Rhino

White rhino & black rhino
(Ceratotherium simum & Diceros bicornis)

lion

The rare black rhino and the more common white rhino species both occur in the Kruger National Park. Black rhinos are browsers and prefer thickets, while white rhinos are grazers, preferring more open areas. Both species are more common in the south of the park than in the north.

The two species do not actually differ much in colour. The term "white" is believed to come from the Dutch and Afrikaans words for "wide" (referring to the mouth). This incorrect translation led to the name white rhino. The black rhino was named later.

White rhino
Black rhino
white rhino black rhino

The white rhino has a downward-pointing, longer head. It also has a wide lip for grazing. The second horn is generally shorter than that of the black rhino, while the base of the first horn is very thick. It has a large hump on its neck.

The black rhino has a shorter head that points forward. Its hooked lip can pick off leaves from branches. The second horn is generally longer than that of the white rhino. It does not have the white rhino's hump.

Very few visitors to the Kruger National Park ever see black rhinos, but white rhinos are often encountered.

 

Male white rhino
Female white rhino
male white rhino female white rhino

Shoulder height:

170-180cm / 67-71in

Shoulder height:

170-180cm / 67-71in

Weight:

up to 2 200kg / 4 850lbs

Weight:

up to 1 600kg / 3 500lbs

Features:

Male white rhinos are larger than females and have shorter, thicker first horns. They also have larger necks with humps. Female white rhinos sometimes grow very long first horns.


More rhino facts:

Habitat:

Black rhinos prefer dense thickets and are found around Skukuza and Pretoriuskop.

White rhinos prefer open country where there is short grass to feed on. They don't, however, mind grazing in rocky areas. In Kruger they are common throughout the south.

Active:

Both species are active during the day and night, but prefer to feed in the early mornings and late afternoons. They often take cover during the heat of the day

Food:

Black rhinos eat leaves and white rhinos eat short grass

Gestation:

Approximately 450 days for black rhinos and 480 for white rhinos

Calves:

One. Black rhino calves generally walk behind mothers and white rhino calves generally walk in front of mothers

Weaned:

Approximately 12 months

Herds:

Black rhinos tend to be more solitary than white rhinos which often form small family groups of 7 or 8 individuals

In Kruger:

To learn more about how to find rhinos in Kruger, check out the right-hand sidebar.



Back to main mammals page

How to find rhino in the Kruger National Park:

leopard

For white rhinos, stay at these camps:
Crocodile Bridge
Berg-en-Dal
Lower Sabie

For black rhinos, stay at these camps:
Skukuza
Pretoriuskop

For white rhinos, drive these roads:
H4-2 tar road
H1-1 tar road
S110 Matjulu Loop
S1 Doispane road
S41 gravel road

For black rhinos, drive these roads:
S65 gravel road
H4-1 tar road
H1-1 tar road
S82 Mativuhlungu road
S125 N'waswitsontso road

Top tips:
When you see a rhino in the distance near Skukuza, make sure it's not a black rhino. It might just be your lucky day!

Rhinos often go to waterholes to drink or wallow in the early mornings and late afternoons. Matjulu Waterhole near Berg-en-Dal is one of the best places for white rhinos.

Stick to the open areas around Crocodile Bridge, Lower Sabie and Berg-en-Dal to see white rhinos.

Check out our Kruger rhino gallery:rhino gallery



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