Of all the wildlife spectacles you’ve seen on TV over the years, this is likely the most unforgettable. Every year, over a million Blue Wildebeest, along with tens of thousands of zebra migrate between fertile grazing lands in Tanzania and Kenya. The wildebeest is a type of antelope that often live in mixed herds with zebra, grazing in the open woodlands and plains of sub-Saharan Africa.
The annual wildebeest migrations typically occur at the beginning and end of the rainy season each year, and is an exciting attraction for wildlife enthusiasts. During their migration, the wildebeest face a number of obstacles, including river crossings and encounters with predators; most notably, the two combined. And although it may seem like the wildebeest are often moving in chaos as they travel, these intriguing animals are actually believed to be using swarm intelligence to systematically and effectively deal with the challenges in front of them.
Making it happen:
Seeing the wildebeest migration in person is unforgettable. If you are interested in watching this phenomenon unfold, you will need to travel to Tanzania or Kenya, where the wildebeest reside. The wildebeest move at all times of the year, but the most activity takes place in spring and fall. Perhaps the most exciting events of the wildebeest migrations are the crossings of the Grumeti and Mara Rivers. The Grumeti River crossing typically takes place in May or June, while the Mara River crossing typically takes place in August or September.
Tanzania
Kenya