The Rhino Trekking Experience
Enchantment of rhino tracking
In the center of Africa lies a hidden gem that offers an unforgettable adventure for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers alike: Uganda. This captivating country, renowned for its diverse and abundant biodiversity, offers a rare opportunity to monitor one of the world’s most endangered species: the mighty rhinoceros. Uganda is the ideal location for an awe-inspiring Rhino tracking adventure due to its expansive landscapes, lush vegetation, and remarkable wildlife conservation efforts. Join us as we travel to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where the enchantment of rhino tracking comes to life.
The Ziwa Rhino sanctuary is located in the Nakasongola district of central Uganda, approximately 164 kilometers via the Gulu highway from the capital city of Kampala. This is the only location in Uganda where tourists can see rhinos in the open, and it is known to be home to 32 of them.
It was founded in 2005 with the goal of establishing a sustainable rhinoceros population and relocating rhinos to their natural habitats in Uganda, which has well-protected areas. The goal of the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was to increase the quantity of rhinos in the country. Ziwa Ranchers, a private, non-profit organization that works in partnership with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, manages the Ziwa rhino sanctuary and the Uganda Rhino Fund.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is situated on a 70-square-kilometer piece of land and is surrounded by a 2-meter electric fence to reduce the ongoing series of poaching activities and protect the sanctuary from predators. This was a result of the 1982 civil wars and rhino encroachment. This sanctuary is home to 300 species of birds and 40 species of mammals and reptiles, including hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, and primates. There are approximately 78 park rangers and security guards who maintain a 24-hour watch on the rhinos in the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Ziwa Rhino Trekking Experience
Tourists participating in Rhino trekking will relate how there is no other location to view Rhinos in Uganda. The sanctuary’s conservation efforts began with only six rhinoceros, four of which were relocated from Solio Ranch in Kenya and two from Disney Animal Kingdom in Florida, United States of America. In addition, there are presently 22 White Rhinos in the country, where visitors can enjoy Rhino trekking safaris and observe the Rhinos grazing in the Savannah grasslands of the sanctuary.
In Uganda, the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary trekking experience costs $50 per person for non-residents and $40 per person for East African residents. Most tour operators combine Rhino trekking in Ziwa with a wildlife safari to Murchison Falls National Park in northern Uganda.
Combining rhino tracking with other activities in the sanctuary, such as Shoebill trekking, Canoe riding, Bird viewing, Hiking, and nature walks, is also possible for tourists. A pair of hiking boots, insect repellent for those who are allergic to bugs and mosquitoes, long pants, sunblock, packed food or snacks in case one becomes hungry, and a bottle of mineral water in order to remain hydrated throughout the trip are recommended for trekkers who wish to enjoy the Rhino trekking experience comfortably.
Depending on the location of the rhinos, this rhino tracking in the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary will last one and a half hours.
Our Uganda featured Rhino trekking safaris
The best Time for Rhino Trekking
The ideal times for tourists to go Rhino Trekking in Rhino Sanctuary are between 8:00 am and 10:00 am and 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm. However, travelers can engage in this activity whenever they choose to trek rhinos in the Sanctuary. Rhino trekking is also ideal during the two dry seasons, from June to August and then from December to February, although visitors can go rhino trekking during any month of the year.
How to reach the Uganda Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is an easy two-and-a-half-hour journey from Murchison Falls, which is located 125 kilometers away from the sanctuary.
The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is 176 kilometers away from the metropolis of Kampala via the Gulu- Kampala Highway. To reach the Sanctuary, tourists will depart from the Nakitoma commercial center, which is approximately 7.4 kilometers distant. Therefore, travelers must proceed and drive for 14 minutes from the Nakitoma commercial centre.
In addition, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only place in the country where visitors are permitted to trek rhinos. Combining a visit to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary with a wildlife tour of Murchison Falls National Park will provide tourists with a comprehensive safari experience of Uganda’s “big five” species.
You are welcome to contact our tour operators to arrange a trip to the Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Sanctuary, where you will have the opportunity to observe these critically endangered animals in their natural habitat.