Rumbe Hills

The sheer volume of life in this 15-square-mile area is staggering. The Crater floor as a whole supports the densest population of large predators in the world, and a significant portion of that activity is concentrated in the Rumbe Hills.

• Lion vs. Buffalo: The resident lions of Rumbe are specialists. Unlike the plains prides that focus on wildebeest, the lions here frequently target the massive buffalo herds. Watching a pride coordinate a hunt among the rolling slopes is a quintessential Crater experience.
• The Hyena Factor: There are over 400 spotted hyenas on the Crater floor, and large clans are constantly patrolling the Rumbe Hills. The competition between lions and hyenas here is intense, with frequent “clashes of the titans” over kills.
• Habituated Viewing: Because the animals in this eastern sector have been part of significant field studies for decades, they are remarkably habituated to vehicles. This allows for unparalleled “up-close” observations of social behaviors that would be impossible elsewhere.

Beyond the dramatic hunts, the Rumbe Hills are a hub for the Crater’s diverse herbivore populations:

• The Buffalo Legions: Thousands of buffalo roam these hills, often moving in massive, dust-kicking columns as they travel toward water sources.
• Zebra and Wildebeest: While they prefer the shorter grass of the central plains, thousands of zebra and wildebeest also move into the Rumbe area during the wet season or when grazing pressure is high elsewhere.
• Avian Highlights: The longer grass provides cover for ground-dwelling birds like the Kori Bustard—Africa’s heaviest flying bird—and the Grey Crowned Crane.