The real unicorn

The beast that’s built like a tank moves at a speed that is truly unlikely and possesses the softest heart that could melt anybody’s heart—the wonderful square-lipped rhinoceros. We have such a rhino here at Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa, but don’t be fooled; she is not easily seen. This gentle giant calls Mhondoro a safe haven, appearing only at night and seen by only a select few—if you take the time to find her.

Uncovering the Mystery: A New Resident at Mhondoro

It all started when Evan, a ranger at Mhondoro, began picking up tracks of a rhino visiting the lodge when all the lights go off at night. The tracks first led from the watering hole towards the lodge, then disappeared into the long grass in front of the lodge. The question was: Who do the tracks belong to, and where is the animal that made them?

On one eventful morning after an epic game drive, Evan and Sibu found the area where she had made her bed for the evening. The imprint of her whole body was visible on a heap of soft building sand quite close to the staff sleeping area. Of course, we all celebrated this new addition to the Mhondoro family, but still, we had not seen our new family member.

An Unforgettable Encounter: Meeting the Real Unicorn

One evening, Evan heard the radio go off as if someone in the suites—more particularly, a guest—was trying to get a hold of one of the rangers. He rushed off, uniform still half hanging off his body, trying to reach the rooms to see who needed help. All the lights were off, and he went from door to door, trying to listen and see if anybody was in need of his assistance. To his relief, all guests were asleep. As he started making his way to the staff village, in the silence of the dark, he heard a rustle down at the lodge. He made his way down to the main deck, finding nothing. As a last attempt to ensure everything was okay, he did a small loop around the lodge and down the stairs to the rangers’ room.

To his astonishment, there she was—standing 1.5 meters tall, weighing in at 2000 kilograms of pure beauty. He stood face to face with a white rhino. She snorted at him, as if saying, “I am here; please respect my space.” In a soft, calm voice, he replied, “Hey girl, how are you? I’m going to bed now; sleep well.” He knew she didn’t understand him, but he felt the calm nature of his voice reassured her that he was not a danger, just a friend checking in to see if everything was okay. Slowly, he walked backward as she did the same, disappearing into the shadow of night. After this encounter, she began showing her presence more and more—coming to drink water during dinner service and even popping in during the day just to say hello.

Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa welcomes its new family member with open arms and big hearts.