Rhinoceros

Summary
There are two species of rhino, the black rhino and the white rhino although these names are misleading as they are not truly distinguished by their color. The black rhino is more accurately the hook-lipped rhino as it has a prehensile upper lip used to browse vegetation from shrubs while the white rhino is the square-lipped rhino with a squared off mouth made to graze the grasses. Both rhino are extremely rare and continue to be vulnerable to poaching because of the high demand for their parts in Asia. In some areas rhino have human attendant guards making them easy to find but not much of a wild feeling. Many safari areas completely lack rhino so if a rhino sighting is paramount be sure to include an appropriate area on your safari.

White Rhino

Best Places
Most of the best places to see rhino are reserves in South Africa where breeding programs have been very successful. Hluhulwe-Umfolozi Park became the base of Operation Rhino about 50 years ago and has been the source of rhino for reintroductions throughout Africa. Today, more than 20% of the world’s black and white rhinos still reside here. The park has the highest concentration of white rhino in the world with approximately 2,000 individuals.

Black Rhino

Other Areas of Note
Kruger area including Sabi Sand, and Madikwe Game Reserve have good sightings in South Africa. Etosha and the neighboring Ongava Game Reserve, as well as the Palmwag area (for black rhino) in Namibia. Nairobi National Park, Lake Nakuru and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. There are a smattering of other parks where rhino can be seen but the above are areas with reasonable densities and typically good viewing.

Something Extra
Tracking rhino on foot is an exhilarating activity that is highly recommended in the company of an excellent guide. A safari specifically focused on tracking desert adapted black rhino in the Palmwag region of Namibia provides an ideal opportunity to concentrate on rhino. Excellent opportunities to track white rhino on foot occur in the Ongava Game Reserve in Namibia. Other reserve areas offer this experience as well.