I think it's the gorge that made more impact on Simba than the wildebeest themselves.
The gorge can be seen at SP too, and is the place where the final battle takes place (on the edge of the gorge that is about to flood)
I think this is a very symbolistic place, since the reason Simba hates Zira so much is created in this gorge: Scar killed his father there.
The wildebeest have no further role in the movies, maybe there's something to read in the books about them? I know the gorge in mentioned in several picture books, but no wildebeest seen with a role.....