The Great Migration in Africa is one of the greatest wonders in the animal kingdom. Tourists and conservationists flock to Tanzania and Kenya every year to witness this awesome sight. Hundreds of wildebeest and zebra join together in a great pilgrimage across the African plains in search of food.

Plans for a new highway in Tanzania have been approved, which could have an impact on the Great Migration.

The road will connect Arusha near Kilimanjaro with Musoma on Lake Victoria, providing a more direct route for traders and travellers. But the road will cut straight through the migration route between the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya.

Tanzanian authorities are confident that the new road won’t have an impact on the Great Migration. 40 miles of the road will pass through the Serengeti, and this section will remain unpaved. However, conservationists think that the road will affect the wildlife.

The wildebeest would be able to cross the road, but the highway is expected to attract a high volume of traffic, which will endanger road users and animals alike. The new road could also encourage poachers to the area.

Just constructing the road could have a marked effect on the migrating wildlife, and noise pollution from heavy construction vehicles could scare animals away.

1.8 million wildebeest and 500,000 zebra travel during the Great Migration, and many predators follow in their footsteps. Wildebeest struggle to cross the Mara River, where crocodiles snap at their heels. Thousands of animals fail to make the crossing. The new road would create a similar obstacle - but is it one they could conquer?

The Great Migration is the largest movement of land animals on the planet. Wildebeest and zebra embark on this epic 500km journey once a year in search of fresh pastures.