SERENGETI, the greatest national park lies in northern Tanzania between Ngorongoro and the shores of Lake Victoria, and between the northern frontier and Lake Eyasi.
With an area of 14,763 sqk, its ecosystem extends beyond the park's boundaries to include sections of Ngorongoro conservation Area in the East, the Maswa Game Reserve to the South. The entire ecosystem makes the limits of of the annual great wildebeest migration, one of the magnificent wildlife spectacles- likely the world's greatest.
Serengeti which is famous for its animal populations such as wildebeests, gazelles, and zebra appear n the greatest numbers and are the ones that migrate from the southern end of the Serengeti National park to north in Lobo and back every year and others like giraffe, buffaloes, lions, leopards, cheetahs to mention but very few, has recently been declared on of the new seven wonders of the world. ABC's Good Morning America & USA Today, a multi-displine panel has named Tanzania's Serengeti National Park the Site of "The Great Migration" as the Seventh New Wonder of the World.
Visitors to the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania have long known that this exquisite landscape, home to freely roaming wildebeest, elephants, lions, zebras, cheetahs and giraffes, is a natural wonder of unparalleled splendor. Now this assessment has been made official in a joint project undertaken by ABC-TV's Good Morning America and USA Today Newspaper.
This announcement was made by ABC correspondent live from Tanzania on Friday, November 17, 2006, 2-hour Good Morning America TV show broadcast to an audience of more than 135 million viewers. The announcement was also be covered in USA Today, with 38,000 subscribers nationwide.
Perhaps the most famous and fascinating aspect of the Serengeti is its annual wildebeest migration. 1,500,000 (One million and half) wildebeest and over 200,000 zebras flow from the northern hills to the southern plains every October and November, then move west and north after the long rains in April, May and June.
Tanzania's Minister for Natural Resources & Tourism, Hon Prof. J. Maghembe, MP, upon hearing the news, said that Tanzania was thrilled and proud that the Serengeti was selected as one of the "new 7 wonders of the modern world. "Wildlife conservation is already a priority of the Tanzania government, over 25% of the land is protected. However, with this honor, comes the added responsibility to our government to ensure that this natural wonder will be protected for generations to come. We humbly accept this responsibility," said Hon. Maghembe.
According to Peter Mwenguo, Managing Director, Tanzania Tourist Board, Tanzania has been very careful to protect Tanzania from becoming a mass tourism destination. "Our low volume/ high yield policy has kept the crowds from the parks and protected the quality of the visitors vacation experience, said Mwenguo.
The Serengeti was first discovered in 1913, when explorers told the world they had found paradise." Since then, the majestic land of wooded hills, rivers lined with fig trees, vast tracks of endless green flecked with wild flowers, black clay plains and volcanic craters, paired with awe-inspiring game viewing, does symbolize paradise for countless incredulous travelers. Two World Heritage Sites, the Serengeti itself and the Ngorongoro Crater, and two Biosphere reserves have been established within the 30,000 square km region. Its unique ecosystem has inspired writers from Ernest Hemingway to Peter Mattheissen, film makers like Hugo von Lawick and Alan Root as well as numerous photographers and scientists.
Tanzania, the largest country in East Africa is also the home of other world famous attractions such as Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa; the Selous, world's largest Game Reserve; The Ngorongoro Crater, often called the Eighth wonder of the World, Olduvai Gorge (cradle of mankind); and the exotic spice islands of Zanzibar. Tanzania has 14 National Parks, Including the Serengeti, and Saadani, a unique marine/bush park along the Indian Ocean Coast, and 33 Game Reserves and 2 Marine Parks.