When Ascot Tours launched its Golfing for Change conservation initiative, the aim was clear. It was to support meaningful efforts that go beyond tourism and into transformation. Today, we’re honoured to be part of the rewilding of 2,000 southern white rhinos through African Parks. And now Rhino #181 is officially part of this incredible journey.
A New Chapter for an Iconic Species
Southern white rhinos are survivors. Once nearly extinct, they’ve clawed their way back through decades of protection and breeding efforts. But poaching pressures, habitat loss and the collapse of some private sanctuaries have brought a new urgency. In 2023, African Parks stepped in to purchase the world’s largest private rhino population of nearly 2,000 animals. This was the launch of an unprecedented rewilding mission across Africa.
The goal? To safely relocate each rhino to secure, well-managed protected areas over the next ten years. This is so that they can contribute to thriving, genetically diverse wild populations.
The First Steps
In May 2024, the first 40 rhinos were carefully translocated to Munywana Conservancy in KwaZulu-Natal — the start of a campaign that will see hundreds more moved each year. Each journey is carefully planned, involving sedation, crate transport, veterinary supervision, and slow, structured release into their new wild homes.
By mid-2025, rhinos had already been relocated to places like Dinokeng Game Reserve in Gauteng, and even as far as Akagera National Park in Rwanda — marking the first cross-border rhino rewilding effort in Africa. The movement of 70 rhinos to Rwanda in June 2025 was a historic feat, involving days of overland and air travel, driven by a vision of ecological renewal across the continent.
Enter Rhino #181
And then, there’s Rhino #181. Sponsored by Ascot Tours through Golfing for Change, this individual rhino is part of the upcoming translocation wave — one of many due to move between August and November 2025, once conditions are right.
Currently, Rhino #181 is being cared for at the secure rhino facility, where it receives expert attention, daily monitoring, and ample space to roam while the conservation team prepares for its next chapter.
A Pause, Not a Setback
Nature, as always, has a say in the timing. Heavy rains earlier this year made some roads impassable for the large transport trucks required in specific areas. Now, with cooler winter temperatures settling in, it’s safer to wait for spring. Though the delay may be disappointing, it’s also a reminder that conservation must move at the pace of the environment, not the calendar.
The good news? Rhino #181 is thriving, healthy, and just as much a part of the rewilding mission as ever. And when the time comes, there will be a sneak peek at the crate that will carry this rhino to its new wild home.
A Collective Journey
This isn’t just about one rhino. It’s about creating safe spaces where hundreds can roam again. It’s about protecting landscapes, building resilience in populations, and reigniting the power of African ecosystems.
As a team, Ascot Tours is proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with African Parks, wildlife veterinarians, park managers and local communities — all working to make this vision real.
Stay tuned — this story is just beginning …