Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Uganda

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary | Rhino Tracking

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was established in 2005 to further the longevity of the conservation of the white rhinos for Uganda tours after the last rhino was killed in Murchison Falls National Park by poachers in 1983. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is a private and non- profit conservation project for the endangered animals in Uganda.

It proudly harbours a unique animal species called the white rhinos, and it is the only place you can find them in Uganda after they were depleted from Murchison Falls National Park and Kidepo National Park during the massive war in the 1970s, and from rampant poaching in the 90s.

Brief history

The establishment of Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was made possible after the extinction of all white rhinos across Uganda following the wars in the 1970s in northern Uganda, which resulted in the extensive killing of wild animals in the national parks of Kidepo and Murchison Falls. Poachers and the hunting of the rhinos for ivory heightened the rate of depletion of the animal in Uganda.

The establishment of Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in 2005 paved the way for the reintroduction of the white rhinos into Uganda. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was a project initiated by the Rhino Fund Uganda, which also introduced the rhinos back in Uganda. The rhino sanctuary started with six (6) rhinos, and they increased to 19 animals in 2015.

Currently, there are twenty-two (22) rhinos ready to be tracked by the visitors who visit the rhino sanctuary. To note, the conservation project for the white rhinos at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is possible because Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and Ziwa ranchers work hand in hand with the Rhino Fund of Uganda to execute the plans.

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary also has other animals that you will enjoy seeing during your trek through the area. The sanctuary has about 40 mammal species, including antelopes, hippos, crocodiles, and monkeys, to name a few.

It also has several bird species enough to make it a birders’ place to be. It is so true that you can trek the whole place on foot with no worries about security during your trek. The rhino sanctuary has over 65 trained game rangers for security, and they will guide you during your activities.

What to do at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

You have just enough to do when you visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola; perhaps, it can be your excursion journey or en-route journey before the Murchison Falls National Park activity at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary; actually, the rhinos are the face of the sanctuary.

During rhino tracking in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, you get a chance to see the endangered rhinos on foot and watch them at a closer but safe distance of about 6meters. You can have a chance to take all the photos of the rhinos feeding on the grass and also learn a lot about their habits. Technically, when you add the rhino trek in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to the Murchison Falls National Park safari, you get the big five game safari in

• Birding is yet another activity that is so enjoyable to the birders who visit the sanctuary. Over 350 bird species find a home in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Birding can be your half or full day activity in the sanctuary, it can be done on a guided nature walk or a boat ride. During the birding, you can spot several interesting bird species like the blue-spotted dove, the shoebill stork (Uganda’s most sought-after bird), Abdim’s stork, and the African black crake, et cetera.
• You will also enjoy the nature walks in the sanctuary and hike through the area as you enjoy a lot of wildlife like the oribi, reed bucks, duikers, bush bucks, hartebeests, monkeys, insects like butterflies, and reptiles such as monitor lizards as they flaunt their colours under the sunrise.

To note, the shoebill stork trek is sometimes an independent activity that you can do for a day. It is sometimes combined with canoeing to make a day’s excursion package at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

 Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Location & How to Get There

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is located in Nakasongola District, adjacent to Nakitoma village in the north east of Kampala. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is not a very large area; it lies on a small piece of approximately 70 sq. km, north east of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. It is just a 3-hour drive from Kampala to the sanctuary over a distance of 176 km via the Gulu highway, which is actually halfway through the journey to Murchison Falls National Park.

Accommodation at Ziwa

You have nothing to worry about when you visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, for it has a restaurant where you can enjoy your meals. The sanctuary has an accommodation facility too; Amuka lodge has affordable rooms with the best standard services and a supplementary facility of a swimming pool full of tranquillity. Or else you can enjoy the night camping, and the skilled and armed guides are going to stay up all night for your safety.

The rhino sanctuary tour can give you “a big five” game drive with the rhinos summing up the five big game of Africa. Then, the endangered shoebill stork, you don’t want to miss seeing it before it goes extinct. You are welcome any time of the year to the rhino sanctuary, plus you can also volunteer for the conservation of the white rhinos in Uganda.