Serengeti National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981, is preparing to host this year’s World Heritage Day celebrations on May 5th in the town of Mugumu, Serengeti District.
The event aims to raise awareness about the importance of preserving these iconic areas and foster collaboration with local communities to protect Tanzania’s national parks.
The celebrations will feature a range of exhibitions highlighting the attractions of both World Heritage and National Heritage sites.
These activities are designed to educate the public, with a special focus on enhancing understanding of conservation laws particularly among communities living near the borders of protected areas.
Speaking about the event at the Seronera Conservation Area in Serengeti, Senior Assistant Commissioner for Conservation, Stephano Msumi, who is also the Head of Serengeti National Park, emphasized that this year’s celebrations have brought together leaders from various World Heritage and National Heritage sites across the country.
Seven sites were officially recognized as World Heritage sites during the 38th session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) committee in 2015.
“The recognized sites include Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, the rock paintings at Mwambani Kondoa, the Selous Game Reserve, the Kilwa Kisiwani ruins, Songo Mnara, and the Old Town of Zanzibar. We invite the people of Mara Region to join us and learn about these important sites,” Msumi said.
Commissioner Msumi also mentioned that the World Heritage and Africa Day celebrations in Mugumu will be officially opened by the Regional Commissioner of Mara, Colonel Evance Mtambi. He will lead the parade and formally close the day’s events.
“It’s important to note that the event will kick off in the morning with a four-kilometer parade, which will be led by the Regional Commissioner,” he added.
Zuberi Mabie, a ranger from the Kondoa Irangi Station, stated that the primary goal of these celebrations is to raise public awareness about the significance of all the World Heritage sites in Tanzania.
“The aim of these celebrations is to reach out to the public, helping them recognize the importance of these sites. We want to provide them with the knowledge they need to understand the value of these locations. By doing so, we hope to inspire them to take part in the conservation efforts, ensuring that both current and future generations can benefit from these treasures,
