Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary is a private and nonprofit animal sanctuary established in 2005 to re-introduce the Southern White Rhinoceros in Uganda. Its located in Mukerenga Village, Nakasongola district about 164km by road north of Kampala 3 hour drive off of Kampala-Gulu Highway.
Rhinoceros comes from a Greek word rhino to mean nose and ceros to mean Horn. Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary started with 6 Rhinos but it has currently grown to abit larger number. It’s also the only place in Uganda that where you can get a chance to truck Rhinos on foot.
Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary works with Uganda Wildlife Authority and offers a secure place where rhino population can be expanded by breeding, protected from human and non-human predators. This sanctuary is protected by an electric wall fence and no poaching has ever been recorded ever since the re-introduction.
Rhino tracking is the major activity carried out at the sanctuary where visitors will trail rhinos on foot. During tracking you can get close to them to learn more about their lifestyles, behaviors, watch them feed and take photos. A one day trip is enough to track Rhinos and observe plenty of wildlife.
The following are the rhino tracking permits costs in Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary;
- $50 per person for non-resident adults
- $25 per person for non-resident children
- $40 per person for East African Residents
- $20 per person for East African Children
- 30,000/= per person for Ugandan citizen
- 10,000/= per person for Ugandan children
Apart from Rhinos, it’s also a home to a number of bird species, reptiles, mammal species like antelopes, crocodiles, Hippos, Monkeys, birding and nature guided walks. There are also other activities done at the Sanctuary such as;
- BIRDING,
It’s a home to over 350 bird species through a guided nature walk or on a boat by a bird guides. Bird watching can be done in the morning or in the evening and takes about 2-3 hours in order to spot various bird species such as Blue spotted dove, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Booted eagle, African black crake, broad-billed roller, African Blue Flycatcher, brown backed scrub Robin, African Broadbill, Red headed weaver, Brown Parrot, Ruppell’s long-tailed Starling, Woodland Kingfisher, Fork-tailed Kingfisher, Butler Eagle, Martial Eagle, Gabar Goshawk, Levaillants Cuckoo, Purple-banded Sunbird, Black-Headed Gonolek, African Thrush, Double-toothed Barbet, African Grey Hornbill, Common Bulbul, Green-winged Pytilia.
And if you’re a birder and planning for bird watching, Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary cannot be ignored
GAME VIEWING,
The guide will drive you on a track and walk trails through the woodlands, Savannah, swamps among others in order to get the best wildlife experience like Bushbucks, Duiker, Oribi, Uganda Kob, waterbucks are in plenty.
Shoebill at Lugogo wetland
This swamp is located inside Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary. The guide driver will get a wooden Canoe and head into the swamp. Since shoebill trip starts at 6:00am-10:00am, visitors are advised to have an overnight at a nearby accommodations.
Lugogo wetland can be visited all year round but the best time is during rainy season since there are higher chances to spot various bird species.
What to pack and where to stay during safari at Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Light clothes, camera to record photos while on safari, flashlight in case of night walk, water proof rain jackets in case of rain, Hat and Sunglasses especially during dry season, hiking shoes that are comfortable during rhino tracking, nature walk and other various activities.
There are various accommodations near Zziwa Rhino Sanctaury ranging from Budget, Mid-range and Luxury Accommodations such as Zziwa Rhino Lodge, Amuka Lodge, Kolping Hotel, Motel Tuku, New Court view Hotel, Sugarcane Lodge and Campsite.
Amuka Lodge is found in heart of Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary which offers good quality accommodation, food, services, and unlimited free Wi-fi making visitors to relax and chill after different activities done.
As your planning for a safari to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary, you can think of combining it with a trail to Murchison Fallls National Park where you can spot the big 4 mammals and add Rhinos to make a complete big 5 safari.
