This September, Marataba will launch its inaugural Rhino Week. This annual event is a unique way for travellers to be directly involved in a host of rhino-focused conservation activities. South Africa’s Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, of which Marataba forms a part, is home to a globally significant population of rhino, the second largest in South Africa. Monitoring this population and understanding their territories is a key part of conserving these vital animals. A stay during Rhino Week guarantees guests involvement in rhino notching and monitoring activities. 
While Marataba Conservation Camps will normally be booked on an exclusive or semi-exclusive basis, during Rhino Week the camps will be available on a per-room basis. During this intensive rhino conservation week all Marataba guests will take part in rhino monitoring, DNA collection and notching. Arrival dates are fixed for Monday 21 September and Thursday 24 September 2020 (09 – 15 Aug 2021) for 3 nights. All guests staying in the park during rhino week will participate and regular nightly rates apply with a R 6750 (USD400) conservation surcharge per guest. These funds will go towards the conservation costs associated with Rhino Week. The goal is to notch 14 rhinos over the course of the week.
“The African Rhino remains critically endangered and we, at Marataba Conservation, are committed to doing everything we can to be a part of the solution. Allowing travelers to be a direct part of our conservation activities is both helpful in expanding our work and creating ambassadors who have a real understanding of what is needed to save this key species,” says Marataba Chief Veterinarian, Dr André Uys. “Our goal is to have all our guests leave having been part of a positive change as well as feel a responsibility to continue the work when they return home.”
What does a 3-day rhino conservation safari look like?
- DAY 1: Guests will arrive and enjoy a light lunch before heading out on a rhino identification drive in the late afternoon. This drive will allow guests to identify specific rhino individuals and learn about the social interaction and make-up of rhino groups. On the first evening, all guests will gather for a briefing on the aims and purposes of rhino notching before being divided into teams that will share a vehicle with each member of the group assigned individual responsibilities and tasks. The briefing will be followed by an interactive social session where guests, guides and conservationists can share stories, thoughts and ideas.
- DAY 2 & 3: After an early wake-up, teams will depart in search of suitable candidates to be notched while the conservation team prepare for action. Once an animal is located guests will withdraw to a safe distance before the helicopter will be deployed with the conservation team to dart the rhino. Once the animal is safely down, everyone will carry out their pre-assigned responsibilities before the rhino is woken and monitored for 30 mins post-darting. A follow-up and further post-notching monitoring will take place in the afternoon. Teams who have already completed a notching will have a choice of other conservation or safari activities to participate in.
Rhinos are one of the few species without clear and unique identifying marks, so creating a way to identify and monitor individual animals is critical for conservation. Ear notching or marking is currently the most effective way to achieve this. Ear notching is the process by which each rhino is given an identity number by special marks or cuts on its ears. During a rhino notching, the rhino has to be immobilized by a vet, usually by air. Once the animal is down, ground teams move in to etch the marks on the rhino’s ears. During the notching, DNA samples are taken for a national database and a general health check is performed. Once complete, the rhino is given an antidote to enable it to regain consciousness. Marataba Conservation will allow a maximum of 10 guests per notching to ensure an intimate and involved experience for guests and a relaxed environment for the rhino.
Marataba aims to notch thirty to forty rhinos per year to reach their goal of having close to all the rhinos identified in the area. Once that goal is reached trackers will be able to notice a 1 – 2% change in the population and can tell if a specific rhino hasn’t been seen in a few days and alert the anti-poaching teams.
More About Marataba Conservation Camps
Marataba Conservation Camps is a new safari experience developed and run by Marataba Conservation. Marataba Contractual National Park was founded in 2000 and is a privately-owned and managed section of the Marakele National Park. This pioneering conservation model allows the resources and expertise of both the public and private sectors to be pooled for efficient and sustainable management of the land.
[The Debrief:
