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The Rhino Crash: A Memoir of Conservation, Unlikely Friendships and Self-Discovery
Catapulted into the grim world of rhino poaching, Nick Newman trades life in London for a humble, yet adventurous existence in South Africa. Tasked to monitor and protect critically endangered black rhinos, Nick soon cultivates an understanding of the different individual personalities and their temperamental behaviour by studying the animals in their natural environment.
Under constant threat of being poached for their horns, the rhinos become the pivot around which Nick and the Anti-Poaching Unit’s lives revolve. Nick shares raw moments of heartbreak and hope from the frontline, while taking the reader on an honest and humorous trip of his years spent in Africa. Dynamic characters who form part of his stories include his sidekick rhino-tracking dog, Wilma, and a black rhino named Elmore who becomes an integral part of his life.
Towards the end of his time in South Africa, mounting pressure catches up with Nick and he soon finds himself in a care facility in Spain where he is forced to go on a journey of self-discovery to confront his mental health. It is also here where he learns to understand his affinity with the rhinos which he had come to love more than life itself.
Under constant threat of being poached for their horns, the rhinos become the pivot around which Nick and the Anti-Poaching Unit’s lives revolve. Nick shares raw moments of heartbreak and hope from the frontline, while taking the reader on an honest and humorous trip of his years spent in Africa. Dynamic characters who form part of his stories include his sidekick rhino-tracking dog, Wilma, and a black rhino named Elmore who becomes an integral part of his life.
Towards the end of his time in South Africa, mounting pressure catches up with Nick and he soon finds himself in a care facility in Spain where he is forced to go on a journey of self-discovery to confront his mental health. It is also here where he learns to understand his affinity with the rhinos which he had come to love more than life itself.
349 pages, Paperback
Published July 18, 2020
103 people are currently reading
457 people want to read
About the author
Nick Newman
21 books76 followersNick Newman is a lifelong nature lover from the UK, who spent the early part of his career working with racehorses. After enrolling in a training programme in 2014, he travelled to South Africa where he qualified as a Field Guide relishing the time he got to spend in the African bush. His life changed in unimaginable ways, after a once in a lifetime opportunity presented itself and he was afforded the opportunity to monitor black rhinos. This coincided with the period when the current rhino poaching crisis in South Africa was approaching tipping point. Finding himself in such a privileged position of helping to protect a critically endangered species, Nick today feels that he has a duty and responsibility to assist other conservationists in raising awareness of the rhinos’ plight, by sharing his stories from the frontline.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 25, 2020
I could not put this book down once I start, a journey of discovery whilst highlighting the plight of wildlife in the modern world. Simply superb
July 26, 2020
Highly Recommended. An utterly compelling and riveting read, I was hooked from start to finish (and I have a VERY long list of books I have given a review of DNF – Did Not Finish). An emotive book on so many levels. Inspiring, funny, incredibly honest and at times immeasurably sad, I salute both Nick and Karin for bringing this story to the reader. I count myself fortunate to have seen both White and Black rhino many times in the wild, being privileged to live close to reserves and National Parks in South Africa’s Limpopo province. Now, the continued existence of the rhino species teeters on a fragile precipice, and this is indeed a poignant time for this wonderful memoir to emerge, as the species that has caused their plight faces its own faceless enemy. Best of luck with this excellent publication.
July 21, 2020
A personal journey (both physical and emotional) to save South Africa’s rhino from being poached. This book is a testimony to the author’s passion for this iconic species and how he found himself and then nearly lost his mind. A great insight into one man’s passion and dedication and his battle to save Africa’s rhino.
July 30, 2020
Fantastic book from start to finish. From the plight of the rhino, to the struggles of mental health, this book touched my heart in more ways than one.
March 26, 2023
This book is an essential read for anyone who is interested in conservation and Rhino conservation in particular. If Mark and Delia Owens are the experts on predators like my favorite big cats, lions, then Newman would be the expert on Black rhinos. The book is an autobiography, true-life conservation adventure, and a chronicle of natural history.
The story is well written and is a compelling read. Newman tells of his childhood, work as a rhino monitor (with his trusty dog, Wilma at his side), and mental breakdown.
If you love Africa and African wildlife this book is a must read. I would highly recommend it. I found his description of caring for an injured rhino and nursing him back to health so he could be re-released into the wild particularly engaging.
Newman worked so hard to protect the animals he loved in South Africa that he sacrificed his physical and mental health as a result. A sobering and moving story of man and nature, with some light-hearted moments too.
