African Wanderings II -- Aug 2016 -- “Wildebeest Buffet”--- All you can eat

October 18, 2016 • 1 Comment

We hung back in the shade of the tree line about a 1/4 mile from the river, hiding from the hot sun but mostly to avoid spooking the growing herd of Wildebeests and Zebras headed down to the river. Are they going down for a quick drink, a look, or might they be preparing to cross the muddy Crocodile and Hippo filled Mara River? Our goal is to witness and photograph the Great Wildebeest Migration during one of its epic crossing moments a scene that has eluded us on our 4 previous visits to Africa.

(A photo blog of our recent African Photo Safari by Bill & Linda Klipp)

They build up along the river's edge and it only takes one to start a crossing stampede

As they cross, the river's swift current starts to sweep them downstream

The stampeding frenzy kicks up huge amounts of dust

The predators are always waiting for their opportunity to enter the "Wildebeest Buffet"

You heard of the "African Big 5"? These guys are are one of the "African Ugly 5"

A male Impala looks on

After short flight from Lake Manyara we landed in the northern Serengeti of Tanzania not far from the Kenya border. Within a 10-minute drive from the airstrip we arrived at Alex Walker’s Serian Camp our home base for the migration. Each year Alex strategically sets up seasonal tented safari camps. This season is the migration so we are camped in the northern Serengeti near 10 well-traveled migration river crossing points. The next 5 days we will spend countless hours from before sunrise till sunset tracking the hordes of Wildebeests and positioning our vehicle for hours at a time waiting and hoping that a few brave Wildebeest will make a break for the river initiating a Lemming like stampede to race across the river.

Alex Walker's Serian North Camp is only a 10 minute ride from the airstrip

Relaxing by our tent

Not bad accommodations for a seasonal camp

Right before sunrise we found a good spot, laid some blankets on the ground and waited for the right moment.

They make no notice of our presence

We were not disappointed this trip with 8 different crossings in 5 days and lots of action. The first was within a few hours of our arrival at Camp. All geared up, the four of us along with our traveling safari guide Russell Gammon loaded into our two safari vehicles and headed off towards the river in search of some action. Within a short time our guides found the shade of some trees as we watched thru binoculars a distant Wildebeest herd building near the river’s edge at Crossing #4. The crossing points are numbered 1 thru 10 with each having it’s unique crossing challenges and dangers.

Watching the herd build up along the river's edge, hoping for a crossing

A Masai Giraffe wanders by

An alert Topi always scanning the plains

A gorgeous Lilac Breasted Roller take flight after some insects

We sat in the vehicles checking our gear and taking a few photos when suddenly one of our drivers shouted “They’re Going, Hang On” he then started the engine and raced off, swerving and bouncing across the plains as we hung on for our life trying to protect our equipment speeding our way to the river’s edge. The tell-tale sign was the ever rising clouds of dust from thousands of hoofs running across the plains and into the river. As we blast through the chaos of stampeding Wildebeests to the river's edge the unmistakable smell of death surrounds us. With Vultures swirling above and perched everywhere along the river the stench is only avoided by the adrenaline pumping thru our bodies.

Race to the river video. Click above image to view video

Vulture drying it’s wings

To provide for ultimate photographic flexibility we only had two of us and a driver in each safari vehicle with Russell rotatating vehicles daily.

"Serengeti" in the Masai language means " Endless Plains"

A false start, sometimes they build up along the river then decide to abort and head back inland

It often starts in a very organized way, then the stampeding frenzy begins

On the run, note how the Zebras hang back. Click above image to view video.

Once the frenzy begins they will trample each other, sometimes to death

Once across they need to climb the steep river banks

Our Guide Russell suggested we position ourselves a bit downstream as the Crocs usually approach from that direction. Crossing #4 is unique in that it is the only one we are allowed to exit the vehicle and stand along the cliffs hanging over the river. At one point we climbed down to the river’s edge for a closer view although we retreated as a part of the herd started heading our way. Being trampled by hundreds of Wildebeest is something we thought we should avoid. As the Wildebeests and Zebras leaped into the waters below and headed across the river you can see the swift current sweeping them and their dust downstream towards us. As a once straight line of animals started to bend downstream Russell yelled out “focus on the Croc”. Methodically the huge Nile Crocodile slowly swam up towards the herd grabbing a young Wildebeest as it’s mom helplessly looked on. During the frenzy with our adrenaline flowing I fired off hundreds of shots from the two cameras hanging from my side. Then as quickly as it started the herd stopped dead in it’s tracks turned and began stampeding back inland away from the river.

As the stampede begins nothing seems to be an obstacle

The smarter and more skittish Zebras usually wait for the Wildebeests to go first

It starts out as a straight line but the current quickly pulls them downriver

A Crossing, Break on thru to the other side. Click above image to view video.

A huge Nile Crocodile moves in for the kill

Mom helplessly looks on as her calf is pulled down by the Croc

On the run, their single focus is to cross as quickly as possible

It looks like a swarm of ants as the herd emerges from the river

The stench along the river is often nauseating from the dozens of rotting carcasses.

