SummaryThis paper presents a description of the temporal and spatial distribution of rainfall within the Serengeti Ecosystem, Tanzania. Ecosystem and Regional patterns are discussed with respect to synoptic processes, vegetation zonation, phases of primary production and the distribution and migrations of large mammals.

Summary Data on the monthly distributions of the Serengeti migratory wildebeest population between June 1960 and May 1973 have been analysed. It has been shown that the population performs an annual migration, spending the wet season on the Serengeti plains, then moving west towards Lake Victoria at the beginning of the dry season, and later north to the northern extension of the Serengeti National Park or into the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. The wildebeest return to the plains as soon as the rain begins, but if this is delayed they may move south‐west from the northern areas into the corridor first. Annual differences in the pattern of the migration can be correlated with differences in rainfall. The rainfall affects particularly the timing of the movements of the wildebeest on and off the plains, and the extent to which they utilize the northern areas. A large increase in the size of the population over the years studied has resulted in a greater utilization of the northern areas. It has been shown that about half the total range of the wildebeest population is outside the boundaries of the Serengeti National Park, and it is therefore important that these areas should be protected if such a large population is to survive.