Tag: Ziwa

A Complete Guide to Visiting Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Table of Contents

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is one of Uganda’s star tourist attractions. Situated a couple of hours’ drive north of the capital city Kampala, it provides a unique and memorable wildlife experience to all visitors.   

I’ve been meaning to go to Ziwa for as long as I can remember, but because I live in the south-west of the country, it has always seemed a little bit out of the way. But when my parents came for a visit last month, we took a road trip and finally made it to Ziwa, and we weren’t disappointed.   

So, in this article, I’ve put together a guide to visiting Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Uganda to help you decide whether you should include it on your upcoming Uganda itinerary!   

Is Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary worth visiting?

Yes!! Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary surpassed my expectations in practically every way imaginable (other than the accommodation – more on this shortly).   

It’s the only place in Uganda (other than the Zoo) where you can view southern white rhinos in something like their natural habitat since the species was hunted to extinction in the 1980s.   

Ziwa was established in 1983 with the aim of initially protecting rhinos from extinction. In recent years and as the park has flourished, the park now has lofty ambitions of reintroducing some of the southern whites into some of Uganda’s national parks – perhaps Kidepo, Queen Elizabeth, or Murchison Falls.  

Ziwa is also relatively inexpensive for the wildlife opportunity that it provides, and it really is a memorable way of seeing these magnificent animals up close.  

What can you see at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary?

As the name of the park suggests, the star attraction at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the ever-growing (you guessed it) rhino population. There is only one species of rhino at Ziwa – the southern white – and at the start of 2023, there were 32 rhinos living in the park.   

Such is the danger that humans pose to rhinos that each group that lives within the park is assigned armed rangers who follow them 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In other words, rangers have eyes on each of the rhinos all day long, protecting them from poachers.   

Southern white rhinos are relatively indifferent towards humans and aren’t considered dangerous. Therefore, you can trek to within 10-20 meters of them without any issue, providing you with great photography opportunities.   

Don’t confuse southern white rhinos with their notoriously grouchy cousins – black rhinos! Black rhinos are extremely aggressive, and you would be in trouble if you got too close to them in the wild!   

In addition to rhinos, you will spot various other interesting species within the park, including warthogs, water bucks, and several other antelope species.   

Ziwa is also home to a swamp with the prehistoric shoebill, and you can arrange an early-morning birding trip to see this magnificent bird in its natural habitat.   

I asked our guide if there were any predators in Ziwa, and he told me that there were a handful of leopards in the park. Not sure what to make of that, as I’ve still never seen a leopard on safari in Uganda, but I don’t see why he would lie about it!   

My favourite thing about Ziwa is the fact that you track the rhinos on foot – you don’t have to sit in your safari vehicle all day. After parking up at the visitor’s centre, you arrange a guided tour with an armed ranger and head out into the bush to find the closest group of rhinos!   

It’s a truly wonderful way to experience the African bush, and you’re guaranteed to see rhinos on your walk, which isn’t the case with all wildlife experiences in East Africa.  

How much does it cost to visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary?

Another great thing about Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is that it’s relatively inexpensive. At the time of writing, it’s only $30 to enter the park and a further $20 to track the rhinos. If you’re an East African resident, you receive a discount on these fees.   

When you consider the fact that gorilla tracking in Uganda is $750, seeing the rhinos at Ziwa is extremely good value, and it’s a great way to contribute to their conservation without breaking the bank.   

You can check the latest rates at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary here.  

What about food and accommodation at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary?

If you want to stay at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, there is some basic accommodation on site close to the visitor’s centre.   

At present, it costs $80 per room per night, and in my opinion, it’s a little outdated and basic and isn’t necessarily great value for money.   

But in fairness, it’s not hugely expensive given the cost of staying in and around other national parks in Uganda. Again, to use Bwindi (home of the gorillas) as an example, it’s not uncommon to pay $1,000 per night at some places, unless you use my guide to cheap accommodation options in and around Bwindi to help you!   

Although I found the accommodation at Ziwa a tad disappointing, the restaurant more than makes up for it. The on-site bar and restaurant serves lovely meals at a good price (typically $10 or less), as well as cold beers, wines, spirits, and various soft drinks.   

The morning breakfast is also generous and tasty, and the coffee was a huge bonus after getting up early to spot more rhinos before heading on the road.   

If you don’t want to eat in the park, you can head to the brilliant Kabalega Diner on Kampala-Gulu Road, which is just a few kilometres past the park entrance as you drive from Kampala. It has to be one of the best roadside restaurants in Uganda.   

Helpful information about Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to help prepare your trip

Now that I’ve covered the basics, I want to run through some helpful information about Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary that will help you plan your trip:   

  • The best time to track the rhinos is between 8.00 am and 10.00 am or between 4.00 pm and 6.00 pm. This is due to the heat of the day, and rhinos are often inactive from 10-4. It would also be extremely hot for you to head out into the bush at this time!   
  • You should plan for between one and two hours for your visit to Ziwa. The park isn’t particularly big (7,000 hectares), and if the rhinos are far away from the visitor’s centre, you can drive to a different location in the park before beginning your trek from there.  
  • Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is not a zoo or a form of captivity. It is the only place in Uganda where you can see rhinos in something similar to their wild habitat, and is a unique and rewarding wildlife experience.   
  • In addition to a rhino trek, Ziwa is one of the best places in Uganda to see the prehistoric shoebill, one of the birds that tourists are most eager to spot. The shoebill tour takes place early in the morning, so you’re better off staying over if you want to arrange it.   
  • Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is located just off the Kampala-Gulu Road, approximately 165 km from Kampala. Depending on traffic, you can make the drive in 2-3 hours from the capital city.   
  • Many tourists use Ziwa as a stopover on their way from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park, and it’s a great way to include both parks on your itinerary if you’re a little short of time.   

The verdict: Is Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary worth it?

In my humble opinion, Ziwa is one of the best wildlife parks in the whole of Uganda. Given the reprehensible treatment we (humankind) have dished out to rhinos over the years, Ziwa is a refreshing attempt by UWA to reintroduce southern whites to some of Uganda’s national parks.   

For day visitors, it’s relatively inexpensive and easily accessible from Kampala in the south and Murchison Falls in the North.   

So, if you’re keen to see rhinos on your upcoming safari in Uganda, you will need to pencil a trip to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary onto your itinerary, as it’s the only place in the country where these wonderful creatures live in the relative wild.