Wow! this was only Day 1 in the Serengeti, we climbed back into our vehicles threading our way through the herd as we headed back to camp for some evening cocktails, sunset and campfire chatter.

Alex Walker's Serian Camp time lapse video. Click above image to view

An Olive Baboon catching some early mornig rays

Olive Baboons

An little agile Klipspringer on top of a copi (rock outcropping)

Poor manners

A female Oribi takes a break from grazing to check us out

The setting full moon took on an orange glow as the sun began to rise

A Hippopotamus headed back to the river after an evening of grazing.

A male Agama Lizard displaying his colors

On an annual basis vast herds of Wildebeests, Zebras, Gazelles and other ungulates make their way on a round trip journey from the Serengeti’s great grassland plains to Kenya’s Masai Mara following the rains in search of green pastures. With over 2 million animals making the trek this surely ranks among one of greatest wonders of the Natural World. The excitement and energy that the thundering herds create attract large concentrations of predators such as Lions, Leopards, Cheetah, Hyenas and of course giant Nile Crocodiles all in pursuit of the Wildebeest Buffet a literal smorgasbord of nomadic mega herds.

Wildebeest on the run

The beginning of another crossing

A yellow-billed Stork glides by as a Crocodile takes a nap

Once started almost nothing stops them

Making child's play of an unfortunate Wildebeest, Nile Crocodiles can reach 20 feet and 1,200 lbs.

Their speed, strength and power is amazing. This guy tries to rip the head off the Wildebeest

Marabou Storks and Vultures line the shores by the hundreds providing a vital role to the eco-system as they consume the rotting carrion

After ripping off pieces of meat the Croc does a head toss to swallow it

The dusty savannahs make for some awesome sunsets

On the move this Lion pride numbering 13, heads for some midday shade.

Close enough for a little iPhone video

iPhone Lion video. Click above image to view

They started out nicely sharing this Wildebeest then things turned nasty

Check out those retractable claws

Often thought of as scavengers, Spotted Hyenas are formidable predators participating in the Wildebeest Buffet.

A couple of Banded Mongoose (or is it Mongeese?) scamper by

Early morning balloon flight over Serengeti

Tres Amigos out for a stroll

As we watched some Lions lounging on the rocks a Leopard wandered by but luckily he quietly snuck away

Two young brothers hanging in the shade

The Leopard spotted the Lions and got very nervous.

Truly a gorgeous animal

Stealth is the name of the game

Wandering the plains

Mom Warthog and her little piglets. They are very skittish and for good reason as they make good Lion and Leopard snacks.

Little Bee-eater

Hard to spot and for good reason. Serval Cats use the high grasses for camouflage

Our normal routine was up by 5:15am as coffee, hot chocolate and biscuits are delivered to our tent, then into the vehicles by 6am and off to find a good sunrise location, next we check the river crossings and around 9 am if nothing is happening we set up for a “Bush Breakfast”. This morning we saw the herds building along the river and decided to have a quick bite in the shade hopefully before the action started. Then it became hurry up as a we spotted the rising dust and the beginning of yet another crossing.

A quick bush breakfast time lapse video. Click above image to view

Sometimes the best way to spot the stealthy predators is to watch the prey.

Once spotted this male Lion has little chance of hunting success

Mom and her 3 cubs enjoying a Zebra dinner

Licking her chops after a yummy meal

Doing what little ones do, Play

This skinny little guy hasn’t had a meal in a while, making his future uncertain

A perfect night for a Sun-downer

Tanzania's northern Serengeti is just south of the Kenya Border

Next stop is the Masai Mara region of southern Kenya only 40 miles north of us, but it will take pretty much all day to get there as we need to drive to the airstrip take a 30 minute flight, get in a van for 30 minutes, cross the border on foot get in another van, drive 30 minutes to another airstrip, fly 30 minutes to Masai Mara, then a short game drive, followed by a river crossing by boat to Little Governor's Camp and the "Predators' Playground". STAY TUNED.....

PS: In case you missed our first African Wanderings Blog: "The Elephants' Ball" check out:

http://www.billklipp.zenfolio.com/blog/2016/10/african-wanderings-i----aug-2016----the-elephants-ball

Stay tuned for the next installment of African Wanderings III --- “The Predator's Playground” – Enter at your own risk

For more photos visit Bill & Linda's photography website: http://www.WildlifePhotos.me

Check out my online Photo Website at: http://www.wkimages.net

* Any use of these images requires the prior written permission of Bill Klipp the photographer, no other uses of any kind including print or electronic are permitted without the prior written permission of the photographer.

Comments

Jim Losi(non-registered)

The one photograph of the two Zebras drinking together amongst the floating grass is probably the finest photograph I have ever seen. It is truly a remarkable photograph. I studied it for almost 30 minutes.

The little dwarf mongoose made me smile...

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