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Adventure on Ziwa rhino sanctuary tracking tours & walking safari

Ziwa rhino sanctuary; Southern White Rhinos

Located at 1.48563° N, 32.09537° E in Nakasongola district- Uganda, Ziwa rhino sanctuary on rhino tracking safari not only can you find rhinos, but also a wide variety of bird species and other wildlife. Ziwa wildlife ranch has become one of Africa’s popular destinations for tourists looking for adventure. Activities at the sanctuary include a walking tour tracking rhinos, birding tours, nature hikes, night-time nature walks and shoebill trek and canoe ride in the Lugogo swamp. Here you can experience the thrill of approaching rhinos on foot to within a few meters.

The rhino re-introduction project was started back in 2006 with six(6) southern white rhinos since then there has been successful births, bringing the number to 48 by mid 2025. Ziwa is the only place in Uganda where you can see white Rhinos in the wild.

Uganda gorilla trekking & wildlife safaris

3 DAYS Ziwa sanctuary- Murchison falls safari

3 days Ziwa sanctuary and Murchison falls national park safari is a short Africa's big 5 Uganda safari. Game drives in the Murchison falls national park mainly target Africa's big 4 (buffaloes, lions, leopards, elephants) on top Rhino tracking to complete Africa's big 5 sightings. During walking tours and game drives, you will also encounter numerous more wildlife species for example world's largest Rothchild's giraffe herds, warthogs, antelopes, water bucks, hippos, hyenas, olive baboons, vervet monkeys and numerous bird species in both parks. On the last day of the trip, you'll hike to the top of Murchison water falls (world's strongest water falls) before embarking on the departure via Kampala.

Zziwa rhino sanctuary | Rhino tracking safari

5 days Africa's big 5 & chimpanzees Uganda safari

For top superb primate trekking and wildlife Africa travel, the 5 days Africa's big and chimpanzee tracking Uganda safari is recommended. After a city tour and nightlife experience in Kampala on the first day, you'll track rhinos on feet for near encounters on the second day. Murchison falls national park then hosts for the rest of the trip for the rest of Africa's big 4 (lions, leopards, buffaloes & elephants) and also amazing chimpanzee trekking excursions in Budongo forest. Also still in Murchison falls N.P, you enjoy a Nile river boat cruise to the face of the falls and a hike to the top of the falls making this 5 days trip a top notch Africa adventure travel.

Zziwa rhino sanctuary | Rhino tracking safari

10 days Ziwa sanctuary-chimpanzee safari

The 10 days Uganda safari is a very comfortable affordable luxury Africa travel itinerary with double chimpanzee tracking experience along Africa's big 5, Murchison falls and Nile river experiences. On day 1, you arrive and rest waiting for the 2nd day's walking safari tracking rhinos and other ungulates in Ziwa sanctuary. 3rd day also taking you through Ziwa's Lugogo swamp a shoebill tracking and birdwatching tour before heading to Murchison falls N.P. While in Murchison N.P, you'll watch the rest of Africa's big 5 on game drives, hike to the top of the falls, Nile boat cruises and a standard trek of Budongo forest chimpanzees. You'll then head to Kibale forest N.P for a chimpanzee habituation and Bigodi swamp birding tour before heading back to Kampala for a city tour and nightlife experience before the last day.

Lion family

18 day rhinos & birding Uganda safari

18 days birding Uganda safari is a superb birdwatching adventure that comes along with numerous special wildlife sightings in all country's popular game parks. Uganda is a rich birding destination with savanna plains, acacia woodlands, tropical forests, riverine birds, swamp/ papyrus birds, Albertine rift endemics, Karamoja endemics and Rwenzori region species. Expect top bird species for example shoebills, flamingos, Guinea- Congo biome species, giant herons, kingfishers, pelicans, pigeons, great blue turacos, black and white hornbills, Africa fish eagles, martial eagles, white egrets, ostriches, secretary birds, kori bustards, sunbirds, warblers, shrikes, kites, papyrus gonolek, papyrus canary, fowls, geese, grey crowned cranes, doves, owls, woodpeckers, bee-eaters etc.

rhinos

24 days Uganda birding-primates-wildlife safari

A slow travel 3 weeks adventure takes you through Uganda's popular game parks on a 24 days birding, primates and wildlife safari. This itinerary offers 2 days in Ziwa rhino sanctuary to take on rhino tracking and Lugogo swamp that is rich with numerous papyrus endemics. Along the adventure at Ziwa rhino sanctuary, you will enjoy numerous activities in other national parks like Kidepo, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison falls, L. Mburo, Semuliki & Kibale forest for example Africa's big 5 tours, mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, golden monkey tracking, more shoebill tracking, game drives, hiking to the top of the falls, Nile river boat cruises, Kazinga channel boat cruises, hot springs tours, photography, camping, walking tours, culture tours, tropical forest trails & crater lakes tours.

