Around this time the mating season begins, the normally placid wildebeest bulls establish and defend territories, herding the females as they wander through. The bulls go through highly ritualised challenges pawing the ground, bucking and snorting, dropping on their knees with their foreheads flat on the ground horn to horn in an impressive display. There is nothing visible to mark their territory except the bulls themselves. By late June the rut is over and the bulls merge once more into the amorphous life of the herd.

One of the main barriers in the path of the migration is the Mara River. Traditional crossing places are returned to year after year. However what might have been an easy crossing the previous year could due to heavy rains become unsuitable the following year. To see a river crossing in a truly dramatic experience with thousands of wildebeest and zebra massed along the banks waiting for the moment to cross. Finally sometimes after hours of waiting one of the animals will make a move and the others follow regardless of the danger, be it sheer cliffs or crocodiles lurking below. Yet despite the confusion and losses a majority of the wildebeest survive.

The Serengeti Rut: The rut takes place as the wildebeest move into the woodland and are at their most concentrated, providing the bulls with the best return for their effort. The rut of this great population is one of the worlds most spectacular wildlife happenings. Wildebeest gestation periods are between 8 - 8 and a half months.

By October and early November the herds head south again, back to the Serengeti. Long columns of wildebeest the females heavy with calves, trudge along in single file, sometimes walking, sometimes running. By December they are back on the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti and so the age old cycle continues. Although this implies a degree of predictability about the wildebeest herds, movements are dictated by the vagaries of rainfall and subsequent availability of food. What one can say with certainty is that the wildebeest migration is the world finest game viewing experience played out in East Africa's premiere wildlife destination - Serengeti - Mara.

Go Back