Hildegarde's Tomb Bat is a cave-dependent species that appears to be restricted to tropical dry coastal forests (coastal forest mosaic), with a restricted range along the coast of Kenya and Tanzania, including on Pemba and Zanzibar Islands (McWilliam and Happold 2013). Along the coast, it roosts colonially in coral reef caves in remnant coastal forests but likely to forage in adjacent scrublands and plantations (McWilliam and Happold 2013). The species usually roosts adjacent to or together with Coleura afra, Miniopterus minor, Rousettus aegyptiacus, Triaenops afer, Macronycteris gigas, M. vittata, Hipposideros caffer and Cloeotis percivali (McWilliam and Happold 2013, Makori 2015, Musila et al. 2019).

Taphozous hildegardeae is insectivorous, feeding on Orthoptera and Lepidoptera and seasonal variation in insect prey has been observed (McWilliam and Happold 2013). Copulation and ovulation occur when rainfall is lowest (late July to early August), and females give birth during the second wet-season (mid- to late-December). There have been reports of pronounced delay in giving birth, with some females still pregnant in late January or early February, following a severe dry season when body condition in females likely to be very poor and linked to delayed implantation (McWilliam and Happold 2013).

Hildegarde's Tomb Bat is endemic to Kenya and Tanzania, occurring in the coastal zone of Kenya and north-east Tanzania (from Malindi south to Dar es Salaam), as well as on Zanzibar Island (Kityo et al. 2009). It has been recorded from more than 15 coastal localities. Recently, the species was documented in the hundreds to thousands in a number of coral caves in Kilifi County, northern coastal Kenya (e.g., Kaboga, Kuruwitu Makururu Caves, Makori 2015, Musila et al. 2019, P Webala, unpublished data). It is present at suitable sites throughout the year, with some local movement (McWilliam and Happold 2013). However, a population of migrating individuals has been observed inhabiting a coastal cave in Kenya, appearing in November and disappearing in May (McWilliam and Happold 2013).

There are two central Kenya records collected by Harrison (1962) that have been questioned (Kock (1974), since these are the only localities not along the East African coast. Although the questioned locations do coincide with coastal vegetation along the Tana River, which could afford this species suitable habitat (Colket and Wilson 1998), they are excluded from the species distribution for this assessment.

It may occur in some protected areas in Tanzania. In Kenya it occurs on unprotected community lands (Makori 2015, Musila et al. 2019, P. Webala, personal observation) and therefore stricter conservation of roosting and breeding sites is needed, and positive community engagement. Potential to protect these species through gating important maternity roosts and restoring degraded habitat within close proximity to these important roosts. Other research needs include: better understanding of the species distribution, including confirmation of records on Zanzibar and Pemba Islands and current survey to update historical records, baseline and monitoring data to understand population size and trends, including roost use throughout the year, and more information on significant threats and potential mitigation strategies.