African trip on the rhino trail

To celebrate the launch of Go! Rhinos, which will see life-sized rhino sculptures pop up in city streets, Marwell Wildlife is offering the chance to see the real magnificent mammals in the wild in Africa.

The zoo has teamed up with Winchester-based Wildlife Worldlife to send a family to Namibia on a self-drive safari to seek out the desert-adapted rhino.

One of the main aims of the public art extravaganza is to raise awareness of the plight of the endangered species and ensure they are still around to be admired by generations to come.

Namibia is the last stronghold of the black rhino and the trip will include a visit to Desert Rhino Camp, which has been instrumental in the preservation of the animals.

Having barely survived the slaughter of the 1980s and 1990s throughout other parts of Africa, the black rhino population has doubled since the formation of the Save the Rhino Trust, which runs the camp with Wilderness Safaris.

hris Breen, MD of Wildlife Worldwide said: “We are really excited to be working with Marwell on this project. Rhinos are critically endangered in all their worldwide habitats and it is important that as a travel company we highlight their plight and enable people to see them in the wild.

“Without doing so, and without encouraging people to conserve, there is little hope of their survival as a species. This prize of a family safari is one way of achieving this goal.”

The offer is open to any families enjoying the Go! Rhinos experience, which has its trail of life-sized sculptures go live in just eight days time.

It promises to provide a great day out for families, as well as boost the local economy.

Paul Simmons, of Marwell Wildlife, added: “We’re thrilled to be able to offer visitors to Marwell Zoo and participants in the Go! Rhinos trail a chance to win such a fantastic prize.”

The trip is for two adults and two children. To enter and for full terms and conditions visit marwell.ork.uk/safari.