A Partnership for Rhino Conservation

Through a 21-year partnership with Save the Rhino Trust Namibia (SRT), Wilderness has been instrumental in the successful conservation of these Critically Endangered animals, primarily through community engagement and resource support. Wilderness Desert Rhino Camp (DRC) serves as a vital base for rhino monitoring, offering guests an immersive stay, allowing them to actively contribute to conservation efforts. 

As we celebrate World Rhino Day on September 22, Wilderness and Save the Rhino Trust Namibia’s collaboration serves as an example of what’s possible through partnership, community engagement, and innovative conservation strategies.

At Wilderness Desert Rhino Camp, rhinos are at the core of everything we do. Tourism and conservation go hand-in-hand; every visitor to DRC supports the protection of the Kunene Region’s desert-adapted black rhino. Located in the Palmwag Concession, the camp offers guests the rare opportunity to track black rhinos on foot, accompanied by expert guides and rangers. 

Visitors to Desert Rhino Camp leave with a profound understanding of the challenges and triumphs of rhino conservation. These tracking activities not only provide a unique safari experience, but also generate revenue that directly funds the SRT’s operations. Wilderness actively provides resources – vehicles, equipment, and logistical support – to the SRT and other conservation entities, ensuring that field rangers can effectively monitor rhinos over vast, difficult terrain. The camp staff is largely made up of local employees from the surrounding areas, reinforcing the economic benefits of keeping rhinos alive and thriving.

Wilderness’s long-standing commitment to Namibia's rhino conservation is also visible through the Wilderness Trust, which funds crucial programmes like the Community Rhino Ranger (CRR) Incentive Programme in Namibia’s Nyae Nyae Conservancy. This initiative trains and employs local people as rangers, ensuring that conservation efforts are deeply integrated into the community’s fabric, reducing the likelihood of poaching.

The desert-adapted black rhinos of Namibia’s Kunene Region are distinctive in their ability to thrive in one of the world’s harshest environments. This rugged desert landscape, where water is scarce and temperatures soar, challenges both rhinos and those tasked with protecting them. The joint efforts of Wilderness and the SRT have allowed these unique rhinos to not only survive, but expand their range. 

In the Kunene, rhino poaching was once a major threat, but a coalition of conservation stakeholders, including Wilderness and the SRT, led to an impressive record of zero poaching incidents between 2021-2023. The use of technology has also been critical in this effort; GPS tracking, drone surveillance, and advanced monitoring techniques have allowed rangers to keep a close eye on the rhino population, track movements, and respond quickly to any potential threats. With Wilderness’s backing, these innovations have become an integral part of rhino protection in the region.

Founded in 1982, Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) has been dedicated to the survival of Namibia’s black rhinos for over four decades. The organisation leads anti-poaching patrols, monitors rhino movements, and works closely with local communities to ensure the protection of these majestic animals. Through its partnership with Wilderness, the SRT benefits from critical resources, including vehicles and funding, which help expand their monitoring and anti-poaching activities.

Despite the successes in the Kunene, black rhinos remain Critically Endangered, with poaching still a significant threat in many parts of the continent.

In honour of World Rhino Day this year, the team from the SRT will participate in the Wildlife Ranger Challenge, running through the rugged Kunene terrain carrying 22kg backpacks. The challenge will not only raise funds for these conservation frontliners, but foster a spirit of camaraderie and strong collaboration amongst the team members.

This World Rhino Day, let’s recognise the extraordinary efforts of the people and organisations working tirelessly to ensure a future for Namibia’s desert-adapted rhinos.