Tips to help you pack for a trip

1. Security and keeping details safe

Scan your passport, passport photos and paper tickets (if not the e type) in. Store this (in an email for e.g.) in your web based email account.

You can also store the details of your emergency 'lost card' telephone numbers in your web based email account so you know who to contact if your credit card or ATM card is lost or stolen.

This way, even if you lose everything, you have immediate access your all important information. You can even email the details page of your passport to the embassy or consulate when applying for a new one.

2. Split up your valuables

Split up your bank cards, cash, travellers' cheques and credit cards as much as possible in different pockets, your bags and wallet when packing. In case you do get robbed, at least you won't be strapped for cash (unless you have all your bags AND your wallet stolen of course!).

3. Nalgene/small bottles

Use nalgene/small bottles to pack toiletries and other small items. There are several sturdy and (very nearly) waterproof ones, with clear/see through ones being preferable (easier for security purposes post August 2006). You can also use small bottles to repack shampoo or lotions so that you don't have to always carry a big bottle with you. This is especially useful if you normally take these items in your carry-on luggage, which as of early 2007 is much more restricted than before.

4. Backpack tips

When you are packing things into a backpack, place the lighter items at the bottom and the heavier ones on top. Your bag will feel lighter this way as the pack rests on your lower back. It is also smart to place the things you use the most on top. Dirty clothes are perfect to pack at the bottom of a backpack. If you are still trying to decide on the right backpack, have a look at

5. Plastic bags

It is always handy to have a few plastic bags around certain items, especially toiletries. Not only does it counter any leaking, the bags can also come in useful to keep dirty clothes in, as garbage bags or even as a makeshift umbrella. Ziplock or other airtight plastic bags are the best.

6. Pack in plastic

Pack everything in clear plastic bags (preferably zip lock), divided into items e.g. underwear, t-shirts, shorts etc. before packing in your suitcase or backpack. One plastic bag for each type of clothing. This is extremely useful in various ways. When you unpack your bag you just take out a series of bags and you can see immediately what you want. So an overnight stay somewhere just means taking 1 item out of a bag - no rummaging!! In addition, if you have to unpack at customs etc, instead of having to disgorge all your clothing etc out in front of everybody, you can calmly take maybe 5/6 bags out, the contents of which can be clearly seen by the officials. To repack then is also dead easy. Just be sure not to leave your plastic bags lying around if you are travelling in nature!

7. Clothes

Pack only what you know you will use and if you are travelling for more than three weeks, plan to wash on the road.

8. Split up clothes when travelling with others

When you are flying somewhere and especially if you have a few stopovers, divide the clothes between different suitcases/backpacks/bags etc. If one persons luggage doesn't arrive at the destination, they'll still have clean clothes available. Airlines generally don't compensate lost luggage for the first 24-48 hours so this will save you money if it happens to you.

9. Separate beach bag

When packing to head to the beach consider pre-packing whatever you might need at the beach into a beachbag inside your backpack or suitcase. Especially if travelling with kids, this will prove a timesaver!

10. Suitcase lovers

For those using suitcases without a divider. A piece of cardboard makes an excellent divider and helps keep your clothes organized and neat as you are able to lay them out flat on the cardboard. It also makes airport inspections a lot less of a hassle as you can lift out your divider with clothes on top easily.

11. Gifts

While it is a good idea to take some small gifts with you while travelling, pre-wrapping them can be a waste of time if you are flying and your bags are opened.

12. Flashlights or torches

When packing a flashlight or torch (or any other item with batteries for that matter), turn the batteries around so that if the item is accidentally turned on, you won't empty the batteries. Don't forget to turn the batteries back around when using the flashlight.

13. Diaper bag

If you are travelling with babies, then the diaper bag is an excellent place to hide your valuables. This most likely will not be the first thing to be stolen. It's also a great to use as a waste bag (even when not travelling with a child!), especially at places that do not allow you to flush toilet paper.

14. Shoes

If you want to make sure everything else in your bags stays clean and odor free, place the shoes inside old socks and then inside airtight plastic bags (ziplock).

15. Carry-On

Keep any medication and important papers in your carry-on bag. On long flights with multiple stopovers (especially if flying via London, LA or other major airports), packing a fresh change of clothes is a good idea as bags tend to get delayed or lost on long haul, multiple stop flights. You don't want to end up stuck without medication, clothes or your important papers even if it is just for a few days.

