Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is home to 49 orphaned chimps rescued from throughout Uganda. This sanctuary was established in October 1998 to care of the orphaned chimpanzees that have been rescued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Many of the chimpanzees were rescued from poachers and are unlikely to survive reintroduction to the wild. The sanctuary is managed by the Chimpanzee Sanctuary & Wildlife Conservation Trust.
The Island facilities offer day trips and overnight trips which provide exceptional opportunity to closely observe and interact with these fascinating great apes in this unique setting. Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust, an NGO, is responsible for all aspects of the sanctuary at Ngamba Island.
Ngamba Island is 100 acres of rain forest situated a short boat ride (23 km) away from Entebbe, near the Equator in Lake Victoria, Uganda. It supports a rich diversity of natural wildlife and provides a variety of natural foods for the chimpanzees. The island is set up as an eco-friendly project with compost toilets, rainwater collection, proper waste management practices and solar energy for electricity and hot water.
You get to see the chimps being fed several times a day and you can participate yourself as well if you want. Visitors can interact with chimps and join in caretaker activities. You can check if you have all the necessary vaccinations before you go, we share 98% of the same DNA as chimps. The work of chimpanzee sanctuary and wildlife conservation trust is impressive as well as the core chimpanzee rehabilitation there is environmental protection of original chimpanzee habitat and environmental awareness.
You get a chance to observe the 49 chimps in their care up close, watch or participate in one of their feedings and learn about their behavior and the steps that are taken to reintroduce, those which are capable of being returned to the wild. It is well worth the time and expense of getting there. The staffs are very knowledgeable and provide a real insight into conservation in Uganda.
These chimps are not truly living in the wild, they come in to sleep, they are trained range creating nests and to eat they also forage in the forest but would deplete those resources. The sanctuary has a small gift shop that supports their work accepts dollar as well as Ugandan shillings so bring money. The staff is dedicated and very knowledgeable.
As the day ends and the evening sets in, join us for an exclusive sunset cruise. Enjoy the unique view of fisher men casting their nets, fishing villages as they wind down the day and of course the golden circular site of nature’s eye going to sleep. The thrill comes from knowing that you are crossing the globe from the southern to the northern hemisphere on the equator as you slip away on cold drinks in a romantic bliss.
The sanctuary is open all year round to visitors who pay a nominal entrance fee to view one or both of the chimpanzee feedings. Day and overnight visits (staying in luxury tents) are available and can be booked through the booking agent.
For overnight visitors there are four superior double tents and larger groups can be catered for right on the gently lapping shores of Lake Victoria. As birds fly home to rest in the deepening dusk, enjoy a spectacular sun downer as the sun melts into the horizon. The island does many projects for the local community and allows them to visit the chimps one day a week.