5 Days Cultural Safari, Gorilla Trekking, Chimpanzee Tracking & Ziwa Rhino Tour
5 Days of Rhino, Chimpanzee, Gorilla & Batwa Culture
This 5-day Rhino tracking, Kibale National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park safari. Kibale National Park, which is Africa’s foremost research site that focuses on the Chimpanzees and other primates in Uganda. The park is located in the western part of Uganda in Kabarole district and is the only park where we find the world’s endangered Chimpanzees and other primate species. It covers an area of about 795 square kilometres and with the lowest point of about 1,100 meters on the floor of the Albertine Rift Valley to the south. Kibale National Park is also one of the best birding destinations in Uganda, with about 370 bird species. It’s adjacent to Queen Elizabeth National Park, and it creates a 180-kilometer-long corridor between the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth. Kibale National Park is the only place in Africa with the best sights of the wild Chimpanzees. Gorilla trekking is a life-filling experience while relaxing in an enchanting forest luxury lodge overlooking the Bwindi forest with dense vegetation and great sounds of primates and birds over the montane forest, terraced hills, and rolling volcanic slopes. The mountain gorillas’ presence in this part of the world has transformed the edges of Africa’s oldest rainforest into a luxury getaway spot. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda, close to the Rwanda-Uganda border at the edge of the Rift Valley. Bwindi forest is one of Uganda’s oldest national parks with a diverse rainforest of over 25,000 years and contains about 400 plant species. The park inhabits half of the remaining endangered mountain gorillas in the world with half of the remaining gorilla in the world.
Important: We take the stress out of securing high-demand Gorilla ($800) and Chimpanzee ($250) permits by including them upfront. From the long-horned Ankole cattle of Mbarara to the gentle giants of Bwindi, this itinerary combines pure adventure with deep cultural immersion, making it the most holistic 5-day safari in Uganda.
| Safari at a Glance | Details | Value Proposition |
| Duration | 5 Days / 4 Nights | Perfect for a mid-length adventure. |
| Key Activities | Gorilla Trekking, Chimpanzee Tracking, Rhino Tracking, Batwa Cultural Tour, and Ankole Culture. | The Big 5 + Primate Trifecta |
| Parks Visited | Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth NP (Ishasha), Bwindi Impenetrable NP. | Maximized exposure across Uganda’s best regions. |
| Min. Age | 15 years for all trekking activities. | Compliance with UWA Regulations. |
| Permits included | Gorilla Permit ($800) and Chimpanzee Permit ($250). | Guaranteed access to Uganda’s most sought-after experiences. |
What is Included in Your 5 Day Safari Package?
Accommodation (4 Nights): Full board (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) at your chosen lodge tier. Permit Fees: One Gorilla Trekking Permit ($800 value) and one Chimpanzee Trekking Permit ($250 value) per person. Park Fees: All National Park entrance fees for Kibale and Bwindi. Transport: Private 4×4 safari vehicle (extended Land Cruiser or similar) with pop-up roof for optimal game viewing. Guiding: Services of a full-time, experienced, English-speaking guide/driver. Activities: Ziwa Rhino Tracking fee, Batwa Cultural Experience fee, Ankole Cultural Tour, and En-route lunch stops. bottled mineral water throughout the safari.
What is Excluded?
International flights and visas. Tips for the driver/guide, porters, and lodge staff (highly recommended). Personal travel insurance, laundry, or communications. Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, or any items of a personal nature. Optional activities ( Porter hire for trekking, Gorilla Habituation upgrade).
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Starting the Big 5 Adventure – Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Tracking
Your journey begins in Kampala or Entebbe. After an early morning briefing, we head north to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a crucial conservation success story and the only place in Uganda where you can see the white rhino in its natural habitat. This is your chance to tick the first of the Big 5 off
Your list. Unlike other game viewing, rhino tracking at Ziwa is a walking safari, providing an intimate,adrenaline-pumping experience as you approach these magnificent creatures on foot, accompanied by an expert ranger. Following the tracking, we settle down for lunch before the scenic drive westward toward Kibale Forest National Park, the Primate Capital of the World. The evening is spent relaxing and preparing for tomorrow’s chimp encounter.
Activities: Rhino Tracking, Scenic transfer.
Driving Time: Approx. 6 to 7 hours.
Accommodation: Kibale Forest Area (Your chosen tier).
Day 2 The Primate Capital – Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest
An early rise brings you to the Kibale National Park headquarters for a briefing at 7:00 AM. Here, armed park rangers and guides will lead you deep into the rainforest to track one of our closest relatives: the Chimpanzee. Kibale boasts the highest density of primates in Africa, guaranteeing a rewarding search.
