World’s rhino population in South Africa
Black rhino left in South Africa
+/- 3,000
+80%
A highly significant portion of this number live in the Eastern Cape’s Great Fish River Valley within Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and the neighbouring Great Fish River Reserve.
Black rhinos were introduced to Kwandwe Private Game Reserve in 2000 and the reserve is now home to a healthy and growing population of black as well as white rhino.
GREAT FISH RIVER VALLEY
6%
of the total population
200
individual animals
The numbers demonstrate the importance of this region in black rhino conservation and highlight our unique responsibility.
Large-scale poaching, slow breeding cycles and disappearing habitat continue to threaten the future of the rhino.
Conservation programmes, like those led by the newly established Kwandwe Rhino Conservation Trust, as part of an Africa-wide effort, are vital to the long- term recovery and stability of this great species.
However, conserving the rhino is costly and although Kwandwe has a good track record in securing their rhino, losses will be inevitable if protection of these animals is not maintained and scaled up.
In our role as custodians, Kwandwe has agreed to extend the support of its anti-poaching unit to the neighbouring Great Fish River Reserve.
In support of this mission, Kwandwe established the Kwandwe Rhino Conservation Trust in 2019 in order to raise funds to continue protecting the black and white rhino.
CONSERVING THE RHINO
Our Unique Opportunity & Responsibility
TRUSTEES
Angus Sholto-Douglas
Angus sees rhino conservation as central to the conservation of all life on the planet. He simply states, “If we cannot find it within ourselves to save such an iconic species as the rhino, it is highly unlikely we will be able to save much else.” As a founder of Kwandwe Private Game Reserve in 1999, he has seen the property, and eco-tourism, develop in the area. He firmly believes that Kwandwe would simply not be the same without the rhino.
Tebogo Mogashoa
Born in Katlehong in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Tebogo Mogashoa grew up in Orlando West, Soweto, South Africa. From humble beginnings as an engineering graduate, Tebogo has set out to personally and financially support opportunities for new business ventures.
In 2015, Tebogo purchased the Babirwa Game Ranch in Limpopo Province. He is deeply passionate about wildlife conservation and has become actively involved in supporting the protection of rhino in Southern Africa. Demonstrating his sincere commitment, he has made a significant investment in the conservation of the Desert Black Rhino and is presently the President of Wildlife Ranching South Africa.
Norman Adami
Norman is well known as “Mr Beer” in South Africa. He is widely acclaimed for the business acumen, which he displayed most notably in his turn-around of the Miller Brewing Company in the United States and then as Chairman of SA Breweries Ltd. What is less known about Norman is his great passion for wildlife conservation. He owns and runs probably the finest game breeding ranch in South Africa. He is passionate about rhino and it was a sad day indeed when he had to move his animals off his own property as a result of the scourge of poaching in the area. He has maintained his ownership of the animals and with it, his drive and desire to see rhino conservation succeed.
Triche Chouest
On Triche’s first trip to the continent, the “Africa bug” bit hard and since then Triche has been passionate about the conservation of Africa’s wild places and animals and the care of its people. Together with her husband Dino, the owner of Kwandwe, Triche plays a pivotal role in conserving Kwandwe’s rhino population and takes an active interest in conservation efforts throughout Africa. Triche’s role as a Trustee of the Kwandwe Rhino Conservation Trust gives her the opportunity to channel her great love for Africa’s wildlife.