Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is a protected area in the Nakasongola District designed to shelter and monitor rhinoceros in a natural setting with secured boundaries and ranger patrols. The site features walking trails where visitors can observe the animals guided by trained staff members throughout designated areas.

Rhinoceros vanished from Uganda due to poaching and habitat loss, disappearing entirely by the early 1980s. The sanctuary was established in 2005 to bring the animals back to the country by introducing them from populations elsewhere.

The sanctuary represents Uganda's effort to restore an animal that once roamed the country but had vanished. Visitors witness how rangers and local communities work together to care for creatures in their natural home.

Wear sturdy walking shoes and appropriate clothing for outdoor conditions as trails cover natural terrain and vary in difficulty. Visit during dry seasons when walking paths are easier to navigate and animals are more visible in the landscape.

The rhinoceros here are southern white rhinos, a subspecies that never naturally lived this far east in Africa. This makes the sanctuary an unusual experiment in whether these animals can thrive in a new region beyond their original home.

Location: Nakasongola District

Inception: 2005

Address: Nakitoma, Uganda

Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 07:00-18:00

Phone: +256783584415

Email: info@ziwarhino.com

Website: http://rhinofund.org

GPS coordinates: 1.44300,32.08100

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:41