 Heading northThe southern plains of the Serengeti came about when the Ngorongoro Crater was formed. Ngorongoro was once a mountain as high as Kilimanjaro when it erupted and spewed lava across the landscape. Over time sand collected on the laval deposits and vegetation took route in the shallow ground. Nutrients do not seep too far on the southern plains – and this is the reason the grass is so lush and why the animals concentrate to give birth.
When the water and grass begins to dry up on the southern plains, the herds begin to move north across the western section, also known as the Western Corridor, of the Serengeti. En route they have to cross the Grumeti River – where Africa’s largest crocodiles await. Many of the animals are killed by crocodiles or drowned in the stampede across the river.
The herds cross into Kenya’s Masai Mara in the latter part of the year where they spend up to two months before heading south again to the fertile southern plains of the Serengeti. During their time in the Mara they will have to make a few river crossings where again crocodiles lie in wait.
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