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Rhinoceros

Rhinoceros

There are two species of rhino that can be seen on African safaris, the black rhino and the white rhino. 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 rhinos are extremely rare and continue to be vulnerable to poaching because of the high demand for their horns.
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, or rhino sightings can be quite rare, so if a rhino sighting is paramount, be sure to discuss this with your safari planner in advance so that they can include an appropriate area on your safari.

Rhinoceros Itineraries

Ultimate East Africa: Calving Season

-The best of The Wild Source private guiding in both Tanzania and Kenya
-Designed to cater to full-day, serious wildlife viewing, flexible meals in the bush, and avoiding crowds
-Wildlife biologists who have unmatched knowledge of the local animals
-Strategically planned for best chances of Great Migration calving and herds in the thousands
-Authentic tented camps with a classic safari feel

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Kenya Expedition with Top Private Guiding

-Private guiding with Kenya’s most legendary guides (Ping or Peter Kiyaa)
-Best of the world famous Mara Reserve plus additional exclusivity of a private conservancy
-Support local ownership – Enaidura is majority guide-owned and operated, Mara Siana is 50% Masai owned and 50% female owned
-Full days on safari with ultimately flexibility of a private vehicle
-Diversity of activities – game drives, night drives, off-roading, walking safaris, Maasai culture

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South African Splendor: Cape Town and Sabi Sands Safari

-A diverse itinerary in regions and activities, but with the simple logistics of traveling to one country – great for first-time safarigoers
-The best of a Big Five safari experience in the Sabi Sand private reserve, adjacent to Kruger National Park
-Safari in the private reserve means fewer vehicles and camps, and no day trippers or public campsites like Kruger
-Delicious wine, stunning scenery and outstanding culinary delights in the charming Cape Winelands
-See Africa’s cosmopolitan side and breathtaking coastline in modern Cape Town

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Deserts of Namibia

-Experience the other worldly landscape of Namibia’s sand dunes, ancient deserts, magnificent rock formations and exquisite stargazing
-Wildlife viewing in Namibia’s best national park, Etosha, where large congregations of animals gather around water holes
-Hand feed giraffes in a historical guesthouse at the start of your journey
-Travel on your private journey with an expert, local naturalist guide from Ultimate Safaris
-Stay at luxurious lodges designed to blend in with Namibia’s unique landscape

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Kenya Family Safari

-Family-oriented with private guides, family tents, and a private bush house with a pool
-Special kids’ activities, including bush tracking, local school visit, Maasai cultural learning
-Explore the best regions of the Mara for charismatic big cat sightings
-Visit the unique Laikipia region, inspiration for the animators of “The Lion King”
-Diverse activities to beat boredom! (day and night game drives, guided walks, horse riding, camel treks, sleep outs, Samburu cultural visits, mountain biking)

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Kenya Elevated

-An off-season luxury safari at a 40% discount compared to peak season
-Secret February wildlife – resident Loita herd of 200,000 wildebeest in the Mara calve in mid-February, big cat viewing is typically excellent
-Crowds much smaller than the high season
-Stay at exquisite luxury camps, including the most famous in Kenya, Mara Plains
-Pair the Mara with the stunning, unique scenery of Northern Kenya and the Chyula Hills

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Essential Diversity: River and Desert

-Luxury on the wild side – designed for the safari connoisseur seeking rarity and luxury along with the full diversity of wildlife
-Private guide and vehicle at both camps for ultimate flexibility and exclusivity
-Explore the lush, diverse river ecosystem of the Lower Zambezi National Park, where night drives are a highlight
-Visit the best place to find rare species – Tswalu Kalahari – including possible pangolin, aardvark, meerkat, and brown hyena
-Combine and contrast the extreme diversity of river and desert ecosystems with smooth logistics

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Best Places to See Rhinoceros on Safari

white rhinoceros in Sabi Sands, South Africa
White Rhino in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa.
Black rhino
Black Rhino in Tanzania.
The best places to see rhinos are within reserves in South Africa where breeding programs have been very successful. In many of these reserves, the calculated decision to preemptively cut down the horn reduces the temptation to poach the animal.
In South Africa, 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.
Also in South Africa, the Greater Kruger area with its adjacent private game reserves and Madikwe Game Reserve have good sightings. In Namibia, Etosha and the neighboring Ongava Game Reserve, as well as the Palmwag area (for black rhino) have good rhino sightings with unique desert scenery.
In Kenya, Nairobi National Park, Lake Nakuru and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy are places with regular sightings while Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater is a good location to sight black rhino.

Other Areas of Note

Botswana
Botswana has a re-introduction program for rhino. Rhino had been almost completely confined to the exclusive Chief’s Island region but a new project led by Great Plains and & Beyond Safari companies to bring in an additional 100 rhino from South Africa. Sadly, this is a hard-hit area for poaching. The hope was that the reintroduction would lead to increased sightings across a broader area of the Okavango as well as provide further security for the species.
Serengeti, Tanzania & Masai Mara, Kenya
Thouhg not as common, sightings are possible in the Serengeti and Masai Mara.
Kaziranga, India and Chitwan, Nepal
For those looking to tack on another rhino species, the Asiatic one-horned rhino can be seen from the tall-grass parks of Chitwan and Kaziranga.
Asiatic One Horned Rhino in Kaziranga National Park
One-horned rhino in Kaziranga National Park.

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.
There are excellent opportunities to track white rhino on foot in the Ongava Game Reserve in Namibia. Other reserve areas offer this experience as well including the Mosi oa Tunya National Park in Livingstone, Zambia.

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