Rhino Sanctuary

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), supported by Tsavo Trust, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), and other conservation entities, the future for rhinos is significantly brighter. Tsavo West National Park now safeguards 18% of Kenya’s black rhinos in the highly protected sanctuary.

Historically, black rhinoceros populations in Tsavo were the highest globally. In 1940, an estimated 20,000 black rhinoceroses inhabited the Tsavo Conservation Area (TCA). Unfortunately, by 1989, due to rampant poaching, less than 20 remained.

In 1986, the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary (NRS) was established within Tsavo West National Park, initially with nine rhinos, as a fenced haven for breeding and recovery. Today, the NRS spans 90 km2 and is home to over 120 rhinoceroses.

The Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ), established in 2008 as an unfenced, highly protected free area surrounded by the NRS, began with 19 rhinos. 

This population has increased significantly over time, making the recovery of Tsavo’s rhinos one of the most successful and positive conservation stories in recent years.

The 3,000 km2 IPZ surrounding the Ngulia Sanctuary is identified as the most viable area in Kenya to reclaim rhino numbers, aligning with the Kenyan government’s vision of 2,000 individuals in the wild by 2050.

Kenya remains a crucial stronghold for Eastern black rhinoceroses, contributing to global conservation efforts for this critically endangered species.

Every possible effort is essential to safeguard the future of this critically endangered species.

In support of rhino conservation activities in Tsavo West National Park, Tsavo Trust collaborates with the Kenya Wildlife Service to establish a unique “Rhino Viewing Platform” near one of the NRS’s vital waterholes.

The platform aims to offer visitors a rare and exclusive opportunity to observe rhinos up close against the stunning backdrop of the prehistoric-looking Ngulia Cliffs.

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