NEWS: White Rhinos Reintroduced at Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve

White rhinos have been officially reintroduced into the Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve, home to the Anantara Stanley & Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel. The new white rhinos join the reserve’s resident black rhinos, making wild rhino sightings in Victoria Falls more of a possibility.

As with many rhino translocations, this move represents far more than a rare wildlife sighting. It’s proof of how intentional, conservation-led tourism funds and sustains biodiversity on the ground.

The translocation of the white rhinos was carefully executed through a collaborative effort between the Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) and Lake Kyle Recreational Park. By welcoming white rhinos in Victoria Falls, the reserve becomes one of the few sanctuary areas in the region to protect both iconic species together.

“Welcoming white rhinos alongside our black rhinos is a dream come true for our team and a huge victory for Zimbabwean conservation,” says Reserve Manager Picket Chabwedzeka. “Having both species in Victoria Falls isn’t just a historic milestone; it’s evidence that dedicated protection works and we are proud to give our guests a direct opportunity to help secure their future.”

The new arrivals have moved into the reserves’ intensive protection zone, which was set up for rhinos back in 2006. Historically, intense commercial poaching has decimated Zimbabwe’s rhino populations. In 1999, more than 2,200 rhinos roamed the country. Over the next 15 years, systematic poaching for rhino horn wiped out most of them, leaving only 766 rhinos by 2014.

Better security and anti-poaching initiatives have significantly reduced poaching, but the rhino population is still struggling. Rhinos mostly live in protected areas and are absent from many parts of Zimbabwe. The global picture is just as serious. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists black rhinos as critically endangered and white rhinos as near threatened. It puts black rhino numbers at about 6,788 and white rhinos at about 15,752.

Experience Conservation in Action

To connect guests directly with these conservation achievements, Anantara Stanley & Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel has launched the Rhino Guardian Game Drive.

Hosted directly by the Reserve Manager, this private, three- to four-hour experience takes you on a rhino tracking excursion inside the intensive protection zone. The drive costs US$600 per person for groups of two to six, with US$340 going directly to reserve management.

These funds immediately support essential operational costs, including:

• Maintaining perimeter security fences
• Conducting routine snare removal sweeps
• Funding anti-poaching field ranger patrols

Situated just minutes from the Falls, Anantara Stanley & Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel provides a perfect place to experience the conservation of rhinos in Victoria Falls. Set within lush private grounds, the property combines boutique elegance with a deep commitment to environmental stewardship.

Beyond the rhino drive, the hotel offers game drives, walking safaris, birdwatching and sunset cruises on the Zambezi River. The hotel itself is intimate and elegant, with just 16 suites, each with a private terrace. That size keeps the experience personal. It also means the property is easy to pair with time at the Falls or with other stops in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Travellers can tailor their journey to combine thrilling natural wonders – from helicopter flights over the Falls to quiet sunset cruises on the Zambezi – with deep immersion into wildlife conservation.

Top Wildlife Conservation Projects Involving Rhinos at Victoria Falls

The reserve’s protection zone is one part of a larger, interconnected conservation landscape. Key to this network is the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust (VFWT), a local organisation that assists with immobilising and translocating rhinos across Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries to repopulate areas where they were previously lost.

VFWT veterinarians also sedate rhinos to safely remove wire snares and support anti-poaching operations. During every intervention, DNA and health samples are collected to support a nationwide rhino genetics project. By mapping genetic diversity across populations, wildlife authorities can make informed decisions about future translocations, ensuring that isolated groups remain resilient and genetically healthy.

Some incredible rhino conservation initiatives include:

• Intensive Rhino Protection (Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve): High-security tracking, daily anti-poaching unit patrols, and ongoing monitoring of both black and white rhino populations.
• Wildlife Rehabilitation & Disease Surveillance (Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust): Veterinary care, wire snare removal, disease monitoring, and genetic research to ensure healthy rhino populations across Zimbabwe.
• Community Anti-Poaching Support: Local ranger recruitment and community-led human-wildlife conflict resolution programmes that benefit both people and wildlife.

Plan Your Meaningful Safari Journey

Experiencing Africa’s extraordinary wildlife carries greater purpose when your journey directly contributes to protecting the landscape for generations to come. Whether it’s your first African safari or you’re returning to explore Zimbabwe’s wild places, thoughtful itinerary design ensures your trip reflects your personal values.

We design each journey around you. That might mean a quiet stay at Anantara Stanley & Livingstone, a day at the Falls, and a morning tracking rhinos with the reserve manager. It might mean a family trip or a longer route through Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Connect with our Africa-based team to plan a tailor-made safari built around authentic wildlife encounters and positive local impact or explore our Zimbabwe safaris for ideas.