It’s been a record year for Mara River Crossings in the Serengeti. Even our most experienced safari guides cannot recall a time when the wildebeest have crossed so frequently. Time and time again the long columns of wildebeest have made the plunge into the Mara River both southbound and northbound with no particular rhyme or reason. Perhaps it’s the unusually heavy thundershowers we have seen this entire dry season combined with the early burning done by TANAPA. This combination has caused the migration to cross and re-cross the Mara in pursuit of the rain clouds and the smell of fresh green grass sprouting on the scorched plains. Below are a couple of our favorite Mara River crossing shots submitted by returning guests over the last couple months.

Special thanks to Shane and Heidi who submitted this spectacular safari video from their recent African safari. At about 4 minutes and 30 seconds into the video there begins some extraordinary crossing footage including two massive crocodiles taking a wildebeest. Be warned some of the shots are quite graphic!! Click here to see the video.

By Marc Zwig – September 24, 2010