The Great Migration of wildebeest throughout Southern Africa is an incredible spectacle that attracts huge numbers of travelers from around the world every year.
James Henry, a safari guide, had taken a group to witness a water crossing during this event when, to their surprise, a lioness came past them taking the opportunity to hunt some tired prey.
The footage was sent to Latest Sightings by SafariLive, a company that streams live safaris from the Greater Kruger, and other reserves as well, throughout South Africa.
Traveling In Convoy
Over 1.5 million wildebeest are in motion during the Great Migration, which makes for a very impressive sight. Although calling it the Great Migration implies that it is an event of the animals moving from one location to another, this is not quite the case.
The migration occurs when the wildebeest move on to newer grazing grounds, and they tend to move clockwise throughout the area, from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Masai Mara of Kenya.
But they don’t stop moving, as the huge number of them means grasslands can only sustain them for so long. The migration is actually a constant affair as they leave the areas behind them to renew, while moving onto the areas that have already recovered.
A Golden Opportunity
For hungry predators like this lion, this migration means the wildebeest are likely to be in a predictable location, although not always the same one, and their travels will leave them tired.
The migrating wildebeest have to cross several waterways on their way to their next destination, and it was here that James and his tour group saw a hungry lion arrive.
James said “we saw a tawny bur to the left of our vehicle. Literally four meters away a lion had entered the foray and was trying to ambush one of the weary wildebeest as they made it to the other side”.
Spoiled For Choice
With so many wildebeest in such a hurry, the lioness had all the time in the world to leisurely pick out its prey. Watching them climb out of the water the big cat could size them up for how much energy they had left for a chase.
She jogged alongside the wildebeest column for a very short time before she’d picked out her desired meal and then she made her move. The targeted wildebeest tried to dodge out of the way, but the lioness managed to sink her claws into its back legs.
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Second Time’s The Charm
Despite the lion’s initial success, the lucky wildebeest managed to use its momentum to twist free from the lion’s claws and continue on its journey while the big cat immediately cut her losses and moved onto the next wildebeest.
This second time she managed to use the long grass to get closer to her prey, and she brought it down too quickly for it to really consider escaping. James said the wildebeest would make “a hearty meal for the lion”.
The Great Migration can be unpredictable, with the wildebeest not guaranteed to make water crossings at the same place each year, but this tour group, and this lion, managed to get it right, and both were treated to a reward.