# Black Rhinoceros

> One of Africa's most endangered and iconic animals, the black rhinoceros is a prehistoric-looking powerhouse. Conservation efforts have brought them back from the brink, making every wild sighting precious and unforgettable.

- **Type:** animal
- **Canonical URL:** https://imaraafricasafaris.com//wildlife/rhino
- **Last updated:** 2026-04-20

## Key facts
- **Scientific Name:** Diceros bicornis
- **Category:** Big Five
- **Habitat:** Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, shrublands, deserts
- **Diet:** Herbivore (browser) — leaves, branches, bushes, fruit, bark
- **Conservation Status:** Critically Endangered
- **Sighting Chance:** Low to Moderate (conservancy-dependent)
- **Best Time To See:** Year-round at dedicated conservancies; early morning at waterholes
- **Fun Facts:** A rhino's horn is made entirely of keratin — the same protein in human hair and fingernails., Black rhinos have been clocked running at 55 km/h — surprisingly fast for their size., They have terrible eyesight and can't see a motionless person at 30 metres, but their hearing and smell are exceptional., A group of rhinos is called a 'crash' — fitting given their tendency to charge., Oxpecker birds ride on rhinos and eat ticks — they also alarm-call when danger approaches, acting as a built-in early warning system.

## Details

## A Living Prehistoric Giant

Rhinoceroses have walked the Earth for over 50 million years, predating both humans and most modern mammals. The black rhino (Diceros bicornis) is the smaller and more aggressive of Africa's two rhino species, distinguished by its hooked, prehensile upper lip used for browsing on bushes and trees.

## Two Species in Africa

Africa is home to two rhino species: the black rhino and the white rhino. Despite their names, both are grey. "White" derives from the Afrikaans word "wyd" (wide), referring to the white rhino's wide, flat lip. The black rhino's pointed lip is adapted for grabbing branches and leaves.

## Behaviour

Black rhinos are generally solitary and more aggressive than white rhinos. They have poor eyesight but excellent hearing and sense of smell. When threatened, they often charge first and investigate later — they've been known to charge trees, rocks, and even vehicles.

## The Poaching Crisis

Rhino poaching for their horns (made of keratin, like human fingernails) remains a critical conservation crisis. Between 1960 and 1995, black rhino numbers plummeted from ~100,000 to fewer than 2,500. Thanks to intensive conservation, numbers have recovered to approximately 6,400 today — but the species remains Critically Endangered.

## Where to See Rhinos

Top rhino destinations include Ol Pejeta Conservancy (Kenya — home to the last two northern white rhinos), Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania), Kruger National Park (South Africa), and Etosha (Namibia).

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