16. Roll technique

Somehow it seems that bags will hold more if the clothes are rolled rather than folded. If you roll in tissue paper, the clothes will also get less wrinkled.

17. Travelling to warm destinations?

If you appreciate cold drinks think of using a six-pack cooler as a toiletry bag. Once you arrive at your destination and unload your toiletries your 'toiletry bag' guarantees cheap cold drinks on the beach, no matter how remote.

18. Local tourism offices

The best source of information is usually local. Check out Tourism Offices to find unbiased feedback on the best accommodation to suit your needs. Excercise caution in countries where you feel the information might not be so unbiased!

19. Minimize on toiletries

Take only half a tube of toothpaste rolled up tight, store shampoo in small containers, only take half a roll of toilet paper (for emergencies only) and crush it so the middle is folded.

20. Take solid shampoo bars and tooth powder

Solid shampoo bars and tooth powder (instead of tooth paste) can be easily located on the internet and make carry-on travel in this age of liquid restriction possible. Places like Beijing now bar all liquids in carry-on bags, and you'll still be able to breeze through without checking.

Long haul family beach holidays

1. Barbados is a great island for families with tot-friendly beaches and a lively scene for teens. The sprawling all-inclusive Almond Beach Village is great value with kayaking, windsurfing, snorkelling, sailing and water-skiing all included in the price.

2. The Cayman Islands are safe, sophisticated and great for kids with lots of things to do including swimming with dolphins, visiting pirate caves, kayaking through mangroves and hiking through an iguana reserve. The Cotton Tree cottages are great value.

3. The Maldives are not just for honeymooners. Kids are well catered for at One&Only Reethi Rah which has its own KidsOnly club.

4. Mauritius is a great beach destination with superb luxury hotels and no jet lag, which makes it ideal for young children. The Residence Mauritius has an amazing kids club and special offers including free children’s rooms and VIP upgrades. For all-inclusive Mauritius, we recommend Beachcomber Hotels which have free kids clubs. Check out le Victoria which has two-bedroom family apartments.

5. The Seychelles are not just for honeymooners. There is a great range of family holidays from luxury hotels to small hotels and island resorts. On the small island of La Digue the main mode of transport is bicycle. You’ll see turtles and giant tortoises, and relax on the beautiful Anse Source D’Argent beach. Stay at La Domaine de L’Orangeraie.

6. The Caribbean has several great family hotels. Carkusle Bay in Antigua is particularly good for toddlers and babies, as is Round Hill Hotel & Villas in Jamaica. Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort on St Lucia is good for active kids and teenagers, while Beaches Resorts are action-packed all-inclusives with endless things to do.

PUBLIC NOTICE - CHANGE OVER FROM SMARTCARD TO SAFARICARD

This is to notify the general public that effective July 1st 2011, KWS Smart Cards will no longer be used at any KWS Park gate. The holders should move to the new Safaricard system. We therefore request all those who hold any value on smartcard to exhaust the same since it is not transferable to the Safaricard system. Paper tickets will however continue to be used in parks that are not connected to the Safaricard system.

For More information, Contact the Kenya Wildlife Services - smartcardsection@kws.go.ke

ISDN: 399 2000 Tel. extension 2181

Telkom Wireless: 020 2379407

GSM: Airtel 0735 663 421/0736 663 400

Safaricom 0726 610 508/9

www.kws.go.ke

The Land of the Giants, Amboseli

Amboseli lies immediatley north-west of Mt. Kilimanjaro, on the boarder with Tanzania.

A brief history:

Amboseli was established in as a reserve in 1968 and gazetted as a National Park in 1974.

Amboseli is renowned for its elephant populations and large herds, including some impressively tusked bulls are drawn to a series of large, lush swamplands. But the most impressive giant of all is Mt Kilimanjaro.

Africa’s largest mountain lies just over the border in Tanzania, but the most impressive views of its snow-capped peak are to be found in Amboseli. The early light of dawn turns the mountain a dark hue of purple, and its snows into an ethereal pink.

The sight of Kilimanjaro high above herds of elephant crossing the plains of Amboseli is a timeless African image.

This area is home to many Maasai communities, centred around the Amboseli National Park. The park is 400 sq kms, with its southern boundary along the Tanzanian border.

