Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

 Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is a safe home for orphaned chimpanzees located on Ngamba Island, the sanctuary was started by Dr. Jane Goodall and a small group of pioneering leaders rescued 13 chimpanzees in 1998.

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is recognized as one of the leading primate sanctuaries in Africa, currently the sanctuary supports over 50 chimpanzees and it is one of the best places to see chimpanzee up-close during your Uganda safari. The sanctuary is managed by Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wild Conservation Trust (CSWCT), in the management of the sanctuary there are more 6 organisations that work with CSWCT which include Uganda Wildlife Education Center, New South Wales Zoological Park, Uganda Wildlife Society, International Fund of Animal Welfare, Jane Goodall Institute, Born Free Foundation and Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda.

Ngamba Island is located on Lake Victoria – the largest lake in Africa about 23 kilometers by boat south – east of Entebbe, near the Equator in Uganda. The island spans about 100 acres of which 95 acres is forested and separated from the human settlement by an electric fence.

Ngamba Island is one of the nine islands of the Koome group of islands found on Lake Victoria, other islands making up the Koome group include Kiimi, Nsazi, Koome, Bulago and Damba Islands.

All chimpanzees at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary have been rescued, some from poachers, others were ill or mistreated and none of the can ever go back to the wilds. However, here at the sanctuary they are cared for and are allowed to roam freely, fed twice daily and provided with medical care and love. Stories of these chimpanzees are fascinating and seeing them up-close as they happily enjoy each other’s company within a semi-natural environment is fantast

Things to do on Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Chimpanzee Experience

Chimpanzee excursion on the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is offered as half day excursion or a full day excursion.

On the day of your chimpanzee trekking, you take a boat cruise across Lake Victoria which will take you to the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, on arrival visitors are welcomed by the staff of the sanctuary and will take you to the visitor center.

You will be given an introduction about the sanctuary, its history, the inhabitants of the center and their experiences in the wild. After the informative briefing, you will have a tour of the grounds and you can watch the feeding of chimpanzees from an overview platform.

If you are visiting the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary for a whole day, then you will experience two feeding moments.

Care Giver for A Day

Ngamba Island Sanctuary offers a unique experience where vsitors have an opportunity to experience a day in the life of a chimpanzee caregiver by being care givers themselves. As a chimp caregiver, you will get the exciting chance to not only view the chimpanzees feeding, but to participate in preparing their food and feeding them. You can assist the staff at Ngamba Island with any activities happening at the sanctuary that day, this may include

• Medical checkups
• Research and monitoring
• Preparing the holding areas for the chimpanzees
• Administrative work where you can help to type in the chimp storie

This program aims at helping the sanctuary’s visitors understand and appreciate what it takes to look after the orphaned chimpanzees – our cousins on Ngamba Island as well as raising funds for their well-being.

The staff at the sanctuary will work with you to show you just what is involved in taking care of these animals, how individual they are and what makes them so special.

As a caregiver, you get to meet and interact with all the chimpanzees on the Island but Direct Contact with them is not guaranteed but possible under close supervision of a resident caregiver.

Lake Victoria Boat Cruise

If you are staying overnight at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, then it is possible to take a sunset boat cruise on Lake Victoria in the evening. You will then see the fishermen wake up and set their nets for the night, while you cruise over the equator enjoying the setting sun and a refreshing drink.

Spend the Night on Ngamba Island

For visitors who want to explore Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary even more, spending an overnight at Ngamba Island Eco – Lodge is the best choice. Not only will you experience several feeding moments, you will also be able to help prepare the nests for the chimpanzees and you will learn to look critically at the behavior of these beautiful apes.

Volunteering At Ngamba Island

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary offers one and four –week volunteering programs where you can directly contribute to the conservation efforts of the chimpanzees, while volunteering you will have an opportunity to gain hands – on experience by preparing their chimpanzee food, feeding them, cleaning their sleeping area and taking part in enrichment activities and behavior observations.

There are volunteer dormitories or Ngamba Eco Lodge for an overnight.

Getting to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary can be reached by either taking a speed boat, Air or Ferry

By Speed Boat – one can take a speed boat or a motorized canoe ride, it is a 45-minute speed boat ride from Entebbe to Ngamba Island. It is a 45 minute speed boat ride from Entebbe to Ngamba Island or a 90-minute motorized canoe ride from Nakiwongo Dock and the Chimpanzee Sanctuary arranges the transfers for guests.

By Ferry – one can choose to board a ferry from Entebbe to Bugala and after reaching Bugala which is the main island, then take on a taxi to Ngamba Island

By Air – one can book a charter flight by either Aerolink or Bar Aviation from Kajansi Airstrip direct to Ngamba Island

To Visit Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, one must have a ticket, you can either purchase the tickets at Ngamba Island reservation office in Entebbe or you can purchase them on – site at the island or you can find a local tour operator who will assist you with purchasing the ticket.

Best Time to Visit Ngamba Island

The best time to visit Ngamba Chimpanzee Island is during the dry months of June to late October, in these months there is much less chance of rain interrupting your daily activities and chances of observing other wildlife around the island is higher than during other months.

Where to stay on Ngamba Island

For visitors who wish to spend a night on Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, the Ngamba Eco Lodge is the recommended place to stay at. The lodge is strategically located at the extreme edge of Lake Victoria with stunning views of the lake, providing the ideal setting to relax after a day spent with the chimpanzees at the sanctuary.