Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is a protected area in Nakasongola district in Uganda ,the sanctuary was established in 1997 as part of Uganda’s broader conservation efforts to reintroduce Rhinos into the wild, as they have been locally extinct in the country since the early 1980s due to poaching and habitat loss. The sanctuary covers about 70000 acres of savannah and forested land providing a natural habitat for the Rhinos, the sanctuary is along the Kampala – Gulu Highway just before reaching Murchison Falls National Park and currently has 22 white Rhinos.

Ziwa Rhino sanctuary being the only place in Uganda where rhinos can be found and see, Visitors to the sanctuary have the opportunity to go on guided game drives and walk safaris to observe these magnificent animals up close, which is a unique experience compared to traditional game drives. Ziwa Rhino sanctuary is not only a home to rhinos but also species like giraffes, Zebras, and several Bird species.

The Ziwa Rhino sanctuary is one of the most important wildlife conservation projects in Uganda. It is one of the best safari destinations in Uganda. The Sanctuary is the only place in Uganda where visitors can track the endangered White Rhinos by foot and at a close range. With Ziwa Rhino sanctuary Uganda is ranked the best destination in Africa for the Big 5 including lions, leopards, rhinoceros elephants, and buffaloes can be spotted among the few countries with the Big 5.

Visiting Ziwa Rhino sanctuary is a must do thing for visitors seeking great insights into Uganda’s wildlife offering the best experience to everyone who is on a Safari in Uganda. Apart from tracking the Rhinos, there are several other activities that make the sanctuary attractive to tourists and worth visiting on your tour. Here are a few Uganda Safari activities in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

Rhino tracking: Rhino tracking is the main activity in the sanctuary and is a good warm up before continuing to the Murchison Falls national park for even greater activities. The activity involves a 1 – 2 hour guided walk or drive within the sanctuary. Once you reach near the Rhinos with a car, the guides will take you on foot 7 meters close to the Rhinos. You will enjoy watching these endangered animals continuously feeding on fresh vegetation without bothering about your presence.

Nature Walks: Walking through the Sanctuary will reward visitors with beautiful scenery of green tropical vegetation and bushes. The great biodiversity in the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary is a great taste of the things to come during your Uganda wildlife Safari. The Rhinos are the main attractions but the sanctuary has a sizeable number of butterflies, reptiles, primates and mammals. The other mammals roaming the sanctuary are the Bush Duiker, Waterbuck, Ground Squirrels, Oribi, Hartbeest, Mongoose, Grey Duiker, Reedbuck and Bush Bucks. Among the small primates found in the sanctuary are the common Vervet Monkey and the black and white colobus monkeys. During your nature walk, look out for the large lizards, pythons, insects and numerous species of butterflies.

Birding: Another prominent activity open to tourist while at the sanctuary is bird watching. This activity can take the whole day and involves guided walks, driving and a boat cruise through the four birding trails. As you move through the swamps, woodlands and the savanna plains you will be able to spot 350 species of bird. Most of them come from the nearby Murchison Falls National Park while others are residents. The top species to look out for is the rare but highly sought out shoebill stork. You can also spot the African Black Crake, African Black Headed Oriole, African Citril, African Crowned Eagle, African Darter, African Fish Eagle, African Golden Breasted Bunting, Blue Spotted dove, Booted Eagle, Broad Billed Roller, Bronze Manikini, Brown Backed Srub Robin, Brown Crowned Tchagra, Brown Parrot, Brown Throated Wattle Eye, Cardinal Woodpecker, Giant Abdim’s Stork, Speckled Breasted Woodpecker, White Crested Turaco and many others.

Night walks: Enjoying your time at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary does not need to end during the day – It can go on well through the night. A guided night walk will allow you discover new sounds under beautiful moonlight in the Africa wilderness. As you move through the night with knowledgeable guides, prepare to encounter some of the sanctuary’s nocturnal resident animals, bats and birds.