The park is home to more than just Elephants, and herds of wildebeest, zebra and impala graze on the open plains.. There are areas of acacia forest that make for good birding, and are home to many small mammals. Cheetah are also often sighted here.

The park is centred around a large hill, with fantastic views of the surrounding plains, often crossed by whirlwinds that send winding columns of dust into the sky. This open country is good walking territory, and many camps and lodges organise game walks, or trips to spend time in local Maasai villages.

Distance from Nairobi:

Namananga: 240kms

Emali: 228 Kms

Best time to Visit:

All year round.

Going on Safari...

"I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them." - Mark Twain

A safari, usually to Africa, is undertaken to view or hunt (were the law permits hunting) large game animals and other wildlife.

A safari is meant to be special, exciting, memorable and should be intended for one to experience nature in its purest form.

Every safari has an element of danger, that's what makes it exciting. While many of the animals you'll encounter can be dangerous, the four that you really have to watch out for are:

• Elephant

• Lion

• Buffalo

• And hippo, add crocodiles to the list if you're near water or intending to go into the water.

In the past, to go on safari was specifically to take part in a hunting expedition, but in the modern age, it is much more common for safaris to involve photography or simply viewing the animals in their natural habitat.

Preparing to go on safari can seem like a daunting task, but by breaking it down into manageable pieces, it becomes much less intimidating.

The first step is to determine what you want to do when you go on safari.

• Are you interested in taking a traditional hunting safari?

• Do you want to take photographs of specific wildlife?

• Are you interested in having a more authentic experience by staying in traditional villages, or would you prefer a more comfort-driven adventure with five-star hotels and luxury transportation?

If you are planning to go on safari with the intent of hunting game (which is illegal in most countries), make sure you are up-to-date on the laws regarding hunting in the country you are visiting. Most big game are protected species and are not available for hunting, but occasionally, unscrupulous safari organizers offer to take people out to hunt them anyway — something that is not only morally questionable, but also very illegal.

If you know the basic laws regarding hunting and poaching in the region you are visiting, you will be aware if what you are doing may put you on the wrong side of the law.

If you are planning to go on safari to take photographs of big game, you have much more flexibility in the kind of animals you can target.

A safari's success is usually measured by the number of animals you've seen along the way. We're not talking zebra and various antelope and gazelles, but the big 5, the spectacular lion kill, a baby giraffe -- something that makes you feel you have witnessed something truly special.

Some tips that will help you maximize your wildlife viewing successes.

Pick the right season.

The dry season is the most optimal season to see animals. The water holes attract a large concentration and a wide variety of animals. This makes it easy for you to view wildlife because many game parks have small shelters that overlook the water holes, or you can simply drive by.

In East Africa the dry seasons are from January through March and July through October. In Southern Africa the dry season runs from May through October. If you are interested in the annual migration of wildebeest and zebra then you also need to time your trip with the weather in mind. In the Masai Mara they usually arrive between August and September, stay through October and head back over to the Serengeti in Tanzania between December and January.

Pick the right time of day.

The best time to spot game is at dawn and dusk. At midday the sun is hot and most animals prefer to siesta under the shade of a tree, usually far from the roads you're driving on.

Go with a guide.

Guides will often be in radio contact with each other, so if one spots a great lion kill they can let your party know so you get to see it too. A guide is also useful in identifying species. Even if you carry a nice guide book, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a female sable and an impala when they are running.

Know where to look.

Look up in the trees if you want to spot a leopard, look in rivers if you want to see crocodiles (especially in patches of reeds) and watch out for steaming dung heaps to give you a good indication how close you might be to an elephant.

Bring binoculars.

Game parks are often bigger than some small European countries and the animals are wearing camouflage.

No two safaris are ever the same, at the evening camp fire, there shall always be different stories being exchanged, and each story is unique and different.

A safari is all about fun, adventure, good memories and hoping lady luck and mother nature smile on you, and remember to always keep your mind and eyes wide open.

“Too often. . .I would hear men boast of the miles covered that day, rarely of what they had seen.” – Louis L’Amour

Destinations for some of the best Wildlife Safaris

A good Safari is generally expensive to a single individual and is best experienced in organised groups of friends or family. If an opportunity avails itself, try a tented camp for the full wildlife safari monty.

