One Day Rhino Tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary offers an up-close encounter experience along this Africa’s Big 5 species in its natural habitat and gaining insights of its crucial importance to the entire ecosystem. Lying 100 miles along Gulu-Kampala highway, the 70km2 high security complex of Ziwa spreads over a diverse habitat characterized by wooded grasslands and wetlands where the only population of rhinos in Uganda today thrives. This wildness complex now hosts up to 40 individuals of southern white rhino race (Ceratotherium.s.simum), undergoing a breeding program that will enable the re-introduction of these species in their former grassland home ranges in selected Ugandan national parks.
Safari Overview
Rhino tracking at Ziwa sanctuary involves a 2-hour guided nature walk, where you explore on foot, up close and personal to the rhino in its natural habitat. The tour begins with a briefing session from ranger-guides at the reception compound about conservation efforts undertaken here and safety regulations to observe. Thereafter, you will be led on a guided walk through these wooded grasslands learning on various tracks, markings and insights about the social behavior of rhinos including its ecological importance, but also several fauna that occur in this habitat.
The southern rhinos are usually encountered alone especially territorial males whereas female are often in a company of one or two off springs. Adolescent males will form temporary associations till there are mature enough to gain territory. On the walk rangers usually determine how close you can get for your safety after assessing the species activity behavior, for these are wild animals after all!
The wooded grasslands here support other local residents like Kob, Bushbuck, Warthog, Vervet monkey and a rich bird-checklist unique to these woodlands.
The One Day Rhino Tracking Ziwa Sanctuary Tour Includes
- Transport to and from Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Drinking water in the car
- Lunch
- Park entrance fees
Excluded
- Tips and gratuities
- Accommodation
Itinerary in details of One Day Rhino Tracking Ziwa Sanctuary
This morning after breakfast, your driver guide will pick you up from your residence in Kampala/Entebbe for a two and half drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary on Kampala-Gulu highway. Pickup schedule should be between 6-7am to avoid long hours of traffic jam but also to target the most active times of rhinos that offers one better sightings. For these species are more active in the cool hours of the morning/evening and will get into deep thickets for shade to escape the hot sun during the day.
Arriving at the reception rangers will give you a short brief about the activity thereafter begin the walk. For this walking activity, good walking shoes, drinking water, long pants are advised and bring that hat, drinking water, sun-glasses and cream for that hot African sun. The interpretive nature walk stretches up to 2hrs, where guides point out markings, tracks, signs and share insights within this rhino ecosystem. Back at the reception, you will have a hot lunch break and thereafter transfer to Kampala/Entebbe.