Golola Rhino Orphanage and Rehabilitation Centre

Highlights

Hands-on care for baby rhinos

From bottle-feeding an orphaned rhino calf to assisting with monitoring rhinos successfully released back into the wild there’s a chance to take part in every aspect of rhino rehabilitation.

Work side-by-side with rhino experts

The project only takes a few volunteers at a time, so you have a chance to work directly with professionals. As part of a small team, you’ll have a valuable role and be welcomed as part of the project staff.

Research that really counts

The research this project does is vital. From monitoring rehabilitated rhinos to the taking of blood samples there’s an opportunity to make a meaningful impact and share vital information to help protect rhinos in Africa.

Monitor rhinos in a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The wildlife reserve and World Heritage Site is home to giraffes, zebra, warthogs, and elusive leopards, as well as rhinos. You will monitor the rehabilitated rhinos to ensure they integrate socially, remain healthy and adapt well to their new environment.

A social setting

With project staff living on-site, there is the chance to chat, share stories and take in the stars of the southern hemisphere at night.

Do

There aren’t many places in the world where you can gain hands-on experience with rhino rehabilitation. The Golola Rhino Rehabilitation Project offers just that, under the guidance of skilled professionals with extensive knowledge and passion to share. You will be an integral part of this small team assisting with the daily care and monitoring of white and black rhinos:

Care for baby rhinos

Many of the orphaned rhinos are injured and emotionally distressed on arrival at the project. You’ll help to care for and rehabilitate them so that they can eventually be released back into nature.

• Prepare milk formula and bottle feed the baby rhinos
• Saw off branches with fresh leaves for the black rhinos and put out grass for the white rhinos
• Clean the rhino enclosures by mucking out, replacing hay and scrubbing feeding troughs
• Create mud wallows for the rhinos to bathe in
• Accompany staff on walks in the wildlife reserve
• Observe as the staff train anti-poaching dogs which help to protect the baby rhinos

Monitor rhinos in a UNESCO World Heritage reserve

Once they’re old enough, the rehabilitated rhinos are released into the surrounding wildlife reserve which is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Monitoring the rehabilitated rhinos on a daily basis is another key part of rhino conservation work at this project.

• Assess and record how well-rehabilitated rhinos are integrating into the existing rhino population and whether they are adapting to their new environment
• See giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, and comical warthogs as well as many other animals in their natural habitat
• Capture the moment with your perfect wildlife photo

Assist with scientific research

The project is part of a team doing a number of long-term scientific studies into rhino health and development.

• Observe a veterinarian taking blood samples to measure things like oxygen and glucose content, useful indicators of rhino health 
• Look at rhino dung under a microscope and record the numbers and species of parasites, another health indicator

Observe the training of anti-poaching dogs

Poaching is the primary reason for baby rhinos being orphaned. Anti-poaching dogs are very successful in deterring poachers.

• Work alongside a qualified dog handler
• Help care for the anti-poaching dogs
• Observe the training of the dogs to look for signs of poachers

Learn

Alongside a ton of practical experience (see the ‘Do’ tab for details), you’ll learn first-hand about the behaviour, threats, conservation, protection and ecology of rhinos.

Conservation

• The reasons rhinos are being poached in southern Africa
• The role of the rehabilitation centre
• The process of rescuing orphaned rhino calves 
• How to provide the best care for orphaned baby rhinos
• The role of rangers and anti-poaching dogs

Ecology

• Ecological factors affecting rhinos 
• How rhinos fit in the wider ecosystem as an ‘umbrella species’

Biology

• The differences between white and black rhino
• Rhino physiology
• The diet of white and black rhinos in the wild and in rehabilitation centres

Behaviour

• Creating a stimulating environment for orphaned rhinos before they are released 
• The way rhinos communicate and interact with each other
• How orphaned rhinos integrate back into the wild, for example, their breeding behaviour and social structure