Rhino Tracking tours in Uganda

Rhino tracking tours in Uganda, do you know that Uganda is now a leading safari destination for rhino tracking. Uganda holds both white rhinos and black rhinos in its three major national conservation areas. Rhino tracking is one of most exciting safaris you must not miss on your visit to Uganda. rhinos are known for their calm behavior and one of the big five animals in wildlife conservation. Rhinos are tracked on foot in their natural environment.

Rhino conservation in Uganda is gaining a lot of progress to introduce more rhinos in all national parks after these species once roamed freely in Uganda before they were hunted out by poachers. Feel free to contact and visit these gentle giants of the savannah. We applaud Uganda wildlife Authority and Rhino Fund Uganda with other partners that are supporting this cause of restoring the rhino heritage in Uganda.

Rhino/rhinoceros is a massive herbivorous animal that has two horns and a hump on its neck with gray like hair. Its name is derived from the Dutch word “Weit” that means wide, this wide animal with a long face now harbors uganda’s grasslands and open savannah.

What is the cost of rhino tracking tours in Uganda

Rhino tracking in Uganda costs $50 for Foreign Non-Residents, $40 for Foreign Residents and UGX 30,000 for East African residents. These costs cater for park entrance fee and the activity.

Effective 1^st January 2027, Uganda wildlife Authority has adjusted in rhino tracking fees for Adults at Ajai wildlife Reserve as follows; Foreign Non-Residents $20, Foreign Residents $15, Rest of Africa $10 and UGX 10,000 for East African residents.

Where to go for Rhino tracking Tours in Uganda

Planning to visit rhinos! look no further, you will track rhinos with our best ranger guides at ziwa rhino sanctuary, Ajai wildlife reserve and kidepo valley national park.

Ziwa rhino sanctuary

Ziwa rhino sanctuary is located in nakasongola district that was established in 2005 to reintroduce southern white rhinos in Uganda. it covers 70 square kilometers managed by Uganda wildlife Authority. The sanctuary is ideal for travelers who want to track rhinos on foot. This protected sanctuary is located in the north of Kampala-gulu high way about 176 kilometers.

Accomodations in ziwa rhino sanctuary

Ziwa rhino sanctuary has a variety of accommodations for your perfect stay during the rhino tracking tours. These include ziwa rhino lodge, Amuka safari lodge and ziwa guest house.

Ajai Wildlife Reserve for rhino tracking.

Ajai wildlife reserve is a wooded savannah grassland located in west Nile region. The reserve was established in 1962 as a white rhino sanctuary and established as Ajai game reserve in 1965. It covers an area of 148 square kilometers named after chief Ajai who controlled the region by then. The reserve has got rivers and swamps that borders river Nile and two attributaries, the Ala and Acha. White rhinos existed in this reserve until 1979 war in Uganda that wiped out rhinos in Ajai reserve.

White rhinos are back to Ajai wildlife Reserve!

Uganda wildlife Authority as of January 2026, made the first ever translocation of 4 southern white rhinos from ziwa rhino sanctuary to Ajai wildlife reserve. The initiative is looking forward to relocate about 20 more rhinos to Ajai for more broader conservation efforts.

Other activities at Ajai wildlife Reserve

Game drives

Visiting Ajai wildlife Reserve gives travelers a chance to spot a variety of animals during the game drives. Some of the animals that are spotted at Ajai are giraffes, antelopes, buffaloes, hippos, Uganda Kob, hartebeest, bush bucks, olive baboons, duikers, oribi and monkeys.

Bird watching

Ajai reserve records over 330 bird species making it a paradise for birders and the birds that will not miss on your checklist include the African gray hornbill, eastern plantain eater, house sparrow, black headed gonolek, African openbill, lizard buzzard, fork tailed drongo, bronze mannikin, green backed camaroptera, malachite kingfisher, white browed coucal, red chested cuckoo, northern crombec, pin tailed whydah and many more.

Boat safari and fishing

A boat float on the swamp will take you to view hippos, crocodiles as enjoy fishing the most common fish species in Ajai that include Nile perch, mud fish and cat fish.

Cultural tours

You engage with the community of the madi and Alur traditional cultural hunting for meat, skin and horns which integral to tradition dancing and making hand crafts.

Accomodations in Ajai Wildlife Reserve

Ajai wildlife Reserve has got budget and midrange accommodation options. These include kasenyi lake retreat lodge, kalitusi nature resort, kigambira safari lodge, pearl inn hotel, country motel and yellow haven lodge.

Kidepo Valley National Park

This park is uganda’s most remote and least explored, located in semi-arid region of Karamoja. The park borders Uganda and South Sudan. Kidepo valley national park is a home to over 77 mammal species and 476 bird species

Rhinos introduced to kidepo valley national park

Kidepo valley national park once had rhinos before they were wiped out in 1980 because of political instabilities and poaching. It was discovered that the last rhino in wild was killed in 1983.

Good news! Uganda wildlife Authority received a rhino sanctuary from constructed in kidepo valley national park. The 18.2 km² fenced sanctuary is a critical step toward achieving Uganda’s National Rhino Conservation and Management Strategy, restoring rhinos to protected landscapes where they once roamed.

 white rhinos from the successful Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary will be relocated to Kidepo. Having the more placid and easily managed white rhino at first, will help build Uganda’s rhino management capacity before black rhinos follow returning to this landscape after more than 40 years of absence.

Note that kidepo valley national park hosts a variety of animals where by out of the big five animals, it has four out five big animals that include elephants, leopards, lions, and buffalos. The conservation plan of reintroducing white rhinos in March 2026 is ranking kidepo valley national park as a safari destination for the big five animals.

Behaviours and facts about rhinos

• Rhinos are herbivores, they feed on grass, leaves, shoots and fruits.
• Rhinos have poor eyesight that is why some times they can charge at you for no reason.
• Rhinos can weigh over 2 tonnes.
• Rhinos communicate through their urine or poo.
• A group of rhinos is called a crash or herd.
• Male rhinos are called bulls while female rhinos are called cows.
• Rhinos have a gestation period that lasts from 15 to 18 months.
• A female rhino gives birth to only one calf a year.
• White rhinos have wide flat lips designed for grazing on short grass.

What to pack for Rhino tracking in Uganda

On your safari to track rhinos in ziwa rhino sanctuary, Ajai wildlife reserve and kidepo valley national park, pack long pants, sturdy walking boots, sunscreen, hat, a pair of binoculars, a camera, gaiters, sunglasses, insect repellent, drinking water, snacks and rain gear.

Best time for rhino tracking tours in Uganda

Rhinos can be tracked at anytime of the season, but here are the best months for tracking when the trails are dry, June to August, December to February. During the dry season is the optune moment for tracking.