Nothing to worry about!
Take a look at this wonderful image. In the foreground, wildebeest and zebra cross the river, snaking in different directions to make the perilous crossing. Thousands have already made it, fanning out across the plains to gain their reward, in the form of rain-fed succulent new grass shoots. Beyond them lies a blue sky which, at first, resembles a vast blue sea. Perhaps that is the only thing missing from this timeless photograph – unless of course you prefer the presence of carnivores.
Here, the crocodiles are absent. So are the lions who often wait on the far bank, to intercept new arrivals after their otherwise successful crossing. This lack of predators reminds us of the power of numbers. So many herbivores cross the Mara and Sand rivers and so few are taken, making the risks worthwhile. Each wildebeest or zebra that falls to a crocodile or lion pays the price of a thousand more reaching safety.
This gives rise to one of the great ironies of migratory river crossings. By far the greatest danger comes from within the herds themselves – through panic. Terrified leaders have led herds of up to 10,000 to mass drownings in the past. Yet as with our photograph, the vast majority of crossings are orderly. Dramatic, primeval and awe-inspiring yes – but peaceful!
And right now, crossings are everyday events. The migration is in full swing, the herds having arrived early in the Mara during May, having trekked up from the Serengeti. Herds are massed on both Masai Mara and Serengeti sides of the Mara and Sand rivers which divide the territories, creating fabulous viewings at multiple crossing points.
Some feature tens of thousands. Others mere handfuls of stragglers. Yet for every guest, this everyday event is anything but. It’s an assault on the senses – and a privilege to behold.
