The naming is tied to two primary historical factors.

Wildlife: When early European explorers and trekboers first pushed into this region of the Sneeuberg massif during the 18th century, black rhinos were heavily distributed across the Great Escarpment. The animals frequently grazed along the slopes and sought refuge in the mountain’s thickets.

Vegetation: The foothills are dominated by a tough, greyish-green endemic shrub known as renosterbos (rhinoceros bush). Early botanists noted that this vegetation type (Renosterveld) was heavily utilized as a primary habitat and food source for the local rhino population, further cementing the animal’s name onto the local geography.