Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is the place where the southern white rhino was saved from the brink of extinction in the previous century, by legendary conservationists like Ian Player. Today, the white rhino, and it’s smaller but much more aggressive cousin the black rhino, still find protection in this beautiful reserve, one of the oldest on the continent, where a force of dedicated rangers face a daily onslaught from armed poachers on their behalf.
During our December visit to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, we enjoyed some wonderful rhino sightings, not least of which the cute and playful little white rhino calf we told you about earlier in the week.
This little fellow, one of the tiniest baby rhino we’ve ever seen and probably not much older than a few weeks, gives us hope that the hard-work of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi’s ranger-corps will not be in vane.
DeWetsWild 
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Aaag te pragtig! Ek hou van die groot foto waar die twee hul boude so teenmekaar druk. Uitsonderlik.
Baie dankie Spokie!
Ek dink dis wat die weermagouens bedoel met “die agterhoede dek”… 😉
Amazing blog with some cute photographs of this lovely animal. Its really sad that today mankind is killing these rhinos to meet their own selfish needs. In India, there is a Kaziranga National Park where one-horned rhinos are found and they are always under threat from poachers. Its very disturbing.
I hope some day better sense will prevail, else our next generation may never see such wildlife on this earth. Thanks for sharing so much through your post 🙂
It’s a truly awful situation Suyash, but we must not lose hope!
Thank you for the kind contribution.
Yes we must be hopeful and try in our own small ways 🙂
I never think of rhinos as attractive animals, more like clunky dinosaur descendants. However, that baby is verifiably cute 🙂
That’s so true Annette; they’re built like tanks!
I am absolutely captivated with rhinos, thanks to your blog. It pains me to think of what people do for what, to these poor animals. Hopefully, security is good to keep these wonderful animals safe. Great post and photos.
Thanks Lois!
Unfortunately the poachers still strike regularly; we lost over 1,200 rhinos in this country alone last year. But if it wasn’t for the hard work of so many dedicated rangers, that figure would have been much, much higher.
I wish I was as confident as you de Wets, about both the elephant and rhino. I wonder how far the ranching idea has gotten? There’s really no need to kill rhinos to harvest their horns. Having a bunch on ranches would be much better than having none at all. Oh well, it seems not enough people in the world care about wildlife. By the way, your photos really show well the difference between black and white rhinos. I wasn’t sure what I was seeing when I came across a pair of blacks, but their much more curious behavior sure did give it away!
Thanks Michael! Yep, the black rhinos might be smaller than their white cousins, but they sure have the “bigger” personalities 😉
Our National Parks started translocating rhinos from high risk areas on the perimeter of the Kruger Park to safer areas deep into the Park, and (secret) high-security locations elsewhere last year, and as soon as the high temperatures of summer, which complicate the capture and transport of rhinos, subsides they’ll resume that operation with vigour. Don’t get me wrong, we are very worried about poaching, and the dispicable manner in which these enigmatic animals are killed for some peoples’ utterly stupid wants and beliefs, but we also know so many hard-working and dedicated people who will not allow South Africa’s rhinos to be driven to extinction on their watch.
Wonderful photos of our precious rhinos. I haven’t seen one for ages, I need a trip to KNP soon!
They really are precious! Can’t imagine South Africa’s wild places without them.
amen
Wonderful shots of these iconic creatures. It gives us hope that the conservation efforts in bringing back the white rhino from extinction could work again? The poaching stats are all rather bleak – 1215 last year and already 49 this year!
It’s an aweful situation Liz, but we know there’s many people working very hard to turn the situation around. I’m hopeful that 2015 will be the year things turn around for the better.
I hope I see rhinos this summer. Oops! I mean winter.
I hope so too Rosemarie, it’s something you’re sure to remember for a very long time. Did you miss them on your previous trip?
Yes, I did, no rhinos, no male lions, and no leopards. I hope I can rectify that in Kruger and Etosha.
We’ll put in the order for you so long, Rosemarie 😉
Pragtige foto’s! Ek hou veral van die twee wat lyk soos lekker sjokolade paaseiers na hul modderbad.Die kleintjie is kostelik!
Baie dankie Dina, daai 2 swartrenosters was maar lekker kwaai oor ons hul modderbad onderbreek het hoor!
Fabulous photo gallery. The baby white rhino is so adorable. 🙂
Thank you Sylvia!
Hier is twee dae terug n wit renostertjie gebore in een van die bewaringstuine. Ek dink dis n sy as ek reg onthou. Sy gaan oor n paar jaar Australie toe vir teeldoeleindes(as alles goed afloop)
Hulle is tog so oulik wanneer hulle so klein is!
Thank goodness for the conservationists and the saving of the white rhino. Such a precious species to see. Another fantastic post from you guys. Enjoy the weekend dear de Wets.
Joey
Thanks Joey! There’s a real war on the go at the moment to protect them, but it’s a fight I’m still confident we’ll win.
A lovely weekend to you and Marks too!
Don’t you ever sleep my friend? By my clock it has to be the wee hours of the morning. It’s sad about the struggle the rhino have. I sure hope that the conservationists win this one.
😀
It’s 04:45 here in SA, Joey . I’m watching the West Indies thrash Pakistan in the Cricket World Cup while I’m catching up on the blog… Who needs sleep? 😉