Zziwa rhino sanctuary | Rhino tracking safari

30 days birding & wildlife Uganda expedition

A month long/ 30 days wildlife & birding Uganda safari is a great Africa birding experience in a destination that harbors more than 25% of the continent's bird endemics. During the period from November till April sees palearctic European and north African immigrant bird species join the endemic residents and make savanna plains, tropical forests, acacia woodlands, rivers and swamps rich birding spots. Ziwa rhino sanctuary has Lugogo swamp which is unique for shoebill tracking along other papyrus bird endemics like papyrus gonolek and canary. This 30 days birding & wildlife Uganda slow safari travel helps you maximize regional bird species sightings, mammals and primates.

Get to the wild on Rhino tracking safari for a walk to have an up close  experience with the southern white rhinos. Rhino tracking at Ziwa sanctuary in Uganda can be combined with other activities like gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, wild game drives, birding, boat cruise among others for great adventure itineraries. Africa safari is made fully exciting with such up close experiences with wild game. Entrance and rhino tracking cost $60 for adults and $30 for children.

While tracking rhinos, you also get to the Lugogo swamp to have a look at the marvelous shoebill and over 300 bird species in the swampy, shrub and tree vegetation of the sanctuary gives a great experience with the vicinity. Ziwa rhino sanctuary is one of the best places to spot the shoe bill stork while on an African safari. Shoebill tracking & birding costs $30 per adult and $15 for children.

Have a guided tour around the 27 square mile wildlife ranch to have a glance at a lot more wildlife species which include African leopard, giant pangolin, warthogs(574), Uganda kobs(713), water bucks(611), black and white colobus monkeys, crested porcupine, aardvark, common duiker(253), golden crested crane, genet, vervet monkeys (2,967), bush buck(1,315), scrub hare, bohor reedbuck. Night walks in the sanctuary are also conducted at a cost of $25 per adult and $10 per child.

Best time to visit Ziwa rhino sanctuary

A visit to Ziwa rhino sanctuary can be done throughout all year round given the accessibility of the park and short route on a 3 hours 40 minutes drive Kampala. With such a short driving time, affordable 1 day rhino tracking tours at Ziwa sanctuary starting from Kampala also available. Dry seasons of June- August and December- February are the best time to visit Ziwa rhino sanctuary as most of the park tracks are dry/ less muddy and maneuverable. The rainy/ green/ wet seasons of March- May and September- November are a great time for birding for many are seen during these times also being their breeding seasons.

Where to stay at Ziwa rhino & wildlife ranch

Ziwa rhino & wildlife ranch

Ziwa rhino & wildlife ranch

At Ziwa rhino sanctuary is the residential ranch in the sanctuary at 1.48563° N & 32.09537° E 167km from Kampala on a 3 hours 20 minutes drive. The ranch is 73km from Murchison falls national park on a 1 hour 15 minutes drive.

Ziwa wildlife ranch a offers a wide range of accommodation for example;

  • Executive suites at $550
  • Family suites at $500
  • Deluxe suites at $400
  • Luxury tents at $260
  • Double rooms $160
  • Family rooms at $95 for adults & $55 for children
  • Single rooms at $115

While at the ranch you can engage in various activities for example;

  • Rhino trekking
  • Shoebill trekking
  • Camping
  • Wildlife tours
  • Birding & nature walks
Amuka lodge at Ziwa rhino & wildlife sanctuary in Uganda

Amuka lodge

Just at a 10 minutes drive away from Ziwa rhino sanctuary, Amuka lodge is another accommodation option while out there for rhino & shoebills trekking experience. At 1.46994° N & 32.06518° E, Amuka lodge is 171km from Kampala a distance covered on a 4 hours drive.

Amuka lodge offers affordable rates for;

  • Single occupancy at $216
  • Double at $194 per person per night
  • Children 6-12yrs at $108 for single occupancy & $97 for double occupancy per person.
  • Children 2-5yrs at $15

Your stay at Amuka lodge will get you engaged in activities such as;

  • Rhino trekking
  • Shoebill trekking
  • Night tours
  • Nature walks
  • Bird watching