Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Uganda
Track southern white rhinos on foot with a ranger, explore woodland and wetlands, or stay overnight for shoebill birding and a guided night walk.
Plan My TripA rhino-tracking stop on the road to Murchison Falls
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary lies near Nakitoma in Nakasongola District, north of Kampala. Its position beside the Kampala to Gulu road makes it a natural stop when travelling to Murchison Falls National Park .
The sanctuary covers about 70 square kilometres of grassland, woodland and wetland. Here, you leave the safari vehicle and follow a ranger into the southern white rhinos' feeding areas. The ranger controls the approach and viewing distance.
A transit visit gives you time for rhino tracking and lunch. An overnight stay adds early wetland birding, a shoebill canoe excursion or a night walk. Ziwa can be a fuller wildlife experience within your Uganda safari .
Rhino tracking at Ziwa
Begin at reception with registration and a safety briefing. Your ranger explains how to move as a group, where to stand and how to respond if the animals change direction.
The rhinos move freely within the sanctuary. When they are farther from reception, drive with the ranger to a suitable starting point before continuing on foot. A sanctuary vehicle can be arranged in advance when needed.
The walking distance changes with the rhinos' location. Follow your ranger through grassland or woodland, then watch the animals grazing or resting. Their broad mouths and steady feeding behaviour are easier to appreciate from ground level.
Allow enough activity time
Reserve around 1.5 to 2.5 hours for the complete experience. The vehicle search, walking distance and time spent observing vary with the animals' position and conditions.
Confirm your tracking session
Rhino tracking is listed between 7 am and 5 pm. Agree your arrival and session with the sanctuary, leaving time for registration and the full activity.
Ziwa's role in rhino conservation
Ziwa's breeding programme began with 6 southern white rhinos introduced in 2005 and 2006. The founder group included 4 animals from Kenya and 2 from the United States. Protection and breeding established a population that could support wider restoration efforts.
Uganda received another 8 rhinos from South Africa in December 2025. By March 2026, the national population had reached 61. This was a countrywide figure, with restoration extending beyond Ziwa to other protected areas, including Ajai and Kidepo.
Ziwa remains an established visitor base for ranger-led tracking. It also adds the rhino experience to many Big Five safari routes that explore Uganda's savannah parks. Wildlife sightings across the wider journey depend on the destinations and time available.
Rhino tracking rules
Stay with your group
Follow the ranger's route. Never approach another animal independently or leave the group for a different camera angle.
Keep the instructed distance
Stand where directed and leave the animals' path open. Quiet feeding does not mean you can move closer.
Keep noise and movement low
Silence phones, speak quietly and avoid sudden gestures. Prepare your camera before the final approach.
Photograph without flash
Leave the flash off and use the position selected by the ranger. Never touch or feed the rhinos or other wildlife.
Dress for natural ground
Wear closed shoes and long trousers. The route can cross uneven grassland, wet patches or muddy ground.
Respect sanctuary restrictions
Take rubbish back with you and leave pets behind. Declare specialist equipment, including drones, before arrival and obtain any required authorisation in advance.
Shoebill birding, nature walks and night experiences
Ziwa's woodland, grassland and Lugogo wetland offer different experiences from the rhino track. Reserve the activities together so the timing works.
Shoebill trek and canoe ride
Depart around 6 am for the Lugogo Swamp excursion, allowing approximately 4 hours. The wetland approach and canoe ride search suitable feeding areas for shoebills and other waterbirds. Sightings are not guaranteed.
Birding and nature walks
Explore woodland, open grassland and wetland edges with a guide. Ziwa supports more than 300 bird species. A nature walk takes around 2 hours, with opportunities for antelopes, monkeys, warthogs and smaller wildlife.
