Siringitu: ‘the place where the land moves on forever’. Now known as Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, this vast and beautiful expanse of 5,700 square miles is the world’s most famous wildlife sanctuary. A World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, the Serengeti supports the largest concentration of plains game in the world.
Although many people visit the Serengeti to search for big cats (3,000 lions and 7,000 hyenas alone), the park is perhaps most famous for the gregarious procession of 1.2 million wildebeest and zebra that takes place each year from December to August. The park draws 90,000 visitors annually, all hoping to view the long files of wildebeest and the predators that stalk them. Given the important biological value of the park, several conservation and research efforts are underway in the Serengeti. The park is managed jointly by the Tanzania National Park Association and the Frankfurt Zoological Society.
The Great Migration
One million wildebeest, two-hundred thousand zebra- almost five million hooves pounding the plains of the Serengeti. This is the park at the height of the migration, when columns of wildebeest up to twenty-file miles long instinctually follow fresh grasses through gorges, woodlands, and crocodile-infested rivers. As the herds move, they fertilize their path, dropping 420 tons of dung daily. During wildebeest mating season, males circle their harems, battling junior males that threaten their dominance. This annual ritual results in an average of 8,000 births a day during calving season. The best time to view the great migration is from December through August.
Biodiversity
The Serengeti is home to thousands of plant and animal species. While many visitors focus on charismatic species including lion, cheetah, elephant and leopard, there are many other mammal species that roam the plains by the thousands. These include giraffe, topi, bushbuck, warthog, hippo, rock hyrax, Grant’s gazelle and impala. These animals are viewed in herds or alone, and cover all ecosystems of the Serengeti. The park also provides for excellent birdwatching as there are 540 species found in the Serengeti alone. These species range from the prehistoric-looking ostrich to the iridescent lilac breasted roller.
Perhaps one of the most important but often overlooked species in the Serengeti is the dung beetle. This interesting critter spends its entire life creating and rolling balls composed of dung and soil. The beetle first creates the ball, then stands on its head and rolls the ball from one to one hundred meters to a patch of soil. It then digs a tunnel, buries the ball, and lays an egg on top of it. When the beetle emerges, it closes the entrance to the tunnel then repeats the entire process again. It is estimated that the dung beetle rolls and buries up to 75% of all dung in the Serengeti, providing a huge service not only to the noses of human visitors, but also to the soil. A recent study found that 15-20% of the Serengeti’s soil is made up of dung balls, which help aerate and fertilize the soil.
Conservation and Research
The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the oldest on earth, and there are many ongoing efforts to conserve and understand it. Although comprehensive studies have been conducted in the Serengeti for more than forty years, most research until recently focused on the park’s wildlife. Major animal research projects include The Serengeti Lion, Wildebeest, Cheetah, Wild Dog and Hyena Projects. These projects study animal behavior and, in the case of cheetahs and wild dogs, reasons for population decline.
In recent years, more focus has been placed on studying the ecosystem of the Serengeti. There are now two comprehensive studies examining the ecosystem and its changes. The Ecosystem Study examines the different vegetation zones in the park ranging from semi-desert to forest. Two major effects on the ecosystem are studied: the wildebeest migration and fire. The Plant Study specifically examines the reasons for shift from grassland to woodland in the park. Grasslands have naturally converted to woodland twice in the last one hundred years, once in 1900 and again in 1970. This conversion impacts the Serengeti in many ways; for instance, there are many more impala in the park now because they are more adapted for the woodland environment. Researchers believe that the emergence of the woodland environment was caused by a decline in the elephant population. Elephants eat many tree seedlings, thus when the ecosystem supports few elephants, the number of new trees increases.
Conservation in the Serengeti has evolved over time. Because national park regulations prevent neighboring communities from benefiting economically from the parks, it is essential that income generating activities are developed that do not rely on natural resource exploitation. Prior to the 1990s, park regulations were simply forced on surrounding villages without participation from local leaders. This approach resulted in a negative view of the park and its management, and conservation goals were difficult to achieve. Over the past decade, the approach to conservation has changed dramatically.
Conservation management has changed from a hierarchical, centralized approach to one of bottom-up, community-based collaboration. The current approach involves the creation of ‘Community Wildlife Management Areas’ around the Serengeti. These areas encompass several villages, and the management of the wildlife and natural resources inside the area is left to village councils. Villagers keep a portion of revenue generated from the wildlife management areas, thus creating incentives to protect the park’s wildlife and biodiversity.
Serengeti National Park is a must see for any traveler visiting East Africa. The wildlife and plains stretch as far as the eye can see, and there is a surprise around every corner. Given that Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park lie within three hours driving of the Serengeti, this region of Tanzania perhaps the most diverse and exciting wildlife safari adventure in the world. The region is well-developed for tourism, and several five star lodges and tented camps are found in each park. For the more adventurous traveler, try a walking safari or camping safari; you’ll see wildlife on foot, and perhaps hear a few hoofsteps by your tent!
