ZIWA Rhino Sanctuary
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Our Take
A trek with the white rhinos at Ziwa is a ‘must do’ for anyone visiting Uganda with a particular interest in rhinos; anybody setting out to see the ‘Big Five’ – of which the rhino is of course one; or anyone with the vaguest sense of adventure or passing interest in wildlife. But there is also so much more to do here that a passing visit may not be enough and there are good options to stay over.
Camping here is our recommended option with – on many visits – “the rhino parade” around the camp fence.
ZIWA Rhino Sanctuary
The Ziwa Ranch was established as part of a programme to reintroduce the white rhino into the wild after its extinction – in Uganda – through hunting and poaching in the 70s and 80s. As such it is currently the only place in Uganda to see the rhinos but the experience of ‘walking with’ the rhinos in many respects, far transcends seeing them on a plain 200 metres away. You will learn all about this inspirational programme with the chance to see much more besides, within a well-controlled environment.
Wildlife
It is of course home to a growing colony of white rhino, now numbering 43, and is an inspirational programme to reintroduce the white rhino into the wilds of Uganda. But with an area of 70sqkm, there is so much more besides. Ziwa is home to colobus monkeys, giraffe, waterbuck, hartebeest, zebra, aardvark, duiker, Ugandan kob and warthogs to name but a few, as well as leopard and genet cats. There are 300 bird species including shoebill stork and golden crested crane. Consequently, there are several visitor options including rhino treks, birding tours and nature walks.
Location
Ziwa is close to the main north road, about 4 hours north of Entebbe and 2 hours short of Murchison Falls. This makes it an excellent stopover for visitors to Murchison, but it can be quite a journey from other hotspots such as Bwindi or Queen Elizabeth due to both geography and the road network.
The Facts
- Established 1983 as an exotic cattle ranch.
- Transformed for rhinos 2005 and introduction of first 6 rhinos
- Area is 70sqkm
- Electric fence and 24/7 ranger protection
- No rhinos lost to poaching to date
- Total rhinos now 43 as of 2025
Camping In Uganda;
ZIWA Rhino Sanctuary
Ziwa offers a superb camp site as part of their facilities. It has a good ablution block and a covered area for meeting or dining if required. There are plenty of trees for shade and a central fire is lit at night. This is not wild camping, but being close to our base,is often a first stop on our tours and an excellent place to introduce our setup before we get more adventurous. Another great feature of camping at Ziwa is the tendency of the rhinos to promenade around the (very strong!) perimeter fence in the early evening or morning – often a large group, if not all of them – following the bull.
Mid-Range Lodges
The best option for Ziwa is their own accommodation within the ranch which includes mid-range accommodation. They also have a new development of luxury chalets.
Stop Dreaming,
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Do you want to include Murchison Falls NP in your custom-made safari? Then go to the Detailed Planner page where you can tell us all your likes and wishes and we will create a dream trip for you.