Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is located a short way from Murchison falls national park near Para. This Rhino Sanctuary is more like the foundation of the restoration of the Rhino population in Uganda. By the end of 1982, rhinos were pretty much extinct in Uganda. They had been endlessly poached and killed. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is not a zoo; it is a sanctuary where the Rhinos can move around in safety. They are protected 24 hours a day from poachers by an electrical fence and security personnel The large sanctuary is a fore runner in the campaign to restore the rhino population in Uganda. There are now about 12 rhinos in the sanctuary. Hopefully rhinos will soon be reintroduced in the nearby game parks.
How close can you get to the Rhinos in the sanctuary?
Visitors to the sanctuary are allowed to track the rhinos and see them up close. You can approach the Rhinos on foot. The animals are not that dangerous if you follow instructions. The White Rhinos (the ones at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary) are gentle giants – approaching them on foot poses no danger to you. You will have the guidance and company of a sanctuary ranger who is knowledgeable about the behavior of the rhinos. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary gives you a rare opportunity to see the Rhinos not from a vehicle but from up close and on foot, you have some great and unusual photo opportunities here as you encounter the White Rhinos of Ziwa.
How do you get to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary?
Ziwa rhino sanctuary is only a three hour drive from Kampala. Almost a halfway stop on the way to Murchison Falls national park. The Sanctuary can be added to your Uganda safari itinerary as part of a safari to Murchison Falls national park, or perhaps a chimpanzee trekking safari in Budongo forest.
Is there accommodation and other overnight stay facilities?
There is decent accommodation such as the recently added Amuka lodge with swimming pool and excellent meals, there are affordable restaurants, sand some self contained luxury tents.
What else can you do on a visit to the sanctuary apart from tracking rhinos?
There are a few other activities you can enjoy on a visit to ziwa rhino sanctuary. These include:
Birding: The sanctuary has population of about 350 bird species and offers good birding opportunities for those interested in bird watching. You can do a half or full day birding hike, and explore the sanctuary. Some of the birds you can see in the sanctuary include some rare bird species such as: the pre-historic looking Shoebill Stork, the White Crested Turaco, the Giant Kingfisher, and the speckled breasted Woodpecker and many more. You can also take a nature walk. It is possible to spend the day hiking in the wilderness of the sanctuary. You might get to see animals such as the grey duiker, bushbuck, Oribi, waterbuck, reedbuck, vervet monkeys, black and white Colobus, hartebeest, mongoose, ground squirrels and various reptiles such as large monitor lizards, butterflies and some very interesting insects. When making a Uganda safari itinerary with your safari company of choice be sure to add Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary on your list of places to visit before you continue on to Murchison falls national park, or to Budongo forest. Your visit will not only be fun and worthwhile for you, but you will also be contributing to a worthy cause, since all the fees support the rhino fund.
