Rhinos at Ziwa Rhino & Wildlife Ranch, Uganda, photographed on 16 March 2026.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary stands at the center of one of Uganda’s most remarkable conservation recoveries and the return of rhinos to the majestic Kidepo Valley National Park.

Rhinos once roamed widely across the country, but by 1982 they had been wiped out by poaching, armed conflict, and the collapse of wildlife protection.
Ziwa was established in 2005 on the Roy family’s former cattle ranch through a partnership between the Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rhino Fund Uganda, with Captain Joe Roy’s advocacy and fundraising playing a pivotal role. Yvonne Verkaik was also instrumental in leading the programme, alongside Professor Wolfgang Thome, the first Chair of Rhino Fund Uganda.

With international support, two rhinos were sourced from the United States and four from Kenya, marking the beginning of rhino reintroduction in Uganda, with the long-term goal of restoring populations to protected areas.

After two decades of dedicated stewardship by the Roy family, the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and many partners and supporters, the population has grown to 54 rhinos. Translocations back into the wild have now begun. Earlier in 2026, four rhinos were moved to Ajai Wildlife Reserve in West Nile, the former range of the northern white rhino.

Today marks another historic milestone, as eight rhinos begin their translocation to Kidepo Valley National Park, more than 43 years after rhinos were last seen there.

If you’d like to visit Ziwa: https://ziwarhinoandwildliferanch.com/
We acknowledge and thank the many organizations and individuals involved in making the return of rhinos to Kidepo possible.