The Greatest Animal Migration

2014, Nature  -   14 Comments
7.39
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Ratings: 7.39/10 from 92 users.

We're setting off on an African adventure. Our destination is the famous Serengeti. We're taking you along on the greatest animal migration in the world, when millions of wildebeest make the long journey from Tanzania to Kenya. It's a journey into the unknown. On their odyssey, the wildebeest will meet very different neighbors. There are also some spotted and striped traveling companions on this 1,000 kilometer march.

Unfortunately, not all travel acquaintances mean well, those who get separated from the group are particularly vulnerable. The great wildebeest migration is representative of the merciless cycle of life and death. But as yet, everything is peaceful that's why the plain has turned into a playground for the 200,000 migrating zebras. And sometimes zebras and lions even think alike.

The vultures always manage to find plenty of food during the wildebeest migration. Next door, it looks like the hyenas are enjoying a cozy siesta, but hyenas should never be underestimated. Even though it can seem that butter wouldn't melt in their mouth, their bad reputation is not unjustified.

It's time for the wildebeest to move on and we're staying with them. The herd stretches out to maybe 40 kilometers in length. For many young animals it's a first test of strength. Destination for the early stage of the track is the dusty riverbank. That's where the wildebeest want to cross the river, but there's a problem. The river is occupied by hippos. Although hippopotamuses are vegetarians they're incredibly heavy so it's a better idea to wait until the "swimming pool" is free again.

The herd immediately gets going, there's no time to lose. While the first animals have found a soft spot from which to leap into the water the bulk of the animals are heading towards the steep banks. One young animal was unable to keep up and has become separated from the group. Tired, it steps into the mud to cross the water but the herd doesn't wait for strugglers.

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14 Comments / User Reviews

  1. Mehreen

    Awesome....Am amazed,,,Just Almighty is powerful..

  2. David

    Great filming...could only take listening to half....i hate to be the one to break it to you but, I think your writer does drugs,..really good ones apparently...

  3. Mosquito

    I agree with that it is a great documentary. And I think someone needs to check what superstition really means, because there is absolutely nothing supernatural or mythical about this documentary

  4. Biernet

    Good film, poor narration...If only Mr. Attenborough could narrate films forever *sigh*

  5. Wasike

    Appreciating the wonders of the Savannah and its most captivating odyssey.

  6. Zainab Saeed

    Beautiful Tanzania !!

  7. Wayne Mckeehan

    Relaxing documentary.

  8. Clemens van Stekelenburg

    Colonialist alcoholics on holiday.

    1. Linton

      SO AGREE

  9. RB

    Was this a documentary or an African safari commercial?

  10. zee788

    So a bunch of wildebeest run a few miles to another grazing ground. What exactly is fascinating about all this? We've eliminated ancient superstitions and just replaced them with other new ones. How ridiculous.

    1. Wasike

      You need to get out more...to label such a majestic odyssey as the great Serengeti-to-Mara migration as "superstitious" and "boring" is just sad.

    2. zee788

      It's precisely because I 'get out more' that I realize you have replaced one superstition with another. Watching a dramatized version of reality in a documentary film with background music is not reality.

  11. whoopi_goldberg

    fantastique!