Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the country’s only rhino sanctuary, founded in 2005 with the goal of reintroducing the southern white rhino, which became extinct in 1982 owing to relentless poaching and mismanagement. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is located northwest of Kampala in the Nakasongola area, between Kampala and Murchison Falls National Park, Nakitoma Trading Center, in the River Kafu Basin.

The sanctuary began with six white rhinos, four imported from Solio Ranch in Kenya and two donated from the United States. Because of the continual poaching, the Uganda Wildlife Authority has engaged in a squad of 78 park guards who are armed to protect the endangered and stay a short distance 24/7 monitoring, who are always on guard to keep them for their safety.

Currently, there are 41 rhinos in record with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the government organization in charge of animal conservation. Rhino trekking is done on foot at the sanctuary and costs $50 per person. Other activities include birdwatching, canoeing, guided night and day wildlife hikes, and shoebill trekking experiences.

As a result, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary has been an excellent place to care for and shelter southern white rhinos. Recently, three Nubian giraffes were translocated by the Uganda Wildlife Authority from Murchison Falls National Park, which has a total of 1,450.