In central Namibia, there is a unique camp in the heart of Damaraland dedicated to the preservation of the black rhino. Desert Rhino Camp is the only safari camp located within the heart of the 450,000 hectare Palmwag Concession, two and a half hours by 4x4 from the nearest town. Surrounded by desert adapted animals, including springbok, zebras, elephants, and giraffes, it is the perfect place to seek out the highly endangered, and elusive, black rhino.
Desert Rhino Camp is a collaborative effort between Wilderness Safaris, an experienced safari camp operator, and Save the Rhino trust (“SRT”), an NGO focused on protecting and conserving the remaining black rhino. Trackers from SRT stay on-site at the camp and monitor the movement and condition of the concession’s black rhinos daily. As these black rhinos are not collared or otherwise radio tagged, they roam freely and the trackers’ expertise and knowledge is unparalleled – and necessary for spotting them.
Guests depart before sunrise in a 4x4 Land Rover, either with trackers in their vehicle or with their driver in radio contact with the trackers who may already be out looking for the rhinos. As rhinos can cover large distances daily, it can take some time, and a bit of luck, to find them in the vast concession. The Land Rover is well stocked with food and drinks so that guests can stay out all day and maximize their chances of spotting one.
Once a rhino has been spotted, guests will typically be driven closer to the rhino in the Land Rover, staying downwind, and then approach on foot with their guide and the trackers who will explain safety procedures and monitor the situation closely. Guests typically can get within 200 meters of the rhino, depending on the animal’s reaction, and spend a few minutes appreciating these majestic creatures before returning to the camp.
Guests are allowed one rhino sighting a day to avoid stressing the animals and all sighting are recorded in SRT’s database to develop a comprehensive understanding of the animals’ activities and territories. As these are truly wild animals, sightings are not guaranteed but the trackers will do their very best and the sighting rate is more than 95%. Guests can maximize their chances by staying several nights.
Desert Rhino is a small camp, offering a highly personalized and private experience. The camp hosts a maximum of 16 guests in eight semi-permanent tents, all featuring en-suite bathrooms and showers with hot water heated by solar panels. Drinks are served around the campfire before dinner which is a gourmet multi-course affair, made all the more remarkable when realizing that all food and drink is transported 2.5 hours by road. Meals are served at a communal table in the main lounge tent with other guests and staff and provide a perfect venue for sharing travel adventures. The main tent is also furnished with comfortable sofas and snacks and beverages are available all day. It’s the perfect spot for lounging and reading one of the many reference books on rhinos while watching the sun set over Damaraland.
If you go – Desert Rhino Camp can be booked directly through Wilderness Safaris - http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/namibia_kunene/desert_rhino_camp/introduction/.
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