The Great Migration – Watching A Giant Confusion Of Wildebeests Cross A River Of Crocodiles During Africa's Great Migration Is A Bucket List Item
Did you know a "herd" of wildebeests is actually called a confusion? Me neither. I just looked it up to make sure I wasn't going to sound like a big ol' fucking moron for putting "Herd of Wildebeests" in my blog title. Thank god I avoided that embarrassment. A "Confusion of Wildebeests" should prevent any... puzzlement the word "herd" may have caused.
I don't even have much to say about these wildebeest (and some zebra) migration videos, other than "Hey, look at this. Isn't nature cool?"
But when I spend however much amount of time going down a rabbit hole, and find myself however much intrigued by what I'm seeing, I figure other people out there might be as well. Africa's Great Migration is happening now. Technically is happening for a majority of the year, but traditionally, during the months of July-August specifically, an almost inconceivable number of wildebeests migrate together across the Mara River, and into the grasslands of Kenya's Massai Mara National Reserve.
Extraordinary Journeys – July through November is traditionally considered the best time to view the Great Migration.
Between July and August, the wildebeest move en masse into Kenya’s Maasai Mara, crossing the Mara River in staggering numbers. For travelers, river crossings rank among the most sought-after moments of the Great Migration.
“The wildebeest are easily spooked by real or imagined threats. They fear crossing the river, as they have an inkling that something lurks there,” Richard describes. “Patiently waiting near a herd may only produce a puff of dust as they turn on their heels and run away. Or maybe the herd is not ready to cross the river and they are milling around contentedly. But if everything is right, then there is utter and extraordinary chaos as the herd struggles to get to the other side of a major river filled with crocodiles.”
Imagine you and the boys on African Safari, piling into the back of a makeshift convertible pickup truck with some benches bolted into the bed. An enthusiastic man named James, who you hired through word-of-mouth, drives you miles deep into the Northern Serengeti to some of the most alligator invested waters the continent has to offer. He's parks a top a clearing overlooking the savannah, and after 5-10 minutes of tense negations over what he calls a "viewing fee" (which you suspect he made up right there on the spot), you crack open a case of sun hot Tuskers, and watch as tens of thousands of wildebeests (also zebras), come barreling down towards the river of death where a gang float of crocodiles are waiting to feast.
Or if you're really lucky, you might have a guide take you to a location where a pride of Lions awaits their buffet of wildebeests to pass through on a silver platter. Watching a crocodile in action is spectacular, but to see a wild lion catch it's prey… that's also spectacular
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And the best part is, you don't even have to feel bad about enjoying the scene, because nature is beautiful, and you're simply witnessing the circle of life in action. It's actually educational…
Ok, I'd be lying if I said I don't feel terrible for the wildebeests who get got. I would 1000% be Team Wildebeest while watching the migration. Imagine the thrill of watching a 'dile sneak up on a wildebeest, and the wildebeest narrowly escaping with its life.
Atta boy wildebeest. If only there were a way to number them. I know that's impossible, and there's way too many of them to possibly keep track of, but if there was some way to place bets, or a way for people to cheer on (or against) specific wildebeests… that would be pretty electric.
But beggars can't be choosers. If you're able to catch any part of the Great Migration, I think you have to count that as a win. I believe it's one of those things you could end up missing, or only catching a distance glimpse of if you don't get the timing right. Traveling all the way to Africa only to leave disappointed would be a travesty. But if I could somehow make it happen, and get hooked up with a trustworthy guide who knows when and where to post up at a river full of razor toothed water dinosaurs… and also take me to some quality lion & elephant viewing locations while he's at it… I'm sure as hell adding that to my bucket list of things I will almost certainly never do, but would be really cool if I did.