The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only place in Uganda were tourists have the opportunity to trek rhinos. Ziwa rhino sanctuary sits on a 70 square kilometer piece of land and is enclosed with a 2-meter electric fence to protect the rhinos within the sanctuary from predators and poachers. There are approximately 78 park rangers and security guards in the sanctuary, and they keep 24-hour surveillance on the Rhinos.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is located in Nakasongola district, about 176 kilometers from Kampala City on the Gulu Highway towards Murchison Falls. The sanctuary is managed by a private, non-profit company called Ziwa Ranchers, in partnership with the Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rhino Fund Uganda.
The sanctuary’s vision is to “build a sustainable rhinoceros population and relocate rhinos back to their original habitat in Uganda’s protected arrears.”
Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife sanctuary was first established in 2005, with the aim of rein traducing the rhinoceros species back into Uganda, and increasing its population in the country.
Ziwa rhino sanctuary is conveniently located 176km from Kampala, along the Gulu-Kampala Highway. Visitors travelling to the sanctuary will have to branch off from Nakitoma trading center, which is about 7.3km away from the sanctuary. Travelers will have to embark on a 14-minute drive from the trading center to get to the rhino sanctuary at Ziwa.
Travelers can also access the rhino sanctuary at Ziwa after a game drive in Murchison Falls National Park. The sanctuary is located 125km from the national park, which is about a 2½ hour drive.
Uganda was once home to the black rhinoceros and the northern white rhinoceros, which were indigenous to the country. However, by 1982, the species was declared extinct due to a continuous series of poaching activities, along with prolonged civil wars, and encroachment on their natural habitat.
The rhino sanctuary as worked tirelessly since its establishment, to ensure that the rhino species is re-introduced back into Uganda and that the number of rhinoceros in the country increases.
Since January 2010, the Ziwa rhino sanctuary has been the only destination in Uganda where visitors are able to see rhinos in the wild. The sanctuary began its conservation journey, with only 6 rhinos; four of these were translocated from Solio Ranch in Kenya and two were transferred from Disney Animal Kingdom in Florida, in the United States of America. Today, there are 22 southern white rhinos living in the sanctuary.
Visitors can enjoy a rhino trekking experiential tour in Ziwa rhino sanctuary, where you can get to see the rhinos up close grazing and relaxing in the savannah grasslands of the sanctuary. Most tour operators such as Achieve Global Safaris, usually combine rhino trekking in Ziwa with a wildlife safari to Murchison Falls National Park, in the northern part of Uganda.
Rhino trekking experience in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, in Uganda, costs ….USD per person. Travelers visiting Ziwa Sanctuary can also take part in other activities in the sanctuary such as; bird watching, Shoebill trekking, canoe riding, and nature walks among others.
The sanctuary is also home to about 40 species of mammals and reptiles including; monkeys, crocodiles, hippos, antelopes and about 300 bird species.
Visitors can trek rhinos in the sanctuary for 1- 2½ hours depending on the location of the rhinos. In order to enjoy the best of your rhino trekking experience in Ziwa, visitors will need to wear a good pair of closed shoes (preferably hiking boots), long pants and an insect-repellent cream to keep the creepy bugs and flies off you. Also, don’t forget to carry a bottle of mineral water to keep hydrated throughout your trip.
The best time for visitors to enjoy rhino trekking in Ziwa rhino sanctuary is between 8- 10 am in the morning and 4-6 pm in the evening. However, the activity is available all day for tourists who wish to trek rhinos in the sanctuary.
The rhino sanctuary offers visitors quiet and decent accommodations ranging from budget, mid-range and camping options. The sanctuary offers visitors luxury accommodation in Amuka Lodge. The lodge was built in the pristine savannah woodlands, in the heart of the sanctuary. The lodge offers its guests luxury services such as free WIFI, a swimming pool, an exquisite dining area and cuisines among others. The sanctuary also has bandas and camping grounds for visitors who prefer budget or mid-range lodging options.
Ziwa rhino sanctuary is the only haven in Uganda for the Rhinoceros species, and visitors who wish to have the full safari experience of the Big Five in Uganda should combine a visit to the sanctuary with a wildlife tour to Murchison Falls National Park.
Do contact us to book a visit to Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Sanctuary and get to see these critically endangered species up close in the wild.
