There are two species of wildebeest, the black wildebeest and the blue wildebeest. It is the blue wildebeest that takes part in the migration. They are part of the antelope family and are also known as the white bearded wildebeest or the brindled gnu. They can grow up to 8 feet long and weigh pounds. The wildebeest is a herbivore. Their diet consists mainly of short grasses. If food is scarce they will eat the leaves of shrubs and trees.
A herd can eat around tons of grass a day. The wildebeest have a close relationship with the zebras when it comes to eating the grasses. The zebras eat the upper most grass leaving the lower greener grass for the wildebeests. Wildebeest are fast runners being able to run at speeds up to 50 miles an hour giving them an advantage when being chased by predators.
During the months of January, February and March the wildebeest live on the grasslands also known as the Savanah of the southern Serengeti. This time of year due to the rainfalls from November and December there is fresh water and rich green grasses for the wildebeest to feast upon. During this time a half a million calves are born at the rate of about a day over a week period.
What is remarkable is the calves are able to run within 2 minutes of being born. K, CC BY 2. The wildebeest migration generally begins around April when the grasslands dry up and the rains begin to fall in the South West.
They begin to follow the rain pattern. Where there will be fresh food and water. The migration may change from year to year due to the unpredictability of the weather. Around 2 million wildebeest head out on the long journey along with zebras, eland, gazelles and impalas.
The wildebeest have much danger ahead of them, they will have to face predators such as lions, tigers, hyenas, cheetahs, leopards, wild dogs, and giant Nile crocodiles who are waiting to prey upon them along the way. The wildebeest travel in a mile loop going clockwise. There are more than 3, lions currently living in the Serengeti ecosystem that follow the migratory herds across the reserve. For a more detailed description of the great wildebeest migration, including a detailed month-by-month diary, read The Great Migration Explained.
If you are not yet a member, see how to JOIN below this story. See details below. We're the Africa Geographic editorial team — a diverse set of writers, editors, designers and social media natives, all united by our passion for this addictive continent.
Opinion Editorial. Human-wildlife conflict. Natural history. Find out more here. Wildebeest typically inhabit the Serengeti plains of southeastern Africa. For most of their lives, wildebeest graze in the grassy savanna s and open woodlands of the plains, which straddle the nations of Tanzania and Kenya.
More than 1. The annual migration northwest, at the end of the rainy season usually in May or June is recognized as one of the "Seven Wonders of the Natural World. Its migration route crosses many river s, most filled with giant Nile crocodile s. This species of wildebeest migrates in a loop around Tanzania and Kenya. This large area of Africa is often referred to as the Great Rift Valley. Every year, more than one million wildebeest and , zebras complete this kilometer mile migration loop.
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You cannot download interactives. Others, such as the monarch butterfly Sanaus plexippus and Arctic tern Sterna paradisaea , migrate.
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