Following her skin graft procedure one month ago, Thandi underwent a follow-up procedure yesterday in which doctors and surgeons undertook to assess which of the three skin graft methods applied in June had worked best, as well as to apply further grafting treatment. Dr Marais and Dr Lamont decided that the "split skin" technique had been the most sucessful and during the 50 minute procedure the team cleaned Thandi's wound, checked for any signs of complication or infection, and applied more of the "split skin" grafting method. A fourth method which could not be applied in June was also added to the surgical effort.

One month after Thandi's ground-breaking skin graft procedure, Dr Fowlds, Marais and Lamont gathered this morning to do a check up procedure on Thandi at Kariega Game Reserve in order to assess the outcome of the procedure. We will keep posting on any news and feedback as we hear it from the team.

Photograph and update on our rhino Thandi from Jason Loest.

The Kariega team joined hands to celebrate Mandela Day.

A big congratulations to Alexandra Roberts, the winner of this years photo competition for her image of a black rhino running through the bush at Kariega Game Reserve.

How do you fit all of the June action into one newsletter? All I can say is...darting, captures, releases. In only the month of June, volunteers were part of six amazing wildlife captures on the reserve.

Find out what the Wildlife Conservation Volunteers had to say about their stay. Thank you Christine, Akash, Megan, Danielle, Elodie, Dana, Natalie and Svenja for sharing a little about your time with us on the Kariega Game Reserve Volunteer Project. We are glad that you had a good time and we hope to see you all again someday soon!

It often happened in the very early hours of the morning. I would raise my head from the pillow the better to hear. Moments later the rumbling, soul-stirring, throaty roar of an African lion would be repeated, filling the silence of the night. Reassured that all was well with the world, I would snuggle back under the blankets and, safe in my own bed, drift off to sleep again.

Claus and Iris Wollmer were with us at River Lodge this June and sent us some amazing wildlife photo's taken during their time out on safari at Kariega Game Reserve! Images include our new lion cubs, some giraffe, and the new rhino calf as well as some pics of the rangers and sundowner drinks at the game reserve. Thank you Claus and Iris for sharing these lovely shots with us and we hope to see you back on the reserve one day!