Rhino tracking on foot takes place at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, about three hours north of Kampala on the road to Murchison Falls. Rangers who monitor the rhinos around the clock lead small groups on foot to a rhino family, and you watch them from a safe distance. Walks take about one to three hours and are suitable for most ages and fitness levels.
Key takeaways
- Uganda’s only place to see wild rhinos.
- Small groups walk with experienced rangers.
- Walks take about 1–3 hours.
- Easy to combine with Murchison Falls.
Rhinos were wiped out in Uganda by the early 1980s. In 2005, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary received six southern white rhinos, and a breeding programme run by Rhino Fund Uganda with the Uganda Wildlife Authority has grown the population to several dozen. Some Ziwa rhinos are being moved to establish new populations elsewhere in Uganda, a sign of real conservation success.
How the walk works
After a briefing at the sanctuary headquarters, you drive a short distance with a ranger to where the rhino teams last reported a family. Then you continue on foot through grassland and bush. Rangers know each rhino by name and read their mood, so you can stand quietly and watch them graze, rest or wallow, often with a calf at their side.
Safety
White rhinos are generally calm, but they are wild animals weighing up to two tonnes. Stay behind the ranger, keep the group together, speak quietly and never stand between a mother and calf. If the ranger asks you to move behind a tree, do it straight away.
Black or white rhino?
Ziwa’s rhinos are southern white rhinos, the larger, grazing species with a wide, square lip. For black rhinos, visit Ngorongoro or Kenya’s Ol Pejeta. Read more about the white rhinoceros at Ziwa.
When to go
Rhino tracking runs all year. In the dry seasons, December to February and June to September, the grass is shorter and walking is easier. Morning walks avoid the midday heat, when rhinos often rest in the shade.
Good to know
- Fees are paid at the sanctuary and include an experienced ranger.
- Wear closed shoes, long trousers and neutral colours.
- Ziwa also offers a shoebill walk in its swamps and birding walks.
- Accommodation is available inside the sanctuary.
Who it suits
Rhino tracking suits families, first-time safari-goers and anyone on the way to Murchison Falls. It is a rare chance to see rhinos on foot rather than from a vehicle, and it adds a fifth member of the Big Five to a Uganda safari.
Your rhino tracking day, step by step
- Arrive at Ziwa: the sanctuary is at Nakitoma, about three hours north of Kampala on the road to Gulu and Murchison Falls.
- Briefing: a ranger explains the safety rules and the history of the sanctuary.
- Short drive: you drive with your ranger towards the area where the rhino monitoring team last located a family.
- On foot: walk quietly through grassland and woodland, following the ranger’s signals.
- With the rhinos: stand together at a safe distance and watch them graze or rest, often for up to an hour.
- Return: walk back to the vehicle and continue to Murchison Falls or Kampala, or stay overnight for more activities.
The story of Ziwa’s rhinos
Both black and white rhinos once roamed Uganda, but civil war and poaching wiped them out by the early 1980s. Rhino Fund Uganda and the Uganda Wildlife Authority set up Ziwa as a breeding sanctuary, fenced and patrolled around the clock. Six southern white rhinos arrived in 2005: four from Kenya and two from Disney’s Animal Kingdom in the United States. In 2009, the first calf born in Uganda in decades arrived, and was named Obama, because his father came from Kenya and his mother from the United States. Since then, the population has grown steadily, and rhinos from Ziwa are now being moved to establish new populations in Uganda’s protected areas.
Other activities at Ziwa
- Shoebill walk: a canoe or walk in the swamps of the Lugogo area, with a chance of seeing the shoebill. See the Shoebill at Mabamba for another shoebill site.
- Birding walks: Ziwa has a rich birdlife in its grassland, woodland and wetlands.
- Nature walks to see antelope, monkeys and other wildlife.
Where to stay
The sanctuary has a lodge, a guesthouse and camping, so you can track rhinos in the morning or afternoon and break the drive to Murchison. Staying overnight also lets you do the shoebill walk at dawn.
Rhino tracking compared
| Place | Species | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Ziwa, Uganda | Southern white | On foot with rangers |
| Ngorongoro, Tanzania | Eastern black | From vehicles, often distant |
| Lake Nakuru, Kenya | Black and white | From vehicles |
| Ol Pejeta, Kenya | Black, white and northern white | Vehicles; some guided activities |
| Akagera, Rwanda | Black and white | From vehicles |
What to bring
- Closed walking shoes or boots.
- Long trousers in neutral colours.
- A hat, sunscreen and water.
- Binoculars and a camera with a medium zoom; rhinos are often close.
Photography tips
Rhinos on foot can be closer than you expect, so a 70–200 mm lens is often enough. Shoot quietly, without flash, and follow the ranger’s instructions about where to stand.
Why Ziwa matters
Every rhino born at Ziwa is a step towards returning rhinos to Uganda’s national parks.
Who should not miss it
Anyone travelling between Kampala and Murchison Falls should stop at Ziwa. It adds rhinos to your safari and directly supports their recovery in Uganda.
Plan it
Try our 1-day Ziwa rhino tracking trip, or combine it with the falls on the 3-day Murchison Falls and Ziwa rhino safari.
Frequently asked questions
Is rhino tracking safe?
Yes, when you follow the rangers’ instructions. They know each rhino well.
Can children join?
Yes. The walk is gentle, and children are welcome with adults.
Will I definitely see rhinos?
Sightings are very likely because the rhinos are monitored constantly.
How long does the visit take?
Allow about half a day, including the briefing and the walk.
How close do you get to the rhinos?
Rangers keep a safe distance, often a few tens of metres, depending on the rhinos’ mood and the terrain.
Written by our Kampala-based planners and guides, who arrange these trips every season. Prices and rules are checked before every quote.
