Rhino Tracking in Kenya
Rhino Tracking in Kenya
Rhino Tracking in Kenya , For a long time, Kenya has been one of the leading countries in Africa in the protection and conservation of the endangered rhinoceros. If you are a travel lover and intend to get an up-close view of these prehistoric-looking animals, rhino tracking would be one of the most thrilling and meaningful activities that you may have on a Kenya safari.
Rhino tracking offers a more personal experience than a standard game drive, where you sit in a vehicle and see animals from a distance, allowing you to learn about the intense security and care required to protect these animals from poachers.
Kenya has two species of rhinos: the black rhino, which is known to be quite shy and sometimes aggressive, and the white rhino, which is usually bigger and more laid-back.
A visit to a rhino sanctuary in Kenya offers you a very rare opportunity to see these wonderful animals in their natural environment while at the same time helping the rangers that devote their lives to the protection of the wildlife.
The Best Sanctuaries for Rhino Tracking.
Rhinos can be found in different national parks, but the very best places for rhino tracking are the private and community conservancies of the Laikipia region, as well as a few protected sanctuaries. Ol Pejeta Conservancy is the most renowned, probably because it is a global leader in rhino conservation and also a home to the last two northern white rhinos on Earth.
Here, you have the option of guided walks or specialized vehicle tours to see both black and white rhinos.
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is yet another great place where the rhino population, after growing, has reached such a level that they normally relocate rhinos from Lewa to other parks to set up new families. Solio Game Reserve is another excellent place, which was established as the first private rhino sanctuary in Kenya.
These sites are exceptional in that they have tall fences and 24-hour security, which guarantees that the rhinos are not only safe but also that visitors have an almost 100% chance of spotting the rhinos during their stay.
The Difference Between Black and White Rhinos
If you are going for rhino tracking in Kenya, your guide will point out how to distinguish the two species, which comes in handy while taking photos on safari. Actually, the words “black” and “white” are not related to their color, because both the animals are usually a dusty grey.
White rhino’s name was derived from the Dutch word “wijd,” meaning “wide,” which is a reference to its wide square lip used for grazing like a lawnmower. They are generally found in the grasslands and can be seen traveling in small groups.
The black rhino has a narrow, hooked lip that it uses like a thumb to pull leaves and twigs from bushes. Black rhinos are “browsers” and mainly reside in thick cover and forests. They are solitary and easily scared, so tracking them in the dense thickets is a thrilling adventure for visitors.
What Rhino Tracking Should Be Like.
Most of the time, a rhino tracking is not like a usual safari trip. Usually, you will have the first contact with the rhinos at the crack of dawn, when the atmosphere is still fresh and the rhinos are at their peak of activity.
Depending on the location, you might even track the rhinos on foot with the rangers. You will always be shown how to track rhinos by their “signs,” for example, by their footprints or by the dung heaps, which rhinos use as a “post office” to communicate with each other. If you are walking, your guide will be determining the direction of the wind continually, as rhinos have a keen sense of smell, but their eyesight is very bad.
If you walk with the wind blowing in your face, the rhino won’t be able to detect your presence, potentially bringing you very close to these majestic creatures. It is a slow, quiet, and respectful pursuit, making you feel like one of Africa’s wild elements.
Essential Role of Rangers and Security.
One of the aspects that make rhino tracking really meaningful is getting to know the people who dedicate their lives to protecting these animals. Since the value of rhino horn is tragically very high on the illegal market, the rhinos are in need of regular protection.
During a tracking tour, the rangers who guard the rhino herds day and night often carry firearms. These rangers not only recognize each rhino by name but also have information about their characters, ages, and which ones are currently mothers with small calves.
By informing themselves about the technical devices that they have at their disposal, such as GPS tracking chips interred in the rhino horns and thermal imaging cameras, tourists are able to grasp the enormity of the challenge and the cost of conservation.
Every time you engage in a rhino tracking tour, you are sending your tourism dollars straight to the brave rangers’ wages and equipping them with the necessary tools to repel poachers.
Kenya’s Rhino Conservation Success Story.
The narrative of the rhinos in Kenya is a beacon of hope and triumph. Years back, the country’s rhino population was on the verge of extinction due to rampant poaching. But after the setting up of these dedicated sanctuaries and the collaboration of the government and private landowners, the population has been steadily growing every year.
The accomplishment implies that Kenya is now a “source” of rhinos; that is to say, they can export rhinos to other countries or areas in Kenya where they have been extinct. For a tourist, the sight of a baby rhino playing beside its mother is strong proof that conservation is effective.
It makes you feel good knowing that your visit is part of the reason why other generations will still get a chance to see these amazing “armored” creatures wandering the East African plains.
