Black Rhino Safaris

The black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) is one of Africa’s most iconic and threatened species, listed as Critically Endangered with fewer than 6,500 individuals left in the wild. Smaller than its cousin the white rhino, it is easily recognised by its hooked prehensile lip, specially adapted for browsing shrubs, trees, and bushes. Males weigh up to 1,400 kg, yet these giants can run at speeds of 55 km/h, moving with surprising agility across their habitats.

Black rhinos are generally solitary and have a reputation for being temperamental, though moments in the wild can be unexpectedly tender, such as seeing oxpeckers perched on their backs, feeding on ticks. Unlike white rhinos, which graze on grass, black rhinos are browsers, and this difference even shapes their behaviour with calves: black rhino mothers lead, with their young following behind, while white rhino calves typically walk ahead.

Poaching for their horns, made of keratin, the same material as human hair and nails, has devastated black rhino populations, driven by demand for use as status symbols and in traditional medicine. Today, nearly 98% of all surviving black rhinos live in just four countries: South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. Intensive conservation measures, including armed anti-poaching units, translocation projects, and community-led tourism initiatives, have helped bring them back from the brink of extinction, with numbers slowly increasing. By joining a black rhino safari, travellers directly contribute to protecting one of Africa’s most remarkable and ancient mammals.

The black rhino (Diceros bicornis) once roamed much of sub-Saharan Africa, but today its range is far more restricted. Thanks to intensive conservation, the global population has recovered slightly to over 6,700 individuals, yet the species remains Critically Endangered. Around 98% of all black rhinos are concentrated in just four countries, each playing a vital role in the species’ survival.

• South Africa – Home to the largest number of black rhinos, with well-established reserves such as Hluhluwe–Imfolozi leading protection efforts. Strong anti-poaching patrols and fenced reserves provide critical security, though rhino crime remains a persistent threat.
• Namibia – Famous for its desert-adapted black rhinos in Damaraland and Kaokoveld, uniquely evolved to survive with scarce food and water. Namibia’s community-based conservancy model is regarded as one of Africa’s biggest conservation success stories.
• Kenya – A leader in black rhino conservation, hosting populations in Laikipia, the Masai Mara, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, and other protected areas. Kenya has achieved steady growth through intensive protection and relocation programmes.
• Zimbabwe – Black rhinos are found in Hwange National Park and private conservancies. Numbers are still fragile, but ongoing conservation efforts and anti-poaching units are helping protect and rebuild populations.