Rhino Notching

Witness the darting of a rhino, and assist the veterinary team in tag the sleeping rhino’s ear for research and security monitoring, before releasing it back into the wild.

Ngala is committed to ensuring the survival of Africa’s rhinos and, as such, implemented best practice research and management practices. Ear notches enable researchers to correctly identify different individuals on the Reserve. Each rhino is given a unique ear notch number, and microchips are placed in the horn and body for identification and security purposes. Measurements, horn shavings and skin samples are also taken for DNA analysis.

Rhinos are in need of ear notches and we are inviting groups of up to eight guests each (sharing one vehicle) to participate in this extraordinary experience. You will play an active role in the day’s adventure. As the veterinary team flies overhead in a helicopter in search of the rhino, guests will follow in hot pursuit with an expert ranger in an open 4×4 safari vehicle.

Once the animal is located and darted, the helicopter will land, and guests will have the never-to-be-repeated opportunity to touch the anaesthetised rhino during the notching procedure.

Get up close and personal with these highly endangered giants of the African bush on this once in a lifetime opportunity to assist in the conservation of rhinos at &Beyond Ngala (all funds raised go directly towards the costs of running Ngala’s rhino conservation and management project).

Subject to the availability of the wildlife veterinarian and helicopter pilot. The total number of groups is dependent upon the number of rhinos requiring ear notches.