Croc Wars: Grumeti Vs Mara

Most carnivores in Africa can chase down prey. The east African system is full of them. Lions, hyenas, cheetahs and leopards run riot, but there is one apex predator that cannot. Crocodiles have to wait for food to come to them and it can be a very long wait.

As the seething mega-herd approaches the final run-in to the winter grazing in the Maasai Mara, there are two major obstacles for the wildebeest and zebra. The Grumeti - a narrow, rocky trench, and further on the Mara - a wide, flat river. Each body of water is a very different proposition for both predator and prey.

The first river to cross is always the Grumeti, because it lies south-west of the Maasai Mara. The Grumeti twists and turns along high banks and hills. The topography is varied and good crossing points for thousands of animals are hard to find. The crocs here have tactics and habits specific to the circumstances. For the last 15 years a huge male called BA has ruled the most popular section of river - the stretch with the most viable crossing points. It’s a position he’s fought for, and you can see it by his scars. As the herds approach from the south, he’s flexing his muscles to make sure everyone understands his dominance.