Efforts to Defend the Desert - Adapted Black Rhino.
Located in Namibia's vast Palmwag Concession in Damaraland, Wilderness Desert Rhino Camp will be closed from December 7th, 2023, to July, 2024, for a complete reconstruction. The new camp is dedicated to protecting one of the remaining free-roaming populations of critically endangered black rhinoceroses in the world and providing an exceptional in-camp safari experience for visitors to the Namibia Desert.
“Everything we do at Desert Rhino Camp (DRC) revolves around our pioneering partnership with Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) Namibia and community conservancies. Our conservation purpose is 100% why we’re here. And why we invite guests to witness, learn, and participate in our efforts to defend the desert-adapted black rhino”, noted Alex Henderson, Wilderness Namibia MD.
Since its construction in 2003, DRC has been a fan favourite with Wilderness visitors thanks to its dedicated personnel, memorable excursions, and groundbreaking conservation efforts. It is also an important station for SRT monitoring. One of SRT's tracking teams uses the camp as their home base, and Wilderness pays for its maintenance and upkeep. SRT is responsible for leading all the rangers' actions while ensuring all data is gathered, analysed, and safeguarded. The alliance has not only helped SRT expand its territory by 20%, but it has also contributed to the world's largest and longest-running black rhino database.
Each visitor to the Democratic Republic of the Congo helps ensure the survival of this critically endangered species. The leasing arrangement includes the corporation compensating the conservancies monetarily and offering jobs to the locals. The conservancies, SRT, and rhino fundraisers account for around 11% of DRC's overall revenue. This donation is greater than the camp's five-year average of sustainable profits.
“Now, 20 years in, we are excited to rebuild the camp, and to offer a spectacular new design that will blend as seamlessly as possible into DRC’s magnificent desert landscape and environment; telling the unique story of the rhino, while in every way enhancing our guests’ comfort and experience”, Alex added.
The colours and textures are based on local natural stone, furthering the camp's sense of place. Huge, silhouetted roofs made of stretch cloth give shade and shelter without blocking the expansive vistas. The modern tent interiors take clear cues from the explorer genre, down to the use of wood and leather accents.
“Everything we do at DRC revolves around the black rhino. It’s why we’re here: to defend, preserve, and expand these iconic Namibia wilds for the resilient desert-adapted wildlife that survives in this arid environment. This camp, where it started, what it stands for, and our pioneering conservation coalition with SRT and the three conservancies, will continue to captivate and inspire all who are privileged to visit. We look forward to welcoming our guests to the stunningly reimagined new DRC in 2024”, Alex concluded.
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