Ngamba Isand Excursion
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is the top primate conservation initiative in Uganda, this island sanctuary is dedicated to the care of orphaned eastern chimpanzees that have been rescued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Many of these chimpanzees were rescued from poachers and are unlikely to survive reintroduction to the wild.
Location of Ngamba Island
Ngamba Island is 100 acres (40 ha) of rainforest situated on Lake Victoria approximately 23 kilometers by boat south-east of the Entebbe City near the Equator in Lake Victoria. The island supports a rich diversity of natural wildlife and provides a variety of natural foods for the chimpanzees, it 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.
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary also known as “Chimp Island” is one of the leading sanctuaries for primates in the world and one of the best places to visit on a Uganda safari to see chimpanzees, the sanctuary was open as a non-profit in 1998 to cater for orphaned chimps that had been rescued from poachers, wildlife traffickers, zoos and circuses from countries like Burundi, Congo, Russia, Tanzania and Uganda. Most of the chimpanzees in the sanctuary were rescued from poachers who sell them in the pet market or for meat, while in transit with their captors or when waiting to sold, they are kept in a deplorable states and have to endure great difficulty leaving them traumatized.
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary began with 19 chimpanzees but no it has over 50 individuals, the island. As a member of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance, the sanctuary attracts famous primate researchers, institutions and staff from similar sanctuaries include the JACK Chimpanzee Sanctuary in DR.Congo, Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary in DR Congo, Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Centre in Congo and the Senkwekwe Centre for orphaned mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park.
Ngamba Island Sanctuary is under the management of the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust (CSWCT). The Trust works in partnership with 6 other wildlife conservation organizations which are committed to the welfare and conservation of wildlife. The organizations include the Uganda Wildlife Society, Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, Jane Goodall Institute, New South Wales Zoological Park, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda and Born Free Foundation.
How to Reach Ngamba Island
To get to Ngamba Island, one need to take a speed boat with most of the boats parking and departing from waterfront beach in Entebbe close to the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center (Entebbe Zoo).
The boats are of different sizes, some can take up to 25 depending on budget, once can choose the smaller and faster boats or the larger ferries. The boats are equipped with life jackets and fire extinguishers.
Visiting the Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Taking part in caring for the orphaned chimpanzees and educate the public about the remarkable primates and the importance of protecting their forest homes is one of the objectives of the Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary, by visiting the island and paying a fee. One contributes to cost of ensuring the well-being of the primates.
Visitors of the sanctuary have an opportunity to spot the chimpanzees, feed them and take part in other activities within the island including boat cruises, fishing, swimming and relaxation.
The chimpanzees at Ngamba Island are well taken care of, the space in the island is very limited and to avoid overcrowding, the chimpanzees are stopped from reproducing using modern birth control methods.
Half day tours are organized in two shifts, the first shift starts at 9 am and ends at 12:45 while the second ends at around 5 pm. The sanctuary also organizes overnight trips that can cost about $ 600 dollars, the overnight trips include accommodation in high quality self-contained tents and cottages.
First time visitors to the island will be struck by the beautiful scenery, amazing bird sounds and the amazing waters of Lake Victoria. Visitors are received by highly trained local and international staff from the sanctuary at the centre for visitors, the staff will share information about the island, its history and how it came to be selected as a chimpanzee sanctuary.
After the briefing and introduction, visitors are are led to spot the chimpanzees feeding from a raised platform.
The section for chimps is protected using an electric fence, you might not find them in the feeding area if you arrive too early but once they hear the siren from the caregiver, you will start to hear their vocal cries, screams and calls as they come from the thick forest to the feeding area.
Chimpanzees can be spotted very closely and clearly from a raised platform and you will be able to observe their interactions, group dynamics and distinct personalities. The care givers have a strong bond with each of them like they would with a brother and sister, the experience of watching chimpanzees may not be the same as normal chimpanzee trekking but you will be able to see some things that are not usually possible in the wild.
The feeding area is large and consists of an area of grassland which is followed by the large forest that follows from where the chimps spend most of their daily, the chimps are served mostly fruits in large buckets. It can be very amusing watching the chimps feed, some stand up straight with hands raised and desperately begging for more food from the caretakers while others clap to get the same attention from the caregivers.
Chimpanzees are very intelligent, they will use sticks to pull fruits closer to them or get those that have been trapped in the fence. After taking their lunch, the chimpanzees head back to the forest and rest for the night in an enclosure away from the feeding area and forest. Some are known to sleep in the forest once in a while but the tasty porridge served in the evenings forces all of them back to their nesting enclosures most of the time.
The health of the chimpanzees is monitored by experienced caregivers and veterinary offices, the resident Veterinary doctor has a choice of the best equipment for scanning, theatre and MRI tests.
The cost of visiting the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
A Half day tour with a speed boat costs about $ 115 per individual, the same tour with a slower motorized boat cost $80 per person. Children below 5 years do not pay anything while teenagers pay half the price, Ugandan citizens, tour companies and school on an education are given discounts.
If you are interested in the Caregiver for a day experience, you will need to pay $200. This experience is only available for those who are spending a night or two in the island.
Where to stay in Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Visitors staying for a night on Ngamba Island, you can stay in luxurious tents with showers and comfortable beds. The tents and cottages are built close to the Lake Shores that offer amazing scenery. Spending the night in the island outside the tent is beautiful, during the night one can enjoy the sounds of the waves and chimpanzees.
Ngamba Eco-Lodge offers both luxury cottages and standard camping tents situated close to the wayers of Lake Victoria, the lodge offers beautiful views and sounds of the lake. As you are about to doze off at night, you can hear the hooting of the chimpanzees from their enclosure. The lodge offers understanding facilities with self-contained rooms that include hot showers, electricity and private balconies.
