Visit a Rhino Sanctuary

Location: Ziwa, Uganda

Recommended by Diana of Avagu Press

How do I know it’s ethical?

Ziwa has an interesting background — previously a cattle ranch, it’s the only place in Uganda where you can see rhinos in the wild, and yet the rhinos there had to be re-introduced as a part of conservation efforts. Now, the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is home to 32 white rhinos.

While the boundaries of the sanctuary are defined and guarded (to protect the rhinos against poachers), these rhinos are living in the wild. The entire sanctuary and guest experience is built around their routines — guests go trekking to find the rhinos, the rhinos aren’t brought in for viewing or anything of that nature. When there are rhinos in camp, it’s because the camp is in their territory!

Description of the Experience

What makes Ziwa an incredibly unique experience for visitors is being able to track rhinos on foot — yes, you read that right. While most other safari experiences require guests to stay in the vehicle, Ziwa’s experienced guides will take you to see these beautiful animals on foot (teaching you how to respect their space and stay safe, of course). This creates a truly special dynamic, where visitors are taught to be guests in quiet, natural spaces, instead of driving along roads in noisy, polluting vehicles.

Ziwa offers several activities, including rhino trekking and bird watching — including going to see the shoebill (a bird which, if you’re unaware of its appearance in advance, might convince you you’ve seen a dinosaur).

While many visitors venture to Ziwa as a day trip, I’d actually recommend spending at least one night. A range of accommodations are available, from camping to beautiful en-suite rooms, and a restaurant is available on-site as well. One morning, I remember waking up and opening my door for a bit of sunshine and a stretch, and seeing two rhinos not fifty feet away — best believe I shut that door real fast, and thought I was dreaming!

At Ziwa, the rhinos have full reign of the place. People move around the rhinos, and take caution not to invade the rhinos space — not the other way around. That’s at the core of Ziwa’s philosophy of conservation, and it shows in the experience of visiting Ziwa.

Company/ Cost: 

The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is located a few hours north of Kampala, Uganda, and is accessible either by private car or by public transportation (to Nakitoma, with a connection to the sanctuary via motorcycle taxi from there).

All activities are offered by Ziwa itself, and can be booked directly on Ziwa’s website. For the cost-conscious traveller, Ziwa is a great value — the most expensive experience is rhino trekking at just $30 for international travellers.

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This is one post on a series of ethical animal tourism posts by travel content creators. The experiences cover all seven continents and a variety of animals. Ensure that your animal experience is an ethical one.

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