Normally the only animals we encounter on a daily basis at Save the Rhino’s HQ in London are pigeons. But, Mel, our Michael Hearn Intern for 2023-24 recently swapped grey birds for grey horny mammals on her trip to Namibia this summer. When Mel wasn’t helping in Save the Rhino Trust Namibia‘s office or visiting rangers on patrol, she was able to take some beautiful photos. In a membership-exclusive, Mel shares her favourite photos and the stories behind the snaps (of course a rhino made the list!)
White rhino: Ongava Game Reserve’s Anti-poaching Unit monitor black and white rhinos on the reserve each day. I was lucky enough to spend a morning with the team, tracking a male white rhino from a single footprint to a two-tonne gentle giant! From a distance, I watched in awe – the first time I have ever seen a wild rhino – and he watched back. We made notes to ID him and add our sighting to the reserve’s database.
Lion: After hearing a game drive had spotted one of the two prides of lions on Ongava Game Reserve, I was excited to have the opportunity to head out and track them down. Lions sleep for up to 20 hours a day, which is exactly what the pride was doing when we found them.This lion is a young male, lazing in the warm African afternoon sun under the shelter of a tree. As our car woke him up, he showed off his impressive canine teeth with a yawn, before resting his tired head back on the ground to continue his slumber.
Elephants: Etosha National Park was teeming with wildlife, from Banded Mongoose to Tawny Eagles and Giraffe. Towards the end of my game drive through the reserve, we were lucky enough to see a large family herd of African elephants congregating at a waterhole. This photo shows one of the mother and calf relationships within the herd. The young calf was inquisitive, exploring with their trunk while staying close to the safety of their mother.
Seals: This photo was taken during a visit by boat to Cape Point Seal Reserve, where the peacefulness of the ocean meets the noise of thousands of barking seals. While watching the seals, some sunbathing on the beach, some splashing in the sea, a black-backed jackal trotted along the shore!
