Rhino tracking in Zziwa rhino sanctuary : Rhino tracking in Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary is among the activities to do during wildlife safaris around Uganda. The Zziwa rhino sanctuary is the only location in Uganda where tourists can visit white rhinos in their natural habitat. The sanctuary is located in Nakasongola district and is among the places to visit during safaris in the country.
During rhino tacking experiences at the Zziwa rhino sanctuary, tourists get to watch the rhinos closely and are accompanied by ranger guides. The rhino tracking experience starts with a briefing by the ranger guides before moving on foot to search for the rhinos at the sanctuary.
There are about 32 rhinos found at the Zziwa rhino sanctuary following the recent births of the rhinos increasing the number from 26. When the sanctuary was first established, there were 6 southern white rhinos.
Tourists are encouraged to avoid making noise, avoid feeding animals and also to avoid littering during the rhino tracking experience around Zziwa rhino sanctuary. These different safety precautions are communicate during a briefing prior to the rhino trek.
The amount of time spent during the rhino tracking experience at Zziwa rhino sanctuary is about 2 hours during which tourists can explore different trails looking for the rhinos and also spend some time in their presence.
When in the presence of the white rhinos at Zziwa rhino sanctuary, tourists are encouraged to keep a safe distance of about 7 meters. This distance helps to keep the rhinos and tourists safe while enjoying the wildlife encounter on foot.
The cost of rhino tracking is about 50 USD per person for foreign nonresidents, 45 USD for foreign residents and East African citizens are charged a fee of 40,000 Uganda shillings to visit Zziwa rhino sanctuary. This fee is inclusive of the entrance fees to the rhino sanctuary.
Children visiting the Zziwa rhino sanctuary for rhino tracking experience are charged a fee of 30 USD for foreign nonresidents, 25 USD for foreign residents and 10,000 Uganda shillings for East Africans. This fee is charged to children aged 12 years and below.
Some of the items to pack for a rhino tracking experience around Zziwa rhino sanctuary include cameras, sunscreen, sunhats, good hiking shoes, insect repellent, mineral water among other items. For those interested in seeing the birds, it is advised that they carry binoculars.
Other activities to do around Zziwa rhino sanctuary
Apart from rhino tracking, tourists can engage in other activities around the Zziwa rhino sanctuary and they include the following;
- Canoeing
Canoeing around the Zziwa rhino sanctuary is done during the search for the Shoebill stork as well as other bird species found at the destination.
- Shoebill tour
The Shoebill tour around the Zziwa rhino sanctuary starts early in the morning around 06:00 am and tourists head out on canoe to search for the rare Shoebill Stork.
During the Shoebill tour at the sanctuary, tourists explore the Lugogo wetlands where they can spot the Shoebill and other water bird species.
- Day and night nature walks
Tourists visiting Zziwa rhino sanctuary can engage in day nature walks and night nature walks which are done with ranger guides. Different wildlife species can be seen during the nature walks around the wilderness of the sanctuary as tourists get a lcoser view of the natural surroundings.
Nature walks during the day around Zziwa rhino sanctuary involves exploring the savannah plains and wilderness on foot in search of the various wildlife species and different bird species. Some of the wildlife species which can be seen at the destination include bush duikers, bushbucks, waterbucks, oribi, hartebeests, reedbucks, colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys among others.
Nocturnal wildlife species which can be seen during night wildlife viewing experiences around the rhino sanctuary include aardvarks, porcupines among others.
- Bird watching
Over 300 bird species can be seen during bird watching experiences around the Zziwa rhino sanctuary. There are about 4 different trails which can be followed during the search for the bird species around the destination.
Some of the bird species which can be seen around the Zziwa rhino sanctuary include the Shoebill Stork, African Black Crake, White Crested Turaco, Broad Billed Roller, White Crested Turaco, Blue Spotted Dove, African Darter, Black Headed Oriole, African Fish Eagle, Brown Backed Scrub Robin, African Jacana, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Grey Crowned Eagle, Marabou Stork, White Egret, Red Billed Ox peckers among others.
Bird watching around the Zziwa rhino sanctuary can be done around the swamps, woodlands and in the savannah plains at the destination. This activity can be done as a half day excursion or a full day bird watching experience.
Best time for rhino tracking
Rhino tracking experiences around the Zziwa rhino sanctuary can be done at anytime of the year with the dry season from June to October and around December to February considered the best time to see the rhinos in their natural habitat.
It is easier to see the rhinos in the dry season when the vegetation is thin and the trails are easy to trek through during the rhino tracking experience at the Zziwa rhino sanctuary. During the rainy season, it is easy to spot many birds around the sanctuary and some tourists prefer the rainy season due to the less number of travelers around the destination.
How to get to Zziwa rhino sanctuary
The Zziwa rhino sanctuary can be accessed by driving along the Kampala-Gulu highway and the drive takes about 2 to 3 hours.
It is located about 176 kilometers from Kampala city and can be visited during safaris to the northern part of Uganda. Tourists can visit the Zziwa rhino sanctuary during safaris to Murchison falls national park which is among the popular destinations in the north western part of Uganda.
Where to stay during rhino tracking
Tourists can book accommodation at the Amuka safari lodge or camp during their rhino tracking experiences around Zziwa rhino sanctuary.
The campsites around the sanctuary provide accommodation for budget travelers during their safaris in Uganda.
