The Serengeti Wildlife Research Centre (SWRC) is the genesis of all wildlife research in Tanzania, since it is at this centre where first research work was initiated by the Germany scientist Prof. Bernhard Grizmek 50 years ago. In fact, SWRC was originally the headquarter of Serengeti Research Institute (SRI) before the establishment of Serengeti Wildlife Research Institute (SWRI) by the parliament Act no. 4 of 1980 and the name was changed to Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) by the parliament Act no. 10 of 1999. SWRC continues to be the centre of excellence in wildlife research since it is here where most of the wildlife researchers are based. SWRC is responsible for wildlife research carried out in the Serengeti National Park and surrounding protected areas including Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), Ikorongo-Grumeti Game Reserves (IGGR), Maswa Game Reserve (MGR) Lake Manyara National Park (LMNP), Tarangire National Park (TNP), Loliondo Game Controlled Area (LGCA) and Lake Natron Game Controlled Area (LNGCA), Burigi –Chato National Park, Saanane Island National Park, Rubondo Island National Park, Rumanyika-Karagwe National Park and Ibanda-Kyerwa National Park.

The SWRC is found in the Serengeti National Park (SNP) which is about 327km from Arusha town, 95km from Mugumu town, 150km from Lamadi town and 60km from Fort Ikoma. The Serengeti National Park lies in northern Tanzania at an altitude ranging from 910 – 1820m a.s.l. and the park has an area of about 14 763sq.km (1^o28′ – 3^o17′ S; 33^o05′-35^o20′ E). It is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in the world and was accepted by the World Heritage Convention as a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve in 1981. Flight from Arusha to SNP is about one hour. The Centre has one research station (Endala) which is in Lake Manyara National Park and is located about 17km from the main entrance gate.