WHY WE aRE HERE
Waterberg Rhino UK (charity no 1187429) was set up in January 2020 by 5 trustees, each with personal links to the Waterberg, having worked, visited or had businesses in the area for many years.
Â
This led to a realisation of the need of support and the desire of the many visitors to the region to want to give back. To facilitate this, we set up and registered a charity in the UK under Charity Commission regulations.
Â
The aim of Waterberg Rhino UK (WRUK) is to raise funds and awareness to help protect the rhino population of the Waterberg, including the protection of other species of wildlife and habitat that are part of the overall environment.
Â
By working alongside established NPOs and PBOs in the Waterberg, we are able to bring support and funding to the community through education and social upliftment projects.
THE WHO OF WRUK
our trustees
LUCY ASPREY
Lucy’s love of South Africa developed during family holidays, meeting and getting to know people in the Waterberg and enjoying the wonderful landscape. As she says ‘it got into her soul’. She found seeing the wildlife in its natural habitat, especially rhinos, totally awe-inspiring. This led to her desire to help the local community to benefit from everything around them and protect it for future generations.
WILLIAM ASPREY
Since his first trip to South Africa in 1983, William has had a passion for the country, and has has spent many a happy holiday enjoying the wildlife. He has become involved with the breeding of Roan Antelope, one of the iconic animals of South Africa, helping to re-establish them in the Waterberg. After a short service commission in the British Army, William’s experience is in the luxury retail business, alongside raising funds for a number of charities. He brings a wide breadth of expertise and connections to Waterberg Rhino. He sees the role of the charity in bringing education and involving the whole community to ensure conservation is successful. Protecting the rhino as such an impressive and inspiring animal will spearhead ambitions to conserve all other species.
BILL CURRAL
Bill’s background in finance and engineering brings business acumen to the role of trustee. He has travelled to the Waterberg extensively over the last 20 years, and this has led to investment in the area in a breeding herd of buffalo. His view is that the protection of rhino brings greater enhancement to the wider biosphere and the wildlife within it. Rhino are magnificent animals and it is abhorrent to see them exploited and destroyed simply for man’s self-aggrandisement.
BELINDA CHAFFER
With a background in farming, Belinda felt immediately at home in the Waterberg given her love of horse-riding and wild landscapes. She first visited the region in 2007 and has since been instrumental in organising the last 3 charity rides that take place annually from Ant’s Nest. Her fundraising experience includes 10 years working for Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity. Her passion for Africa is wide ranging and has led to breeding a herd of Cape buffalo that roam on a farm in the Waterberg.
Roger Stringer, MBE
Roger has travelled extensively over the African continent during the last 25 years. He is passionate about the conservation of its flora and fauna, with a particular interest in rhino. With a career background in the British Army and the UK Diplomatic Service, Roger brings a range of public service skills to the charity. He is currently Her Majesty’s Ambassador in Angola, and visits South Africa and the Waterberg regularly.  His interests include horse-riding, polo, skiing and adventurous travel in challenging environments.
our ambassador
HARRY HOUGH
Harry Hough is a British filmmaker and photographer. He has worked for several brands and organisations, such as Canon, Extreme Sports Channel, Stanley, Black & Decker, DeWalt, making inspiring and authentic content to spread the word through powerful imagery and messaging.
Â
He has filmed mountain biking in the searing heat of Utah, wildlife rangers in the African bush, and in freezing temperatures 3000m up in the Alps.
Â
Harry first visited the Waterberg in 2022 when he made a film to highlight the work of the charity ‘The Rhino Guardians’. Since then he has been back to reexamine the various portfolios making a further 4 films which can all be viewed on the Waterberg Rhino YouTube channel
OUR BENEFICIARIES
Rangers and guides via funding for rhino protection and security Local community via increased opportunity and economic support Children - the future of conservation
WELCOME TO THE WATERBERG
THE AREA WE aRE WORKING TO PROTECT -
3 HRS DRIVE FROM JOHANNESBURG
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
14,500 SQ KM OF UNIQUE BIODIVERSITY
80% THE SIZE OF KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Situated in the Limpopo province, the Waterberg is often called South Africa’s Eden, just a short 3 hour drive from Johannesburg. Relying heavily on tourism as a main employer, the Waterberg is home to a number of lodges that offer an escape to this stunning wilderness.Â
Â
Over the past 10 years, poaching of rhino in South Africa has been rife, with over 9,000Â (equating to 2 every day) killed for their horn to meet the black market demand that emanates predominately from China and Vietnam.
Â
It is estimated there are now 16,000 white rhino and 6,000 black left in the world, 80% of which are in South Africa.
The Waterberg contains the 2ND largest viable population of rhino after the Kruger National Park.
partners & projects
FUNDING PARTNERS
URBAN RHINO GIN
Urban Rhino Gin has chosen to partner exclusively with Waterberg Rhino UK following its desire to help create funds for and awareness of the plight of the rhino. In 2023 the brand was bought by Pete Richardson, one of the co-founders of The Rhino Orphanage, the first ever specialised centre dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of orphan rhinos, which is situated in the Waterberg. By buying a bottle of this classic gin with its unique botanical profile, you are contributing directly to Waterberg Rhino. 10% of profits has been committed to the charity for rhino conservation.
lodges & game reserves
ANT AFRICA SAFARIS
Away from the madding crowd, you’ll find peace at this private game reserve within the malaria-free Waterberg. Known for its incredible horseback safaris and family-friendly atmosphere, this warm and welcoming lodge provides protection, security and management of a number of privately owned white rhinos.
media partners
WEB I NARRATIVE I DESIGN I VISUALS
An integrative strategic + creative consultancy for all things wild – The Wild Co developed and designed our website as well as donated a few of the photos featured throughout the site. A niche creative agency, The Wild Co provides highly individual services and an atypical approach for clients in a few select industries, focusing mainly on wildlife conservation initiatives, safari lodges and adventures on horseback.
ANDREW YATES PHOTOGRAPHY
An award-winning and published photographer, Andrew has an eye for detail and provides a unique perspective and emotive feeling with each of his photographs. Many of the photos you see on our website have kindly been donated by Andrew to help us tell the story of the rhino’s plight.
If you would like to purchase Andrew’s work please visit his website.
40% of the price of any print will be generously donated to Waterberg Rhino UK.
TRAVEL + LODGE PHOTOGRAPHER
A published photographer and editorial writer, Teagan provides exceptional visual and written media for wilderness spaces. Previously on staff for South Africa’s oldest travel magazine, Getaway, Teagan has successfully been working freelance since 2018, and has generously donated a few of her beautiful photographs to our cause, including the powerful homepage image.
environmental partners
Waterberg Rhino UK is an environmental partner of the global initiative 1% for the Planet. Pairing businesses with approved environmental partners, creating high-impact partnerships that amplify the impact of giving.