Tanzania Safari Experience: 4-Hour Squat for Breathtaking Celestial River Crossing Sight

The breathtaking spectacle of vast herds of wildebeest crossing the Mara River, which separates Tanzania and Kenya, is the quintessential example of one of the world’s most awe-inspiring natural phenomena, often referred to as the “Crossing of the Heavenly River.”

As the rainy season in the Serengeti begins around October each year, the wildebeest, with an almost supernatural sensitivity to changes in air humidity, make their epic journey from the Maasai Mara in Kenya back to the lush plains of the Serengeti in Tanzania. Driven by the primal need for food and water, they embark on a perilous trek across the Mara River.

This year, the rains arrived unusually early, with several downpours in mid-to-late September. By the time we reached the Mara River in the final days of September, most of the wildebeest had already made their way back to the Serengeti. We waited with bated breath for four hours, our patience finally rewarded when we witnessed the majestic sight of the wildebeest crossing the river. As our guide wisely noted, nature demands not only respect but also a generous dose of patience.