Over and Above Africa Rhino Dehorning & School Children Project - Phinda

Over and Above Africa supports and defends endangered wildlife in Africa—and the communities who live alongside them. In this video, we take you to Phinda Private Game Reserve, where we funded a powerful, hands-on conservation experience: a joint rhino dehorning and educational excursion for local school children from Nomusa Zikhali’s school district.

For many children growing up near protected areas, wildlife like rhinos can feel like something that belongs to “tourists” or “other people.” The reality is heartbreaking: due to the high cost of accessing game reserves in the region, many African children will never get the chance to see the iconic animals of their own country with their own eyes. And yet, these are the very communities who will shape the future of conservation—because the fate of wildlife is inseparable from the people living closest to it.

That’s why this project mattered.

Why Rhino Dehorning Is Happening (And Why It’s Saving Lives)

Let’s be honest: nobody wants to dehorn a rhino. It’s not “natural,” it’s not pretty, and it’s not something any conservationist celebrates.

But we are living in a time of relentless poaching pressure—where rhinos are targeted not for food or survival, but for profit. Their horns are trafficked through illegal markets, and the demand has fueled devastating losses across Africa for years. Poachers are often heavily armed, organized, and willing to kill for a horn.

Dehorning is one of the most effective tools reserves can use right now to reduce the incentive for poachers to strike. By removing the horn in a controlled, veterinary-supervised procedure, conservation teams can dramatically lower the value of a rhino to criminals—giving that animal a better chance to live.

It’s a painful reality… but it’s also a life-saving one.

Education That Creates Protectors for Life

What made this day extraordinary wasn’t just that the children saw a rhino—it’s that they witnessed conservation in action.

They learned:

Why rhinos are being targeted

How poaching impacts entire ecosystems

What it takes to protect wildlife on the ground

How conservation creates jobs and stability through tourism

Why local communities are the true frontline of protection

When a child stands close enough to feel the weight of a rhino’s presence, conservation stops being a concept. It becomes personal. It becomes theirs.

And that is exactly how future ambassadors are made.

Because the long-term fight to protect endangered wildlife won’t be won by outsiders alone—it will be won when the next generation grows up understanding the value of wildlife not only ecologically, but economically, culturally, and morally.

Why Your Support Matters Right Now

Projects like this don’t just create a memorable day out of school. They create a shift in perspective that can last a lifetime.

When we invest in education, access, and real-world conservation experiences, we’re doing something bigger than funding a program—we’re building a future where:

wildlife is worth more alive than dead

communities feel pride and ownership over the animals around them

conservation becomes a shared mission, not a distant industry

This is what Over and Above Africa exists to do: fund high-impact projects, tell the story behind them, and connect people around the world to the real heroes on the ground.

If this story moved you, please visit OverAndAboveAfrica.com to donate or become a member. Every contribution helps protect endangered wildlife—and empowers the next generation to defend it.