News

A black rhino collided with a tourist car in Addo Elephant National Park this Saturday, the 17th of November, causing extensive damage.

Hans and Jannie Reedijk of Hoeksche Waard in the Netherlands had driven their hired car into the main game viewing area of the Park at about 7am when they spotted a rhino coming out of the bush.

They stopped their vehicle in the hope of taking a photo of the rhino. Much to their surprise, the rhino ran towards the vehicle and then collided with it, damaging the car badly.

The Reedijks were not injured during the collision.

The rhino’s front foot crumpled the bonnet while its head smashed into the front windscreen, centimeters away from Jannie Reedijk.

The rhino then ran back into the bush.

The Reedijks were assisted by the staff of the Addo Elephant National Park to report the incident to the police and the hire car company, which provided a replacement car within a few hours.

“We would like to thank the staff of the Park for the excellent way in which they took care of us and assisted us”, said Jannie Reedijk.

Mrs Reedijk added that this was their third visit to Addo Elephant National Park and that they would certainly be back again.

This is the first recorded incident of a wild animal damaging a tourist vehicle in the history of the Addo Elephant National Park.

The South African National Parks (SANParks) veterinarian and conservation staff later located the male black rhino with the SANParks helicopter to check for any injuries. The rhino appeared to be free of serious injuries.

Addo Elephant National Park is home to the largest population of bicornis subspecies critically endangered black rhino in South Africa.

Issued by: South African National Parks

Enquiries: Megan Bradfield
Regional Communications Manager
Tel: (042) 233-8609 or 083 6508649