Why you must visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary : Although most tourists come to Uganda with the intention of seeing the mountain gorillas in Bwindi/Mgahinga or going for a safari in the other major national parks, visiting Ziwa Rhino sanctuary has become a must-visit destination for those who wish to experience a full African Safari in Uganda. It is one of the best places to visit on a Uganda safaris tours. The Sanctuary is the only place in Uganda where visitors can track the endangered White Rhinos by foot and at a close range. Because of the sanctuary, Uganda is one of the few countries in the world where the Big 5 (lions, leopards, rhinoceros elephants, and buffaloes) can be spotted.
The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary has an interesting history because of the great variety of wildlife in Uganda in the early 20th century when the tourism industry thrived. One major reason for the tourism boom was the sizeable population of Rhinos roaming freely in Kidepo Valley national park and Murchison Falls National Parks. The Colonial government and Uganda’s first government after independence maintained tough policies against poaching of white Rhinos. Everything turned upside down because of insecurity in the late 70’s and early 80’s creating room for unprecedented poaching that eventually wiped out wild White Rhinos in Uganda’s National Parks. The Ziwa Rhino sanctuary is one of the most important wildlife conservation projects in Uganda. There are several other activities that make the sanctuary attractive to tourists. They include.
Rhino tracking
Rhino tracking is the man activity in the sanctuary and is a good warm up before continuing to the Murchison Falls national park for even greater activities. The activity involves a 1 – 2 hour guided walk or drive within the sanctuary. Once you reach near the Rhinos with a car, the guides will take you on foot 7 meters close to the Rhinos. You will enjoy watching these endangered animals continuously feeding on fresh vegetation without bothering about your presence. Tracking the Rhinos costs $ 45 for international visitors. The Rhino trekking activity is one of the most important wildlife experiences in Uganda and it brings a lot of tourists to visit.
Birding
Another prominent activity open to tourist while at the sanctuary is bird watching. This activity can take the whole day and involves guided walks, driving and a boat cruise through the four birding trails. As you move through the swamps, woodlands and the savanna plains you will be able to spot 350 species of bird. Most of them come from the nearby Murchison Falls National Park while others are residents. The top species to look out for is the rare but highly sought out Shoebill Stork. You can also spot the African Black Crake, African Black Headed Oriole, African Citril, African Crowned Eagle, African Darter, African Fish Eagle, African Golden Breasted Bunting, Blue Spotted dove, Booted Eagle, Broad Billed Roller, Bronze Manikini, Brown Backed Srub Robin, Brown Crowned Tchagra, Brown Parrot, Brown Throated Wattle Eye, Cardinal Woodpecker, Giant Abdim’s Stork, Speckled Breasted Woodpecker, White Crested Turaco and many others.
Nature Walks
Walking through the Sanctuary will reward visitors with beautiful scenery of green tropical vegetation and bushes. The great biodiversity in the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary is a great taste of the things to come during your Uganda Safari. The Rhinos are the main attractions but the sanctuary has a sizeable number of butterflies, reptiles, primates and mammals. The other mammals roaming the sanctuary are the Bush Duiker, Waterbuck, Ground Squirrels, Oribi, Hartbeest, Mongoose, Grey Duiker, Reedbuck and Bush Bucks. Among the small primates found in the sanctuary are the common Vervet Monkey and the black/ white Colobus Monkeys. During your nature walk, look out for the large lizards, pythons, insects and numerous species of butterflies.
Night walks
Enjoying your time at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary does not need to end during the day – It can go on well through the night. A guided night walk will allow you discover new sounds under beautiful moonlight in the Africa wilderness. As you move through the night with knowledgeable guides, prepare to encounter some of the sanctuary’s nocturnal resident animals, bats and birds.
N.B: International travelers interested in activities other than Rhino tracking like canoeing, Nature walks, Birding and Night walk usually pay a flat fee of $30. There are packages for those desiring to combine Rhino tracking with any of the other activities costing up to $50. Those who are interested in only entering the Sanctuary only pay the entrance fee of $20. The best way to organize your tour of the sanctuary is through your tour operator who will not only pay the fees on your behalf but help arrange the transportation and accommodation during your tour. (Achieve Global Safaris).
