learn what you don't know about the Serengeti

   The National Parks Agency (TANAPA) which manages and develops tourism in the country under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, established by the Laws of Tanganyika Chapter 412 of 1959, since its inception has done many and great things.

this success is due to the great efforts made by the government and its leaders including also in 2017 to officially change its working procedure from the civilian system to the Army Usu system.

managing a total of 22 reserves, located in four regions, the North with five reserves, the South with three, the East with four and the West with 10 has contributed to the development of tourism through its reserves.

    SERENGETI RESERVE In the Serengeti Reserve, which was the first to be established in the country in 1959, it was expanded to meet the full ecological system by an announcement in the Government Gazette (GN) No. 235 of 1968.

   Chief Conservation officer and Head of the Tourism Division, Serengeti National Park, Tutindaga George says the park has a size of 14,763 square kilometers and is part of the world heritage and a hidden area of ​​life. "It is one of the most famous and best reserves in the world and has received the award for the first quality reserve in Africa for the third year in a row," says George.

He says the name of Serengeti Park is derived from the Imsaidi word "Siringeti" which means wide and endless parks. George says it was officially established in 1951 as the first reserve in Tanganyika with a size of 14,763 square kilometers and in 1959 it officially declared its borders with Ngorongoro.

The people present were also evacuated.

 PROMISES/AWARDS Due to its reputation for excellence in the world, he says in 2019/20 and 2021 it was declared the best park in Africa and won the Best National Park in Africa award. "It is the most followed reserve on social networks and it has received the award of being a world heritage site and life preserver since 1981," he says.

He says the migration of wildebeest, zebra, tomi gazelle and blind gazelle in the reserve has also been one of the seven natural wonders of the world in 2008 and added great status to it.

  "It is one of the great wonders in the natural world because there is no other place in the world where animals migrate in large numbers like the Serengeti," he says.

in terms of awards, George says it has received the UNESCO World Heritage Award in 1981, the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa and the World Award in 2006 and the award for being the Best Park in Africa for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 given by The World Travel Awards.

"It has ranked second in Forbes Magazine as the best place to visit in the world in 2021," he says. he mentions the reasons for getting the award are the efforts made by the government to support conservation activities in the country, it has been a UNESCO world heritage and life preserve area in 1981 and is located in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem which is home to migratory animals .

"But it has a large number of wildlife, birds, plants, insects and water creatures," he says.he cites other reasons for getting the award as morale, performance and patriotic spirit of officers and soldiers, administration of laws and guidelines especially after entering the military system, cooperation of defense and security agencies.

 

"Another reason is the great cooperation of the community on conservation and tourism," he says, adding that it provides its tourism and conservation services based on international standards (ISO 9001:2015). TOURISM ATTRACTIONS 

  He says the Serengeti has many good unique tourist attractions including more than 27 carnivorous animals such as lions, eagles, hyenas and cheetahs where mules and zebras have been a good attraction for tourists from abroad.

"Our Serengeti National Park has an endless plain that is a great attraction," says George. He says the Serengeti is one of the few places in the world where one can see the famous animals known as the "Big five", which are the black rhino, elephant, buffalo, leopard and lion.

"The Serengeti Reserve has twenty-eight (28) species of herbivores such as antelopes, zebras, giraffes," he explains. he says it also has more than 540 types of birds, some traveling from other parts of the world including eagles, hawks, parrots and has a wealth of historical and cultural sites such as Maasai paintings, Fort Ikoma and others.

        ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM

he says the Serengeti Park is an important part of the ecosystem, the Serengeti Mara with a size of 30,000 square kilometers which is interpreted as a migration area for wildebeest and other animals.

"The areas that make up this system include:- Maswa Reserve Forest, Ikorongo-Grumeti, Kijereshi, Loliondo Irregular Forest, Ngorongoro Authority area, Serengeti Reserve and Maasai Mara Reserve in Kenya," he explains.

        TYPES OF TOURISM

He says that the reserve has various types of tourism such as park and exploring the wilderness, photography, antiquities, finding food in the wild, hot air ballooning and walking tours which take place in special places where tourists are escorted by the reserve soldiers.

 

            EXPENSES OF TOURISM

He says that when people arrive in the Serengeti, they find accommodation in hotels and hostels at a low cost for all groups. "Unlike what many people think, the cost for Tanzanians and East Africans to visit the Serengeti Park is very cheap," he says.

He says an adult to enter the reserve must pay Sh11,800, a child aged five to 15 is Sh2,360 and children under five do not pay entrance fees. in terms of accommodation in the reserve, he says the price for one person is 23,600 Sh for one day and that one should make a 'booking' to get a room one or two weeks before the trip to enter the reserve.

"Accommodation costs for other species that are not owned by the Park will be different according to the relevant part," he explains. Regarding the cost of cars entering the reserve, he says cars weighing 0 to 2 tons are Sh 23,600, 2.1 to three tons are Sh 41,300 and cars weighing 3.1 to seven tons are Sh 70,800 and cars weighing from 7.1 to 10 tons are Sh 177,000 and 10.1 tons and above is Shs 354,000. 

"Vehicles starting from 10 tons must get approval from the headquarters of the organization," he saysHe says that after the government has increased the number of tourists entering the country to five million per year by 2025, the current strategy is to promote domestic and foreign tourism and organize trips to visit tourist attractions for the community.

 

"We will start groups of tour guides and visit the tourist attractions in the Lake Region," he says. 

  

and Yohana Maiko from the National Tourism Academy says that tourism in the existing reserves in the country strengthens mental health and his expectation is to see the safety of tourists in the reserves is more present and a good relationship is built between the leadership of the reserves and the community.

     if you would like to come to the Serengeti and have something to say, please comment.