Lunch had been had at the pristine sanctuary's Restaurant and the meal was divine. Coupled with the serene surroundings, the whole experience was perfect.
The decision was made that the only itinerary best suited for the rest of such a beautiful day was "Rhino trekking."
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, it's known, is the only place in the pearl of Africa, Uganda, that the Southern white rhinos call home.
To find that spot, to track through the bushes, to lay gaze upon the beautiful, horned beasts - that was the aim and, if it was achieved, was a price beyond rubies.
In fact, the sanctuary gazetted 7000 hectares of land as habitat to the rhinos, and this was well thought.
Every time we, the travellers, purchased the $50 rhino tracking permit, that was more money in the bank for Rhino Fund Uganda and Ugandan Wildlife Authority.
A well-trained ranger was handily available and that eased the bush track.
To drive at first was necessary to get closer to the Rhino zones. Having traveled without a personal car, my singular option was to team up with others and jointly hire the Rhino Fund Uganda's vehicle and driver.
On getting closer to the Rhino zones, the experienced ranger guided my comrades and I through the small, and the woody and stemmed shrubs, and grasslands; On foot! Chances of sighting the Rhinos were maximal.
To track hurriedly meant risking the agitation of the Rhinos and their retaliation.
The safest way was careful and gentle tracking, then remain stationary on coming in close range with the animal.
This was the expert advise as per the safety briefing the tour guide gave and adherence to it would keep us safe.
Once close to the Rhinos, the silenced cameras, binoculars, journals and pens came into play; but mostly the gaping!
These southern white rhinos were flat, broad mouthed and socially munching on the short, green grass; extremely large, with immense bodies, large heads, broad chests and short necks.
Two horns, the front horns being larger than the others, adorned each snout; 5 rhinos in total, in the "Crash" (group of Rhinos) the group and I came across.
They were slate grey in colour, with most of the body hairs on their tail bristles and ear fringes; and rather sparsely over the rest of their bodies.
These 7000 hectares not only offered rhino tracking opportunities.
The reddish brown, sturdily built Uganda kobs, and the dark brown coloured Bushbucks were both dwellers and roamed through the daylight on land.
So did the Oribis, having long limbs and necks, sightly raised backs and yellowish brown coats. So dense on the grassland that the ground tremored with movement.
And even numerous were the waterbucks...
All these were breathtakingly awesome; most honour, however, went to the Rhinos, whose magnificence put the "Rhino" in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Image Source: Instagram
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