The development of an MMNR Visitor Interpretation
Centre has the potential to add a new and exciting dimension to the
MMNR tourism product, and an effective mechanism for informing
visitors about the exceptional resources the Reserve protects and
the work that is involved in managing the area. In addition, a
visitor centre would serve to reduce traffic on the roads while
visitors explore the centre, thereby helping to reduce traffic
congestion within the Reserve. The Serengeti National Park has an
excellent visitor interpretation centre in Seronera at the heart of
the park (developed with funding from the EU), which has proved
extremely popular with visitors, many of whom picnic there if they
are out for a full day’s game drive. Although somewhat out of
date, a visitor survey included in the 1983 management plan showed
that almost 75 percent of visitors to the MMNR would be interested
in visiting a “museum or ecology
centre”.
The South Mara Bridge has been identified as the
most appropriate location for a new visitor interpretation centre,
because this area is already heavily used by visitors, and this
location would enable visitors from both sides of the Reserve to
benefit from the centre’s existence. The development of such
a centre is clearly an ambitious task, and its establishment to the
quality and standards that a destination like the MMNR demands is
likely to require significant investment, and options for private
sector and/or donor funding will need to be investigated. As a
first step towards achieving this, an initial concept paper
outlining the proposed centre’s functions and facilities will
be developed together with an idea of the likely costs involved,
which can then be used to approach potential donors. Once funding
has been sourced, detailed plans will need to be developed, an EIA
carried out, and stakeholder consultations initiated to solicit
feedback on the proposals. Following on from any adaptations to the
proposed plans, MMNR management will subsequently oversee the
centre’s construction in line with the agreed
specifications.
