Serengeti General Management Plan

B. Park Values & Purpose
Figure B.1: The wildebeest migration as tracked by GPS collared individuals
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Source: Adapted from Thirgood et al. (in press)
Although the underlying causes of the migration are not fully understood, the main factor influencing
the northern migration is thought to be rainfall through its effect on food or salinity.
Explanations for the southern migration centre on energy maximization and micronutrient
availability. The variation in migration track may be attributable to inter-annual fluctuations in
rainfall and wildebeest numbers.
Flora and fauna biodiversity
The flora diversity of the Serengeti can be broadly divided into three major zones - the
southern grassland plains, the northern woodlands and the western area consisting of a matrix
of grasslands and woodlands. The shallow-soiled southern plains are treeless except for
the Park-adjacent Olduvai Gorge, and the plains’ grasses are alkaline-tolerant with many
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