Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is a 70 Square kilometer private non-profit animal sanctuary in Uganda located near Nakitoma Village in Nakasongola district within the Kafu River Basin. The sanctuary is situated north of Kampala about 180 kilometers (110 miles) by road off the Kampala – Gulu Highway.

Rhinos are members of the Big 5 family that are indigenous to Uganda and had always existed within Uganda’s protected game parks in large herds. Sadly, due to an era of political insecurity, poaching and habitat destruction, the Rhino population had been completely depleted by 1982. There wasn’t a single Rhino; black or White to be found in Uganda.

Heeding to the need to re-introduce and save Rhino populations in Uganda, the Uganda wildlife Authority together with the Rhino Fund Uganda and Ziwa Ranchers Limited took it upon them to start the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in 2005 to create a safe place for Rhinos to flourish before introducing them back to Uganda’s national parks.

They started off with four Rhinos that they had purchased from the Solio Ranch in Kenya and two individuals that had been donated by the Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando. By 2018, there were about 22 Rhinos in the sanctuary. Presently, there are 78 park rangers keeping an eye on the Rhino population and an electric fence to protect the animals from poachers.

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only place in Uganda where you can see Rhinos in the wild; both black and white. However, the sanctuary has about 300 bird species and other animals like Monkeys, Antelopes, Hippos and crocodiles among others. Safari activities at the sanctuary include canoeing, on foot Rhino tracking, birding and nature walks.