The Great Migration

The day since I ventured into Wildlife Photography, I was fascinated by the unparalleled world of African Wildlife. I had seen hundreds of images on social media of the herds of Wildebeests jumping in crocodile infested rivers, crossing the rivers and successfully reaching the other side, which made me believe, ONLY this is what the Migration is!

I was planning my first ever trip to Masai Mara in 2017 in the month of October.

As I discussed my plan with some of my friends, who’d been to Masai Mara before, they made fun of me saying that I have chosen the worst period to visit Masai Mara as the maximum action is seen only during July and August when the ‘Migration’ takes place! You will hardly get any action photos as the number of animals are less during this season.

I was in a dilemma as I flew from Mumbai, but the moment I reached Masai Mara I realised I was unnecessarily worried! On the very first day, I had an amazing sighting. I also saw huge herds of wildebeests. I was confused and curious as well to know what exactly the Migration thing is!

The famed ‘Mara River crossings’ has led to some misunderstandings about the migration itself,I realised. Just like myself, many people think that the great migration only happens once a year, and migration is ‘Wildebeest crossing the Mara River’!

The migration is not a singular, isolated event happening once a year. Instead, it is the constant movement millions of wildebeests and thousands of zebras and gazelles in search of food and water. When supplies of these vital resources are depleted in one area, the animals move to another area where water, grasses and other food sources are plentiful.

During the migration animals follow a clockwise movement through the Serengeti following the rains. The five hundred kilometres is fraught with danger with many predators such as lions, cheetahs and crocodiles preying on the animals. It is a truly amazing spectacle.