In the 1960s there were an estimated 3,000 rhinos in the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania but, during the 1980s, an uncontrolled poaching spree virtually wiped out the rhino population.

In 1993 guide and conservationist Richard Bonham stumbled upon a set of fresh rhino tracks which implied that not all the Selous rhinos had been poached to death and two years later the Selous Black Rhino Protection projects was started.

During your visit you have the opportunity to learn about how:

• the project is focusing on the massive task of assessing how many rhinos there are in the 50,000 square kilometre of often-impenetrable bush and steep escarpments.

• an aircraft is used for rapid surveying to identify preferred habitat areas, which is then investigated in detail by the ground team. This is becoming increasingly important as the project expands its activities into new areas of the Selous.

• the project has very successfully been able to identify preferred rhino habitat by analysing rhino dung to establish the menu of plants the animals are eating.

• the team is involved in efforts to secure the rhino's immediate safety through anti-poaching activities.

• the team is planning to develop a meaningful conservation strategy for the long term healthy growth and suitability of the Selous rhinos.