Rhino Meets Drone

The Owners and staff at Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill pride themselves on the work they do to protect and support the wildlife in the area.  Chief amongst those are the white rhinoceros, who are held in special affection, particularly by Ant and Tessa Baber.  We were particularly honoured to be invited into their home for sundowners today, when the herd of rhinos, minus Sophie and the new born calf, will usually come for feeding around sunset.

Not that it proved that easy to get there, as the rhinos had congregated in the area in front of the house, blocking our route to the viewing area.  Our guide, Berger, had to coax his horse forward to try and encourage the rhinos away, while we waited patiently outside the lodge on horseback.  


I was chuffed to be allowed to put up the drone, which provided a different perspective on this experience, a bird’s eye view, but from the rhinos side of things.  Guests have a fantastic position on the decking and around the pool I the picture, to watch the animals feed.  We were also able to watch as the dominant bull, Erwin, first pushed around one of the young calfs, and then was put firmly in his place by the mother, Skewhorn.  She was named because her horn had grown pointing forwards from her head, rather than up as is the norm.  It provides a vicious ramming implement and Erwin was mindful of the damage it could cause so retired quickly.