The Great Wildebeest Migration

Our purpose in going to the Maasi Mara was to observe the great wildebeest migration.
“The highlight of the Mara is undoubtedly the great migration of wildebeest which move north from the Serengeti in July and August in search of lush grass. They return south in October before the rainy season. Watching millions of these animals move together in mass is truly a humbling experience for human visitors.” This was our exact experience in the Maasi Mara.
I mentioned before how captivated we were by wildebeest. In the Mara we saw more wildebeest than the imagination can conceive. As my journal entry for Aug. 27 says, “The Mara does not disappoint.” I should interrupt myself at this point to explain why we weren't totally convinced that the Mara would live up to its billing. Other highly hyped events earlier in the trip had not quite arisen to the level of our expectations. However, as we approached from the air it was obvious that our travel agent had been wise to “leave the best for the last.” Looking down from the plane, the wildebeest herds looked like vast swarms of ants upon the plains. Being among them feels like being transported back in time to the days of the great buffalo herds in the American West. Then like now vast plains were filled with animal herds as far as the eye could see. It is an indescribable feeling.