Explore Ziwa rhino sanctuary is located in Nakasongola district and it is the location where white rhinos can be seen during tours in Uganda. When visiting Uganda, the Ziwa rhino sanctuary is the only destination where rhinos can be seen in their natural habitat. The sanctuary is also home to a variety of wildlife species and different bird species can also be seen at the destination.
Rhinos can be seen closely in their natural habitat during safaris around the Ziwa rhino sanctuary. Rhino tracking experiences are done at the destination and involve looking for the rhinos and the activity can be done at different times of day.
Before exploring the Ziwa rhino sanctuary, tourists are briefed about the rhino tracking experience and they are told about the rules and safety procedures to follow during the search for the white rhinos in the wilderness.
Ranger guides accompany tourists during the rhino tracking tour around the Ziwa rhino sanctuary. They lead the way through the habitat of the rhinos at the sanctuary and different trails are followed around the wilderness where the rhinos can be seen.
At the Ziwa rhino sanctuary, there are about 32 rhinos which are found at the destination that tourists can encounter in the wild. The types of rhinos which can be seen around the sanctuary are white rhinos which cannot be seen at any destination in Uganda.
During the rhino tracking experience at the Ziwa rhino sanctuary, tourists get to spend about 2 hours searching for the rhinos. While watching the rhinos, tourists get to spend time with the rhinos and watch them at a safe distance.
The rhinos at the Ziwa rhino sanctuary can be seen throughout the year with the best time for visiting the sanctuary being the dry season during the months of June, July, August, September and October as well as around December, January and February. Tourists can easily navigate the wilderness during the dry season.
Getting to the Ziwa rhino sanctuary can be done by driving for about 2 hours via the Kampala-Nakasongola route and it can be visited during tours to the northern part of Uganda and to destinations such as Murchison Falls National Park in north western Uganda.
Entrance fees for Ziwa rhino sanctuary
During tours around the Zziwa rhino sanctuary, tourists are charged entrance fees to visit the rhinos in their natural habitat.
Foreign nonresidents visiting the rhinos at the Ziwa rhino sanctuary are charged entrance fee of 50 USD per person which includes entrance fees and also rhino tracking fees. Children who are foreign nonresidents are charged a fee of 30 USD to visit the sanctuary.
A fee of 45 USD is charged for foreign residents visiting the Ziwa rhino sanctuary while East African citizens visiting the sanctuary are charged a fee of 40,000 Uganda shillings. Children are also charged different fees for touring the sanctuary.
Foreign resident children visiting the Ziwa rhino sanctuary are charged a fee of 25 USD while East African children are charged a fee of 10,000 Uganda shillings.
Other activities which are done around the Ziwa rhino sanctuary are also charged separate fees from entry fees. For the Shoebill trekking tour at the sanctuary, foreign nonresidents are charge d a fee of 25 USD while foreign residents are charged 20 USD and East African citizens pay a fee of 20,000 Uganda shillings to take part in the Shoebill tour.
A fee of 20 USD is charged for foreign nonresidents and foreign residents to take part in guided nature walks around the Ziwa rhino sanctuary while East African citizens are charged a fee of 20,000 Uganda shillings to engage in the activity.
The cost for birding around the Zziwa rhino sanctuary is 20 USD which is charged to foreign nonresidents and foreign residents and East African citizens are charged a fee of 20,000 Uganda shillings to search for the birds around the sanctuary.
Activities to do around the Zziwa rhino sanctuary
Different activities can be done during tours around the Ziwa rhino sanctuary and they include the following;
- Rhino tracking experiences
One of the activities which are most done when visiting the Ziwa rhino sanctuary is rhino tracking which takes place from 07:00 am to 05:00 pm at the destination.
During rhino tracking experiences at Ziwa rhino sanctuary, tourists with ranger guides look out for the rhinos in the wild and get to spend time with them. Before going to see the rhinos, a briefing is done by the rangers.
What to bring for the rhino tracking experience at the sanctuary include insect repellant, sunscreen, cameras, good hiking shoes, mineral water among others.
- Shoebill tour
Another activity which is done around the Ziwa rhino sanctuary is the Shoebill tour which is done early in the morning.
The Shoebill Stork as well as other bird species can be seen around the swamps around the Ziwa rhino sanctuary. Tourists take a canoe ride and are accompanied by a guide to search for the Shoebill and can also see many other birds.
When visiting Uganda, the Shoebill Stork can be seen in few other destinations such as the Mabamba swamps.
- Guided nature walks
Tourists also engage in guided nature walks when visiting the Ziwa rhino sanctuary as they explore the wilderness.
During the nature walks, tourists get closer to the nature at the sanctuary and can also encounter different wildlife and bird species at the destination. Nature walks can be done in the morning and also at night during the tours at the sanctuary.
For about 2 hours, tourists can enjoy exploring the wilderness with the ranger guides during tours at the Ziwa rhino sanctuary.
- Canoe rides
At the Zziwa rhino sanctuary, tourists can also engage in canoe rides and enjoy bird watching and the canoe tour is also done during the search for the Shoebill at the destination.
- Bird watching
The Zziwa rhino sanctuary is home to over 300 bird species which can be seen around the destination alongside the rhinos.
Some of the birds of Ziwa rhino sanctuary include the Shoebill Stork, African fish eagle, African Grey Hornbill, Pied Kingfisher, Pygmy Kingfisher, Red Billed Oxpeckers, Grey crowned crane among others.
