The only place in Uganda to track wild-living rhinos on foot.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is a protected area north of Kampala where southern white rhinos have been reintroduced to Uganda after the species disappeared from the wild. Guests walk on foot with rangers and spend time near the rhinos.
It is a short drive from the capital and ideal as a day trip, or as the first stop on the road to Murchison Falls.
Walking among rhinos is humbling. There is no vehicle, no glass, just you, a ranger and an animal that weighs as much as a small car, peacefully chewing grass.
I love the pace of it. Everything slows down: you whisper, you point, you wait. I love hearing the rangers talk about each rhino by name and about the long work of protecting them. And I love the moment a first-timer sees one in the open bush.
Rangers lead small groups through the bush to find the rhinos. You approach at a respectful distance and spend time watching them graze, rest and move.
Rangers monitor the rhinos every day. They’ll tell you each animal’s name and story, and explain the sanctuary’s conservation work and why it matters.
The sanctuary’s swamp is home to many water birds and, with luck, the shoebill, a prehistoric-looking giant. Bring binoculars.
Beyond the rhinos, the sanctuary has antelope, monkeys and plenty of insects and reptiles. Rangers love pointing out the small things that most visitors miss.
I like to stop for a local lunch on the way there or back, the kind of place where the food is simple and good.
Leave the city for a day and travel north to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a guided rhino tracking experience.
Taj’s Ziwa TipWear neutral colours and closed shoes. Walk slowly and listen to your ranger. The best sightings are the quiet ones.Taj
There's no vehicle between you and the rhino at Ziwa, just a ranger, a rifle nobody expects to use, and a very slow, very deliberate walk across open grassland.
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Rangers lead you to a respectful distance on foot, closer than any vehicle-based safari.
Yes, there is no minimum age, though quiet behaviour is important around the animals.
About two hours’ drive north on the highway to Murchison Falls.
The tracking takes one to two hours. With the drive, it is an easy day trip.
Yes, and many guests do. It makes a perfect first stop on my 3-day safari.
You don’t necessarily need a perfectly planned itinerary. Tell me when you’re coming, what you’re curious about and how you like to travel. I’ll help you find an experience that feels right for you. Let’s explore Uganda together.
A short message is all I need.
