In this article, our CEO, Barry, shares his experience participating in a conservation activity called rhino horn trimming (also known as dehorning), which involves trained veterinarians tranquilizing a rhinoceros and removing a portion of its horn to make the animal unappealing to poachers.
In South Africa alone, one rhino is killed for its horn every day, making conservation activities like this a necessity – and they work. After Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in South Africa implemented a dehorning program in April 2024 – one that involved trimming the horns of 1,000 rhinos between April and August 2024 – they saw an 80% drop in poaching within the park, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
Barry says he was so touched and affected by this experience that it became one of the reasons he started Aperture Travel – to make this life-changing experience more accessible and affordable to more guests.
Barry and Di’s rhino horn trimming experience
My partner, Di, and I planned an entire safari adventure around one conservation experience: the magic of a rhino horn trimming.
We chose to stay at &Beyond Ngala Private Game Reserve in South Africa. &Beyond have a longstanding commitment to conservation, and they began allowing guests to participate in rhino dehorning experiences in 2016, coinciding with the launch of their horn trimming program.
(For those wildlife lovers reading this, Ngala Private Game Reserve is also home to a few of the world’s remaining wild-born white lions, including two cubs currently residing within the Birmingham Pride. White lions are not a distinct species, but rather a result of a rare recessive gene mutation that affects their coat color. This makes them incredibly rare to find in the wild and our game drives to find them made for exciting adventures.)
We booked our safari for May 2024, the start of winter in South Africa. May is also within the conservation window that veterinarians choose to perform rhino horn trimming procedures; the cooler temperatures are more conducive to sedating the rhino in safe conditions.
The rhino horn conservation experience was arranged with &Beyond when we booked our lodging. The lodge co-ordinated with local veterinarians and anti-poaching units to schedule the procedure on a sun-filled Friday morning shortly after sunrise.
“By paying to join these experiences, you become a conservation sponsor. Your money funds the event you attend and is put toward the cost of future horn trimming efforts.”
We were met with a Jeep containing the veterinarian. Overhead, in the air, a helicopter circled, searching for the rhino in need of horn trimming. The treatment is necessary in order to remove the incentive for poachers to kill this beautiful species.
A rush of adrenaline filled our vehicle as our guide and tracker coordinated the location of the rhino. Shortly after the chosen rhino was darted by an expert, the urgent countdown started: we had only 6-7 minutes to conduct the procedure.
The adrenaline we felt was soon replaced by a wave of emotion as we stood beside the gently resting rhino, sedated by a powerful tranquilizer.
I held my hand against the rhino’s body and felt its textured surface, heaving gently against my hand with each breath. The veterinarian team then proceeded to conduct tests on the animal’s heartbeat and body temperature as one of the team prepared to saw off a portion of the rhino’s horn. Such a small piece is valued at $500,000 USD on the illegal black market.
Tears streamed down both of our eyes as Di and I stood beside the rhino, humbled by the experience of sponsoring such a powerful conservation experience, and incredibly saddened that the work is needed in the first place.
I’ll never forget when Di turned to me and whispered into my ear; “This is just breathtaking and surreal. We are touching a rhino.”
Minutes later, the order to rush back to our vehicles was given, and suddenly the resting rhino woke up and sprung to its feet. It looked around and then ran off in the direction of two rhinos in the distance.
We were in awe of what we had just witnessed and experienced.
For me, sponsoring a rhino horn trimming experience was absolutely life-changing in ways that words cannot convey.
Di was amazed at the difference she felt between this experience and a classic safari, which involves viewing animals from the safety and vantage point of a vehicle.
In her words: “Taking part in a conservation experience on the ground was absolutely breathtaking. Being part of such a crucial and necessary conservation experience and having veterinarians talk us through the steps of the procedure, amounted to such a powerful experience. I will never look at rhinos in the same way again. I feel very connected to these animals and to the cause of conservation.”
“I will never look at rhinos in the same way again.”
As we watched the rhino run off into the distance, we stood in a circle for about an hour, discussing the perils and threats that rhinos among other animals face in the face of poaching and the illegal animal trade.
To anyone considering sponsoring a rhino dehorning experience, we cannot recommend it enough.
Di and I will now be searching for opportunities to experience other intimate conservation experiences when booking future wildlife travel. Simply put, it changed how we want to travel and experience the world.
Aperture Travel aims to make conservation experiences like these as affordable as possible. We achieve this by collaborating directly with veterinarians and conservationists around the world, inviting guests to witness something not often seen. We also collaborate with lodges like &Beyond to access their own conservation experiences.
Scheduling can sometimes be tricky due to seasonality and the vets’ own set timeframes, but we delight in working with travelers who are interested in getting involved.
Get in touch to discuss what experiences might be available to you based on your destinations and preferred dates.
