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On Safari? Navigating the Serengeti Highway

Expert Image
kimberoo in Tanzania,, Responsible Tourism,, Wildlife,,
September 14th, 2010 at 4:47pm
Tags: Kenya,, Masai Mara,, Migration,, Serengeti,, Wildebeest,, Wildlife,

The explorers of the late 1800s and early 20th century could never have predicted Tanzania's vast Serengeti wilderness coming under attack. By lions, sure, but definitely not by a highway.

The proposed Arusha-Musoma highway, set to start construction in 2012, will bisect the northern region of the Serengeti National Park, thus jeopardizing the annual wildebeest migration and causing a fair amount of chaos not only to the animals in the park, but to the ecosystems and terrain.

The Serengeti Wildebeest Migration

It's already come under massive opposition already, with a facebook group in angry protest against the highway, as well as the 'Stop the Serengeti Highway' petition, organised by change.org. The primary reason for building the road is to increase transportation and infrastructure between the Serengeti district and Loliondo, and the national road system. But many have declared it an outrage and insisted that the road could be diverted around the park.

The Serengeti is without a doubt one of the greatest wildlife parks in the world, attracting thousands of visitors each year who come to marvel at this incredible African wilderness. Home to the annual wildebeest and zebra migration, it offers an amazing perspective of the natural migratory movements of over 2 million plains game, and is also known for its diverse predator population.

Map courtesy of Treehugger.com

With the advent of a highway threatening the natural migratory pathway, the Masai Mara in Kenya is also under duress, as it is a significant destination along the route, and with the road potentially cutting off this natural flow of animals, Kenya's most important tourist destination could be at risk.

It's not only the introduction of a busy road in the northern Serengeti that can threaten the wildlife and ecosystems, but what it will bring in the future. Poachers, disease and pollution from a high density of traffic are likely to escalate, which doesn't bode well for the park or its inhabitants.

The endless Serengeti PlainsSerengeti

The African Wildlife Foundation have done a feasibility study of their own and have proposed another road linking the areas but to the south of the park. Have a look at this alternative highway here.

What do you think? Have the negatives surrounding the highway been over emphasized, or do the naysayers have a point?

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Recent Comments

  • 1: 

    This upsets me so much and I am one of those people who are protesting against this highway. Man has so much already, we come in, we invade and we destroy. The short and long term effects of a highway will bring nothing good to our wildlife.

    Professional Expert
    Catherine.S
    September 15th, 2010 at 8:24am

  • 2: 

    I agree. It’s so upsetting that man continues to show such a lack of regard for the environment.

    Professional Expert
    claudiskies
    September 15th, 2010 at 8:53am

  • 3: 

    Hey there, go and sign the petition on change.org and let your voice be heard. I hope that all the noise being made around this issue causes the Tanzanian government to invervene and make the change.

    Professional Expert
    kimberoo
    September 15th, 2010 at 9:07am

  • 4: 

    So sad I could cry…my hope is that the German government will stop this unethical decision. According to Carte Blanche, Germany contributes 1/3 of the annual East African budget. They are so opposed to the idea, they even offered to pay the difference between the suggested route and a more sensible, alternative route further south through a rural, more densely populated area. Money talks…sometimes in German wink Fingers crossed!

    Here is some hope - check out the latest Carte Blanche on this issue:
    http://beta.mnet.co.za/mnetvideo/BrowseVideo.aspx?ChannelId=35&vid=38427

    Traveller Expert
    Michaela
    June 23rd, 2011 at 11:04am

  • 5: 

    Wohoo. The proposed Serengeti Road project has been cancelled in what is seen as a victory for environmentalists.

    http://www.news24.com/SciTech/News/Serengeti-Road-project-stopped-20110624

    Traveller Expert
    Michaela
    June 24th, 2011 at 5:01pm

  • 6: 

    @michaela - good news! Thanks for sharing! Clearly everyone’s objections have made a difference.

    Professional Expert
    kimberoo
    June 27th, 2011 at 7:49am

  • 7: 

    Phew!  What a relief.  I was so happy to read the project has been cancelled.  Hopefully the wildebeest can continue their annual migration undisturbed for decades to come.  Thank goodness the Tanzanian government saw the light on this one.

    Professional Expert
    maureen-stover
    June 27th, 2011 at 9:33am

  • 8: 

    Though not entirely ‘cancelled’ its a huge relief to see the government swaying on the side of conservation and protection for one of if not its biggest assest. Instead of cutting through the park towards Arusha, this new road is proposed to run “south of Ngorongoro Conservation area and Serengeti National Park” which will have less of an impact on the migration. I must admit I’m a little disappointed the Greenpeace tribe didn’t throw themselves down on any current highways in protest, it would have made great international headlines for anyone who hasn’t yet heard of the ongoing saga.

    Professional Expert
    liesel-muller
    June 27th, 2011 at 11:02am

  • 9: 

    Hey hey, here is the latest update on this issue. It really becomes more and more peculiar. http://www.tourismupdate.co.za/NewsDetails.aspx?newsId=59642

    Traveller Expert
    Michaela
    June 28th, 2011 at 11:55am

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