Wildlife places are selected for quantity and variety of animals, certainty and ease of viewing and the splendour of environment.

Big game safari:

Masai Mara National Park, Kenya

Massive amount of wildlife in a huge savannah. Although it may have too many tourists and it's not self-drive, it's probably the most animal accessible game reserve. Stay in a tented camp for the real safari experience. Very best July-Oct at [3 week] wildebeeste migration; this varies so check it. Good weather December - March. Avoid April-June [big rains].

Some say that recently too many jeeps are getting careless and scaring off animals, and Samburu National Park is now better - less busy and more romantic, though not the same quantity and variety of animals.

Marine life:

The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

15 actively volcanic islands that constitute a 'living laboratory' of mainly marine animals - sea lions, seals, iguanas, turtles, sharks [you can snorkel with them too] giant tortoises, penguins and more blue footed boobies than you can shake a stick at.

A bleak and blasted landscape but the local inhabitants are totally unaffected by human presence and easy to approach and photograph. Strangely it was the unassuming Galapagos finches that triggered Darwin's Theory of Evolution.

Best Jan-March. Avoid July/Aug [busy, expensive, windy, rough], and September - November [when the waters are coldest, roughest and services are reduced]. Best to stay on a boat [smaller ones are better unless you get seasick] that will move between islands at night.

7 nights at least needed. For the very seasick prone there are some land hotels at Puerto Ayora in Isla Santa Cruz, though wildlife viewing will be restricted.

Big game, big desert, big dunes:

Etosha National Park, Namibia

The great arid scrubland and salt pan of Etosha contains a massive concentration of wildlife, particularly huge herds of zebra, various antelope and wildebeest, but no shortage of elephants, giraffe or birdlife either. Predators are tricky to find and depend on luck and persistence.

There are three inexpensive, walled restcamps in Etosha, each with their own waterhole attracting animals. Namutoni is less successful, Halali's hole attracts a lot of elephants and giraffes, while Okaukuejo is the hands down winner, with superb huts and a wonderful waterhole with endless action, occasionally even getting lion kills.

Drive-yourself safaris visiting other waterholes are excellent, with varied, stunning scenery. Cars can be rented in the unattractive capital, Windhoek, about 5 hours drive away.

Cape Cross, on the Skeleton Coast also offers 100,000 seals that you can get close to if you can stand the smell, the monstrous red dunes at Sossusvlei are totally amazing and climbable - up to 600m high, and Swakopmund town is pretty and relaxed. You can 2WD drive to all.

Best June-Sept, OK May, October, otherwise incredibly hot.

Big game safari:

A) Serengeti, Tanzania:

The world's most famous big game park and great variety of animals, though jeeps often have to follow specific tracks, whereas they can go anywhere in the Masai Mara. The general infrastructure is not as good as Kenya's.

Very best in June - early July before/beginning of wildebeest [more than 2 million] and zebra migration which lasts 3 weeks [check the timing with tour operators]. Good also December- February. Avoid March-May [heavy rains].

B) Ngorongoro Crater [Conservation Area], Tanzania:

Huge concentration of prey and predators, spectacular scenery and no migration. Better than Serengetti but relatively confined so tourist vehicles jockeying for pole position can be a pain. Best June-October, December-February. Avoid March-May [rains].

C) Selous Game Reserve, South Tanzania:

If you want to have a walking with animals experience rather than riding one, try this monster game park. Best June-October or January-February for bird watching. Avoid March-May [rains].

Gorilla safari:

Rwanda, Parc National de Volcans and Uganda, Mgahinga National Park

[same volcano as Democratic Republic of Congo's [previously Zaire] Virunga] or Bwindi National Park [the worst option as vegetation is thickest here]. Mountain gorilla safaris. Not easy, heavy climbing and only one hour viewing, but if you get close you won't forget it. Best in January, February, June, July.

Kahuzi-Biega Parc [plains gorillas & other wildlife] and Virunga National Park

[mountain gorillas], DRC [Zaire], both currently closed due to civil war. n.b take a rain poncho, very fast film or digital camera [at least asa 400, 800 or even 1600?], a fast lens [2.8] if possible and NO flash!

