ULTIMATE AFRICA SAFARIS
Wildebeest
Migration Update! The plains and woodlands around Ndutu, on the border of Tanzania's famed Serengeti National Park, are alive with wildebeest. Wherever guests drive, they pass vast herds of wildebeest bulls, adolescents and mothers, most of whom, have given birth to their biscuit colored youngsters sticking close to their sides. Such a plethora of babies is all due to the interesting survival strategy wildebeest have evolved by synchronizing their births. I'm sure I've said this before but it's worth repeating since the figures are so amazing - Scientists estimate that up to 8,000 calves a day are born over the main three week calving period. In fact this year, the main wildebeest expert, Dr. Estes, reckons that the peak calving period took place in a brief one week span. The first calves that are born are at great risk from predators such as lions, hyenas and also cheetahs. But as the calvings increase the predators are just swamped by so many and each individual then has a far greater chance of going unnoticed in the crowd. The last-born calves are again at greater risk as these wobbly, shaky youngsters stand out from their stronger siblings. Many guests have seen actual births. One person timed a little calf getting to his feet a few days ago. He was on his feet and staying up in just under 5 minutes, suckled successfully after 9, and was running with his mother within 14 minutes. Evidence, indeed, that out of all the antelope, wildebeest give birth to the most precocious young.
If last month was the cheetah month, then this is the month of the serval cats and the caracal. Lots of elusive spotted serval cats have been seen lately. The caracal, which is an African version of a lynx with long ear tufts are by far the most difficult cat to see at Ndutu (staff haven't seen any for over a year). Then, suddenly, we've seen three in a week. Last night we watched a young caracal being harassed by two black-backed jackals not far from the lodge. Although there was lots of snarling from the caracal, I don't think either party was particularly bothered by the other. One of the radio collared, European white storks, which we mentioned last month has arrived in Tanzania. He's called Felix and has landed about 300 kilometers east of Ndutu and everyone is hoping he'll make it all the way here sooner or later. For sheer numbers and variety of game, these past few weeks have been, and still are amazing. It really is a very exciting time, for nowhere else in the world can you see hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, huge herds of zebra, and so many fat, contented lions. To add to the excitement a newborn baby elephant was seen yesterday. All this adds up to an unparalleled wildlife spectacle. Back to The Wildebeest Migration Made Simple Links to other pages: ULTIMATE AFRICA
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