Wildebeest herd crossing the Mara River between Kenya and Tanzania

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The world cup of wildlife. Look before you leap

There’s no rest for the wildebeest, especially as it crosses the crocodile-infested Mara River between Kenya and Tanzania, shown here. Each year, as many as 1.5 million wildebeest move through this region, traveling some 1,200-kilometre total as they seek out lush, green grass and fresh water. August often finds the herd here in the Northern Serengeti Plains, a favourite destination for safari-goers who will also see some 200,000 zebras - as well as smaller numbers of gazelles and elands - that accompany the herd. The great number of animals makes this phenomenon one of the largest land migrations on Earth, often called the ‘world cup of wildlife.’