Serengeti General Management Plan

Serengeti National Park General Management Plan
Objective 2: SENAPA visitor facilities improved in order to
provide an optimal tourism experience with minimal
environmental impact
The future desired state of SENAPA is one where the visitor facilities are in keeping with
zonal prescriptions, meet the expectations and requirements of visitors, and do not negatively
impact on the ecological or visual integrity of the Park. The two management targets to
achieve this objective will firstly improve and expand the park facilities, and secondly, develop
procedures to ensure that the tourism facilities of concession holders and tour operators
comply with TANAPA environmental standards.
Target 2.1: Visitor facilities improved and expanded in close consultation
and collaboration with the tourism industry, especially those
catering for local tourists and alternative tourism activities
Within SENAPA there is a diverse array of visitor accommodation, including lodges, permanent
and non-permanent tented camps, and public campsites (see Annex 3: for descriptions
of accommodation types). However, a key deficiency is that there is currently inadequate accommodation
for local visitors, many of whom are operating on a tighter budget than international
visitors. There are presently three rest houses with a capacity of 17 beds and a youth
hostel with 87 beds. The Park receives an average of 700 local visitors per year, a fraction of
the number of international visitors. Provision of accommodation appropriate to the needs
and budget of local visitors will be an important first step in encouraging more Tanzanians to
visit the Serengeti and fulfilling the SENAPA Tourism Strategy principle of promoting domestic
tourism.
There are still areas of the Park, located in the Low Use Zone, where there is limited or no
accommodation. These areas have been identified as being ideally suited for the development
of Special Campsites, which are managed by SENAPA but are booked, equipped and
occupied on a seasonal basis by tour operators.
SENAPA management is presently experiencing problems with water supplied to Seronera
via a pipeline built in the early 1970’s from the Bologonja Springs in the northern extremity of
the Park. The condition of the pipeline has deteriorated such that water availability is sporadic
and a continual problem for the Seronera staff village, park offices and other facilities
that depend on the pipeline for their water. These water supply problems have led to difficulties
with the management of the Park’s six public campsites, resulting in two being closed
down. The facilities at the remaining campsites are overused and do not meet visitor expectations.
The most serious issues being the use of pit latrines and inadequate water supplies.
Table D.3 below gives details of the public campsites and the major problems that they face.
Table D.3: Public campsite facilities and issues
60
Name Area Facilities Needs/remarks
Dikdik Seronera Pit latrines
Kitchen
5 Picnic shades
Dining hut
Water tank (5000 l)
Pimbi Seronera Pit latrines
Kitchen
Dining hut
Bathrooms
5 Picnic shades
Flushing toilet required
Additional 2 water tanks (for bathroom
and reserve)
Dining hut renovation
Flushing toilet required
Additional 2 water tanks
Dining hut renovation