in the southern part of Tanzania's Serengeti near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (when nearly 500,000 calves are born), the animals journey through the Serengeti up and around in a clockwise direction towards the Masai Mara in Kenya, before returning once again near the end of the year. Along the way, high drama is always present, as thousands of animals are taken by predators (lions, leopards, cheetahs, African wild dogs and spotted hyenas) and thousands more are born, replenishing the numbers and sustaining the circle of life. The columns of wildebeest are so large and long that they can be viewed from space. At key crossings along the Mara and Grumeti rivers the migration becomes a desperate frenzy as the multitudes cascade into Nile Crocodile-infested waters. It is a battle for survival with the weak, wounded or isolated animals preyed upon by waiting flotillas of these large reptiles which can weigh up to 750kgs. They need to get their fair share as they survive on one or two feedings a year so the toll is impressive after which the crocs go into semi-hibernation. Meanwhile, on the subject of predatorial appetite, a fully grown male lion can eat up to 40kg of wildebeest in one sitting representing one quarter of his own bodyweight. Both Kenya and Tanzania offer superlative and often very exclusive accommodations within and around this immense cross-border area. What’s more, as the migration is a year-round affair your choice of specific location will be determined by the time of the year. But be warned, most of the most exclusive, luxury tented camps and designer lodges tend to book out, so it pays to plan well in advance to guarantee your ring-side seat for the greatest show on Earth. O

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