Lemurs, plus plus:

Berenty Reserve, Madagascar:

80% of the plant and animal species are unique on this huge tropical island. Berenty is where you'll get closest to more than 30 kinds of lemurs including the scary aye-aye, chameleons, tortoises and more. Also not far away are exotic plants of every description - baobab trees for example, funky graves/tombs and weirdly eroded rock formations. Best May-June, September-November. Avoid December-March [rains, hurricanes].

Wildlife and plants in various national parks, Costa Rica:

This tiny peaceful tropical country has dedicated about 15% of its land to national parks containing a vast variety of wildlife - especially birds [850 species]- and over 12,000 species of flowering plants. In addition the country offers tourists volcanoes, hot springs, beaches and adrenalin activities. There are around 70 nature parks.

Generally Costa Rica is best from December-April. Avoid May-November [rains], tho' May and November may not be too wet and will be much less crowded.

Self-drive wildlife safari: Kruger National Park, South Africa: A massive reserve, the size of Wales, offering all the usual wildlife. Apart from the size, what makes Kruger different from most other safari parks is that you can self-drive and have a big choice of places to stay inside the park, from comfortable tented camps to luxury lodges.

Animals are habituated to cars so a fair number can be seen beside roads, though you won't see massive wildlife groups that you do in neighbouring Namibia's Etosha, or on East Africa's savannah. Beware busy South African holidays and book your rooms in advance.

The private lodges are superb experiences if you can afford them - beautifully designed and run, but ironically, because there's less traffic in their private game areas. The wildlife is less habituated to vehicles so the private, guided game safaris are likely to be less successful than just self driving on public roads!You can also walk in the park with an armed guard if you so choose.

Best June-September, the dry season, when animals are more visible due to shorter grass and malaria is less/not a problem. OK May-October.

Bare necessities:

If you enjoy the unspoilt outdoors and want to wander in wonder among forests of snowy peaks, glassy fjords, crystal lakes and rivers jumping with salmon-fishing bears, then a summer trip to Alaska [far north USA] could be the place for you.

At this time there are also plenty of moose, deer, wolves, whales and marine lifeforms.

The weather in this part of the world is erratic but the months for bear-fishing-watching are July-September. Early September provides best weather, best prices and least trouble booking things.

In pursuit of the 7th wonder of the world

In the weeks to come, the Masai Mara will host the spectacular wildebeest migration as they cross the swollen, crocodile-infested Mara River.

In mid November 2006, a panel of experts and a major American television network declared the annual wildebeest migration in East Africa one of the new ‘seven wonders of the world.’

Wildebeest are sometimes referred to as “the clowns of the plains” because they just don’t look very balanced. An old African myth has it that after God created all the other animals; He created the wildebeest, to get rid of the leftovers from the other animals.

That’s why the wildebeest has the head of a buffalo, the back of a rhino, the rear of a warthog, the legs of an antelope and the tail of a horse. From the vast Serengeti plains to the champagne-colored hills of Kenya’s Masai Mara, every year millions of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles roam, pushing ever forward in a clockwise rotation and encountering friend and foe along the way.

High drama

The great migration begins with a short calving season lasting two to three weeks, between late January and mid-March around the Ngorongoro Conservation area, southeast of the Serengeti National Park.

Here the 1.8 million wildebeest enjoy their favorite meal of the long red oat grass that grows in high-alkaline soils.

Giving birth starts abruptly and is remarkably synchronized; 500,000 calves are born in just two to three weeks. A few are born ahead of time, but hardly any of them survive as they are easily seen by predators and are an easy kill.

The females (cows) do not seek isolation from the herd during calving. The wildebeest society is much more structured at this time in groupings of pregnant cows, cows that have calved, yearlings recently separated from their mothers and bachelor herds.

Expectant cows gather and drop their calves before midday when it is very hot and the predators are resting under the shade (very few are born after midday).

Labour will last 30 minutes to one hour. When the calf’s head and trunk emerge, gravity will complete the process as long as the cow is standing.

Once the calf is dropped, it will be on its feet within three to five minutes and immediately seeks its mother’s udder.

After suckling, the mother may walks away to encourage the calf to follow, and five to 10 minutes after birth the calf is able to keep up with the pace of the rest of the herd.

Only 15 minutes after birth, the calf is able to run fast enough to beat our renowned Kenyan runners. The calf eats its first grass at about 10 days, although it is still suckles for at least six months.

