Return of Rhinos to Kidepo valley national park
Return of Rhinos to Kidepo valley national park
Return of Rhinos to Kidepo valley national park ; Kidepo national park is one of the most beautiful savannah national parks in Uganda, located in the remote northeastern region bordering with South Sudan and Kenya.
The national park is known for harboring abundant wildlife species, including the big four mammals (lions, leopards, buffaloes, and elephants) and other animals like waterbucks, giraffes, zebras, hyenas, black-backed jackals, Jackson’s hartebeest, oribi, elands, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, reedbucks, bat-eared foxes, and klipspringers, among others and a variety of bird species, such as Speckled mousebird, Crested Francolin, Clappertons Spurfowl, African Paradise Flycatcher, Little Bee-eater, Helmeted Guinea fowl, and Black-billed Wood-dove, White-headed Vulture among others.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) on 17th March 2026 commenced/started off the historic reintroduction of southern white rhinos to Kidepo valley national park after 43 years when the last rhino was sighted in the park. The translocation of the first two southern white rhinos from Ziwa rhino sanctuary to Kidepo valley national park was flagged off by the Executive Director of Uganda Wildlife Authority, Dr. James Musinguzi. A total of eight other southern white rhinos will also be taken to the park.
During the flag-off ceremony at Ziwa rhino sanctuary in Nakasongola, Dr. James Musinguzi described the translocation exercise as a major milestone in Uganda’s conservation journey given that it marks the beginning and also the first step in restoring the new rhino story for Kidepo valley national park.
Dr. Musinguzi quoted that the exercise is aligned with the national rhino conservation strategy for Uganda, which provides the natural framework for restoring rhino populations within their historical range and also strengthening long-term rhino conservation efforts in Uganda.
Dr. Musinguzi expressed appreciation to the conservation partners whose collaboration, technical expertise, financial support and logistical contributions made the reintroduction of the rhinos to Kidepo national park possible.
The commissioner of Biodiversity Management, Mr. John Makombo emphasized the ecological and operational significance of the reintroduction. He noted that the return of the southern white rhinos to Kidepo valley national park is a critical step in restoring the park’s ecological completeness and strengthens species recovery, ecosystem integrity and resilience
The study identified Kidepo Valley National Park as one of the most suitable protected areas in Uganda for reintroducing rhinos to the wild after examining the ecological requirements and security conditions of the habitats.
Extensive groundwork was undertaken by the conservation partners to prepare Kidepo national park for the return of the rhinos. Preparations that have been made in the park include the establishment of a secure rhino sanctuary supported by perimeter fencing, firebreaks, access roads, water infrastructure, ranger facilities and monitoring systems to ensure effective protection and management of the rhinos.
The reintroduction of southern white rhinos to Kidepo valley national park was supported by different conservation partners, including Wild Landscapes East Africa (WLEA), Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) and Uganda Conservation Foundation (UCF). The conservation partners supported the sanctuary development, infrastructure preparation, equipment provision, and logistical planning for a successful translocation and long-term protection of the rhinos.
When the rhinos arrive in Kidepo valley national park, they will be placed in a secure sanctuary within the park where they will be closely monitored by trained park rangers and veterinary teams to ensure that they successfully adapt to the environment.
Currently Uganda has about 61 southern white rhinos and the rhino recovery journey started in 2005 through a partnership between the Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rhino Fund Uganda when a breeding program was established at Ziwa rhino sanctuary after the rhinos had become extinct in Uganda’s national parks due to poaching and insecurity.
The return of rhinos to Kidepo valley national park is expected to strengthen biodiversity conservation, enhance the park’s tourist potential and also contribute to the country’s efforts to restore endangered wildlife species within their historic ecosystem.
Kidepo valley national park offers interesting activities that tourists can engage in during the safari, including game drives where you will be able to view abundant wildlife species; bird watching, where you will be able to spot bird species like secretary birds, ostriches, and bee-eaters; cultural tours, where you will be able to interact with the Karamajong people; and guided nature walks, where you will get up close and personal with wildlife, among others. You can reach out to us at Achieve Global Safaris to book your safari to Kidepo valley national park.
