An estimated 25 000 mammals are resident in the Crater, including large herds of resident wildebeest, 16 highly endangered black rhino and around 70 lions. Nomadic cheetah move in and out of the area and leopard are most often encountered in the Lerai Forest. Both golden and black-backed jackal are abundant, while the normally shy and nocturnal serval are frequently spotted during daylight hours. Vast numbers of buffalo, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle also occur. Large numbers of both lion and spotted hyena are also resident in the Crater. While the grasses are short in winter, it is easy to spot even small predator like caracal.

The Lerai Forest, the permanent marshes on the Crater floor and the highland meadows provide the best sightings of elephant in the Crater area. The dense forest on the slopes and rim of the Crater provides shelter for the giant tuskers, which pass silently through the forest depths, some even visiting the lodge gardens after dark. Elephant are not the only visitors to the lodge, with buffalo occasionally taking a nocturnal stroll through the grounds. A triumph of conservation efforts, buffalo were once completely absent from the Crater floor but have returned in large numbers.    

While more often associated with the Great Migration in other parts of Tanzania, both zebra and wildebeest are permanently resident in the Crater. Thomson’s gazelle, which often join the wildebeest and zebras on their migration, are also more sedentary in the area, grazing the grasslands in the company of the larger animals. The saline waters of Lake Magadi attract both the lesser and the greater flamingo, with flocks of several thousand forming when the lake is low. Other bird species on the Crater floor include the ostrich and the Kori bustard, the world’s heaviest flying bird.

Recent Sightings from Wildwatch.com

BUFFALO BULL THE KING - 05 October 2012
Although it is possible to view lion on the crater floor, it is not possible to see bull buffalo grazing close to the lion The bull was very relaxed and close to two big male lions. This amazing sighting happened yesterday during our normal game drive...
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LEOPARD AROUND THE LODGE - 02 October 2012
We were in the reception area when one of the Askari came in and said that he saw a leopard making its way towards us near the Green hurt house. I asked him to walk back again and see if we could see it. We saw it trying to hide from us.
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CRAZY KILL - 27 September 2012
It was morning game drive which lasted into the afternoon on the crater floor. We saw a lot of wildlife, even though the area is dry now. We drove in one of our picnic sites and stopped there for a late breakfast. We were also looking at zebras in the...
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