The trek can take anywhere from two to five hours. The reward? Spending one incredible, exhilarating hour watching a habituated chimpanzee community: mothers nurturing their young, males displaying dominance, and the group foraging and grooming high in the canopy. The noise alone is unforgettable. In the afternoon, we embark on the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary Walk, an excellent eco-tourism initiative, famous for its rich birdlife and sightings of up to seven other primate species (like the L’Hoest’s monkey and the Grey-cheeked Mangabey).
Activities: Chimpanzee Trekking (1 hour observation), Bigodi Swamp Walk.
Trekking Time: 2 to 5 hours.
Accommodation: Kibale Forest Area (As per Day 1).
Day 3 Scenic Transfer to Bwindi via Queen Elizabeth NP (Ishasha)
After a hearty breakfast, we embark on the scenic, full-day transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive takes us through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This route is famous for a unique phenomenon: the Tree Climbing Lions. We undertake a slow, deliberate game drive through Ishasha, scanning the large fig trees for a
sighting of these iconic predators lounging on the branches. Seeing a lion draped high in a tree is an unforgettable sight and a great break in the drive. We proceed south, climbing into the misty, terraced hills that define the boundary of the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, preparing mentally for the gravity of the next morning.
Activities: Game drive through Ishasha (Tree Climbing Lions), Scenic transfer to Bwindi.
Driving Time: Approx. 8 to 9 hours.
Accommodation: Bwindi (Buhoma/Rushaga Sector, your chosen tier).
Day 4 The Pinnacle Encounter – Gorilla Trekking and the Immersive Batwa Experience
This is the day the entire safari has been building toward. Following an early breakfast, you proceed to the Bwindi park headquarters for the Gorilla Trekking briefing at 7:00 AM. You will be assigned to one of the habituated gorilla families, and your team of trackers and rangers will guide you into the dense, primordial forest The trek itself is challenging, often involving steep slopes and dense vegetation, but the moment you meet a Mountain Gorilla family a towering Silverback, playful youngsters, and protective mothers is universally described as life-changing. You will spend one precious hour with these gentle giants, observing their human-like behavior, before quietly departing
In the afternoon, we transition to the cultural heart of the trip: the Batwa Cultural Experience. Led by the “Keepers of the Forest,” this 5-hour immersive tour takes you to a forest on the perimeter of Bwindi where the Batwa Pygmy community the original inhabitants of the forest now live. You
will learn about their traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle, watch fire-making and hunting demonstrations, and experience their soulful music and dance. This powerful encounter adds ethical depth to your conservation journey
Activities: Mountain Gorilla Trekking (1 hour observation), Batwa Cultural Experience.
Trekking Time: 2 to 8 hours (highly variable).
Accommodation: Bwindi (As per Day 3).
Day 5 Homeward Journey – Ankole Cultural Tour & Departure
After breakfast, we begin the long but scenic drive back to Entebbe/Kampala. We make a crucial stop in the Ankole region (near Mbarara) to immerse ourselves in the local culture of the Banyankole people, renowned for their cherished Long-horned Ankole Cattle.
We visit the Igongo Cultural Centre, home to the Eriijukiro Museum, which showcases the history and traditions of the region, including the significance of milk and ghee production in their society. We will climb Biharwe Hill to see the Eclipse Monument, which commemorates a historically significant solar eclipse, offering a fantastic final view of Uganda’s rolling hills. We finish the journey with the obligatory stop at the Equator for photos and souvenir shopping before dropping you off at the airport for your onward flight
Activities: Ankole Cultural Tour (Igongo Museum, Eclipse Monument), Equator Stopover, Transfer to Entebbe.
Driving Time: Approx. 9 to 10 hours.
Departure: Transfer to Entebbe International Airport (EBB).
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Why Book This Safari With Whispers Safaris?
We specialize in high-value, culturally rich safaris. Our “Big 5 and Primates” angle gives you more experience in just five days than most standard 7-day tours. We guarantee immediate permit purchase upon booking confirmation, protecting you from cancellations and price changes. Our dedicated 4×4 vehicles are equipped for the long drives, and our guides are local experts with intimate knowledge of the primates and the cultural landscape of the Batwa and Ankole people.
Flexible Booking and Permit Policy
We understand that planning a trip to see the Mountain Gorillas is a major commitment. A deposit of at least the permit cost ($1,050 total) is required to secure your permits and safari date. Cancellation Policy (UWA): UWA offers refunds on permits if cancellation occurs 91+ days out (75% refund), 46 to 90 days out (50% refund), and 9 to 45 days out (25% refund). Cancellations 8 days or less result in no refund on the permit portion. Our policy is flexible around the UWA requirements.
End of Itinerary
