Black rhino were once widespread, but poaching wiped out most of them. A small population survives in the Ngorongoro Crater and in parts of the Serengeti and Mkomazi, guarded by rangers. Sightings are special and usually at a distance.
Rhinos
One of the Big Five
Black Rhinoceros
Diceros bicornis
A rare, shy browser and the most endangered of the Big Five.
Size
Up to 1,400 kg
Lifespan
35-50 years
Diet
Leaves, shoots and branches, gripped with a pointed lip.
Habitat
Bushland, grassland and crater floor.
About the black rhinoceros
Did you know?
01
A black rhino has a hooked upper lip; a white rhino has a square one.
02
The crater's rhino are closely monitored and named.
03
Rhino eyesight is poor but their hearing and smell are excellent.
When to see it
Seen all year round; the best sightings depend on where you are.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Where to see it in Tanzania
Trips that go there
Where to meet the black rhinoceros
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Elephants
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Bovids
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A heavy, dangerous grazer that lives in herds of hundreds.
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