Nature walks in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Are you interested in Nature walks in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary? Yes, Uganda’s only home to southern white rhinos Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is located in Nakasongola district. The home to rhinos is a 70 sq. km piece of land where these animals spend their day grazing on the thick vegetation, particularly the leaves of trees. 

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is a savannah and woodland vegetated piece protecting different wildlife. The area was gazetted for rhinos but it’s a home to different mammals, primates, and birds. A guided nature walk in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is one of the intimate ways to explore different attractions that have been recorded there. 

Nature walks in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is home to several wildlife species and the best way to spot them is by taking part in the nature walk activities. Nature walks in Ziwa are guided activities which get tourists using different trails to search for attractions in the presence of armed ranger guides. Armed ranger guides make sure that tourists and animals are safe throughout the whole activity. 

The nature walks of Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary start with a briefing from the rangers who teach the rules and regulations of the activity. After the briefing, tourists follow the rangers to different areas of the sanctuary where they get an opportunity to be so close to nature.

Nature walks are a 2 to 3 hour activity in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary that enable tourists to see the different attractions found there. During the nature walks, tourists get to see different vegetation types, mammals, primates, and birds among others. Animals to see in Ziwa include antelopes, monkeys, hippos, rhinos, and crocodiles among others. 

How much are nature walks in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary?

Just like any other protected area in Uganda, nature walks in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary come at a fee. Nature walks in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary costs foreign non-residents and foreign residents $20 while citizens of East African member states pay UGX20,000 only. The fees can be paid at the entrance of the sanctuary using mobile money, visa cards, and master cards. 

Other activities that can be done in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Rhino tracking

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was gazetted to be home to southern white rhinos in 2002. Southern white rhinos are the main reason why Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is in place and rhino tracking is the main activity that takes place there. Rhino tracking is done by tourists who are interested in observing rhinos in their natural habitat. 

Rhino tracking in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is done at any time of the year for 2 to 3 hours. The activity starts with a briefing from the rangers which allows tourists to learn about the rules and regulations of tracking. Armed range guides lead the trekkers in the jungle where they look for rhinos and seeing them takes a few minutes since they live freely.

When the southern white rhinos are spotted, tourists are given time to be around them and observe them do daily activities. Rhinos can be spotted grazing, breastfeeding, grazing, and mating to mention but a few. After having a good time around the rhinos, tourists move back to the starting points, and the activity is done.

 Bird watching 

Over 300 bird species make Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary a good bird watching destination. The birds live in the savannah and swampy vegetation where they can spot them while carrying out bird watching using different birding trails. Armed ranger guides lead the birders during the activity and make sure they are safe from anything that could be dangerous. 

Birds of Ziwa rhino sanctuary include the Great blue turaco, shoebill stork, intermediate egret, tawny flanked prinia, African green pigeon, marico sunbird, long-crested eagle, red knobbed coot, African broadbill, semi-colored flycatcher, olive sunbird, specked weaver, long-tailed cormorant, African paradise flycatcher, pin-tailed whydah.

African blue flycatcher, grey-backed fiscal shrike, martial eagle, flapped lark, pearl spotted owlet, giant kingfisher, Abyssinian ground hornbill, malachite kingfisher, green crombec, lizard buzzard, African black crake, green wood hoopoe, spotted eagle owl, barn swallow, hadada ibis, black-headed gonolek, and scared ibis among others. 

Shoebill trekking

Shoebill trekking is another activity in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary organized for birders to see the elusive shoebill stork. The activity is carried out on a canoe ride on Lugogo swamp adjacent to the sanctuary. Ziwa happens to be among the few places in Uganda where birders are guaranteed to see the endangered bird species.

When to go to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

June to September and December to February are the best times to visit Ziwa rhino sanctuary. This is because the months have little rainfall and plenty of sunshine which keeps the walking trails dry and passable. The sunshine dries up the vegetation which leads to clear views of the different attractions found there.  

Tourists can still use the rainy season to visit Ziwa rhino sanctuary and participate in any of the activities. The rainy season is however characterized by too much rainfall which sometimes affects the activities. The trails are muddy and slippery which limits access to some areas within the sanctuary, vegetation is tall with unclear views of some attractions, and roads leading to the sanctuary are in poor conditions.