One of the more common animals in Tanzania are wildebeest. In most of Africa, these are migratory creatures — part of the continent’s famous million animal migration. Wildebeest follow the rains and graze on the fresh grass that grows quickly after a heavy shower.
The Ngorongoro Crater has created it’s own ecosystem. The high rim of the crater pushes clouds up and causes condensation, creating frequent showers within the crater. Grass grows reliably year round, so the wildebeest who live in the crater do not migrate. This has introduced some interesting behavioural changes.
As you can see from the above photo, there are male wildebeest standing at fairly uniform distances apart. Their job is to protect their territory from other males and entice females to join them. They’ve developed their own “bachelor pads”.
