They were amazing every time we saw them. Always felt completely foreign. Not because we were foreign to Africa like you might expect, but because there’s something very ancient to that face. Lions, leopards, vervets, even birds like a hamerkop all had something familiar to them. Not rhinos. The thundering of their running is not something that can be heard from another animal, even elephants sounded just different enough. And make no mistake, I mean thundering, like I’ve never heard from a creature running. Rhinos felt like being among dinosaurs.
So much about these animals is truly unique, and disappearing. I consider myself very fortunate on my journey to Africa to have seen rhinos in particular because they are so close to extinction, and because of an experience I may never have again. I hope their magnificence will be saved by us, for future generations to be left in awe.
