Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Ngamba Island was gazetted in October 1998 to care for orphaned chimpanzees rescued from various parts of East Africa that have been rescued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Many of the chimpanzees were rescued from poachers and are victims of illegal poaching for bush meat and pet trade. Surrounded by the peaceful waters of Lake Victoria, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is home to 49 orphaned chimps rescued from throughout Uganda. The Island also provides an excellent secondary forest habitat for the chimpanzees and other wildlife species including fruit bats, spiders, fish eagles, otters, and monitor lizards.

Ngamba Island is 100 acres (40 ha) of rainforest situated on Lake Victoria, approximately 27 kilometres (17 mi), by boat south-east of the city of Entebbe, near the Equator in Lake Victoria, Uganda.The island supports a rich diversity of natural wildlife and provides a variety of natural foods for the chimpanzees and is managed by a non-profit organization, the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust (CSWCT). CSWCT is a partnership of six organizations committed to the welfare and conservation of wildlife.

Sunset Cruises

Ngamba Island offers exclusive sunset cruises for overnight guests. You will enjoy the unique view of fishermen casting their nets, fishing villages as they wind down the day. The thrill comes from knowing that you are crossing the globe from the southern to the northern hemisphere as you sip away on cold drinks in a state of natural bliss.

Fishing

The Island offers either half or full day fishing excursions on Lake Victoria with UK certified fishing guides. If you love to fish, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to catch a Nile Perch on this iconic lake.

Day Care Giver at Ngamba Island

You will get exciting opportunity to not only view the chimps feeding but to also participate in preparing their food and feeding them. You can assist the staff with any activities happening at the sanctuary that day like; preparing the holding areas for the chimps, administrative work, medical checkups and research and over all monitoring of individual chimps.

This experience helps to raise funds for the sanctuary and your donation goes directly to the feeding of the 49 chimps living at the sanctuary.

Equator Experience

You will have a stopover at the Uganda-Equator to observe your boat being thrust by forces from both the North Pole and South Pole, making it almost stationary in one place.

Guided forest walk

Overnight visitors to Ngamba can participate in guided forest walk. Being part of the team involves going out with the chimp infants giving them support by holding them as they are introduced to the older individuals and also showing them different parts of the forest to get them learn, that it is a safe and better place for them to be. While here, you will be in the company of several chimpanzees ranging from 5-9years.

Swimming

For those of you who would like to enjoy a swim in these waters, you will have a chance to do so before continuing to the mainland. If interested in swimming, the Equator is the right point and you will be allowed a couple of minutes to enjoy the waters before proceeding with the journey.

VOLUNTEERING PROGRAMS

Ngamba Island holds out volunteering programs to make a difference in the lives of the 49 chimpanzees through volunteering by volunteering in a variety of tasks like; preparing their food, feeding them, cleaning, behavior observation, record keeping and community work. Volunteering programs include;

• Behavioral Observation: Volunteers will work alongside caregivers at the sanctuary, studying chimpanzee social dynamics around distribution and collecting data.
• Behavioral Enrichment: Volunteers will be involved in creating permanent or temporary behavioral enrichment structures as well as organize temporary challenges in order to further the behavioral enrichment of the chimps.
• Infrastructure Improvements: Volunteers will help with whatever current enrichment projects are taking place during their placement and may include tasks such as building picnic sites and shaded viewing shelters or putting up information boards to educate visitors.
• Daily Caregiver Schedule: Preparation of chimp foods, clean chimp holding facility, recording chimp data and health monitoring.

Where to stay when you visit Ngamba Island

Ngamba Eco-Lodge: Ngamba Eco Lodge offers both luxury cottages and standard camping tents close to the waters of Lake Victoria. The lodge offers beautiful views and sounds of the Lake. At night you can hear the hooting of the chimps from their enclosure. The lodge also offers outstanding facilities with self-contained rooms that include hot showers, electricity and private balconies.

Getting there

Speedboat travel from the dock in Entebbe to Ngamba Island is approximately 45-50 minutes; travel by traditional motorized canoe takes approximately 90 minutes and by air it’s approximately 20 minutes from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Air strip.

Viewing time

• Morning viewing between 9.00am – 1.00pm
• Afternoon viewing 12.45pm – 5.00pm

Feel free to contact us any time for your 1 Day Chimpanzee of Ngamba Island. We are here to answer any questions you may have on any of our services/tours, we are just a phone call or few clicks away, send us an email today …we look forward to hearing from you.