At Donkey Long Tong, we’ve always said that every fire tells a story. Fires aren’t just about cooking food or staying warm, they’re about connection, heritage, and the stories that last long after the embers fade.
When the story of Rhino Rewild came to us, we knew immediately it was one we wanted to share.
We wanted to share the fire with people as passionate about wildlife as we are. People who stand for conservation and for protecting something so deeply and integrally South African. Because at the end of the day, whether it’s family around a braai or strangers drawn together in the bush, we all share the fire and the stories.
The History of Rhino Rewild
The Rhino Rewild Initiative began in 2023, when African Parks stepped up to purchase the world's largest captive rhino breeding operation in South Africa. The project held over 2,000 southern white rhinos (nearly 15% of the global population) but faced financial collapse.
African Parks purchased the land, the rhinos, and the entire operation with one clear goal: to rewild all of these rhinos over the next 10 years. Their mission is ambitious: to relocate up to 300 rhinos a year into secure, well-managed protected areas across Africa where these animals can thrive. Already, hundreds have been rewilded, including 70 rhinos flown to Rwanda in one of the largest rhino translocations in history.
Rhino Rewild isn’t just about saving rhinos; it’s about healing landscapes. White rhinos are mega herbivores that shape savannas, support biodiversity, and even contribute to carbon storage. Where rhinos return, ecosystems flourish and so do the communities that depend on them.
Meeting the People Behind the Flame
We recently visited the Rhino Rewild Initiative, and wow, what a day! From the moment we arrived, it was obvious that the team here lives and breathes this project. The joy and energy of the staff are infectious. You could easily have us believe that they know every rhino by their personality, not just by microchip, and they carry a pride that’s impossible to miss.
And then, there were the baby rhinos. Watching them suddenly erupt into what we call “the zoomies” (tiny rhino legs flailing as they bolt around like caffeine-fuelled toddlers) was incredible. You can’t help but laugh and want to hug every calf (although we didn’t. It’s rhino rewild after all, not rhinos to pets) .
We also got to meet the team behind Rhino Lights, the firelighters made from rhino dung. Seeing them at work, full of smiles and mischief, reminded us how fun conservation can be when it’s done with heart and creativity. We even rolled up our sleeves to lend a hand.
Donkey Long Tong and the Fire of Stories
At Donkey Long Tong, fire is more than warmth; it’s connection. Rhino Lights carry stories to every home and campfire, sparking conversations about conservation and the future of our wild spaces.
We’re proud to help carry the story of the Rhino Lights, spreading the mission of Rhino Rewild to people who care. Every fire started with Rhino Lights is a reminder that conservation isn’t abstract, but something we can all participate in, one flame at a time.
And, between you and me, there’s something undeniably special about lighting a fire with a story literally made from rhino poop. It’s a conversation starter, a giggle inducer, and a little nudge that conservation can be fun as well as vital.
Why This Matters on World Rhino Day
World Rhino Day, celebrated every September 22nd, is about more than admiration. It’s about action. Supporting Rhino Rewild is supporting 2,000 rhinos, thriving ecosystems, and a future where Africa’s wild heritage endures.
For us at Donkey Long Tong, this is exactly the kind of story that belongs around our fires. It’s a story of hope, courage, and dedication, and it reminds us why we do what we do.
Around the Fire, the Story Lives
This World Rhino Day, we invite you to share the fire with us. To celebrate Rhino Rewild, to learn its story, and to connect with people passionate about conserving Africa’s wildlife.
Because when the flames fade, what remains are the stories we carry forward. And the story of Rhino Rewild deserves to burn bright. A story of rhinos, people, and landscapes restored, with a little laughter and a lot of heart thrown in for good measure.