The story is well written and is a compelling read. Newman tells of his childhood, work as a rhino monitor (with his trusty dog, Wilma at his side), and mental breakdown.
If you love Africa and African wildlife this book is a must read. I would highly recommend it. I found his description of caring for an injured rhino and nursing him back to health so he could be re-released into the wild particularly engaging.
Newman worked so hard to protect the animals he loved in South Africa that he sacrificed his physical and mental health as a result. A sobering and moving story of man and nature, with some light-hearted moments too.
January 9, 2022
An engrossing read.
This is a book in two halves. The first half of the book is about the stresses of monitoring and protecting black rhinos from poachers. Nick’s tireless efforts to keep them safe are valiant and totally engrossing. We care a great deal about these endangered creatures.
The strain of the responsibility eventually takes its toll on Nick and reveals his underlying problems which he has so skillfully hidden from the world. We care as much about Nick as we did about the rhinos, and it is wonderful to read of his diagnoses and his gradual recovery. It is good to see that he is helped to understand why he has struggled over the years. We are often far too hard on ourselves and Nick’s example shows us we are to be as kind to ourselves as we are to others and the animals we care about.
Nick’s account is made beautifully clear and readable by Nick’s collaborator, Karin Mitchell.
This is a book in two halves. The first half of the book is about the stresses of monitoring and protecting black rhinos from poachers. Nick’s tireless efforts to keep them safe are valiant and totally engrossing. We care a great deal about these endangered creatures.
The strain of the responsibility eventually takes its toll on Nick and reveals his underlying problems which he has so skillfully hidden from the world. We care as much about Nick as we did about the rhinos, and it is wonderful to read of his diagnoses and his gradual recovery. It is good to see that he is helped to understand why he has struggled over the years. We are often far too hard on ourselves and Nick’s example shows us we are to be as kind to ourselves as we are to others and the animals we care about.
Nick’s account is made beautifully clear and readable by Nick’s collaborator, Karin Mitchell.
June 6, 2021
Who knew a group of rhinos was called a "crash"? This book was both entertaining and informative, it's sad that one day this magnificent animal will be extinct. Despite all the people in this book have done to safeguard them it appears to me to be a losing battle. Greed, desperation, overpopulation; all will play a part in the outcome.
July 27, 2020
Remarkable Triumph of Life
Both the compelling story of the rhinos, and a soul struggle of undiagnosed Aspegers and ADHD, made this book a challenging read because it elicits self-examination.
So grateful for this book sharing the struggle of the endangered, animal and man.
Both the compelling story of the rhinos, and a soul struggle of undiagnosed Aspegers and ADHD, made this book a challenging read because it elicits self-examination.
So grateful for this book sharing the struggle of the endangered, animal and man.
March 25, 2023
OK but no real editing
I did get some sense of the difficulties and rewards of involvement in rhino conservation but fundamental grammatical errors- “it’s” incorrectly used as a possessive, and an apostrophe followed by an s to incorrectly form a plural (“rhino’s” instead of “rhinos”) made me shut the book in impatience. Maybe these blunders are some sort of affidavit of the author’s authenticity- knowledgeable about animals but a dunce when it comes to writing-?but publishing a book with so little attention to what amounts to fifth-grade level knowledge of correct usage is inexcusable.
I did get some sense of the difficulties and rewards of involvement in rhino conservation but fundamental grammatical errors- “it’s” incorrectly used as a possessive, and an apostrophe followed by an s to incorrectly form a plural (“rhino’s” instead of “rhinos”) made me shut the book in impatience. Maybe these blunders are some sort of affidavit of the author’s authenticity- knowledgeable about animals but a dunce when it comes to writing-?but publishing a book with so little attention to what amounts to fifth-grade level knowledge of correct usage is inexcusable.
January 11, 2023
Borrowed this book from my parents who had taken a trip to Africa on safari. Dad hadn’t finished when I borrowed it but I have to say I don’t think the book will meet what most people envision this book being about. Don’t get me wrong - this is a great book, full of both personal insights into the everyday game management and preservation of the rhino population - but also surprisingly about mental health. Honestly I thought the mental health aspect of the book was just as intriguing as the rhinos but it wasn’t presented that way. It tracks the authors undiagnosed issues and finally diagnosed issues with his mental health (ADHD and autism spectrum behaviors) and how his work with rhinos ultimately mentally broke him. This enabled the mental issues to be diagnosed and treated successfully. I think anyone dealing with or knowing someone with similar mental health issues would find it a worthy read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2020
Loved this book
Disclosure: As a South African living in the UK for the past 20 years, I will happily spend my money on any book that may transport me back to the bushveld. But despite the flippant way in which I purchased this book (for a steal after it popped up on "You may also like ..." ) whilst looking for a light weekend read, I was quickly drawn in and found myself alongside the author when he was working with the rhino. This is a wonderful book about conservation, but also a brave story of the author's personal journey, full of insights and epiphanies. There are sad parts and horrifying events, evenly balanced by funny and touching accounts of friendships and personal growth. And oh, the animals! Recommended on so many levels.