Guided night walks
Overnight visitors can arrange a guided walk around 8 pm to 10 pm. Listen for nocturnal calls and look for movement beyond the daytime routes. Let the ranger manage the pace and torchlight.
| Visit format | Main activities | Planning allowance | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transit visit | Rhino tracking and a meal stop. | Full tracking time, registration and lunch, in addition to road travel. | Travellers continuing to Murchison Falls or returning south. |
| Extended daytime visit | Rhino tracking with a separate nature or birding walk. | Several hours at the sanctuary, with the activity order confirmed. | Visitors interested in more habitats and wildlife. |
| 1 night at Ziwa | Rhino tracking, an optional night walk and early shoebill excursion. | Arrival the previous afternoon and a flexible following morning. | Birders and travellers wanting a slower visit. |
Best time to visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Ziwa can be visited throughout the year. Weather affects the walking conditions, while the rhinos' movements determine the tracking route.
Drier walking conditions
These periods generally bring firmer ground and less frequent rain. Carry water and sun protection for exposed grassland sections.
Greener surroundings
Rain brings fresh vegetation and wetter tracking routes. Bring waterproof clothing and footwear suited to mud. Ask about gumboots if conditions require them.
Fit the track to your route
Morning walks offer cooler conditions and time to continue north. Afternoon sessions suit overnight visitors or travellers arriving from Murchison Falls.
How to get to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Drive north from Kampala through Luweero towards Nakasongola on the Kampala to Gulu highway. Nakitoma is about 176 km from Kampala. Turn off at the trading centre and continue roughly 7 km towards the sanctuary entrance.
Allow around 3 hours from Kampala when traffic moves well, with additional time from Entebbe. This is the road journey before registration and tracking, not the duration of the complete excursion.
From Murchison Falls, travel south towards Nakitoma. The journey depends on your lodge, park exit and stops along the way. Keep enough time for the complete rhino activity before continuing to Kampala or Entebbe.
Where to stay at Ziwa
Stay overnight for the early shoebill departure or a night walk. Confirm activity meeting points and transfers with your accommodation.
| Accommodation | Setting and facilities | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| Amuka Safari Lodge | Woodland chalets inside the sanctuary, with a restaurant and swimming pool. | Travellers wanting a separate lodge setting while remaining within Ziwa. |
| Ziwa Luxury Chalets | Ranch-operated chalet accommodation with private outdoor space and pool access. | Visitors prioritising comfort and access to sanctuary activities. |
| Ziwa Guest Rooms | Single, double, twin, family and dormitory options, subject to availability. | Solo travellers, couples and groups comparing different room arrangements. |
What to carry for Ziwa
Walking clothes
Long trousers, a breathable long-sleeved shirt and closed shoes with grip. Muted colours work well for wildlife walks.
Weather protection
A light waterproof jacket, secure hat, sunscreen and sunglasses. Carry insect repellent for grassland, woodland and wetland activities.
Viewing equipment
Binoculars, a camera with charged batteries and spare memory. Keep the flash off and use a dry cover for canoe outings.
Daily essentials
Drinking water, personal medication and a compact daypack. Keep identification accessible when needed to confirm your booking category.
Uganda safaris with rhino tracking at Ziwa
Each journey below visits Ziwa. Continue north for wildlife and the Nile, or combine the rhino encounter with chimpanzee tracking and mountain gorilla trekking on a longer Uganda route.
7 Days
7 Day Murchison Falls Safari
Stay overnight at Ziwa for rhinos, a night walk and shoebill birding, then explore Budongo and Murchison Falls.
View This Safari
9 Days
9 Day Uganda Safari with Gorillas, Chimps and Big Five
Track rhinos at Ziwa, explore Murchison and Queen Elizabeth, trek Kibale chimpanzees and meet Bwindi's gorillas.
View This Safari
15 Days
15 Day Uganda Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Wildlife Safari
Combine Ziwa rhinos with Uganda's wildlife parks, forest primates, lakes and cultural experiences.
View This SafariTrack rhinos on foot. Stay longer for the wetlands.
Share your travel dates, group size and safari route with BLS Safaris. We will arrange rhino tracking, transfers and accommodation, with shoebill birding or a night walk when your schedule allows.