Serengeti General Management Plan

tion, which provides the principal justification for the Serengeti’s World Heritage and Biosphere
Reserve status; high flora and fauna biodiversity within pristine wilderness areas; vast
open savannah plains with large predator-prey populations that attract tourists and revenue
to Tanzania and neighbouring communities; a large water catchment area, which is vital to
the people living outside the Park as well as the Serengeti’s biodiversity, and traditional cultural
sites important for hunter-gatherers and pastoralists.
Zoning Scheme
The zoning of SENAPA aims to provide a framework for achieving and reconciling the twin
management needs of protecting the natural qualities and environment of the Park and regulating
and promoting visitor use. The previous SENAPA zoning scheme contained eight
zones, which proved difficult to understand and implement. In response, the new zoning
scheme has been simplified to the following three management zones: High Use Zone, Low
Use Zone and Wilderness Zone.
The High Use Zone covers 23 per cent of SENAPA and is centred on the Seronera Valley,
with segments radiating out to include the areas with the highest level of tourism infrastructure,
facilities and services. Game viewing by vehicle along designated roads will constitute
the principal visitor activity. However, short guided trail walks and designated “tourism sinks”
will provide opportunities for visitors to get out of their vehicles to enjoy the scenery and wildlife.
The GMP stipulates that any increase in bed capacity will be matched by an equivalent
expansion in services and roads.
The Low Use Zone covers 42 per cent of SENAPA and is contained in five blocks distributed
evenly throughout the Park. This zone accommodates a lower number and density of visitors
than the High Use Zone, with the more limited road network and lower bed capacity providing
increased opportunities for exclusivity and solitude. The GMP stipulates that only permanent
and non-permanent tented camps will be permitted in this zone, with visitor activities focused
on game viewing by vehicles. Up to 188 additional beds are proposed in this zone; including
up to four new permanent tented camps around Wogakuria and south of the Grumeti River at
Musabi and 13 new Special Campsites in more remote areas of this zone. This is the only
zone where off-road driving may be permitted in designated areas, which will be identified
annually by SENAPA management.
The Wilderness Zone covers 35 per cent of SENAPA and incorporates the hilly areas of the
Park, where the very limited road network and lack of any facilities already restricts access.
The only visitor activity permitted is walking safaris, with game viewing by vehicles prohibited.
This zone contains no permanent structures; apart from a limited number of access
roads to wilderness campsites on the zone edges; for use by SENAPA management and the
support teams of walking safari operators.
Management Programmes
The GMP’s four Management Programmes with their associated responsible Departments
indicated in parenthesis are:
1. Ecosystem Management Programme (Ecology and Protection Departments)
2. Tourism Management Programme (Tourism Department)
3. Community Outreach Programme (Outreach Department)
4. Park Operations Programme (Protection, Administration and Stores/Works Departments)
The key features of these Programmes are described below:
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