Location
Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Nakitoma – Nakasongola district along the highway leading to Murchison Falls National Park. It is about 164 kilometers and about 2-3 hours drive North from the capital city of Uganda – Kampala.
Quick Facts
- Was established in 2005
- As of 2025, it is currently the only place in Uganda where you can find white rhinos in their natural habitat.
- Started with 6 rhinos, (2 from Orlando Zoo, Disney, USA and 4 from Kenya) and the first born calf was named Obama.
- Great place for bird watching and shoebill tracking.
Activities
- Rhino tracking
- Shoebill tracking
- Nature walks
- Bird watching
- Camp fire
- Community Engagement
- Swimming
Summary
Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Sanctuary is currently the only home to white rhinos in Uganda. The sanctuary was established in 2005 with 6 white rhinos as part of the rhino breeding program after the rhinos went extinct in 1983 and as of June 2025, the sanctuary now has 48 white rhinos.
Starter Pack
- Both light and heavy dull coloured attires
- Raincoat or Jacket
- Sun glasses
- Sun screen
- Torch
- Safari shoes
- A mosquito/bug repellent.
Best Time To Visit
Open to tourists all year round. January to March – is dry season, less tourists, but hot weather. April to June – rainy season, lots of new born wildlife, lush green, ideal for wildlife photography. July to August – are much cooler months and fairly drier, best time for this safari, lots of tourists. September to November – rains resume, wet conditions, less tourists. December – dry conditions, more tourists.
Full Description
Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of about 70 square kilometers where the rhinos are monitored day and night by rangers. The area is a flat landscape covered mostly by savannah vegetation with short trees and shrubs and provides habitation to hundreds of incredible bird species such as the white crested turaco, the ancient shoebill, levaillant’s cuckoo and the gray crowned crane among others. Other wildlife species in the sanctuary include, bushbucks, warthogs, zebras, giraffes, kobs, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys.
Visiting the sanctuary is a thrilling experience given that it is one of very places in the world where you can track wild rhinos on foot accompanied by a sanctuary ranger. It is the perfect place to start a safari as you head to Murchison Falls National Park to look for the rest of the big five i.e. lion, buffalo, elephant and leopard.
For time pressed travelers, a one day visit to the sanctuary is possible, however for the relaxed travelers, the sanctuary does have accommodation options to cater for the luxury travelers as well as the more budget travelers. Camping option is also available. The sanctuary also has a great restaurant that offers both local and continental dishes.
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