Even after weaning, it will stay with the mother throughout its first year all along the great migration until the next calf is born. At that time the young males are driven away by territorial males, but the females often remain in the same groups as their mothers.

Imprinted on the mother

The calf is imprinted on its mother starting with the first successful suckling. It recognizes the mother by scent and sound. A cow will never adopt a calf and will totally reject it, even if she has lost her own calf.

A calf under six months will not survive on its own since it relies on its mother’s milk. Surprisingly, in this super herd of over 2.3 million members, 95 per cent of lost calves reunite with their mothers.

March to May: The herds begin to swoop west and north towards the long grass plains and woodlands of the Serengeti’s western corridor.

The dangerous routes of wildebeest migration are not always easy; there is high drama almost the whole time. With the cycle of life comes the promise of death. Lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, leopards, hyenas, vultures and crocodiles look forward to the arrival of the herds.

Here they are joined by friends; 500,000 zebras and 100,000 plains game, most of which are Thomson’s gazelles and Grant’s gazelles. There is even a pattern to the way they eat.

First, the zebras eat the top part of the grass, and then the wildebeest go for the middle and then the following plains game like the gazelles go for the lowest part.

By the end of May rains start to end, and the rutting season begins at this time when males are in their prime. The bulls are territorial at four to five years old.

During rutting they undergo dramatic behavioral changes, becoming the noisiest and most active of all African antelopes and are continually seen galloping about to show that they are in good health and capable of defending their territory.

Rutting in their prime ensures a high conception rate. If yearlings are well nourished, first conception may occur at 16 months.

Their gestation period is eight to eight- and-a-half months. The wildebeest has a higher conception rate than all other mammals — more than 95 per cent of mating succeeds.

A male will compete to gather and hold as many as 16 females as long as they are in his territory. He must mate quickly.

Being a prey species, he cannot afford to indulge in long and complex mating rituals because he has to reduce the chances of being caught in a compromising position by a predator.

During this peak of activity, he will not eat or rest as he has constant fights with neighboring males.

June to July is a transitional period between the rains and the dry season. As the animals concentrate on the remaining green patches of savannah, they push further northwards towards the Mara.

Wildebeest must make a daily trip to water whenever possible to help drive the great trek. They can drink eight liters of water in a single session if undisturbed.

Now, after four months of trekking, they are in desperate need of water and grass. Many of the young find it difficult to come this far, sometimes going for days without water.

Many die from exhaustion and thirst before they reach the Mara, but many also survive only to find one last huge obstacle in their way.

The final push results in amassing along the banks of the swollen Mara River, producing one of the world’s most spectacular sights: Millions of wildebeest and thousands of zebras and gazelles in between, all waiting to cross the crocodile-infested river.

Although it is commonly assumed that this is simply a frenzy and that the animals cross blindly, recent research has shown that a herd of gnu possesses what is known as a swarm intelligence whereby the animals systematically explore and overcome the obstacle as one.

Depending on rainfall sometimes the chosen crossing place is shallow, and most of the animals can cross safely. But often the river is deep and fast with steep banks either side as it is now after the heavy rains.

Many of the weaker animals are not able to cope with the strong currents or the buffeting from other wildebeests as they swim. Hundreds can die during crossing, littering the river’s edge with corpses.

July to October: The wildebeest are residents of the Mara, grazing the lush green grasses that the earlier rains encouraged. The mass of over two million wildebeest covers the savannah grasslands as far as the eye can see. It’s party time for the lions.

Predation by lions, leopards, African wild dogs, cheetahs and hyenas at this time is great simply because of the numbers.

October to November: The short rains begin to fall in the south and east of Serengeti, so the herds start to leave the Mara, crossing the Mara River again and meeting the same perils as before. Sometimes the migrating animals seal their own fate.

One group starts out going south but is then distracted when they sense rain to the north. The result can be crossing a river filled with unfriendly crocodiles over and over again, sometimes 10 to 20 times depending on which direction they are going.

Finally they head slowly back to the eastern Serengeti plains and by the time they arrive it is between late January and February, and the cycle is complete. Arrival at the calving grounds marks the end of this migration and the start of next year’s.

In all, 250,000 wildebeest die during this 1,800-mile journey. But the next calving will produce 500,000 new calves who must take their chances along with the adults on the next great migration.