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