In the world of African hunting, few names resonate as strongly as Robin Hurt’s. A legendary Professional Hunter with a deep-rooted passion for wildlife, Robin has spent his life in the game fields of Africa balancing tradition and exceptional hunting skills with a profound commitment to conservation. His ongoing legacy is the Habitat for Rhino project, founded at his 20,800-acre wilderness property in Gamsberg, Namibia, in 2014. There, along with his wife Pauline, Robin provides sanctuary for one of the world’s most endangered species. Over the past decade they’ve successfully supported five rhino, relocated from other areas, into a free-roaming herd of 13.
With World Rhino Day just around the corner on the 22nd of September, we caught up with Robin to get the latest news from Habitat for Rhino. It was also a chance to learn about the impact of Rigby’s ongoing support of the partnership, which includes a limited-edition run of 12 London Best rifles in the .350 Rigby calibre, each engraved with the project logo and the names of the rhino under Robin’s care.
With two calves born in 2023, can you update us on the latest news from Gamsberg so far this year?
We’ve not had any new calves born this year, but two of our cows look pregnant which is excellent news for 2025. Big Daddy, our alpha bull, is full of testosterone and establishing his dominance so that’s a really good sign too.
What are the most pressing challenges you face in protecting rhinos in Namibia, and how do you overcome them?
Aside from the obvious work our team does every day to prevent poachers getting near the rhino, Namibia is now entering a serious drought. That means we’re having to give the rhino supplementary feed to help them thrive. That might not sound like much, but each rhino eats a bale of hay/lucerne and supplements a day. That’s 13 bales eaten every 24 hours, so 91 bales of feed are needed for every single week that goes by. Which is, of course, hugely expensive for us. Without the support of our donors and companies like Rigby, we wouldn’t be able to pay for this level of additional feed.
How has Rigby’s support, through the sale of the London Best rifles and sharing the story with their network, impacted the project? And how important are collaborations like this to the success of conservation initiatives?
The project has been a huge success, and we are forever grateful to Marc and the team at Rigby for their support. Quite simply, without the help of donors and partnering with companies we would not be able to protect the rhinos at Gamsberg. We employ six full-time rangers: four daytime rangers and two who work on night patrol. With training, arming and managing the rangers, supplementing the feed and at the mercy of the climate, the costs are really high at the moment.
Can you describe the most rewarding experience you’ve had while being part of the project?
Yes: firstly, it’s the chance to give back to the land for a lifetime of adventure, conservation and hunting throughout the game fields of Africa. It’s also being able to support my wife’s ambition to conserve rhino – after all, it was Pauline’s idea in the first place to conserve rhino here at Gamsberg. And we have!
With World Rhino Day approaching, what message would you like to share with Rigby’s customers and followers around the world about rhino conservation?
I’d like to say a huge thank you for the support given to make Habitat for Rhino the success it has become. It’s a partnership of like-minded hunters and conservationists who are helping ensure highly endangered rhino can roam freely at Gamsberg under the watchful eye of ourselves and our dedicated anti-poaching team. Rhino are an iconic part of the African ecosystem and they need to be protected for future generations.
Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the future of Habitat for Rhino?
I would love to see our rhino continue to thrive and multiply at Gamsberg so that, in time, there’s an excess number that can be translocated to other conservancies. Rhino numbers are improving but it’s a constant and expensive battle against poachers that we must win.
You can learn more about the 12 Rigby London Best Habitat for Rhino rifles here.