The Boss (Volcanoes Nat'l Park, Rwanda)

Last week celebrated two of Africa's most iconic animals, the rhino and gorilla. World Rhino Day fell on September 22, followed by World Gorilla Day on September 24, two days shining a little extra light on species that have become major symbols of conservation. And two animals considerably more interesting than a designated calendar day. In honor of both, I'm sharing a few images and some of the efforts to protect them.

The Rhino Edit

Solio Silhouette (Laikipia, Kenya)

There's something wonderfully unusual about the rhino. They're instantly recognizable, and very compelling to photograph. Unfortunately, they're difficult to encounter in the wild and simply finding one is a reminder of how much work goes into protecting them.

At Desert Rhino camp in Namibia, this was especially obvious when I set out with the trackers each day for 6, 7, and sometimes 8 hours at a time in what felt like a true search for a needle in a haystack.

Walking with the trackers

Desert Rhino (Damarland, Namibia)

The camp's dedicated work with Save the Rhino Trust and several community conservancies has seen the area's desert-adopted rhino population grow and poaching levels reduce significantly. 

A particularly special moment occurred while making our way back to the lodge one evening when a rhino came running across a field taking everyone by surprise. The trackers diligently record every sighting, down to the notches in the rhino's ear and the way its tail bends, in order to study each individual's movement and behavior. While studying the details of this particular rhino, they realized it was one they hadn't seen in nearly 5 years! They erupted in pure joy realizing he was still alive, and it was really inspiring to see their genuine love for these animals and the work they do.

In central Kenya, equally important initiatives are at work in order to restore the critically endangered black rhino population that nearly reached extinction. For example, Segera Conservancy in Laikipia received its founding population of black rhinos in 2025 to begin a large-scale initiative to create an interconnected area of private and community conservancies which is already showing success in becoming one of the largest rhino sanctuaries in the world. The hope is to safely return these rhinos to Kenya's savannah, where they rightfully belong.  

Hope (Laikipia, Kenya)

The Gorilla Edit

While rhinos command attention with their unmistakeable presence, gorillas often inspire a different kind of connection. David Attenborough said, "there is more meaning and mutual understanding in exchanging a glance with a gorilla than with any other animal I know" and it's easy to feel this even through pictures. 

Quiet Grace (Volcanoes Nat'l Park, Rwanda)

I feel incredibly privileged to have spent time with these animals in two very different places, with their own conservation challenges and successes. 

In Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund works alongside the Karisoke Research Center and guides and trackers to protect the endangered mountain gorillas and forests through hands-on conservation, research, and support for the nearby communities (and for a deeper look into these efforts, I highly recommend the recent Netflix documentary, A Gorilla Story).

The mountain gorilla is a powerful example of what conservation can achieve. Their numbers have steadily increased over the years proving sustained efforts can make a real difference.

Small Curiosity (Volcanoes Nat'l Park, Rwanda)

Deep in the Central Republic of the Congo, the critically endangered western lowland gorillas are less accustomed to humans than their mountain gorilla cousins. This area of the Congo Basin receives only a few hundred visitors a year, compared to Rwanda's ten of thousands a year, and it's easy to sense the animals' cautious curiosity with each glance. 

Keeper of Silence (Republic of the Congo)

Within this region, Kamba supports gorilla research while working alongside conservation partners to protect the wildlife and forest, while supporting local communities. Human-wildlife conflict is one of the issues Kamba, and nearly all conservation initiatives must address, and something the below encounter brought front and center.

I watched the young gorilla pictured below, who lost his hand to a snare, swing from a tree branch while struggling to pull himself up with his one hand. Frustrated but determined, he kicked his mother away as he tried to steady himself without her help - a small, childlike moment that revealed both his vulnerability and resilience (the video shows the entire scene play out). The snare is a stark reminder of the challenges at hand, but his instinct to keep trying provides a heartwarming sense of hope. 

For all the complexity surrounding their survival, there's still something so special about being in their presence, and I hope my photos bring forth a small amount of this magic. 

I started this section with a profound quote from David Attenborough, but will leave you with one of my favorites from Dian Fossey who poignantly said, "the more you learn about the dignity of the gorilla, the more you want to avoid people." 

The Root (Republic of the Congo)

I hope you enjoyed, and thanks for your support!

~Kristi