Thousands upon thousands of beasts wait. The largest congregation of wild animals you have ever seen, all as if holding their collective breath. Just waiting, nervously, on the banks of a river. A river ruled by crocodiles. Banks of the river ruled by lions. Predators waiting with bated breath, as much as the prey.
And then, one brave wildebeest decides that it is time to cross the river. It jumps into the water, and a deluge of bodies follows. Zebra and Wildbeest in their thousands all jump into the river now, and cross over to the other side.
The short distance is full of peril for these herbivores. Crocodiles lie in wait, and grab prey at will, as the mass of animals descends into the river.
Lions and hyenas wait on the other bank of the river, and start piling up the hunted bodies as more and more beasts try to rush on. It is a veritable all-you-can-eat buffet for the predators!
These are scenes from the great migration – a biannual wild event in which animals cross over from one side of the forest to the other, and back. One of the scenes that many tourists make a trip to the Maasai Mara in Kenya for. Of course, one can see the migration in the Serengeti in Tanzania as well. These two countries are home to the savannah forest that is known as the Maasai Mara in Kenya and Serengeti in Tanzania.
A visit during the migration season is one of the most sought after wildlife experiences in the world!