Where to see White Rhino in South Africa

Quick facts about White Rhino

South Africa is white rhino central. Here, Africa’s entire population was reduced at the end of the 19th Century to fewer than 100 individuals in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, where the species made its final stand. This beleaguered population recovered and translocations followed, starting with Kruger National Park in 1960 then spreading around South Africa and to other African countries. Today South Africa has nearly 14,000 white rhinos, roughly 80% of the world total. Sadly, the 21st century has seen devastating poaching, notably in the Kruger, which lost over 1,200 rhinos in 2014 alone, and most recently in KwaZulu-Natal. The bulk of the population now resides on privately managed reserves and ranches, where security is tighter.

South Africa: white rhino hot spots

South Africa offers many places to watch white rhinos. Despite heavy recent poaching, sightings are still reliable in the Kruger National Park, especially in the southern third and on private concessions such as Sabi Sands. KwaZulu-Natal, also hit hard by poaching, still has plentiful white rhinos in parks such as Hluhluwe-Imfolozi (once their last home), Ithala, uMkhuze and Phinda. Further north, you will find white rhinos in the privately managed reserves of Madikwe and Tswalu Kalahari, and at Marakele, in the Waterberg Mountains. Further south, in the Eastern Cape, the private reserves of Samara Karoo, Kwandwe and Shamwari all protect small, stable populations. Many other private ranches elsewhere are also home to a few. Many South African reserves offer guided rhino tracking on foot – an excellent way to experience these magnificent animals.