CAPELIN ROLL, NEWFOUNDLAND
& LABRADOR, CANADA
Sometime in June or July, millions of tiny
silver fish called capelin arrive en masse
at the pebbled beaches outside St John’s.
Locals gather to watch them turn the seas
to glitter, then scoop them into buckets to
eat fresh. Humpback whales often follow,
so bring binoculars.
F Middle Cove Beach in t St John’s is usually
a hot spot. Visit ecapelin.ca for information
about the capelins’ arrival.BAT EXODUS,
MALAYSIAN BORNEO
Each dusk in Gunung Mulu National Park,
millions of bats make their exodus from
Deer Cave, swirling into the darkening sky
like an unholy tornado. Visit the yawning
limestone cave itself first, which is home
not only to the twelve bat species, but
also to imposing stalactites.
F The nearest airport is in Miri. Tours of
the cave run twice daily; book via the
website at mulunationalpark.com.WILDEBEEST MIGRATION,
KENYA AND TANZANIA
Feel the thunder as two million wildebeest
and zebra stampede across the Serengeti
and the Masai Mara National Reserve
from July to October in search of grazing
land. Watch them from your 4WD,
experiencing the thrill when they escape
the clutches of a lion or a Nile crocodile.
F Longstanding Arusha-based Roy
Safaris offers tailor-made safaris (from
£3,500 for six days; roysafaris.com).CRAB MIGRATION,
CHRISTMAS ISLAND
In November or December every year,
100 million flaming red crabs (pictured
left) march from their forest homes to their
beach breeding grounds, turning the entire
island scarlet. Traffic and human activity
are brought to a halt as the crabs scurry
across roads; there are even specially built
crab bridges and tunnels to aid their
movement. It is both freaky and awesome.
F Fly here from Perth, Australia, or Jakarta,
Indonesia. For predicted migrations and
viewings, see christmas.net.au.
PHOTOGRAPH: INGO ARNDT/NATURE PICTURE