Prince Harry is pictured for the first time since he secretly flew to Africa

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The 30-year-old is travelling around the continent on conservation projects
He dropped into the Khulula Care for Wild to meet orphaned baby rhinos
The usually clean-shaven Prince sported a ginger beard and baseball cap
He was accompanied by Hugh Grosvenor, 25, godfather to Prince George

By Jane Flanagan and Steph Cockroft for MailOnline

Published: 13:30 EST, 12 August 2015 | Updated: 16:00 EST, 12 August 2015

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Prince Harry appears to be have picked up the ultimate travel accessory on his African travels - a fetching ginger beard.

The 30-year-old showed off his newly-grown stubble in the first public picture since he secretly flew to the continent to fight rhino poaching gangs.

The usually clean-shave prince posed alongside three female volunteers after unexpectedly visiting the Khulula Care for Wild in South Africa to meet some of the centre's orphaned rhinos.

A bearded Prince Harry posed up alongside three young female volunteers as visited the African Conservation Experience's Khulula Care for Wild in South Africa

He decided to visit the operation after hearing about the work of its manager, Petronel Niewoudt (second from right, with plaits), one of the world’s leading experts in infant rhino care

According to staff at the centre, Harry spent more than two hours with the animals and volunteers, helping bottle feed some of the young

He decided to visit the operation after hearing about the work of its manager, Petronel Niewoudt, one of the world’s leading experts in infant rhino care.

Speaking to MailOnline, Ms Niewoudt confirmed the Prince’s visit, as she cradled a young, traumatised rhino who had just been brought in with only a ’50/50’ chance of surviving.

According to staff at the centre, Harry spent more than two hours with the animals and volunteers, helping bottle feed some of the young.

He also took one of the rhinos, called Warren, on a walk around the premises before taking care of a tiny hippo called Molly. Warren was only three days old when his mother was killed.

As well as two bodyguards, Prince Harry was accompanied on his trip by 25-year-old Hugh Grosvenor, son of the Duke of Westminster, who is godfather to Prince George.

Martin Bornman, project manager, said the prince had been 'extremely gentle and capable'.

He said: 'He's keen to carry out as much "hands on" work as he could.

'He has been affected by the scale of rhino poaching in South Africa and was eager to help. He spent a long time chatting to our volunteers about their work with the animals - they often have to stay up all night to comfort and feed distressed and injured animals who have lost their mothers in the most brutal attacks.'

The charity - the largest centre dedicated to caring for orphaned rhinos in South Africa - posted on their website today: 'The team at Khulula Care for Wild were in for a huge surprise when HRH Prince Harry joined them last Friday!

'Prince Harry spent several hours talking to the team and the volunteers at Khulula, taking a walk around the premises - accompanied by baby rhino Warren! - and experiencing a feeding round.'

He was joined by 25-year-old Hugh Grosvenor, son of the Duke of Westminster, who is godfather to Prince George (pictured fourth from right)

The charity - the largest centre dedicated to caring for orphaned rhinos in South Africa - posted on their website today about the royal visit

Prince Harry dances with children on a charity visit to Africa

The centre is at a secret, remote location an hour outside of Kruger National Park where Harry is working as a part of an elite anti-poaching unit.

The Prince previously grew a beard while trekking to the South Pole with wounded servicemen and women in December 2013 for charity Walking with the Wounded.

He had shaved it off by time he gave a press conference on the expedition in January 2014.

Last week, the Prince was secretly flown into a military camp in the game reserve of Kruger Park, where he has been going on night patrols with an army unit as part of the government's anti-poaching campaign, called Operation Corona.

He has been affected by the scale of rhino poaching in South Africa and was eager to help

Martin Bornman, project manager

The South African force consists of several hundred infantry, 400 armed rangers and 150 others, including special forces and police – and they have already killed more than 300 poachers.

Last Wednesday, after the Prince had joined the unit, forces confronted three poachers along the Crocodile River. In a shootout, one poacher was injured and the rangers recovered a high-powered rifle and silencer.

Speaking exclusively to The Mail on Sunday, Maj Gen Jooste, 62, welcomed the arrival of the Prince, who saw active service as a helicopter pilot in Afghanistan.

He said: 'Harry will be with me for quite some time. We'll try to keep him safe.'

Rhino deaths in Kruger have more than doubled over the past few years due to the lucrative market for their horns. They can fetch up to £20,000 a pound in the Far East, where they are falsely believed to have medicinal properties.

Conservation experts say 558 rhinos have been killed in Kruger so far this year, with an estimated 900 incursions by poachers.

Criminal syndicates funded by Chinese mafia gangs use poor, unemployed locals around Kruger Park to hunt the animals.

Harry has already spent six weeks in Namibia where the government is carrying out a dehorning programme to deter poachers.

A Kensington Palace spokesman declined to comment but the palace has previously said: 'Prince Harry will spend time working with experts at the sharp end of wildlife protection. He will join a team of rangers who are the first to respond to reports of poaching attacks on elephant and rhino.

'Wherever possible, Prince Harry will be fully embedded with the conservationists and frontline staff he will be working alongside, including living in the same accommodation.'