December 28: The dominant animal in the great East African migration is the wildebeest (sometimes called gnu). Over the several weeks we spent in Tanzania we saw them by the tens of thousands; there is an estimated population of 1.5 million. The great herds in the Ngorongoro Crater and especially in the Serengeti remind me of the bison herds that used to densely populate the prairies of the USA until they were rendered nearly extinct.
These photos from Ngorongoro focus mainly on individuals and small groups. The migrations were just beginning as the rainy season commenced and the grass began to grow. The photos to come from the Serengeti will show the swelling of the population.
These photos from Ngorongoro focus mainly on individuals and small groups. The migrations were just beginning as the rainy season commenced and the grass began to grow. The photos to come from the Serengeti will show the swelling of the population.
Wildebeests and zebras migrate together in a collaborative mode.
The zebras graze on the tops of the grasses, while the wildebeests then eat the lower portions.
A wildebeest trudges after a kori bustard.
This gives a small hint of the great herds to come.
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