Wildebeest Migration, Serengeti 2010
Caption: Wildebeest gather in their thousands on the grass plains of Grumeti Reserves, bordering the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mk II; Lens: Canon EF70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM; Focal Length: 130mm; Shutter speed: 1/640; Aperture: f/7.1; ISO: 400; Date: 29/06/2010, 5.01pm
Additional Info: The main objective of our recent road trip from South Africa to Tanzania was to see the great wildebeest migration and we were not disappointed!
For three days we lucky enough to be in Grumeti Reserves, the 340,000 acre (140,000 Ha) safari destination located on the western boundary of Serengeti National Park.
Grumeti is a privately owned concession and since its establishment in 2003, strict conservation management and control of bush fires has revitalized the area. The abundant grasslands that now cover the plains act as a magnet to the wildlife, including the wildebeest masses as they trek towards the Mara in Kenya.
As has been noted numerous times in the past, it’s almost impossible to capture the magnitude of the migration in a photograph — at least from ground level — particularly in a digital image 600 pixels wide!
On the open plains, the animals are seldom bunched together; instead they’re spread over vast areas, their distinctive shapes gradually diminishing into small specks in the distance — thousands upon thousands of dark dots, as far as the eye can see.
While the above picture can’t attempt to convey this magnitude, fortunately the late-afternoon light was dramatic, the slanting rays adding a golden glow to the winter grass, accentuated by the dark, stormy sky in the background.
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+Scotch Macaskill
Scotch, well that was worth waiting for, great photograph given the difficulties of capturing the moment.
A truly magnificent event that I hope one day to see myself.
Thanks Mike, appreciate the kind words! Have been meaning to add some other migration pics, but had too many distractions.
Wow, must have been a fantastic experience to be there seeing this!!
Yep, very much a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me and very grateful we got our timing right as never know precisely when the wildebeest will start their major trek.