The largest free-ranging population of black rhino in Africa.

The Save the Rhino Trust (SRT)

In the Palmwag Concession Wilderness Safaris works closely with the Save the Rhino Trust (SRT), a highly respected NGO almost single-handedly responsible for the preservation of desert-adapted black rhino in the area. The SRT focuses on the protection, monitoring and understanding of the local black rhino population and is funded by both donations and partnerships.

As the rhino numbers in the area shrank to near extinction, the SRT was formed to stop the indiscriminate hunting that was taking place within the Palmwag Concession. Community game scouts were employed by the SRT to help with the patrolling and monitoring of the remaining rhino. Ironically many of these new scouts were previously convicted poachers from within the local community - their extensive knowledge of the habits and movements of rhino in the wild proving absolutely invaluable! Around 30 trackers now monitor over 100 desert-adapted black rhino.

Today this programme is a major success and is responsible for the wellbeing of a very unique sub-species of black rhino - differing even from other populations found within this sub-region. Wilderness Safaris' partnership with the SRT and Namibia's Ministry of Environment and Tourism has meant that the black rhino population in this area is now able to sustain relocations of founder individuals to surrounding areas on communal land. Since the founding of the SRT poaching has drastically declined and the rhino population has more than doubled. One of our staff has even been awarded an MSc degree in black rhino habitat.

In a decisive move, Wilderness Safaris has seconded these vastly experienced community game scouts to Palmwag Lodge and Desert Rhino Camp as trackers and guides. They posses an inconceivable wealth of knowledge on the behaviour of the rhino, conservation methodology and the wondrous desert-adapted fauna and flora of the region. Their incredible insights often prove life-changing for many guests.

The overall success of Wilderness Safaris' and the SRT's efforts, as well as the enthusiastic support of the local community and neighbouring farms, is a testament to an exciting new era in the evolution of the human spirit and wildlife conservation.