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IUCN Management Category II (National Park)

IX (Biosphere Reserve)

X (World Heritage Site - Criteria: ii, iii, iv)

Biogeographical Province 3.05.04 (East African Woodland/savanna)

Geographical Location West of Great Rift Valley, 130km west-north-west of Arusha. A corridor extends westwards to within 8km of Lake Victoria and a northern sector extending to the Kenya border. In Mara, Arusha, and Shinyanga regions. 1°30'-3°20'S, 34°00'-35°15'E

Date and History of Establishment Protected area since 1940. In 1929, 228,600ha of central Serengeti was declared a game reserve. National park status in 1951 with extensive boundary modifications in 1959. Included with the adjoining Maswa Game Reserve as part of Serengeti-Ngorongoro Biosphere Reserve in 1981. Accepted as part of a World Heritage Site in 1981.

Area The biosphere reserve covers 2,305,100ha and includes Serengeti National Park (1,476,300ha); contiguous to Ngorongoro Conservation Area (828,800ha) in the east, Maswa Game Reserve (220,000ha; recently reduced) in the south, Maasai-Mara National Reserve (167,200ha) in Kenya to the north, and Ikorongo-Grumeti Game Controlled Area on the west.

Land Tenure Government

Altitude 920-1,850m

Physical Features The plains of Serengeti are mainly crystalline rocks overlain by volcanic ash with numerous granitic rock outcrops (kopjes). In the north and along the western corridor are mountain ranges of mainly volcanic origin. Two rivers flowing west usually contain water and there are a number of lakes, marshes, and waterholes.

Climate Rainfall is mainly restricted to November-May with peaks in December and March/April. Mean annual temperature 20.8°C and mean annual precipitation 1210mm recorded at 1,150m.

Vegetation The undulating open grassland plains are the major type of vegetation, but become almost desert during periods of severe drought. Dominant species are couch grass Digitaria macroblephara and Sporobolus marginatus (an indicator of saline soils). In wetter areas, sedges such as Kyllinga spp. take over. There is an extensive block of acacia woodland savanna in the centre, a more hilly and densely wooded zone covering most of the northern arm of the park, and some gallery forest. Lowland woodlands comprise Commiphora, Acacia drepanolobium, and A. gerrardii. Upland woodlands comprise Acacia lahai and A. seyal.

Fauna The park is best known for the now unrivalled herd sizes of 'plains game', which migrate between seasonal water supplies. These include wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus (about 1.3 million), zebra Equus burchelli, Thomson's gazelle Gazella thomsoni, numerous prides of lion Panthera leo, and spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta. In May and June many game animals take part in a mass migration away from the central plains into the western corridor. Other characteristic mammals are hunting dog Lycaon pictus (T), leopard Panthera pardus (T), cheetah Acinonyx jubatus (T), elephant Loxodonta africana (T), black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis (T), hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius, giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis, buffalo Syncerus caffer, topi Damaliscus lunatus, waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus, eland Taurotragus oryx, sitatunga Tragelaphus spekei, bushbuck T. scriptus, oryx Oryx gazella, reedbuck Redunca redunca, mountain reedbuck R. fulvorufula, numerous species of rodents and bats, golden jackal Canis aureus, side striped jackal C. adustus, Grant's gazelle Gazella granti, seven species of mongoose, two species of otter, warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus, and seven species of primate. Smaller predators include bat-eared fox Otocyon megalotis and ratel Mellivora capensis. Over 350 recorded bird species include 34 species of raptors, six vultures, kori bustard Choriotis kori, ostrich Struthio camelus and lesser flamingo Phoeniconaias minor, and several with a comparatively restricted distribution such as rufous-tailed weaver Histurgops ruficauda.

Cultural Heritage No information

Local Human Population No information

Visitors and Visitor Facilities Tourist facilities include lodges at Seronera and Lobo and four campsites near Seronera. Lodges are being built at Kirawira (one operational as of August 1989), Klein's Camp, Banagai, Turner Springs, Seronera and Nyaruboru. Six access routes exist, but usually access is by road from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. There are several airstrips and an aerodrome at Seronera. In 1983, after several years of isolation due to the closed border with Kenya, Serengeti recorded its lowest number of visitors (18,602) since the 1950s. The reopening of the Tanzania-Kenya border in December 1983 has already resulted in increased visitor numbers. If tourism increases further, a lodge may be built in the western Kirawira area.

