After the elephant, the white rhinoceros is the world’s largest land mammal. They can be almost 5 metres (16ft) and weigh from 1,440 to 3,600 kg, with the male being slightly heavier on average than the female. A white rhino’s snout has two horns made of keratin and it is this distinctive feature that has resulted in this passive, grazing beast being hunted almost to extinction. The totally erroneous belief among some societies that powdered rhino horn is an aphrodisiac or cure for erectile dysfunction persists and even today it is still sort after, despite the discovery of viagra. Hence the world’s remaining rhinos, both white and black, need to be heavily protected. That there should still be a trade in such comodities underscores the ignorance and stupidity of whoever buys them.

Apart from the rhino in the first photo which was in Solio game reserve near Nanyuki, Kenya, all the animals shown were photographed in Lewa game park in the foothills of Mt. Kenya.

These animals are truly magnificent: primitive, primaeval and awe-inspiring. It is a privilege to be able to get close to them and to witness their raw strength and powerful beauty. As with many grazing animal in Africa, a cleaning service for ticks, fleas and other general irritants is performed by the orange-beaked oxpeckers which can nearly always be seen in attendance.

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