Onguma Nature Reserve covers 37 000 hectares of private wilderness situated on the eastern border of Etosha National Park. As well as being a popular safari lodge, the Onguma Nature Reserve provides a unique sanctuary for wildlife populations, including the critically endangered Black Rhino.

In 1993 black rhino numbers dropped by a staggering 96%, leaving researchers to estimate only 2,400 individuals were left in the wild. Namibia’s Ministry of Environment and Tourism decided to take matters into their own hands and set up the ambitious Black Rhino Custodianship Programme to bring the world’s black rhino populations back from the brink.

Since then, all black rhino in Namibia are state owned; the concept of Namibia’s Black Rhino Custodianship Program is that breeding populations of black rhino are relocated to suitable habitat where the landholders are willing and able to undertake the responsibility of providing care and security to them. Onguma Game Reserve is very proud to have been chosen to be one of these custodians and we take our duty to the rhino and other wildlife very seriously.

Sadly, during the last two years, we have seen a huge increase in the sophistication of the methods used to poach rhino. We are up against highly organized and sophisticated criminal networks and have therefore reacted with radical counter poaching initiatives to combat the poaching crisis. As a result, we now have a well-trained, fully equipped Anti-Poaching Unit patrolling day and night, 365 days a year, but we need your help to stay a step ahead of the poachers and protect our vulnerable black rhino from extinction.