Uganda's rhino were shot out entirely by the early 1980s. Ziwa began in 2005 with six animals brought from Kenya and Florida, and the population has been breeding ever since. Tracking them on foot takes about an hour and is far more affecting than most people expect.
- Size
- 70 sq km, fenced and patrolled
- Species
- Southern white rhino
- Founded
- 2005, with six founder animals
- Activity
- Rhino tracking on foot, ~1–2 hrs
- From Entebbe
- 3–4 hrs, on the Murchison road
- Also
- Shoebill canoe trips, night walks
Tracking on foot
Rangers know roughly where each rhino group is; you drive to the nearest point and walk in. There is no vehicle between you and a two-tonne animal, which changes the experience entirely — you speak quietly, you stay behind the ranger, and you understand very quickly why they weigh what they weigh.
It costs a fraction of a gorilla permit and takes an hour or two, which makes it the easiest worthwhile addition to a Uganda itinerary.
The reintroduction
Every rhino at Ziwa is descended from the founder animals or born on site. The long-term intention is to return rhino to Uganda's national parks once numbers and security allow. Your fee funds the 24-hour armed ranger teams — each rhino group has one with it at all times, which is what poaching-resistant conservation actually costs.
Shoebill and the swamp
A guided canoe on the Lugogo swamp inside the sanctuary is one of Uganda's better shoebill opportunities. Early morning only, and worth building a night in for.
Practicalities
Ziwa sits on the main road between Kampala and Murchison Falls, roughly three to four hours from Entebbe. Most people stop for tracking on the way north and continue the same day; staying overnight at Amuka Safari Lodge or the sanctuary's own guesthouse buys you the shoebill canoe and a night walk.
Questions
Frequently asked
Can you see rhino in Uganda?
Only at Ziwa. There are no rhino in Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth or any other Ugandan national park at present.
Is walking with rhino safe?
With the sanctuary's rangers, yes. They track these animals daily, know their temperaments individually and keep the group at a sensible distance. Follow instructions and stay quiet.
Next
Keep planning
- Murchison Falls — two hours further north
- 10-day Uganda safari — starts at Ziwa
- Birding safaris — the shoebill canoe
- Responsible travel — where your fees actually go