OUR SOLUTIONS

THE KEY TO SURVIVAL

Through our 3 main focus areas – Security and Protection, Education and Awareness, and Community and Conservation – we are building a vast network of solutions, partners and supporters to help us reach our mission to protect the rhino.

SECURITY & PROTECTION

Security clusters HAVE BEEN INitiated IN THE WATERBERG and with more funding the aim is to cover the entire region. This involves the installation of LPR cameras that use state of the art software. THESE Can track vehicles ACTING SUSPICIOUSLY all the way to Kruger National Park and beyond nationally, so that information can be shared and criminals apprehended.

 

Equipment for rangers constantly needs upgrading so that they can have access to the best communication units, intelligence systems, bullet-proof vests and even bivvy tents to improve their lives out on patrol.

Please watch DUSK TO DAWN – LIFE OF A RANGER, following on patrol.

THE rhino

TWO SPECIES: BLACK AND WHITE

LIFESPAN: 40 YEARS

GESTATION: 16 MONTHS

DIET: HERBIVORES

PREDATORS: HUMANS

THE DIFFERENCEES

WHILE VASTLY SIMILAR, THE BLACK RHINO AND
WHITE RHINO HAVE SOME VERY KEY DIFFERENCES – AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR COLOUR!

 

CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW TO LEARN MORE:

DID YOU KNOW A RHINO CAN REACH A SPEED OF 30 MPH?

*The top speed of the fastest man on earth, currently Usain Bolt, is 27.8mph*


AND THOUGH THEY ARE POOR SIGHTED, THEY MAKE UP FOR IT WITH AN ACUTE SENSE OF HEARING AND SMELL!

EDUCATION & AWARENESS

Education and environmental awareness are a vital component of conservation. Many children who live in the local towns of the Waterberg have never even seen a rhino, although it is living on their doorstep.
 
Through community-led projects, with which WRUK has established connections, children are introduced to the bush and its wildlife through workshops, residential courses and mentoring programmes.
 
It is important to create rhino champions for the future.
 
Simple and sustainable projects such as helping to create food gardens can make a real difference. With a small amount of funding, manual labour and seeds, schools can grow vegetables that can be used to feed children and also sell back into the community to earn money. The children also benefit from learning about garden husbandry.
Please watch GARDENS OF HOPE – the food gardens of the Waterberg.

COMMUNITY & CONSERVATION

Tourism is the major employer in the Waterberg. Visitors come wanting to see the ‘Big Five’ in their natural habitat.  Investment in the tourist industry creates economic benefits to the local community. More opportunity and better lives mean people can find employment and support their families, resulting in less temptation to serve the evil poaching gangs that prey on susceptible individuals.
 
Here is an opportunity to support a community that protects the wildlife; at the same time the wildlife acts as a resource to provide economic benefit to the community.
 
The community is key in the rhino’s survival.
 
Many of the private game reserves in the Waterberg have their own conservation programmes – by supporting them, much–needed income is brought into the region to the benefit of the wildlife.
 

THE COMMUNITY

POPULATION: 750,000

AVERAGE AGE: 23

MAIN LANGUAGE: SEPEDI

AVERAGE ANNUAL INCOME: R29,400

THE TOURISM

65+ GAME LODGES

 

80% OF RHINO PRIVATELY OWNED

 

FROM BASIC TENTED CAMPS TO 5* LUXURY

 

MALARIA FREE AREA

WILDLIFE & HABITAT

JUST THREE HOURS DRIVE NORTH FROM JOHANNESBURG, THE WATERBERG IS A RENOWNED UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE, LISTED SINCE 2001 AS A BIOSPHERE RESERVE, KNOWN FOR ITS SPECTACULAR LANDSCAPE AND RICH DIVERSITY OF WILDLIFE. 

 

AN AREA OF UNIQUE BIODIVERSITY – FROM THE BIG 5 TO RED LIST ENDANGERED SPECIES LIKE THE AARDVARK AND BROWN HYENA, AND ONE OF THE LAST REMAINING ROAMING PACKS OF WILD DOG – THIS MALARIA-FREE HAVEN HOSTS EXCEPTIONAL SAFARI LODGES THAT CATER TO A VARIETY OF TOURISTS AND TASTES.

THE WILDLIFE

THE BIG 5

 

ALL MAIN ANTELOPE SPECIES

 

GIRAFFE

 

ZEBRA

 

200+ SPECIES OF BIRD

THE HABITAT

45,315 SQ KM

 

MOUNTAIN, SAVANNAH & RIVER

 

UNESCO BIOSPHERE

 

MALARIA FREE

 

80% OF THE SIZE OF KRUGER

ENDANGERED SPECIES

BLACK RHINO

PANGOLIN

BROWN HYENA

AARDVARK

CAPE VULTURE

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