Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary lies at Nakitoma in Nakasongola District, on the Kampala to Gulu highway. It is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority on land owned by Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranches, and covers about 70 km2 of bush and swamp.

Why go

Rhinos disappeared from Uganda in the early 1980s after years of war and poaching. Ziwa is where they came back. A small group of southern white rhinos was brought here, and the herd has grown so well that in 2026 UWA began moving rhinos to other protected areas: the first group went to Ajai Wildlife Reserve in January and the next to Kidepo Valley National Park in March, the first rhinos in either place for more than 40 years. Ziwa keeps its own breeding herd and remains the place in Uganda where you can track rhinos on foot today.

What you can do

• Rhino tracking on foot with an experienced ranger, usually 1 to 3 hours, following tracks through the bush until you stand at a safe distance from the rhinos as they graze or rest.
• Birding and nature walks.
• An early-morning canoe trip into the Lugogo swamp to look for the shoebill.
• An overnight stay, which gives you the cooler morning and late-afternoon hours for tracking.

The people side

The canoe trips into the Lugogo swamp use community canoes and local paddlers. When the canoe trip is part of your trip, what you pay goes to the families living beside the sanctuary. On the way north you also pass through the Luwero area, where your guide can share some of the region’s recent history.

Best time to visit

Ziwa is open all year. The drier months, December to February and June to September, make walking easier. Mornings and late afternoons are the best tracking times.

Getting there

Ziwa is about 176 km from Kampala on good tarmac, 3 to 4 hours by road, and about 1 hour more from Entebbe. It is a natural stop on the way to Murchison Falls.

Good to know

Ranger rules are strict and safety comes first: you keep your distance, stay together and follow the ranger’s signals. Tracking is Level 2, Easy, on flat ground, but it can be hot, so bring water and a hat. UWA’s tariff sets no minimum age for rhino tracking; children walk with an adult, and the ranger has the final say. Because rhinos are being moved to other parks during 2026 and 2027, numbers at Ziwa are changing, and we give no count. Your fees help pay the rangers who guard the rhinos day and night. UWA’s current prices are valid to 31 December 2026; new UWA prices start on 1 January 2027.