Berkeley, CA – June 24, 2024 – This summer, Wilderness Travel guests traveling on a special conservation-focused departure of the Great Elephant Migration Safari will get to witness something truly extraordinary: the introduction of two white rhinos to the Community Rhino Conservation Initiative in Ngamo, Zimbabwe. This is a community-led sanctuary specifically established to protect and reintroduce the white rhino to Hwange National Park, one of the most important habitats on the continent for preserving African wildlife, while also providing tangible economic opportunities to the community and incentivizing the conservation of the species.
The second largest land mammal on earth and a keystone species in the ecosystems they inhabit, white rhinos were brought to the brink of extinction by the early 2000s. Today, through extensive protection and management efforts, the population of white rhinos has grown substantially, and they are now classified as ‘near threatened” by the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF). They are the only sub-species of rhino that are not endangered.
On this special departure of the Great Elephant Migration Safari (August 28 to September 8, 2024) with Wilderness Travel, guests will be joined by Mark “Butch” Butcher, former game ranger, and pioneer of community-based tourism in Zimbabwe, to witness the excitement as two rhino bulls are transported by truck from a sanctuary in eastern Zimbabwe to Ngamo village. Guests will witness the release of the rhinos, watch them settle into their new surroundings, meet with the vets who traveled with them, and get to know the highly trained team of “Cobras,” the elite anti-poaching unit selected from the local communities and tasked with protecting the rhinos 24/7 in their new home. Guests will also have the privilege of joining in the festivities as the local community celebrates their new arrivals.
“We are thrilled to offer our guests the opportunity to witness such a momentous occasion in conservation,” says Scott Abbott, Marketing Director at Wilderness Travel. “The introduction of these white rhinos to the Community Rhino Conservation Initiative is a testament to the incredible work being done to not only protect and preserve these magnificent creatures, but also be a shining example of how efforts like this can be done in a way that is fully owned and operated by the local community. This experience exemplifies the best of responsible tourism and the positive impact it can have on both wildlife and the local people.”
