by Linky LeRoux

One of my most powerful memories from Namibia was tracking the critically endangered black rhino across the vast, rugged landscape of the Kunene Region—a place of stark beauty, where mountains rise from the desert like ancient sentinels, and sunsets drip slowly into the endless horizon. Working with local game guards on game counts, I saw these magnificent creatures up close, feeling a mix of awe and responsibility.

Beyond the scientific data, what struck me most was the importance of community-based conservation: the conservancy model empowers local people to protect their land and its wildlife, creating a sustainable balance between the needs of their communities and the survival of the rhino. This experience taught me that lasting solutions are grounded in collaboration and deeply shaped by the character of place itself.