Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary
Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary : A Comprehensive Guide : Kenya is one of the greatest locations to view the critically endangered wildlife species such as rhinos, which are also members of the African Big Five. Rhinos are among the most sought-after creatures in the wild in Africa. One of the greatest locations in Kenya to witness endangered rhinos is the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, which is part of Tsavo National Park and one of the largest game sanctuaries in the park. It was founded in 1948 and is spread across 22,000 square kilometers in the country’s southeast.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE NGULIA RHINO SANCTUARY
From its founding with just nine rhinos, Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary was created as a guarded bastion to facilitate the reproduction and recovery of black rhinos in Tsavo. Today, the sanctuary, which spans 90 square kilometers, is home to around 120 rhinos.
In 2008, the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary was surrounded by the unfenced, extremely protected, free-ranging Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ), into which 19 founder rhinos were brought.
The Tsavo Rhino Recovery is one of the most notable and successful conservation success stories of the past few years due to the rhino population’s steady increase.
In the past, Tsavo had massive black rhino populations that were larger than any other place on Earth. In 1940, about 20,000 black rhinos were thought to exist in the Tsavo Conservation Area (TCA). Less than 20 people remained by 1989 due to widespread poaching.
The future of rhinos is much brighter because of the tireless work of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and support from the Tsavo Trust, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), and other conservation entities. Currently, 18% of Kenya’s black rhinos are found in the extremely protected Sanctuary of Tsavo West National Park.
The most promising area in Kenya for rhino population recovery and support for the Kenyan government’s goal of 2,000 rhinos in the wild by 2050 has been determined to be the 3,000-square-kilometer Intensive Protection Zone surrounding the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary.
The Eastern Black Rhino is still mostly found in Kenya, which makes its population significant on a worldwide scale. If we want to protect this extremely endangered species in the future, we must make every effort.
Around 8,000 black rhinos lived in Kenya in the 1970s, but because of human activities like poaching and habitat encroachment, the species is almost extinct now. As a result, the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary was created to safeguard the less than 20 black rhinos that remained.
Situated at the base of the Ngulia Hills, the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary is enclosed by an electric fence that is one meter high.
Approximately 70 black rhinos are among the 80 rhinos in the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary that may be seen when you visit. There are five waterholes in the sanctuary; however, four artificial waterholes, where fresh water is pumped and disturbed through pipelines, provide the rhinos with water during the dry season.
The rhinos are kept inside the sanctuary by a fence with five wires, three of which are electrified. This boundary also prevents elephants and buffaloes from consuming the same food as rhinos.
One of the only completely unique rhino viewing platforms in Kenya is the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary. You may now spend the night on this elevated, protected platform with a view of a nightly, lively waterhole. Visitors can enjoy exclusive and private usage of the platform since it offers complete exclusivity, with only one group allowed to stay at a time.
You will be able to stay above one of the few spots in the Ngulia Sanctuary where you may see animals up close. Black rhinos, leopards, elephants, wild canines, and a wide variety of daytime and nighttime birds all frequent this sanctuary.
The spectacle of jostling rhinoceros, massive herds of buffalo, and elephants all vying for water will keep you awake at the platform—it’s a unique wildlife experience.
SECURITY
It is crucial to remember that you are in the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, a highly protected rhino sanctuary, and that both your personal safety and the rhinos’ safety are of the utmost importance. The Rhino Platform is situated close to the base of KWS Security.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO KNOW
- The Rhino Viewing Platform is a small (6 × 6 m) private area that is elevated 10 feet above the ground. It features a shower, toilet, and wash basin with running water.
- Since the platform is reserved for self-catered events, you must bring your own food and beverages.
- Please remember to bring your own towels, toiletries, eating utensils (plates, cups, cutlery, etc.), and bedding, including bedrolls and mattresses.
- Since the animals must come first and fires pose serious harm to both them and this ecosystem, it is strictly forbidden to use camping stoves or make fires here at night because it can get chilly.
- Do not bring plastic bottles into the park.
- If you do not have night vision glasses, ordinary binoculars will be a better choice. We strongly advise bringing night vision lenses.
IDEAL TIME TO VISIT THE RHINO SANCTUARY IN NGULIA
Although Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary is open year-round, February through March and June through early October are the best times to monitor rhinos at this amazing location. Rhinos can be seen gathering around the few remaining waterholes during this time, taking baths in the muddy water, and the trails are easily navigable.
WHERE TO STAY IN NGULIA RHINO SANCTUARY
There are various places to stay while on a rhino safari or Kenya wildlife safari in the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary. These lodging options span from affordable to opulent, and they consist of the following:
- Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge
- Lake Jipe Safari Camp
- Rhino Valley Lodge
- Voyager Ziwani Camp
- Sarova Taita Game Lodge
- Lion’s Bluff Lodge
- Man-Eaters Camp, among others.
