The crates opened, and out stepped animals that look as though they were designed in another age: three white rhinos.
Their arrival at Kalahari Anib Lodge marks a new chapter for the wildlife experience within Gondwana’s Kalahari Park, enriching its existing wildlife diversity and creating new possibilities for guests exploring the reserve.
Photo credits: Willihem Johannes for Gondwana Collection Namibia
Following favourable rainfall last year, the park’s grasslands recovered sufficiently to support additional wildlife. This was confirmed through the game count held in June and ongoing assessments of the land’s grazing capacity.
White rhinos are grazers, so their introduction is particularly suited to the current condition of the veld. As ecosystem engineers, white rhinos also play a role in shaping grasslands and influencing habitat conditions for other species. Their arrival adds another dimension to the ecosystem while contributing to a richer and more varied wilderness experience.
For guests venturing out into the park, there is now the possibility of a particularly unforgettable encounter during all the activities offered at the lodge.
Photo credits: Willihem Johannes for Gondwana Collection Namibia
The arrival of the rhinos was a meticulously planned operation.
Charlize Tredoux, a veterinarian from Expedition Vets, was deployed to monitor the rhinos as they woke and reoriented themselves following the relocation, checking for injuries, observing their behaviour and ensuring they settled safely into their new surroundings.
TSU Protection Services, which specialises in patrol, protection, tracking, and ranger training, assisted with the release and continued post release monitoring alongside the park’s own rangers.
TSU has been heavily involved in the Gondwana ERP’s Black Rhino Sanctuary which was established in June last year in the Fish River Canyon landscape.
Michelle Rodgers, Park Manager from Gondwana Canyon Park, also brought her experience working with rhinos to Kalahari Anib Lodge, training the lodge’s rangers in rhino behaviour and safe monitoring practices.
Security has been strengthened as part of the introduction, with cameras installed around the park perimeter to monitor movement into and around the reserve. Ranger teams are also receiving additional anti-poaching and security training.
Just as important is ensuring that guests and wildlife can share the landscape safely.
Guest-facing teams have received training on appropriate behaviour, movements and interactions around wildlife. Guides have also been trained to recognise rhino body language and understand when to maintain their distance or move away.
The rhinos are relatively habituated to vehicles. This can create remarkable viewing opportunities, but it also makes responsible guiding essential. Knowing when to remain still, when to give the animals more space and how to read their behaviour ensures that encounters remain safe and respectful.
The arrival of the white rhinos forms part of a broader period of diversifying wildlife species at Kalahari Anib Lodge.
Recent introductions have included 17 black-faced impalas, while 10 elands were reintroduced to the park for the first time in 12 years. Last year, 128 gemsboks were also introduced, strengthening genetic diversity within the population.
Now, across the Kalahari Anib plains, three ancient looking animals are settling into a new home, adding their presence to a landscape that continues to recover, evolve and make room for life.