Best Time To See Wildebeest River Cross
The single utmost movements of mammals in the world draw the attention of travelers from all around the world each year. Whether you visit its beginnings during calving season in Ndutu, the unavoidable river crossings on the Mara River, or the beginning of the return trip from Kenya’s Masai Mara, you are witnessing one of the wonders of the natural world. The opportunistic Nile crocodiles have a feast as animals touch the water seeking to cross.
When Is the Time To See Serengeti Wildebeest Migration River Crossing? This is amazing incidence which occurs as herd cross the Grumeti River in June to July and the Mara River between August and November, and it is at this time that some of the most spectacular photographs and video maker enjoy the movements.
Why Wildebeest River Cross?
Late July, August & September – The river crossing: Many people want to see the dramatic river crossings when the columns of wildebeest and zebra scramble their way across the Grumeti and Mara rivers to reach the richer grazing lands of the Masai Mara in southern Kenya. What the animals are in essence doing is following the rains in search of lush new grass.
Taking advantage of the strongly seasonal conditions, the wildebeest are spending the wet season on the plains in the south-east, and the dry season in the woodlands of the north-west. The animals themselves, however, play a role in shaping their environment to their needs just by the sheer weight of their numbers.
The animal’s mill around for a while on the southern banks before suddenly one brave wildebeest takes the plunge into the river current. Then thousands follow in a dramatic watery stampede. Some do not make it.
However it is touch and go that you will be able to witness one of the crossings as their timings vary dramatically from year to year depending on the rains. In dry years, many of them do not even cross into Kenya. Your best bet is to stay for 3-4 nights to maximize your chances.
When is the best Time To See Wildebeest River Cross in Serengeti
The Mara River runs more or less along the border of Tanzania and Kenya, separating Serengeti Park from the Masai Mara. This is where the main crossings happen in Tanzania and the majority of visitors to the Serengeti aim for the Kogatende area. Once the crossings are complete, the herd settles in the Masai Mara in Kenya. After remaining in the more fertile Mara for the duration of the dry season, the migration heads south again in preparation for another calving season in the New Year.
In the late July, august and September you can experience the event of river crossing. Most of the tourist would like to witness the dramatic river crossing when the groups of wildebeest and zebra scramble their way across Grumeti and Mara Rivers to find their destination in richer grazing lands of Masai Mara in Kenya.
They tend to stay around for a while before suddenly one brave wildebeest jump into the river current. Then hundreds follow in a dramatic way into the water though it is not simple that you will be able to see one of the crossings as their timings differ from year to year depending on the rainfalls.
Most of them do not cross into Kenya in dry years. But the best chance is to stay for 3-4 nights to maximize your chances of witnessing the great migration of wildebeest.
How river cross favor existence of Serengeti predators
The most notorious among the predators is the lion and the Nile crocodile.
The lion perfectly chooses its arena – the grassy Mara plains. In the plains, the lion is shrouded in thick grass cover and gets a strategic hiding spot to attack unsuspecting wildebeest and zebras. During the peak of the migration, vultures circle the air and hyenas laugh in the shadows; an indication of the innumerable wildebeest and zebra that have fallen under the claw of the mighty African lion.
The Nile crocodile however takes the medal as the deadliest predator. It comes in at the climax of the Mara migration – the crossing of the Mara River! This avid killer shapes the events that take place during the crossing of the Mara River. From the splashing waters and floating wildebeest bodies, it is the match-maker.
Crocodiles are known to kill by drowning. When it spots a potential victim, it clutches the prey in its strong jaws and pulls it beneath the water surface. In the process, it ferociously twists and turns its head. This shreds its prey into pieces and suffocates the life out of it.
The crocodiles awaiting the herds in the Mara River drown their prey by clutching them in their strong jaws and pulling them below the water, twisting them to break off bite-size pieces. A crocodile can lunge more than half of its body length out of the water to grab a potential victim and can also use its tail as a secondary weapon. There are more than 3,000 lions currently living in the Serengeti ecosystem that follow the migratory herds across the reserve
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