Serengeti General Management Plan

Large predator – prey population and interactions
B. Park Values & Purpose
The Park is world famous for its abundant herbivore populations – a combined total of up to
two million animals, which is the largest in the world. The large number of herbivores supports
a correspondingly large population of more than 10,000 predators in a unique setting.
The predator population includes a regionally important population of cheetah.
Wilderness
Large areas of the Park are very remote and form extensive wilderness areas, the second
biggest in the Tanzania national park system after Ruaha National Park. Access to many of
these areas is very difficult in the wet season due to impassable ‘black cotton’ soils. The wilderness
areas have been purposefully underutilised in terms of tourism in order to retain their
conservation value. Key wilderness areas include Suba, the Itonjo hills, Nyamuma, Maate
and Orangi.
Kopjes
Kopjes, or inselbergs, are a characteristic feature of the Serengeti, particularly the plains,
and form discrete bio-geographical island habitats that provide shelter and capture water for
distinctive communities of plant and animal species (e.g. caracal, hyrax, wild cat). In addition,
they serve as vantage points for both prey and predators and potentially safer areas in which
some carnivores (e.g. cheetah and leopard) may hide their young.
Mara and Grumeti riverine systems
The two major river basin systems flowing through the Park – the Grumeti and the Mara –
are important components of the ecosystem that while providing water to support terrestrial
and avian wildlife also form a well-known natural hazard in the path of the annual wildebeest
migration. The rivers are also in themselves major aquatic ecosystems in which a wide range
of aquatic life occurs and in which large fauna – such as crocodile and hippo – as well as water-birds
are found.
Social
National economic benefits
The Serengeti is one of the most famous national parks and tourist destination in the world,
with 150,000 visitors in the financial year 2003-4. This tourism contributes considerable economic
benefit to the nation, with revenues from SENAPA amounting to Tshs 5,500 million for
2003/4. In terms of revenue generation, the Serengeti National Park is second to only Kilimanjaro
National Park, and together the two parks account for about 77% of TANAPA’s total
revenue (Gereta et al., 2003). The neighbouring district authorities also benefit through tax
revenue and levies; for example, the Serengeti District Authority collects about Tshs 1,100
million per annum from five hotels/ camps operating within the Park. Tourist shops in the
Park generate a further Tshs 4 million per annum in terms of taxes (Gereta et al. 2003).
Direct economic benefits to communities
The communities neighbouring the Park receive direct economic benefit predominantly
through employment with SENAPA departments and tourist facilities; both within the Park
and the neighbouring community areas. An example of the latter is Klein’s Camp, a 10,000
hectares private wildlife concession bordering the north-eastern boundary of the Park, which
is leased from the Maasai community by Conservation Corporation Africa. This arrangement
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