Wildebeest are also on the “Big 5” list, and tourists on safari often come to see their great migrations across the plains of Africa. They continuously migrate and live a nomadic type lifestyle on the search for decent quality grass and water supplies. Therefore it should come as no surprise that their habitat is exclusively open plains or open woodlands. They are powerful animals who regularly weigh in at 265-600 lb and with a height of 50 to 58 inches at the shoulder. They also have curved horns and a large box-like head which is their sole weapon of self-defence against their numerous predators, such as lions, cheetahs, hunting dogs and hyenas. Wildebeest are particularly famous for their Serengeti population who regularly migrate in a circular pattern up to 500-1000 miles annually, following the rainy seasons in each area and the grasslands and waterholes that are produced. Wildebeest are found throughout much of Southern Africa, including South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya. Tanzania and Botswana are arguably the best and most popular places to view their great migrations.
Courtesy of H&T PhotoWalks/flickr