Disclosure: As a South African living in the UK for the past 20 years, I will happily spend my money on any book that may transport me back to the bushveld. But despite the flippant way in which I purchased this book (for a steal after it popped up on "You may also like ..." ) whilst looking for a light weekend read, I was quickly drawn in and found myself alongside the author when he was working with the rhino. This is a wonderful book about conservation, but also a brave story of the author's personal journey, full of insights and epiphanies. There are sad parts and horrifying events, evenly balanced by funny and touching accounts of friendships and personal growth. And oh, the animals! Recommended on so many levels.
November 8, 2021
A very well written compelling story about a personal journey.
Beside the story of how to save South Africa’s Black rhino's from poachers it shows so much bravery to the personal struggles of the undiagnosed struggle of Asperger's and ADHD.
What an incredible brave book and writer; we have the black rhino's near to our hart as well and we connect to the emotional "helplessness" regarding poaching and cruelty to animals. At the moment we have a company doing the "baboon monitoring" but they don't have any compassion at all, they only chase them out off the urban area's with paintballs and bear bangers.
Anyway, great reading!
Beside the story of how to save South Africa’s Black rhino's from poachers it shows so much bravery to the personal struggles of the undiagnosed struggle of Asperger's and ADHD.
What an incredible brave book and writer; we have the black rhino's near to our hart as well and we connect to the emotional "helplessness" regarding poaching and cruelty to animals. At the moment we have a company doing the "baboon monitoring" but they don't have any compassion at all, they only chase them out off the urban area's with paintballs and bear bangers.
Anyway, great reading!
September 4, 2020
Everything I wanted... and Elmore
At last, a book that shows what it's really like to be there every day on a reserve, protecting and spending do much time with the wonderful rhinos. This book delivered on that expectation. The story was a coherent arc, not just a collection of anecdotes, and full of memorable characters and incidents. I was not expecting this memoir to include a personal catastrophic breakdown, but I understand how the two narratives are inextricably linked, and I very much appreciate the final observations which could apply to anyone reading this book.
At last, a book that shows what it's really like to be there every day on a reserve, protecting and spending do much time with the wonderful rhinos. This book delivered on that expectation. The story was a coherent arc, not just a collection of anecdotes, and full of memorable characters and incidents. I was not expecting this memoir to include a personal catastrophic breakdown, but I understand how the two narratives are inextricably linked, and I very much appreciate the final observations which could apply to anyone reading this book.
September 8, 2021
Interesting
While I found most of this book engaging and informative, I found the last bit to be depressing. The later chapters were almost like another book if not for some references to the early chapters.
While I found most of this book engaging and informative, I found the last bit to be depressing. The later chapters were almost like another book if not for some references to the early chapters.
August 21, 2023
Awesome read. It was interesting to read about the different wildlife survey techniques used to monitor the rhino like radio telemetry, gps, and even drone for a bit. Was also interesting though unfortunate to read about the APU and despite being a relatively well funded and well known reserve, poachers persisted anyway. The effort put into those anti-poaching operations seemed insane, much respect and appreciation to Nick and the rest of the crew for all they did and are still doing.
The end of the book was tough, man. I'm sure it was immeasurably painful to have to relive those experiences and put it into paper. I feel like everyone struggles with depression to different degrees amongst other problems at some point in their lives, but most keep it in. I'm one of them. Hats off to Nick for being strong enough to tell his story and hopefully inspire others like myself.
The end of the book was tough, man. I'm sure it was immeasurably painful to have to relive those experiences and put it into paper. I feel like everyone struggles with depression to different degrees amongst other problems at some point in their lives, but most keep it in. I'm one of them. Hats off to Nick for being strong enough to tell his story and hopefully inspire others like myself.
Want to read
December 7, 2025Over de mensen die vechten voor het voortbestaan van de neushoorn in Zuid Afrika.
January 12, 2022
Good information and lessons
When you have a disorder don't let them slap a label on you and go on. Keep living and learning until you understand. That is what I take away from this book.
When you have a disorder don't let them slap a label on you and go on. Keep living and learning until you understand. That is what I take away from this book.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews