Zebra and wildebeest carousal

A large herd of zebra and wildebeest wanders in front of our jeep and Haruna, our driver for the day, switches

Zebras need to drink frequently

off the engine while we wait for the herd to pass. Through the clatter of the hoofs on the hard ground, I suddenly hear a splashing sound, like running water. What the heck?

Startled, the animals gallop up the stream's bank

A look over my shoulder solves the mystery. A deep trench hides a small stream, in which half a dozen zebra and wildebeest quench their thirst. Haruna backs up the car a bit so we have a better view. Soon animals coming and going to the watering place surround us. The bank is steep and by silent agreement the zebra take one trail down, while the wildebeest take another.

Wildebeest make up about half the animal population in the crater

More than four of five zebra don't fit in the stream at once and the animals have to take turns. Something or other (undetectable to our human eyes) startles either zebra or wildebeest every few minutes, and in response the whole group gallops back up the bank. It never takes them more than half a minute to realize it was a false alarm, and to return to the river.

A wildebeest cow produces one offspring; the calf can stand on its own legs in minutes, and follow the herd within days

At this time of year the wildebeest give birth and small calves accompany many female gnus. They moo plaintively whenever they have lost sight or scent of their mother. The females need to drink. As soon as they climb back up from the stream, and the calves sniff her scent, they grow quiet. It is rather touching, and in a way reminiscent of a busy shopping mall on a Saturday afternoon.

A newborn zebra weighs around 30 kgs and is covered in soft down

We spent a long time just watching the animals, while slowly all the beasts slake their thirst and move on to greener pastures for grazing.