During my July safari to the Serengeti, I was able to witness a part of the great migration. This magnificent collection of over 1.5 million moving wildebeests is the largest terrestrial mammal migration in the world and considered one of the wonders of Africa.

Perhaps the most thrilling part of the migration to witness is the crossing of the Mara River. Here, herds of wildebeest brave the crocodile-infested waters to reach the fertile plains of Kenya.

As our guide drove us along the Mara River, we could see a black swarm gathering in the distance. It was impossible to determine an exact number, but our guide estimated there were at least fifteen thousand in the herd.

They slowly approached the river and waited along the bank for nearly 45 minutes. Then, one brave animal broke the serenity and rushed toward the water. At that point, the herd mentality kicked in and it was near chaos.

For approximately 8 minutes, the scene was full of panic and confusion. A huge cloud of dust appeared as thousands of wildebeests clumsily raced into the water. Many formed a tight line attempting to reach the other side, but some were confused by the surrounding mayhem and stood motionless. There were even some animals that turned around after a successful crossing and retreated back across the river, forcing them to elude the crocodiles a third time after realizing their mistake. It was a frantic and exciting spectacle.

Ultimately though, the crossing was a complete success. The crocodiles made several pursuits (and there were some narrow escapes), but every wildebeest survived the experience.

This photo captures one brief moment in the frenzy. Full of dust, dirt, disorder, and determination.