A wildebeest is a large African antelope with a heavy front body, thin back legs, curved horns, and a long tail with a tuft at the end. The animal looks like nature couldn't decide between building a buffalo and a horse, so it combined parts of both. Wildebeests are also called gnu (pronounced “new”), which comes from the snorting sound they make.

Wildebeests are famous for their massive migrations across the plains of East Africa. Every year, more than a million wildebeests travel together in enormous herds, following the seasonal rains to find fresh grass. This great migration is one of the most spectacular wildlife events on Earth. The herds move in long columns that can stretch for miles, kicking up huge clouds of dust as they cross rivers filled with crocodiles and navigate grasslands where lions hunt.

Despite their awkward appearance, wildebeests are surprisingly fast runners and can reach speeds of 50 miles per hour when escaping predators. They're also quite smart about safety: young calves can stand and run within minutes of being born, which helps them keep up with the herd and avoid becoming an easy target for predators.