The Great Wildebeest Migration
Every year, a spectacular event takes place on the vast grasslands of East Africa. It is the Great Wildebeest Migration. More than one million wildebeests, alongside hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, travel in a giant circle across the Serengeti plains of Tanzania and the Maasai Mara in Kenya. This is not just a casual stroll; it is a constant, grueling journey for survival.
The main reason for this massive journey is water and food. Wildebeests are herbivores, meaning they only eat plants. During the dry season, the grass in the southern Serengeti dies, and water holes dry up. Guided by survival instincts, the herds follow the rains to find fresh, green grass and clean drinking water. They travel over five hundred miles each year, moving in a clockwise direction.
Traveling in such huge numbers helps protect the wildebeests from predators. Lions, cheetahs, and hyenas follow the herds, looking for young or weak animals. However, with so many eyes and ears on alert, it is difficult for predators to launch a surprise attack. Zebras and wildebeests actually make great travel partners. Zebras prefer to eat the tall, tough parts of the grass, which reveals the tender, short grass that wildebeests love to eat.
- herbivore:
- An animal that feeds only on plants.
- migration:
- The seasonal movement of a complete population of animals from one area to another.
- predator:
- An animal that naturally preys on and eats other animals.
- ecosystem:
- A community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Vocabulary
Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.
Ready to use this passage in class?
Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.
Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Which two countries do the herds travel through during the Great Wildebeest Migration?
- 2Approximately how many miles do the wildebeests travel each year during their journey?
Where this passage belongs
You Might Also Like
About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“The Great Wildebeest Migration” is a explanatory article reading passage about The Great Wildebeest Migration, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (369 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.