Makao Wildlife Management Area (Tanzania)

Makao Wildlife Management Area

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Site description (2023 baseline):

Site location and context

Makao Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a protected area that was established in 2007 and is located in north-central Tanzania, in Meatu District, Simiyu Region. Makao[FB1] serves as an important ecological linkage between Maswa Game Reserve, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Serengeti National Park. Makao WMA (788 km2) and Mwiba Ranch (247 km2). the area is characterised by woodlands, bushes, a few grasslands, water ponds, and rivers. Makao WMA and Mwiba Ranch together are bordered by other IBAs, including Maswa Game Reserve (TZ015) to the North, Ngorongoro Conservation Area (TZ013) to the east, and Lake Eyasi (TZ023) to the South. The climate in Makao WMA can be classified as semiarid with a bimodal rainfall pattern. Mostly rains start in November and end in May. Rainfall increases from less than 700 mm per year in the south to 900 mm in the north. In Makao WMA, rivers are seasonal, and altitude declines slightly from north to south. The area is made up of rocky hills and flat plains with typical black cotton and sandy loam soils.

Key biodiversity

Makao WMA is rich in wildlife. Species include lion, leopard, roan antelope, buffalo, lesser and greater kudu that are mostly trophy enemies. Others are hartebeest, klipspringer, zebra, warthog and wildebeest. Groups of elephants are also found in the area. Rare species like wild dogs are also sighted in some areas. The WMA is the southernmost end of the famous wildebeest migration and migrating ungulates only visit this area if other areas in the Serengeti have no grass and water. The area is used as an emergency zone by these migrating ungulates especially during the months of December through May.

Habitat and land use

The area is characterised by woodlands, bushes, a few grasslands, water ponds, and rivers.

Cultivation is the major economic activity in Makao WMA member villages. The area surrounding the WMA is not officially a livestock-keeping area but is regarded as a dry-season grazing area, though recently people have settled there with large heads of cattle.

Pressure/threats to key biodiversity

Poaching for meat and land invasion for agriculture and settlement are the major challenges

Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity

There are employed Village Game Scout (VGS) doing daily patrol around Makao WMA also villagers themselves are taking action to stop people who invade Makao WMA area.

Protected areas

Makao Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a protected area that was established in 2007 and is located in north-central Tanzania, in Meatu District, Simiyu Region.

Land ownership

Makao Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a protected area that was established in 2007.

Makao WMA is a communal land that belongs to 10 villages, which are Makao, Mwangudo, Iramba Ndogo, Sungu, Sapa, Mbushi, Shushuni, Mwabagimu, Lukale, and Jinamo. The areas surrounding the WMA are occupied mainly by the Sukuma, Datoga, Taturu, and Nyaturu tribes. There are also members of the Hadzabe tribe living outside the WMA.

Site access / Land-owner requests

Makao WMA has an investor known as MWIBA HOLDING LTD. To access the site you will be required to request to the owner first.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Makao Wildlife Management Area (Tanzania). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/makao-wildlife-management-area-iba-tanzania on 23/11/2024.