Scientific Research and Facilities The park has been the centre for major research for the past 20 years, including studies in human and animal ecology, soils, vegetation, herbivores, predators, parasites, elephant damage, effects of burning and management problems and natural resource assessment. Present studies include continuation of long term studies of the behavioural ecology of lion, cheetah, dwarf mongoose and hyrax. An integrated research and management study of the effect of fire is in progress, as are studies of grazing ungulate behavioural ecology and banded mongoose behaviour. Seronera Research Centre (formerly known as Serengeti Research Institute) has well-equipped laboratories, a library, herbarium and accommodation for visiting scientists. Although not fully utilised while the Kenya-Tanzania was closed, the Centre is now fully utilised. The Serengeti Wildlife Research Centre conducts an ecological monitoring programme. Studies include climate monitoring, vegetation dynamics and the status and ecology of various animal species.

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management The management plan is under review, since the area was accepted as a World Heritage site. The park administration works with the village authorities to resettle encroachers and re-mark the boundary. Grumeti Game Controlled Area has been incorporated in the park as greater control of the area was thought to be necessary. IUCN is coordinating on ambitious conservation and development programme in the Serengeti region in collaboration with NORAD. The overall aim of the programme and the most appropriate management for the whole area is to ensure that while the Serengeti remains as a wild ecosystem, local communities can benefit from appropriate development activities. Three zones are proposed: strict nature reserve, tourist (or recreational) and defence. There are four administrative sub-divisions (anti-poaching zone): western, northern, Lobo, and Seronera lodges. Two tourist areas have been designated around Lobo and Seronera. Vehicles are not allowed off tracks throughout the park. Maswa Game Reserve forms an important buffer zone between the park and the populated region of Sukumaland.

Management Constraints Poaching in the southern, northern and western corridors seems to be increasing, while anti-poaching activities (and morale) are hampered by lack of fuel and equipment. At one time the Serengeti was not within the elephants' range, but cultivation and settlement outside the park resulted in change in distribution. This resulted at one time in a number of problems. The combination of elephant, uncontrolled fires, and subsequent browsing and stunting of regrowth by giraffe has caused a decline in woodlands. There has also been some tree cutting in small areas on the west and north-west boundaries. Boundary markers (piles of stones) have been removed and cultivation begun.

Staff A staff of over 180 includes 35 in administration (many of whom trained at the College of African Wildlife Management at Mweka and/or the University of Dar es Salaam), 80 anti-poaching staff, one chief park warden and five park wardens.

Budget 1977: Tanzanian Shs.2,752,100 (approximately equivalent to US$334,000) including grants from external sources. No recent information.

Local Addresses

Tanzania National Parks Authority, PO Box 3134, Arusha

References

Over 300 papers have been published by Centre/SRI research workers and others in scientific journals, and several popular books are also available.

Caro, T.M. (1970). Map of the Serengeti National Park and surrounding area. ARUSHA: SRI and Hunting Technical Services.

Grzimek, B. (1960). Serengeti shall not die. Hamish Hamilton, London.

Herlocker, D.J. (1976). Woody vegetation of the Serengeti National Park. College Station, Texas A & M University.

IUCN/WWF Project 1931. Tanzania, Anti-poaching equipment for National Parks.

Jager, T. (1979). Soil of the Serengeti Woodlands, Tanzania Agricultural Research Report 912: 1-239. PUDOC, Wageningen.

Kruuk, H. (1969). Interaction between populations of spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta and their prey species. In: Watson, A. (Ed.) Animal populations in relation to their food resources. Oxford.

Kruuk, H. (1972). The spotted hyaena. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

Makacha, S., Msingwa, M.J. and Frame, G.W. (1982). Threats to the Serengeti herds. Oryx 16(5): 437-444.

Pearsall, W. (1957). Report on an ecological survey of the Serengeti National Park, Tanganyika. Fauna Preservation Society, London.

Schaller, G.B. (1972). The Serengeti Lion. University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London.

Schmidl, D. (1982). The Birds of the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. BOU Check-list No. 5, SRI Publication No. 225. British Ornithologists' Union, London.

Sinclair, A.R.E. (1977). The African buffalo: a study of resource limitation of populations. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

Sinclair, A.R.E. and Norton-Griffiths, M. (1980). Serengeti: Dynamics of an Ecosystem. University of Chicago Press, Chicago. 389 pp.

Stronach, N. (1988). The management of fire in Serengeti National Park: objectives and prescriptions. Tanazania National Parks. 38 pp.

Wit, H.A. de (1977). Soil map of the Serengeti Plain. Appendix "Soils and grassland types of the Serengeti Plain (Tanzania)". Thesis, Landbouwhogeschool, Wageningen 1978.

Date 1985; reviewed September 1989

0215P

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