The expansion of the Serengeti from its initial size of 2,286 square kilometers to its current vast area of nearly 14,763 square kilometers was a critical and complex process that unfolded over several decades. This expansion was driven by conservation needs, the increasing understanding of the region’s unique ecosystem, and the desire to create a contiguous wildlife corridor for migrating species, particularly wildebeest. However, the process was not without its challenges, especially concerning the local Maasai people who had traditionally lived in and grazed their cattle in the region.
Early Exploration: 1880s to Early 1900s
The history of Serengeti National Park dates back to the late 19th century during the “Scramble for Africa.” At the Berlin Conference of 1884-85, Tanganyika (now Tanzania) became part of German East Africa, which also included Rwanda and Burundi. German explorers, such as Dr. Oscar Baumann, were sent to document and map the region. In 1882, Baumann became the first European to record his travels through the Serengeti, noting his encounters with its vast wildlife and stunning landscapes. His exploration of Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti plains helped pave the way for future expeditions. Baumann’s 23-day journey across the plains of Serengeti and his mapping of Lake Eyasi, Lake Manyara, and Lake Ndutu were among the first European accounts of the region’s biodiversity.
The Influence of Hunters: 1913 and Beyond
The early 20th century saw the arrival of hunters like Stewart Edward White in 1913, an American explorer whose hunting expeditions popularized Serengeti as a prime location for big game hunting, especially lions. His accounts sparked a surge of interest in the region, attracting hunters and explorers alike. By 1919, Tanganyika was under British rule after Germany’s defeat in World War I. It became a League of Nations Trust Territory, and hunting remained prevalent until stricter regulations were introduced. White’s explorations highlighted the Serengeti’s abundant wildlife, further setting the stage for future conservation efforts;
Rise of Game Hunting;
Before 1920 and up until 1930s, game hunting in the Serengeti and surrounding regions was rampant, driven primarily by European colonial settlers, explorers, and wealthy hunters from abroad. Lions, in particular, became a prized target due to their status as symbols of strength and dominance in the wild. Hunting expeditions in East Africa became popularized as early as the late 19th century, with big-game safaris attracting notable figures, including Theodore Roosevelt during his famous 1909–1910 African safari. The “trophy” hunting culture glorified the killing of lions, elephants, and other large mammals, often without regard for sustainability or conservation. Lions were among the most sought-after game, with their heads and skins considered prized trophies. This rise in hunting significantly impacted wildlife populations, leading to the eventual establishment of game reserves and early conservation laws in the 1920s, like the Game Preservation Ordinance of 1921, to regulate these activities and protect endangered species from overexploitation.
The Great Migration Recorded;
The first documented case of the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti dates back to the 1920s, although it wasn’t a widely recognized phenomenon until later. During this period, early explorers and naturalists, including Stewart Edward White, made observations of large numbers of wildebeest moving across the plains of the Serengeti ecosystem. White’s expeditions in 1913 and later in the 1920s recorded the migration of these animals as they traversed the vast savannas in search of water and fresh grazing grounds.1920s;
The Foundation of Serengeti as a Game Reserve: 1920s to 1930
In 1921, the British colonial administration introduced the Game Preservation Ordinance, laying the groundwork for wildlife conservation in Tanganyika. The rule was introduced to regulate hunting and manage protected areas, further curtailing the rights of local communities, especially the Maasai, who relied on hunting and grazing. The Maasai were gradually marginalized, as hunting became the exclusive domain of Europeans.
Serengeti Designated as a Game Reserve
By 1929/30, the first significant step toward the formal protection of the Serengeti was taken when 2,286 km² of southern and eastern Serengeti were designated as a game reserve. This was part of a broader conservation initiative across colonial Africa, spurred by growing international attention on preserving wildlife. However, European hunters still dominated the landscape, resulting in gradual restrictions over time. The rich biodiversity of the Serengeti, particularly its large populations of big game such as lions and elephants, gained global attention, leading to heightened calls for more stringent protection measures. By 1937, all hunting in the game reserve was banned to safeguard the region’s endangered species.
Protected Area Status: 1940
The real turning point in Serengeti’s conservation came in 1940, when it was conferred Protected Area Status, reinforcing its conservation status and laying the groundwork for future protection initiatives.
This transition was further supported by the introduction of the 1940 Game Ordinance, which aligned with international agreements like the 1933 International Convention for Wildlife Conservation. These global conventions emphasized the need for stricter protections for natural habitats and biodiversity conservation.
In 1948, the establishment of the Serengeti National Park Board of Trustees brought a more formal and structured approach to managing the park, ensuring its ecological integrity. The culmination of these efforts came in 1951, when the park’s boundaries were finalized, securing its status as one of the world’s most important conservation areas. This marked a new era of wildlife protection, driven by global conservation efforts and the increasing need to preserve the Serengeti’s unique ecosystem for future generations.
Establishment of the National Park (1951)
In 1951, Serengeti was upgraded to national park status, covering a larger area that included parts of the Ngorongoro Highlands, which are now part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). The park’s creation was a significant step toward wildlife conservation, but it came at a cost. The Maasai, who had traditionally lived and grazed their cattle in the region, were increasingly restricted from accessing parts of the land.
Tensions between the Maasai and conservation authorities began to grow as the Maasai were gradually pushed out of their traditional lands. The government allowed the Maasai to continue grazing their cattle in certain areas, particularly in the Ngorongoro Highlands. However, this arrangement did not last.
Maasai Pushback and the Separation of Ngorongoro (1959)
By the late 1950s, the Maasai people had become deeply concerned about the restrictions on their traditional grazing lands. In 1959, the issue came to a head when the government decided to split the Ngorongoro Highlands from the Serengeti National Park. This was a compromise aimed at allowing the Maasai to continue living and grazing their cattle in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which would be managed separately from Serengeti National Park. The Maasai were prohibited from grazing within Serengeti, but they retained access to Ngorongoro, where a multi-use model of conservation was introduced, allowing both wildlife protection and human activity.
This separation also allowed for the expansion of Serengeti to the north, incorporating regions that were vital for the wildebeest migration, including what is now the Western Corridor.
Expansion into the Western Corridor and Northern Regions (1960s)
Throughout the 1960s, Serengeti underwent further expansions, particularly into the Western Corridor. This region, extending towards Lake Victoria, includes the Grumeti River, a crucial water source for migrating animals during the dry season. The incorporation of this area was essential for protecting the complete migration route of wildebeest and zebras. In 1965, the Lamai Wedge, located between the Mara River and the Kenyan border, was added to the park. This created a permanent corridor for the migration into Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve.
The expansion into the western regions also saw the establishment of the Maswa Game Reserve in 1962 and the incorporation of the small area north of the Grumeti River in 1967. This area is now famous for its predator-prey dynamics, particularly involving large Nile crocodiles that ambush wildebeest as they cross the river during the migration.
Further Expansion and International Recognition (1970s–1980s)
By the early 1970s, Serengeti had become one of the most well-known national parks in the world, thanks in part to the work of conservationists and filmmakers who brought the park’s wildlife spectacles to global audiences. In 1972, during the Stockholm Conference, Serengeti was proposed as one of the first World Heritage Sites, and in 1981, it was officially recognized by UNESCO for its outstanding universal value.
During this period, further areas were incorporated into the park to bolster the protection of key habitats. However, the park remained unfenced, allowing the natural migration of animals across international borders. Serengeti’s unfenced nature is one of its defining features, providing wildlife with the space to move freely between Tanzania and Kenya. Serengeti’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981 further highlighted its global importance as a sanctuary for wildlife, particularly for the Great Migration, which sees millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles move across the plains each year.