Black Rhino Tracking in Namibia

Track endangered Black Rhinos with Etangola Namib Desert Tours

Did you know that it is possible to do a safari to track black rhino in Namibia?
All you need is to find a trustable company with a guide who knows all about rhinos and can find them by seeing tracks, knowing how old is a poop, and where the wind is blowing so they can’t hear the car.

In June, 2018 I took a Black Rhino Tracking Tour in Namibia with Etangola Tours.

In this post you will learn about how rhino track works, about black rhinos characteristics and the difference between them and the white rhinos, why are the rhinos endangered, how to protect them and what to bring to your safari.

How is the Rhino Tracking Tour?

The tour leaves at 7am from Swakopmund on the way to Doros, where the rhino tracking is done. We passed by the Skeleton Coast, saw a shipwreck in Henties Bay,  welwitschia which is the national flower of Namibia, besides Zebra Canyon.

Equipments

Etangola Tours offers large tents (3m wide x 3m long and 3m tall) which are quite easy to build, a camp bed that stand about 40cm from the ground with comfortable bedding and a sleeping bag. Besides a secluded toilet.

The 4×4 car is very well equipped, has a fridge in it and even a shower.

They also have portable tables, chairs and all kitchen accessories that are necessary.

Food

The food was thousand times better than I expected! We had things such as mushrooms with garlic butter, impala barbecue, boiled potatoes and a mini pumpkins.

Night

We camped in the middle of nowhere and since there were no lights around to bother us we could see the whole Milky way.

Animals seen during the safari

Besides black rhinos we saw zebras, giraffes, giant crickets and others.

Etangola Tours’ Service

In this tour the guide drives, set the tents and cook for you. In case you would like to drive your own vehicle, there is an option too. It was nice to be able to stop wherever I wanted to take pictures without the pressure that bigger tours usually have.

Car rental in Namibia

Cost

The tour costs N$2,000 per day. Note that part of the income goes to Save the Rhino Trust and Doros Community. A minimum 4 days trip is required due to the long distance from Swakopmund.

Highlight

Mr. Burger is the company’s owner, he has been tracking rhinos in Namibia for many years and he shared a lot of his knowledge with me.

Here is what I learned during my Rhino Tracking in Namibia:

About Black Rhinos in Namibia

Weight: About 1,5 tons.

Horns: Horns grow back in about 4 years, its composition is compared to our fingernails.

Predators: Poachers, lions and hyenas.

Senses: They cannot see that well but their good hearing compensates it.

Rhino bush: Rhinos usually sleep behind a rhino bush (euphorbia damarana), which is the most toxic plant in Namibia.

Only rhinos and oryx can be around and eat it with no harm. To have an idea of the poison, if you put it in a bonfire just to inhale the smoke of it you may pass away.

The brunches storage water, because of it rhinos can stay up to 3 days without drinking water.

The difference between Black rhino vs. White rhino

While most people think they are named after their color, the rhino differences actually are:

Black Rhino characteristics	White Rhino characteristics
Eat mostly brunches, bushes & leaves	Eat mostly grass
Pointed/hook lip	Square lip
Shorter Forehead	Longer forehead
Solitary & territorialist	Family animals

Rhino poaching in Namibia

Unfortunately, some cultures believe that the rhino’s horn would help them to cure some illnesses while some others just want to show them off as a symbol of wealth and power. With these beliefs, people pay a very high amount to get them.

Even though the rhino’s horn grow back, they end up poaching the rhinos, taking their horns and leaving them bleeding to death.

How are black rhinos being protected

There are some organisations such as Save the Rhino Trust that work on protecting the rhinos.

Poachers are usually very well armed and very dangerous, so these organisations’ workers put their life in risk to save the rhinos.

They cut the rhino’s horn tip off so poachers won’t target them. The only problem is that in the wildlife such as the Doros area, without the horns the rhinos may be killed by their predators as they lose their weapon to fight.

How to help Rhinos

Donating some money to companies like Save the Rhino Trust.org is a good way to help them to get more workers and technology to save the endangered.

Another good way to help is by doing this type of tourism so it ends up being harder for poachers to act without being seen.

What to bring to the Rhino Tracking Tour

• Snacks & Water
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Comfortable shoes
• Winter + Summer clothes
• Camera & Tripod
• Toilet Paper & Wipes
• Headlight
• Binoculars
  
  

Travel Coupons

If you are planning your trip to Namibia, check it out some travel coupons we have for you.

Have fun in your rhino tracking safari =)

Elaine Villatoro

---

Read more:

Namib Desert: 3 Days Itinerary

Namibia: The 12 Best Things to do + 3 itinerary options