Rhino Trekking in Uganda is one of the best activities you shouldn’t miss during your visit to Uganda. Famously known as the ” Pearl of Africa”, Uganda is a hidden gem offering unforgettable adventures for wildlife enthusiasts and Nature lovers. Nevertheless, Uganda provides a rare opportunity to track one of the world’s most endangered species, the rhinoceros. With its expansive landscapes, lush vegetation, and remarkable conservation efforts, it stands as an ideal destination for an awe-inspiring rhino trekking experience. The country is recognised for its rich biodiversity and natural and wildlife wonders. It is a home to the Africa’s Big 5 animals for example lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos. These are found in the Savannah National parks and can easily be tracked except the Rhinos which can only be trekked in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Situated in Nakasongola district approximately 176 kilometers north of Kampala, the sanctuary covers an area of 70 square kilometers covered with large woodlands, thickets, swamps, ponds, grasslands. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary offers one of the great experiences you need not to miss in the life of trekking rhinos in Uganda’s wilderness.
About Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
The sanctuary was established in 2005 to reintroduce Wild Rhinos. These had become extinct in Uganda during the 1980’s due to poaching, encroachment and human-wildlife conflicts with the goal of releasing these magnificent animals back into the wild so they can once again wander the plains and their natural habitats together with other wildlife species and it started with only 6 Rhinos in 2005 which have now accumulated to 33 Rhinos by December 2021. These rare creatures are the second biggest mammals on land after elephants and tracking them means a full complete list of the big five game (lions, leopards, rhinoceros, elephants, and buffaloes) in Uganda.
What happens during Rhino Trekking in Uganda
Before trekking, there is a briefing session by the Uganda Wildlife Authority guides. The briefing session is very insightful and only lasts for about 10 minutes. Here, visitors learn about the history of Rhinos in Uganda, the critical need for conservation, the Do’s and Don’ts while in the wild with the Rhinos.
Rhino Trekking in Uganda is a mixture of excitement, anticipation and a little fear about the experience. Trekkers take a short period of time for example less than 15 minutes before encountering a family of Rhinos. In cases where they take long, the trackers work inside the park and follow the rhinos 24/7. Therefore, they communicate with radios to the guides to help find the rhinos and avoid trekking for hours in vain.
How much is Rhino trekking in Uganda
Visitors to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary only need entrance fees and tracking fees. The entrance fee cost $20 to foreign and non foreign residents and shs10,000 to East African residents. Whereas Rhino tracking costs $30 to foreign residents, $20 to non foreign residents and only shs20,000 to East African residents.
When is the Best time to go Rhino Trekking in Uganda
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary welcomes visitors throughout the year. However the best time for Rhino Trekking in addition to other wildlife activities is between December to January. Also June to August because of the little rainfall and plenty of sunshine that favor the park activities.
During the dry seasons, tracking trails are easier to move through, giving tourists access to most of the conservation areas. There’s short and scattered vegetation compared to the wet seasons which gives clear views of the wildlife around.
How to reach Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to see Rhinos
By road, The sanctuary is only 3 hours from the Capital city Kampala. It is located along Kampala-Gulu highway which is a lot easier for tourists to reach. This can be either before or after their Safari to either Kidepo or Murchison Falls National Parks.